When Europeans came to Africa in the 15th century, they were impressed by how Africans used hair to indicate a combination of gender and social ranks. Black hair has been an integral feature of black history - from African tribal styles to dreadlocks and the afro. The natural hair movement is represented by a group of African women that provide encouragement, advice, product reviews, hairstyle tutorials and much more to other women that are interested in […] The Natural Hair Movement originated in the Unites States in the 2000s and quickly spread to other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom. of one group of people by individuals of another, typically more dominant group. The Finer Things In Life: Tips For Fine Hair Naturals! “Whenever I get backlash for my hair, I do … It’s about knowing how to style your hair and keep it healthy. achieving a silky straight look was paramount. What is the Natural Hair Movement? After reading countless hair blogs and watching hundreds of YouTube videos, I concluded that sulfates, chemical relaxers, and heat were the cause of my short, damaged, and thin hair. But the movement is also rooted in revolutionary political ideas. Your email address will not be published. Though, the natural hair movement is gaining momentum by the day, it first started in the 60s and 70s. Now that “going natural” has turned into a popular trend, manufacturers, and retailers of hair productsare seeing sales of harsh hair-straightening chemicals (i.e. Curls, kinks and coils, oh my! The afro hairstyle became an expressive way of rebelling against American society’s ideas of beauty and embracing one’s own beauty- including forgoing straightening black hair and being prideful in rocking it naturally instead. As a result, they’ve worked on achieving a European look- long, straight hair- at any cost. From an all-time high of more than $750 million in sales, the amount of hai… I might not be head over heels with my own hair yet, but the movement’s confidence is infectious. Like the black power movement before it, the natural hair movement is about recapturing the black beauty and ending discrimination against black women wearing natural hair in the workplace. In History. Your email address will not be published. Hair has long been used throughout history to indicate a ... Women who've joined the natural hair movement will tell you that working with their newfound natural hair didn't exactly come naturally. In order to be able to analyze the perception of black women’s hair today, it is crucial to look at its perception in earlier days. Hundreds of years later, slavery was abolished and straighter hair was seen as a sign of beauty, freedom, and prosperity. Now that it’s become mainstream in the black community, folks are acting like it was done as some rebellion against white supremacy. This, she achieved through flat irons, pressing combs, and other methods that she later realized were only damaging her hair. I’ve seen a few YouTubers returning to relaxed hair or texturizing their hair. Understanding the History of the Natural Hair Movement. It is also a movement that I am proud to be apart of. A lack of pride in their natural hair. The 1980’s saw the end of black people’s determination to proudly wear their natural hair. And to be real, it’s still not always accepted. A new law called the CROWN Act, aims to protect people wearing their natural hair.Welcome to the official YouTube channel of KARE 11 News. The natural hair trend has its roots in a deep and rich history that formed the basis of personal, political and activist movements in the past years. Erica Barton is a 33-year-old mother of three, a freelance writer, and a natural hair enthusiast. Thus, they are embracing their African roots and doing the ‘big chop’ to cut off their previously relaxed locks, and regrow their hair into its fully natural state. Carolina “Miss Rizos” Contreras Opens a Natural Hair Salon in the Dominican Republic! But by glamorizing looser curls and prioritizing techniques and products to create “defined curls,” the movement focuses less on loving textured hair and more on … She, however, warns that going natural is not a walk in the park. With a lack of representation in media, rejections from jobs and repercussions from institutions, it is sometimes hard for women to want to change. Required fields are marked *. The term was first coined by sociologists in the early 1990s and most people don’t understand the outrage especially when it comes to black hairstyle. According to Erica, every woman has a right to wear their hair on their own terms and not as dictated by society. In 2007, cultural anthropologists started to notice a natural hair movement transition in the black community. - Jenna Kraig, student @ UCLA. Let’s take a trip down the memory lane and try to understand where the natural hair movement is coming from. Hair was at the centre of the African culture until Europeans showed up and changed the perspective. This movement was fundamental in teaching something different than what many had experienced growing up- black pride and a true sense of self-love. The natural hair movement has boomed in recent years, and is today a social media-led discourse comprised of black video tutorials, hair-care tips, and a cultural shift towards redefining the position of ‘natural’ black hair within the hegemony of Western beauty through empowerment and acceptance. A movement that originated in the United States and is now circulating the globe, the natural hair movement was created in order to address not only issues with damage caused by straightening products with harsh chemicals, but also the overall European standard of beauty that most so-called “women of color” are coerced into assimilating to. There are days you will feel frustrated and even wish to give up. The outcome? The natural hair movement was created to encourage not only black women, but any woman with naturally curly kinky hair texture, to have knowledge and pride … Jun 3, 1962. The truth is, natural hair textures can be just as much work as relaxed hair, but at least, in time, it can become a labour of love. All these eventually led to the collapse of the afro hair movement. WORDS 975. She had to make a drastic decision – letting go of the heat. For years, black women have been inundated with tonics, creams, and gadgets to ‘cure’ the coils and kinks. Wow. The Natural Hair Journey- How to Begin the Process of Going Natural, How to Dispel Common Misconceptions About Natural Hair, The NaySayers Were Wrong…Natural Hair Is Not Going Anywhere, Black Women’s Reactions to 90’s Hair Products Echoes That of Many Naturals, How The Natural Hair Movement Empowered Me, How Do You Know If You Have Scab Hair? Examples include Erykah Badu, Lupita Nyong’o, Janelle Monáe, Solange Knowles, Tracee Ellis-Ross and Viola Davis. Don’t get it twisted–the pioneers of the natural hair movement were the outliers in the community, and got virtually no support for their natural hair journey in the BC. The natural hair movement is a movement that encourages black women to show off their natural hair and leave those hair chemicals aside.… Angela Davis The 1960's had many inportant figures but when it comes to natural hair and activism Angela Davis' name satands out. These identifying descriptions have caused a constant level of shame for many women of color. Natural Hair Movement Throughout History. Davis is know for being an Activist and leader of the communist Party USA , Which had clsoe ties to the Black Panther Party. Pictures, 6 Tips for Controlling Frizz in Natural Hair. Exactly what I needed. Contrary to what many may believe now, the natural hair ‘movement’ has a deep and rich history. Your email address will not be published. Relaxer sales have gone down, while natural hair care product sales are on the rise. Williams runs her own PR firm- Goddess Media NYC- in New York, and is currently authoring her second novel. Black features were demonized by Europeans and seen as “unattractive” which eventually through the media and public figures, people were influenced to believe this. "I initially went natural 10 years ago as I really wanted an afro," the founder of The Wig Witch, Gina Knight, revealed in an interview with Vice. When the slave trade began, captured Africans had their heads shaved as a way of humiliating them and depriving them of their identity. Relaxer sales have gone down, while natural hair care product sales are on the rise. As a young woman, Erica has had long, straight, pretty hair for as long as she can remember. Contrary to what many may believe now, the natural hair ‘movement’ has a deep and rich history. Required fields are marked *. The Politics Behind Natural Hair- What Kind of Statement am I Making? relaxers) rapidly decline. From festival fashion choices to burrito bars, critics are casting doubt on the legitimacy of everything on the grounds of ‘cultural appropriation’. For decades in America, the natural hair movement has been growing, changing and fundamentally not just affecting black women, but the economy as well. Your email address will not be published. More and more black women have been proudly joining the "natural hair movement" and demanding representation, from the front pages of magazines to the front lines. Understanding the History of the Natural Hair Movement. My natural hair became a conversation starter, a pick-up line that never got old. The natural hair movement is focused on encouraging women with African ancestry to celebrate and enjoy the natural characteristics of their kinky, curly, hair texture. The Politics Behind Natural Hair- What Kind of Statement am I Making? Due to the history of slavery in America and a strict enforcement of white supremacy after it’s abolition, the natural hair movement we know and love today was not always so accepted. Although advances in the natural hair movement have progressed, black women are still criticized for wearing their hair natural. In cities like … The natural hair movement is sweeping the nation; over the past few years, hair relaxer sales have decreased by at least 26 … The natural hair movement is an organization focused on encouraging women of African ancestry to keep their natural afro-textured hair and combat cultural appropriation. Shaving slaves was the first step toward erasing the culture and identity of black people. Enslaved Africans who worked in the “big house,” however, sometimes mimicked the hairstyles of their enslavers, either by wearing wigs that had become popular during that era or shaping their kinky hair to emulate them. Pictures, 6 Tips for Controlling Frizz in Natural Hair. View Full Essay. The history of natural hair has been a difficult and long one, but it seems that the current natural hair wave is more than just another ‘era’. To understand the natural hair movement, you have to understand its history. "'Movement' is a suitable term for the expanding constellation of natural hair care gurus, businesses large and small, hair care videos, fashion and accessories spawned from the … Qiana Williams is a fashion and entertainment marketing guru and professional writer with vast experience writing on fashion trends and style, beauty, real estate, business, family, relationships, law and much more. When it comes to the cultural appropriation of black hairstyles, some have gone as far as saying ‘it’s just hair’ which shows ignorance on the history of black women and natural hair. About this essay More essays like this: Not sure what I'd do without @Kibin - Alfredo Alvarez, student @ Miami University. That’s why she has taken it upon herself to help people who wish to go down this road by sharing her personal journey, challenges, and offering tips where necessary. The Finer Things In Life: Tips For Fine Hair Naturals! It was received with pure disdain but is now well accepted. Although I was late to the natural hair movement, when I discovered it in 2013, I thought I had found the golden grail. A History of the Natural Hair Movement, Its Negative Effects, the Positive and Negative Strategies, and the the Movement's Social Effects PAGES 3. Combating Fairy Knots In Natural Hair, (Single Strand Knots), The LOC Method: 3 Steps For Happy, Moisture Rich, Natural Hair, Why Did Black Women Start Perming Their Hair In The First Place, Mature Women and Natural Hair – A Photo Gallery, Top 5 Sexy Natural Hairstyles: A Man’s Perspective, Natural Hair Care and its Products- What’s Black-Owned and What’s Not, Natural Haircare Training and Certification Available at a North Carolina Community College. And although my journey’s not over, I’m beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel and, most importantly, tiny curls on the side of my head. Combating Fairy Knots In Natural Hair, (Single Strand Knots), The LOC Method: 3 Steps For Happy, Moisture Rich, Natural Hair, Why Did Black Women Start Perming Their Hair In The First Place, Mature Women and Natural Hair – A Photo Gallery, Top 5 Sexy Natural Hairstyles: A Man’s Perspective, Natural Hair Care and its Products- What’s Black-Owned and What’s Not, Natural Haircare Training and Certification Available at a North Carolina Community College. In terms of natural Black hair, there's no one size fits all when it comes to texture and growth patterns, but in general, natural Black hair usually ranges from wavy to kinky-coily, with a wide range of variation between the two. The black hair movement is about freedom and choice when it comes to black hairstyles and shunning Eurocentric beliefs and beauty standards in the black community. It has grown and evolved. History. Social Status and Wealth Let’s take a look at black hair before the worldwide colonization by white Europeans. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I love this glimpse into the more complex story of natural hair movements in black American history. See, in early African societies, hair had a heavy social significance. In this video I go over the history of black hair and the birth of the natural hair movement. Erica did her BiG Chop in the year 2015 and has been enjoying her healthier, thicker, natural, and unadulterated hair for three years now. How quickly we forget the history of how the natural hair revolution began. Fast forward to current times and you will find that many black women are being more mindful of the potentially dangerous long-term side effects of relaxing hair. How to Reroute Uncomfortable Questions About your Hair, Lupita Nyong’o Inspires All Natural Women, A Historical Perspective to Natural Hair Movement, Growth Tracking the Natural Hair Industry Over the Last Five Years, How to Work Through the Highs and Lows of the Natural Hair Journey. For many, accepting African features such as a bigger nose, lips, skin etc is also a big part of the natural hair movement. As with earlier trends in textured hair, the natural hair movement has gained momentum today thanks to its adoption by some notable celebrities. The natural hair movement is about many things. The natural hair movement in Nigeria has been quite fascinating to watch. Once the ‘black power’ era kicked off in the sixties and continued into the seventies, natural hair became more readily embraced and promoted by the black community. This new powerful chemical treatment offered black women a way to straighten their hair more easily and for the effects to last longer- without the hot comb and correlating forehead and ear burns. I reveled in all of those compliments but I had no idea they were going to become few and far between. While the natural hair movement has gained momentum in the past few years, women have been choosing to embrace their God-given textures for much longer than that. Erica enjoys the versatility of natural hair, and the fact that she can wear different looks on a daily basis makes her free to enjoy life and celebrate both her inner and outer beauty. Cultural appropriation has — sort of — become a household term in western societies in recent years. By definition, cultural appropriation refers to the inappropriate or unacknowledged adoption of the ideas, practices, customs, etc. It’s a movement that’s grown to be center stage for embracing natural hair and has influenced the amount of confidence and beauty that black women see in themselves, the natural hair movement. Here is a little background history on black women’s natural hair. The Natural Hair Journey- How to Begin the Process of Going Natural, How to Dispel Common Misconceptions About Natural Hair, The NaySayers Were Wrong…Natural Hair Is Not Going Anywhere, Exploring the History of the Natural Hair Movement, How The Natural Hair Movement Empowered Me. Top Tips for Dealing with Black Hair Discrimination, Tyra Banks: My Natural Hair Almost Cost My Career, A Historical Perspective to Natural Hair Movement, Growth Tracking the Natural Hair Industry Over the Last Five Years, Lupita Nyong’o Inspires All Natural Women, How to Work Through the Highs and Lows of the Natural Hair Journey. Timeline created by facebooker_100000230599449. (And yes, some Black people have naturally straight hair as well.) Notify me of follow-up comments by email. How Do You Know If You Have Scab Hair? When we look back in history, natural hair dates back to slavery. Many black women were taught growing up that their hair grade and curl pattern was ‘good’, ‘kinky’ or even ‘nappy’. 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