I Am Not My Hair

Hair for an African American women can arguably be her most cared-about feature. Let's take a look at how is has changed through the years...

 

1619-1863

African American slave women probably had the most less-desirable and mismanaged hair off all time. Working 18-hour shifts in hot fields will do that to a women. When looking at photos, you will probably see slave women's hair being wrapped up or very short. This is probably because hair was such a small concern and matter of importance in relation to work that needed to get done on a daily basis. Alot of times hair was simply cornrowed. The desire to appear attractive or desirable was a small matter to African American back then given that most did not have much of a social life. Link

1920's

The period of the 1920's was a time in which the true beauty of African American Women started to emerge and become recognized by the rest of society. The creation of relaxers and certain hair products began to emerged making hair much more manageable and appealing. Women began to style their hair much more elegantly in pin-up fashions in relation to the white women of the time. The "whiter" the hair, the better. Link

1930's-50's

Through the years of the 1930-50's much of the hair styles stayed in much of close relation to that of white women. Anytime white women would create a new hair style, black women would follow in pursuit. During this time also, the creation of wigs was introduced the the world. Because African American women were never known to hair long and silky hair like the white women, wigs were the closest thing they had and they became extremely desirable. Though they were not the exact same as the white women, they were the closet thing they had. Link

1960's - 70's

During this time, the forever famous afro was introduces into popular society. Though many other hairstyles were worn at the time, the afro-puff surged throughout the United States. Almost everywhere you went you would see African Americans rocking their afros. The bigger the fro, the more attractive. During this time, dreads also began to gain their popularity.

1980's -90's

This is the time when African American hair began to expand and become extremely versatile. At the start of the 80's the Jheri Curl was a very popular popular hair style making hair appear to have a natural seek and silky curl. However, this ended quickly as women began to color their hair and use better quality relaxers. Black women began to get their hair bone straight just like white women. The straighter the hair the better. Weaves were also introduced around this time which began a worldwide epidemic over night. African American flocked to the idea of being able to make their hair inches longer over night (though it wasn't actually theirs). Braids also were given a much more fashionable and desire appeal during this time. 

Today


In today's society, the fashion of hair really has no limits. Whether hair is long, short, curly, straight, colored, highlighted, real, fake, natural, relaxed, it is all fashionable. As long as your hair looks good on you, it will always be complimented. Hair in today's world has no restrictions.