By Titilayo Kupoliyi
A woman’s hair is her beauty as a popular maxim says hair is a source of pride and expression of identity.
Infact, some African societies regards the hair as a sacred symbol believed to connect people with the divine.
Hairstyles could also tell a lot about someone’s age, marital status, wealth, and rank in a society.
It is of utmost importance to note that, African women use various natural materials, techniques to style and adorn their hair. These materials include clay, oils, herbs, shells, beads, feathers, and metal.
They also develop tools such as combs, pins, and razors to shape and cut their hair.
Some of the most common and distinctive hairstyles in pre-colonial Africa were:
Afro: A round and voluminous hairstyle that showcases the natural texture and curl pattern of the hair. It was worn by both men and women of various ethnic groups such as the Wolof, Mende, Mandingo, and Yoruba.
Braids: A hairstyle that involves dividing the hair into sections and weaving them together in various patterns and sizes. Braids could be worn in simple or complex designs, and could be decorated with beads, shells, or other accessories. Braids were popular among women and children of many cultures such as the Fulani, Hausa, Zulu, and Ndebele.
Cornrows: This type of braids are plaited close to the scalp in straight or curved lines.
Cornrows could be worn in geometric or symbolic patterns, and could also be used to create other hairstyles, such as buns, mohawks, or crowns. Cornrows were worn by both men and women of various cultures such as the Ewe, Ashanti, Igbo, and Yoruba.
Locs: A hairstyle that involves matting or locking the hair together into sections that hang down from the scalp. Locs could be formed naturally or intentionally, and could vary in thickness, length, and shape. Locs were worn by both men and women of various cultures, such as the Maasai, Nubian, Berber, and Rastafari.
Sadly, however, the arrival of European colonizers and traders in Africa had a profound impact on the culture and identity of African people, including their natural hair.
The Europeans imposed their own standards of beauty and civilization on Africans, and often discriminated, oppressed, and enslaved them based on their physical appearance.
As a result, many Africans were forced or coerced to change their natural hair styles and adopt more European ones such as straightening, cutting, or covering their hair.
Some Africans also internalized the negative stereotypes and prejudices of the Europeans, and developed a sense of inferiority and shame about their natural hair.
In the 1700s, traders used to shave their slaves’ heads as a way of erasing their cultural identity, and this was a huge dehumanizing act that damaged their connection with their culture.
As a result, many African women make us of hair relaxer to straighten their hair, which according to report is injurious to their health.
A study published last in 2024 from Boston University suggests that Black women who have used relaxers more than twice a year or for more than five years have a 50% increase in uterine cancer risk.
It is therefore, not out of place if women go back to the roots and embrace hair care routines as obtainable in the olden days for a healthier hair.
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