Hair. From tight coils, to loose curls, from box braids to cornrows, from finger waves to Bantu knots. These are all such versatile styles, though despite the beauty and art that comes with the stylisation of hair, many people see it as a nuisance. Something to get over and done with, and they treat it with an air of annoyance, given the time and patience it requires. This is unfortunate, as hair care could be such a delightful period if they just shifted their perspective.
To find how to move forwards, sometimes we can look to our ancestors and the people of the past for guidance. In the book Colonised Hair, Decolonised Mind, Narisse delves into this, stating “Managing and shaping hair was a special time of bonding for those involved… It was the time for women to laugh, catch up on the many things going on in their family and the society they were living in,” She then adds “Many tribes expressed their cultural identity through their members’ hair. This promoted self-esteem, self-respect, a sense of belonging and a healthy sense of pride.”
This highlights how hair styling wasn’t just an activity to get over and done with, it was a bonding experience and it helped reinforce relationships between family, friends and the general society. Hairstyles alone could tell you someone’s region, approximate age, marital statues and even if they were in mourning. That’s how important hair was to the greater scheme of life.
Narisse goes on to explain that Africa wasn’t the only place hair was held dear – in Native American societies, hair was never cut unless they experienced a significant loss. Hair was in fact perceived as an extension of themselves, their hopes, dreams and prayers and so they ritualised and romanticised their relationship with their own beautiful tresses.
Of course, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s a little difficult to delegate intricate routines to our hair, though a little goes a long way. Simply including gratitude and a gentle hand when handling your hair can help honour its overall importance to your being.
