Hairstyle as a sign of cultural and spiritual symbol in ancient Africa .In some tribes,
Short Bob Wig
one’s hairstyle was the perfect sign to identify a person’s marital status, age, religion, wealth, and rank in society. It was considered the most elevated part of the body that worked as a connection with the divine. For instance, in Yoruba culture, the braid was considered to be a medium to send messages to the gods.
Transatlantic slave trade and the challenges to maintaining hair.Nearly 12 million African men, women, and children were forcefully enslaved before the 19th century, and the first thing their enslavers
Wig Outlet
would do to them was shave off their hair. It was a dehumanizing act intended to strip away their connection to their culture. From there, haircare was difficult – slaves didn’t have access to the herbal treatments, oils, and combs that were used before. Instead, they had to make use of the few resources they could access. Some slaves used bacon grease, butter, and even kerosene to treat their hair, and used cornmeal as a dry shampoo.
Hair texture as a determiner of value.
Straight Human Hair Wig
Hair texture used to play a vital role in deciding the value of a slave. Slaves with coily hair and dark skin were considered “unattractive and inferior” while slaves with lighter skin and straighter hair would secure more desirable positions in a house. This would lead to many slaves risking their lives to straighten their hair using hot butter knives or chemicals.
