By Loveness Mawisire, In Africa, the look of a woman’s hair has always played a crucial role in defining her. African women have always believed that decorative hairstyles enhance their beauty.
There are different messages attached to every woman’s hairstyle. Every hairstyle gives an impression on the image of a person.
In African context, the hair of a woman places value on her and makes her proud of her roots.
Hairstyles have always had symbolic meanings in different tribes and traditions.
Nowadays many have come up with a way to modernise African hairstyles such “magodi/ mabhanzi”.
It is now a tale of the past to think of beauty when one has an African hairstyle yet it is a unique style that defines the beauty of African women.
I conducted a snap survey around hair salons recently , observing different hairstyles that women were being plaited.
One of my observations though was that African hairstyles are no longer as popular compared to modern hairstyles like Brazilian weaves and stuff.
If one plaits magodi/mabhanzi, they are classified as poor, who cannot afford expensive hair extensions and hair chemicals.
“If I plait my clients those simple African hairstyles like free-hand I do not make as much profit so I have to encourage my clients to go for these modern hairstyles,” said one of the hair dressers.
Some women prefer short natural hair, because it is cheaper to maintain.
Western influence on hair has somehow eroded the confidence of many African women who always feel the need to have straightened up hair or extensions.
During the times of slavery, African hairstyles were used as a way of communication among the slaves. It was a language that the whites could not understand or notice. It was a very brave way of deceiving the whites.
Cornrows were used as an escape map from slavery. The idea is said to have started in Colombia by a King captured from Africa around 17th century who created his own language through cornrows .
According to the Washington post, an example of a signal that they wanted to escape, women could braid a hairstyle called departes, which had thick tight braids, braided closesly to the scalp and was tied into a bun on the top. This would actually communicate a certain message amongst the slaves.
The African history of hairstyles dates back from the black Afro- American women at the time of slavery.
This is why it is important for us as black women to embrace our natural hairstyles. Take pride in your crown African queen.