The history of African American Hair Care in America is complex and at times the center of political discussions concerning Black Women in reference to Image, Employment, U.S. Military Requirements, and American Beauty Standards just to name a few areas of concern.
First, think about the continent of Africa and its people hundreds of years ago. Imagine being African and loving yourself, your skin, facial features, hair, and then finding yourself chained by the wrists and ankles on a huge Slave Ship (Human Cargo). There you are chained without any of the things you used to beautify yourself, i.e., (African pick or comb, clothes). Tightly coiled, thick, African textured hair is just one of the physical attributes that connects African Americans to their African roots. Hair has always been an important physical attribute in African tribal culture. Black Americans struggled throughout American slavery (1501-1865) with a variety of issues, but hair was a major concern for Black women. There were many reasons why Black women would cover their hair with bandanas or head coverings, and scarves. i.e., no comb, dusty, dirty work conditions, not allowed time to tend to hair maintenance, Bandana Laws, ie., 1786 Louisiana Tignon Law. Often times their hair may have been braided under their scarves. As time progressed in 1872 the hot comb was patented by Annie Malone, and the hot comb continues to be used today by some African American Women to straighten their hair. Straightened hairstyles also known as Press ‘n Curl Hairstyles are still currently worn by African American Women. Straight hairstyles are considered conservative, professional and appropriate in Corporate America. Madame C.J. Walker invented a line of African-American hair care products in 1905 that helped to straighten African Textured Hair. Black women with tightly coiled African textured hair also used chemical relaxers to straighten their hair. During the 1960’s and 70’s Black Women and Men wore their hair in large Afros and Cornrow and other elaborate African Braided styles. Nowadays, African Americans are wearing a myriad of natural hair styles (futuristic and classic), including Sisterlocks, Traditional Rastafarian Locks, Two Strand Twists, Nubian Knots, Micro Locks and a wide variety of traditional and/or contemporary African Braided hairstyles. Today African Americans are embracing their natural hair …anything goes …and it’s all good!