The Evolution of Black Hair

African American women's health, hair politics, and physical activities. Studies show that African American women tend to pay more attention to their hair instead of their health issues. Researches came up with a theoretical argument to figure out why hair matter for some women. They discover that hair presents a barrier to exercise in that the time and economic restrictions involved in maintaining a hairstyle post exercise for physical activity as prohibitive. This study provides some perception about the relationship between hair and health for African American women and suggests that extra attention is justified to address views about beauty ideals and hairstyles as a barrier to exercise (Versey, 2014, p. 2015)

There has been a notable amount of conversation on the internet on the rebirth of the natural hair movement. Cherise Luter (2014) states that despite afros and the natural hair movement not being a new concept (i.e. the Black Power Movement), it has gone under what she calls a “refreshing change”. Furthermore, what used to be “I’m black and I’m proud”, has been replaced with “I’m me and I’m proud” (Luter 2016). So, what is the natural hair movement? It is defined as a movement where black women decide to not conform to the social norms of chemically altering their hair and wearing it in its natural, kinky, or curled state (Joignot 2015). The movement could also be considered as an outlet for black women to display their racial and cultural pride or to articulate their “political position (Brown 2014:297). However, simply the terminology “movement” is something that should be shocking to many. There is a great amount of historical context behind the continuous influence Eurocentric beauty ideals have had on black women for centuries. According to Nadia Brown (2014), Black natural hair throughout history has proven to be recognized as “either unintended or intended personal and political statements” (298). the beauty standard in Western society which praises European hair textures, has influenced many black women to be critical of other black women who choose to chemically straighten their hair, accusing them of being subservient to the dominant and pervasive racist

As times got tough, people reverted to racism and discrimination to appear superior. As a result of this, African Americans were deprived and forced into poverty based on skin color. White men of the time used

African American women have different types of hair. For example hair can either be course, fine, and medium textures. The way hair is determined its by circumference and the condition of the cuticle. Fine texture has a small circumference and closed cuticle. Coarse hair it has much larger circumference and the cuticle is much more open. They are often broken down into different types of hair such as African Caribbean, Asian, and Caucasian (European). African Caribbean is usually displayed as a tightly curled and often very dark. “African Caribbean hair is almost kidney shaped when seen in cross section.” (Anoymous, 2013) This type of is usual damage easily. Asian hair is usually “often straight and has a tendency to be lank.” They come in variety of colors for example a dark to medium brown. It usually is thick and strong. Then you have Caucasian or European which can be straight, wavy or curly. They are usually from a dark to medium brown and it also can be thick and strong. “The texture of hair can be vary significantly according to hair color and racial type” (Anoymous, 2013, p. 1)

The Mintel market intelligence agency has some thought provoking research on the Natural hair movement and sale changes over the years. From the years 2008 to 2013 hair relaxer sales have declined 26%. From the years 2013 to 2015 hair relaxer sales have dropped 18.6%. These reports really show how natural hair is really changing. This also leads down the road or how prevalent relaxed hair is. Yes, Garrett Augustus Morgan did create the relaxer on accident almost, but why did it take off and become almost the social norm amongst African

During these years of radical reconstruction, the African Americans were going through some very tough times. The laws that were put on them were harsh and unreasonable. All they wanted to do was becomes socially and economically apart of the United States. Groups like the KKK were unfair towards the blacks and made their lives miserable by holding rallies and killing them. As a result of reconstruction, the blacks were not given social or economic equality because of laws like the black codes and Jim Crow laws, and the rebellious whites in the south. These African Americans struggled just to support themselves, but whites eventually accepted them at the end of the

When the African Americans were introduced to slavery, they didn't accept what was happening to them and how they were being treated, but as time passed working for their masters, not only physical, but mental abuse took its toll and soon they began to believe the way they were living was normal and alright.

Besides all the other growing issues from 1700-1800 in American History, there was one rising above all. The enslavement of the African people. While there was much debate about freedom, abolition, and all other things some African-Americans managed to find theirs. From 1775 to 1830 many African-Americans gained freedom by escaping to regions in which slavery wasn’t practiced or by purchasing it if granted while all at the same time the expansion of slavery greatly expanded in the American south. Free or enslaved, African-American were under constant oppression and were driven to take action towards the challenges they were faced with. While some looked to religion to escape these hardships, others looked to violence in which they believed

With increased education and European ideals bleeding over to America people started to change and see that everyone, blacks, and whites, were the same and following the Christian ideals of the time saw that slavery of another person, not the property was wrong.

One-hundred years before it was socially acceptable for white people to own people with dark skin, forcing them to partake in grueling, harsh physical labor. Then the abolitionist movement came and changed the ethics and morals of those ideas that were viewed as acceptable at the time. African-Americans were freed, but were still limited in rights. After many protests and many acts that would now be considered hate crimes, they were given equal rights. In a relatively short period of one hundred-fifty years, African Americans went from being treated as if they were work-horses or pigs, to being treated as normal American citizens, and the ethics of how African Americans are treated all changed, and if people treat African Americans in such a way again, it would be considered unconstitutional and a hate crime, showing how much ethics

Since the first slaves arrived in America in 1619, to Jamestown, Virginia in order to harvest tobacco , African Americans have been faced with many oppressions and have faced a long fight for freedom. After the abolishment of slavery due to the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865, formally the 13th Amendment, lead to the Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era brought great hope for African Americans. This brought some change, many schools were establish and blacks were elected into public offices. This period became known as the “Negro Rule” Era, unfortunately, their progress was short lived.

Black people lost their freedom as oppression began, their identity was lost. Their traditions and love for nature were nowhere to be found as they forgot their languages, origin, and cultures. Their destiny was in the hands of their masters even their future generations for they surrendered into slavery.

Since the early 1900s, Black women have had a fascination with their hair. More explicitly, they have had a fascination with straightening their hair. The need to be accepted by the majority class has caused them to do so. Though the image of straight hair as being better than coarse hair still hasn’t left the Black community, there has been a surge of non straight hairstyles since the nineteen sixties. Wearing more natural hairstyles, which ironically enough include ‘weaves’ and ‘hair extensions’ has been considered to be more empowered and more enlightened. However, this image comes with a price, and though it appears the ‘natural’ hairstyle movement has advanced Black women, it has actually set

Black people lost their freedom as oppression began, their identity was lost. Their traditions and love for nature were nowhere to be found as they forgot their languages, origin, and cultures. Their destiny was in the hands of their masters even their future generations for they surrendered into slavery.

Over the course of the last few years the volume of information on how to take care of black hair has grown exponentially. Social media has provided us with easy access to this information and in response black hair has become the rave. Having African American hair is an exciting journey. It’s a marathon and not a sprint so no matter how long you’ve had your black hair in its natural state you will continue to learn and mature in the ways you take care of it. Here are the top 5 things you absolutely need to know about caring for black hair.