If you are interested in African hair braiding but are unsure of what its roots are, this blog post of Anna Hair Braiding Barber and Salon is just for you.
African braiding has long had its roots among both women and men of African descent. Similar to other braiding forms that consist of 3 sections of hair that are interwoven, there are several styles of African braiding done today.
Not only is this a way to style hair that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing, but African braiding was also created to differentiate between the different African tribes. Different style variations often indicated several social attributes, such as age, marital status, and kinship between villages. The skill of braiding has been passed down through generations over thousands of years.
This form of braiding made its way out of Africa during slavery, when women, men, and children were taken from their homes and transported to other countries. African braiding to this day has continued to flourish; however, back then it was used by slaves to retain a form of their identity and culture, thus allowing them to assert their independence in a subtle way, which most of their captors did not realize. After the abolishment of slavery, traditional braiding in the United States became less popular as many African-American women tried to adopt the more “white” hairstyles.
A resurgence of African braiding finally occurred in America in the 1950s, with the black pride movement. It continues to be a popular style today, although it is now carried out in specialized African hair braiding salons. Popularity also continues because of the flow of immigrants into America, which helps to reaffirm and renew the more traditional styles.
We hope that you found our post informative, if you would like details on our services, please do not hesitate to call us today at (720) 299-0965, we are based in the Denver, CO area.