{"id":14883,"date":"2023-02-07T23:51:48","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T23:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/?p=14883"},"modified":"2023-02-07T23:51:48","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T23:51:48","slug":"history-of-black-hair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/history-of-black-hair\/","title":{"rendered":"Unraveling the History of Black Hair: Hair, Culture, and Identity in America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It seems like Black hair is always in the news, and we&#8217;re constantly hit with reports on celebrity fashion commentary or hair discrimination in the workplace. The history of Black hair goes back as far as the history of the human race, but not everyone knows how important it is to learn about the history behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/braids-black-women\/?utm_source=wordpress&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=braids_black_women&amp;utm_content=black_hairstyles\">Black hairstyles<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Black hair allows for so much versatility, whether you\u2019re committed to your silk press, love your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/locs-for-men\/\">locs<\/a>, or prefer to switch it up. Especially today, it\u2019s important for people of all races to know the history behind Black hair. When it comes to the freedom to wear your style without the stigma, hair is more than just hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading to learn more about the history of Black peoples\u2019 hair and the iconic moments that changed style history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-black-hair-and-identity\"><strong>Black hair and identity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1560\" height=\"1038\" src=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1.webp\" alt=\"Timeline covers key moments in Black hair history from 3000 B.C. to 1786.\" class=\"wp-image-14886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1.webp 1560w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1-856x570.webp 856w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1-1140x759.webp 1140w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1-768x511.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1-1536x1022.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1-600x399.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-1-1024x681.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">West African Statue: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_West_Africa#\/media\/File:Nok_sculpture_Louvre_70-1998-11-1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marie-Lan Nguyen via Wikipedia<\/a><br>Tignon Laws Painting: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tignon_law#\/media\/File:Portrait_of_Betsy.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Historic New Orleans Collection via Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>3000 B.C.: <\/strong>West Africans use braids as a way to communicate their identities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>15th century: <\/strong>The trade of enslaved people begins, leading to the stigmatization of Black peoples\u2019 hair.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1786: <\/strong>The Tignon Laws are passed in Louisiana, requiring that all Black women cover their hair with headscarves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When we talk about the history of Black hair in America, the roots of this history are actually in Africa. When enslaved people were brought to the Americas, they brought the culture of their hair with them. Black hairstyles were part of Black identity, so it\u2019s no surprise that these styles stuck around when people were removed from their homes, families, and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pre-colonial-era-african-roots-and-the-trade-of-enslaved-people\"><strong>Pre-colonial era: African roots and the trade of enslaved people<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The way Black people wear their hair has always been meaningful. Throughout Africa, braided styles were a way of <a href=\"https:\/\/quod.lib.umich.edu\/cgi\/t\/text\/text-idx?cc=mfsfront;c=mfs;c=mfsfront;idno=ark5583.0022.105;g=mfsg;rgn=main;view=text;xc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">communicating key information<\/a> to others without uttering a word. Particularly in West Africa, different hairstyles communicated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Familial ties<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tribal affiliation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marital status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Occupation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of this, Black hairstyles have always been more than just a cosmetic trend. As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/transatlantic-slave-trade\/The-Middle-Passage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trade of enslaved people<\/a> began, many Black people were forced to shave their heads or remove the hairstyles that were important to their identities. Black hair textures and styles were then heavily stigmatized as a way to dehumanize Black people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1786-tignon-laws-are-enacted\"><strong>1786: Tignon Laws are enacted<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the stigma, Black women continued to use their hair to express themselves. Just like today, they experimented with new styles of braids, gems, and beads. This was perceived by white people as both an act of defiance and a way to tempt men, which led to the passage of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vice.com\/en\/article\/j5abvx\/black-womens-hair-illegal-tignon-laws-new-orleans-louisiana\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tignon Laws<\/a> in Louisiana in 1786.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tignon Laws forced all Black women to hide their hair under headscarves. This restricted Black women\u2019s self-expression and turned their hair into a symbol of their oppression. Black women <a href=\"https:\/\/www.essence.com\/hair\/tignon-laws-cultural-appropriation-black-natural-hair\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fought against<\/a> the Tignon Laws by choosing colorful scarves or adorning their scarves with beads and jewels until 1803 when the laws were repealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-origin-of-black-hair-products\"><strong>Origin of Black hair products<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1560\" height=\"1648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2.webp\" alt=\"Timeline covers key moments in Black hair history from 1186 to 1954.\" class=\"wp-image-14889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2.webp 1560w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2-810x856.webp 810w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2-1079x1140.webp 1079w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2-768x811.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2-1454x1536.webp 1454w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2-600x634.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2-284x300.webp 284w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-2-969x1024.webp 969w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marcel Grateau: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hot_comb#\/media\/File:Walter_Sammons_hot_comb.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Walter Sammons via Wikipedia<\/a><br>Poro College Co: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Annie_Turnbo_Malone#\/media\/File:PoroCollegeDiploma.PNG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Julius F. Taylor via Wikipedia<\/a><br>Garrett A. Morgan: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garrett_Morgan#\/media\/File:Garrett_Morgan.gif\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">US Department of Transportation via Wikipedia<\/a><br>Madam C.J. Walker: (Artist Unknown) via <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Madam_C._J._Walker#\/media\/File:Madam_CJ_Walker_Manufacturing_Company,_Indianapolis,_Indiana_(1911).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikipedia<\/a><br>Johnson Products: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Johnson_Products_Company#\/media\/File:Afro_Sheen_Blowout_Kit,_Liquid.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Museum of American History via Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1886: <\/strong>Marcel Grateau\u2019s hot comb is marketed for the first time, initially to white European women.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1902: <\/strong>Annie Turnbo Malone founds the Poro College Company to sell cosmetics for Black people and teach them how to care for Black hair.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1905: <\/strong>Garrett A. Morgan accidentally creates the first chemical relaxer while experimenting with sewing solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1906: <\/strong>Madam C.J. Walker founds the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company and creates the Wonderful Hair Grower.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1954: <\/strong>Johnson Products Company creates the first at-home hair relaxer called Ultra Sheen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For many years, you could walk into a store and find hair care products marketed to white and non-Black people of color, but nothing that was suited for the curls and coils of Black peoples\u2019 hair. Scalp and hair issues were common in the Black community, which were both physically uncomfortable and impacted self-esteem. This was the motivating factor for many Black inventors who changed the cosmetics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1886-the-invention-of-the-hot-comb\"><strong>1886: The invention of the hot comb<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For hundreds of years, businesses believed that there was no Black consumer market for hair products, tools, or cosmetics. When Marcel Grateau marketed the <a href=\"https:\/\/nmaahc.si.edu\/explore\/stories\/sizzle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">first hot comb<\/a> in 1886, however, the beauty industry quickly learned it was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though Grateau marketed the hot comb first, no one\u2019s sure who truly invented it. It was originally marketed to white women who wanted to emulate the straight hair they saw in ancient Egyptian art, but Black people who straightened their hair quickly adopted the tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many Black people straightened their hair in an effort to reduce the hair stigma that they otherwise experienced. Hot combs were a bit easier to use than the clothing irons people used before, and allowed women to more easily style their own hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hot comb became one of the most iconic hair tools for the Black community. You can still find hot combs today, and they\u2019re exactly what you\u2019d think \u2014 heated combs that straighten hair as you brush it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1902-black-hair-products-are-first-sold\"><strong>1902: Black hair products are first sold<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by taking care of her sisters\u2019 hair, <a href=\"https:\/\/nmaahc.si.edu\/explore\/stories\/annie-malone-and-madam-cj-walker-pioneers-african-american-beauty-industry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Annie Turnbo Malone<\/a> wanted to create a place where people could learn to care for Black women\u2019s hair while providing the products to do so, and eventually founded Poro College Company. She was best known for the Poro Hair Grower and Special Hair Grower, but also sold makeup, wigs, hair wefts, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/madame-c-j-walker-5215655\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Madam C.J. Walker<\/a> got her start selling Poro College Company products, but eventually created her own. She was best known for Walker\u2019s Wonderful Hair Grower, and eventually became the first self-made female millionaire in the United States. Both Walker and Malone used their wealth to become philanthropists, giving back significantly to their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1560\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote.webp\" alt=\"\u201cI want the great masses of my people to take a greater pride in their appearance and to give their hair proper attention.\u201d \u2014 Madam C.J. Walker.\" class=\"wp-image-14892\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote.webp 1560w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote-856x439.webp 856w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote-1140x585.webp 1140w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote-768x394.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote-1536x788.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote-600x308.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote-300x154.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/madam-cj-walker-quote-1024x525.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Madam_C._J._Walker#\/media\/File:Madam_CJ_Walker_face_circa_1914.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scurlock Studio via Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Though people have been straightening their hair for hundreds of years, there wasn\u2019t a permanent solution until the 1900s. In 1905, a tailor named <a href=\"https:\/\/case.edu\/ech\/articles\/m\/morgan-garrett\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Garrett A. Morgan<\/a> accidentally invented hair relaxer. He was experimenting with solutions to help needles glide through fabric better and instead discovered that it worked as a chemical hair relaxer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Morgan realized what he\u2019d created, he established the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company and began selling his straightening cream. People who preferred straightening their hair headed to the salon, which saved them the time of styling their hair every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forty-nine years later, Johnson Products Company released <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackpast.org\/african-american-history\/groups-organizations-african-american-history\/johnson-products-company-1954\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ultra Sheen<\/a>. This was the first at-home relaxer product, though many different kinds are found on shelves today. Johnson Products Company eventually became the first Black-owned company in the American stock exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-reclaiming-natural-hairstyles\"><strong>Reclaiming natural hairstyles<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1560\" height=\"1038\" src=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3.webp\" alt=\"Timeline covers key moments in Black hair history regarding natural hair styles from the 1960s to 1999.\" class=\"wp-image-14890\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3.webp 1560w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3-856x570.webp 856w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3-1140x759.webp 1140w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3-768x511.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3-1536x1022.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3-600x399.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-3-1024x681.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Black Panther March: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Black_power_movement#\/media\/File:Black_Panther_March.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Department of Justice via Wikipedia<\/a><br>Cicely Tyson: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cicely_Tyson#\/media\/File:Cicely_Tyson_1973_(cropped).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Peters, Hans \/ Anefo via Wikipedia<\/a><br>Spike Lee: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spike_Lee#\/media\/File:Spike_Lee.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hans Reitzema via Wikipedia<\/a><br>Lauryn Hill: <a href=\"https:\/\/cs.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lauryn_Hill#\/media\/Soubor:LaurynHill.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lisa Liang via Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1960s: <\/strong>The Black Power movement fuels the resurgence of natural hairstyles for Black people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1962: <\/strong>Cicely Tyson becomes the first person to wear cornrows on TV.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1988: <\/strong>Spike Lee\u2019s \u201cSchool Daze\u201d explores how different Black hairstyles are perceived.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1999: <\/strong>Lauryn Hill is on the cover of Time magazine wearing locs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Black peoples\u2019 hair, new hairstyles and movements have emerged to counteract hair stigma. For example, we previously discussed how Black women decorated their headscarves as a way to fight against the Tignon Laws that required them to cover their hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many years, it was more socially acceptable for Black women to straighten their hair than to style it with its natural texture. Activists have always included conversations about hair stigma in their activism because stigma against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/natural-hair\/?utm_source=wordpress&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=natural_hair&amp;utm_content=natural_hair\">natural hair<\/a> is just one small part of the discrimination that Black people face every day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cHair is hair, yet also about larger questions: self-acceptance, insecurity, and what the world tells you is beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1960s-the-rise-of-the-black-power-movement\"><strong>1960s: The rise of the Black Power movement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/research\/african-americans\/black-power\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black Power movement<\/a> gained traction in the \u201860s, so did the conversation around wearing natural hairstyles. Though many activists wore afros, Angela Davis comes to mind for many when we think of this hairstyle. During this time, natural styles \u2014 the afro in particular \u2014 become countercultural symbols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1962, cornrows were depicted on TV for the very first time. In the TV drama \u201cEast Side\/West Side,\u201d Cicely Tyson sported the traditional braid style for the world to see \u2014 a major step toward normalizing natural hairstyles. Tyson was the first Black person to star in a drama on American TV, and her braids became instantly iconic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though Tyson was the first Black woman to bring her natural hair to TV over six decades ago, there\u2019s plenty of room for growth in how we view Black peoples\u2019 hair in modern media. It still felt revolutionary to see Lauryn Hill grace the cover of Time magazine in 1999, wearing her signature locs. Throughout the \u201890s, Time only featured 18 Black cover stars (including Hill) out of <a href=\"https:\/\/lithub.com\/when-they-put-lauryn-hill-on-the-cover-of-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">over 500 issues<\/a> of the magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1560\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote.webp\" alt=\"\u201cWe have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society.\u201d \u2014 Angela Davis.\" class=\"wp-image-14893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote.webp 1560w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote-856x439.webp 856w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote-1140x585.webp 1140w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote-768x394.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote-1536x788.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote-600x308.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote-300x154.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/angela-davis-quote-1024x525.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/oregonstateuniversity\/50595423266\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oregon State University via Flickr<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people might think that we\u2019re only just starting to discuss the negative effects of hair stigma, but the truth is that people have been pushing back against hair stigma for as long as it has existed. From the Tignon Laws to the Black Power movement, hair stigma has always been part of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1988, Spike Lee released the movie \u201cSchool Daze,\u201d touching on many important issues in the Black community. One of those topics was colorism and how the different ways Black people style their hair are met with different levels of stigma. This movie was groundbreaking in its honesty about hair stigma and was many viewers\u2019 first introduction to the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pop-culture-and-black-hair-creativity\"><strong>Pop culture and Black hair creativity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1560\" height=\"1038\" src=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4.webp\" alt=\"Timeline covers key moments in Black hair history regarding pop culture from the 1980s to 1993.\" class=\"wp-image-14891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4.webp 1560w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4-856x570.webp 856w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4-1140x759.webp 1140w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4-768x511.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4-1536x1022.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4-600x399.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-4-1024x681.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Grace Jones: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/angusmci\/51380721878\/in\/photolist-2mhkCx9-8rRAY2-8rRAVF-8rRAWX-2iz8bwh-7kddp-7kddr-bFcS7-5i1h4H-5wKpmb-5wKjmo-5wF1ak-GQsjUK-6vbXFt-5SeGf9-5SagW2-5Sey1N-5SaeYP-5SamuH-5SakLc-5SezP7-5SeHKL-5SeDB5-5SacSn-5Sak7v-5SeCRW-5SeFnQ-5Sano4-5SajDk-5i37YE-5hXKSc-2Crfr1-7D7PHj-bFcky-7Ldvvg-2eFZt1j-G2LmHT-2hHX1TT-qiqnGx-qzLBkd-qiqndr-r6BVFR-qzQ3rn-pD4LH8-pD4Lya-qzEXjH-qihijU-qxy7iq-qzEwTZ-qzLsD5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Angus McIntyre via Flickr<\/a><br>Michael Jackson: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Jackson#\/media\/File:Michael_Jackson_in_1988.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoran Veselinovic via Wikipedia<\/a><br><em>Fresh Prince: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Fresh_Prince_of_Bel-Air#\/media\/File:The_Fresh_Prince_of_Bel-Air_Cast.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Fair Use<\/em><\/a><br><em>Poetic Justice: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Poetic_Justice_(film)#\/media\/File:Poetic_Justice_(1993_movie_poster).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Fair Use<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1980s: <\/strong>Style icon Grace Jones debuts her high top fade.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1982: <\/strong>Michael Jackson releases \u201cThriller,\u201d sparking Jheri curls as the latest trend.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1990s: <\/strong>The golden age of Black sitcoms allows people to see their favorite characters sport a variety of hairstyles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1993: \u201c<\/strong>Poetic Justice\u201d is released and Janet Jackson\u2019s box braids become the latest trend.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Mass media nurtures the spread of knowledge and ideas, so it\u2019s no surprise that pop culture and TV all had a significant impact on Black hair trends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cFor young black girls, hair is not just something to play with, it is something that is laden with messages, and it has the power to dictate how others treat you, and in turn, how you feel about yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Cheryl Thompson (<a href=\"https:\/\/quod.lib.umich.edu\/cgi\/t\/text\/text-idx?cc=mfsfront;c=mfs;c=mfsfront;idno=ark5583.0022.105;g=mfsg;rgn=main;view=text;xc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Source<\/a>)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1980s-grace-jones-debuts-her-high-top-fade\"><strong>1980s: Grace Jones debuts her high top fade<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many recognizable style moments from TV, movies, and music also influenced key hair trends for Black people from the 1970s and on. When Grace Jones added acting to her resume in the early \u201880s, she also started wearing her iconic high top fade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jones is an established editorial fashion expert \u2014 always sporting daring makeup and groundbreaking looks. She\u2019s known for playing with androgyny in her fashion. The high top fade was a traditionally masculine look, but Grace Jones paved the way for other Black women to wear what they wanted, regardless of gender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1982-michael-jackson-releases-thriller\"><strong>1982: Michael Jackson releases \u201cThriller\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For men\u2019s hair, defined, tight curls called Jheri curls became all the rage. Jheri curls were invented by Irish-American hairstylist Jheri Redding in the \u201870s. This style didn\u2019t truly explode until the early \u201880s, however, when Michael Jackson released \u201cThriller.\u201d The iconic music video and album cover show off his coils and are a major reason this style became so popular among the Black community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1560\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote.webp\" alt=\"\u201cI believe in individuality, that everybody is special, and it\u2019s up to them to find that quality and let it live.\u201d \u2014 Grace Jones.\" class=\"wp-image-14894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote.webp 1560w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote-856x439.webp 856w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote-1140x585.webp 1140w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote-768x394.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote-1536x788.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote-600x308.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote-300x154.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/grace-jones-quote-1024x525.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grace_Jones#\/media\/File:Grace_Jones_@_Fremantle_Park_(17_4_2011)_(5648773026).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stuart Sevastos via Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1990s-and-2000s-the-golden-age-of-black-sitcoms\"><strong>1990s and 2000s: The golden age of Black sitcoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The next cultural wave came in the \u201890s and early 2000s, which was the golden age of Black sitcoms. Shows like \u201cThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,\u201d \u201cMoesha,\u201d \u201cGirlfriends,\u201d and \u201cSister, Sister\u201d were mainstream favorites across the country.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These sitcoms featured a range of Black hairstyles, from Brandy\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/microbraids\/?utm_source=wordpress&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=microbraids&amp;utm_content=micro_braids\">micro braids<\/a> to the Mowry twins\u2019 long curls. People watched their favorite characters switch up their hairstyles and evolve as the shows went on, finding new sources of hair inspiration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/what-are-box-braids\/?utm_source=wordpress&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=what_box_braids&amp;utm_content=box_braids\">Box braids<\/a> also made a big comeback in the mid-\u201890s and are still popular today. Many people attribute this to Janet Jackson\u2019s character from \u201cPoetic Justice.\u201d Her long braids in the movie made audiences jealous and had women requesting similar looks in salons across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;When my daughter became old enough, she wanted to have straight hair[\u2026] and then I would find myself after I straightened her hair telling her to not do things that you would want kids to do. I would say, \u2018Don\u2019t run in water. Don\u2019t jump in puddles.\u2019[&#8230;] I could hear myself restricting her and taking away some of the freedoms that a child should have.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Angela Onwuachi-Willig (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/radio\/ideas\/tangled-roots-decoding-the-history-of-black-hair-1.5891778\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Source<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-natural-hair-in-the-21st-century\"><strong>Natural hair in the 21st century<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1560\" height=\"1038\" src=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5.webp\" alt=\"Timeline covers key moments in Black hair history from the 2010s to 2019.\" class=\"wp-image-14888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5.webp 1560w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5-856x570.webp 856w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5-1140x759.webp 1140w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5-768x511.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5-1536x1022.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5-600x399.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/history-of-black-hair-5-1024x681.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Content Creator: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/woman-teaching-yoga-on-live-streaming-at-home-royalty-free-image\/1367719248?adppopup=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Portra via Getty<\/a><br>CROWN Act: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/customer-shaking-hands-with-car-salesman-buying-a-royalty-free-image\/1356380314?adppopup=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FG Trade via Getty<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2010s: <\/strong>Black content creators fuel a resurgence of natural style trends.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2019: <\/strong>The CROWN Act is written in an effort to end hair discrimination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With the internet and later the rise of social media, people encouraged and nurtured hair styling as a creative outlet. Black people experimented with mixing different braid styles, trying new hair colors, and accessorizing with beads and clips.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Black people could share their top tips, favorite products, and new styling ideas with people around the world. If someone wanted to learn anything about hair care or styling, they just had to drop a question on a forum and wait for the responses to roll in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though there were long-established braiding salon cultures in many cities, people struggled to find them in more rural areas, which made the internet a valuable tool for learning about hair. As more people became educated on caring for natural hair, it became easier to find hairstylists who knew how to work with Black peoples\u2019 hair without relaxing or straightening it first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the 2010s hit, YouTube became a place where beauty content flourished, and people shared videos about their skin, makeup, and hair routines. Content creators found their niches and it became clear that there was a demand for people who wanted advice on styling their natural hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2010s-black-content-creators-emerge-on-youtube\"><strong>2010s: Black content creators emerge on YouTube<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Black content creators began showing off their favorite products, wash day routines, and posting tutorials for their go-to natural styles on YouTube. The popularity of these content creators helped make natural hairstyles more mainstream.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the first time, you could find someone whose hair looked exactly like yours and discover a wealth of information about how they achieved different looks. YouTube democratized learning about natural hair and made it easier to self-educate than ever before.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the new natural hair movement undoubtedly started on YouTube, it spread from there as people began careers as influencers across social media platforms. Natural hairstyles became even more mainstream. Before this time, you\u2019d have difficulty finding ads and other media featuring people showing off their natural hairstyles unless it was specifically created for Black audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2019-the-crown-act-is-written\"><strong>2019: The CROWN Act is written<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like with any trend that meets pushback, the resurgence in popularity of natural hairstyles came with a resurgence of negative stereotypes about natural hair. Natural hairstyles from this point on were labeled as \u201cunprofessional,\u201d a stereotype that is still perpetuated today. This has led to many workplaces adopting grooming policies, which disproportionately affect Black people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cShe said that dreadlocks were \u2018truly dreadful,\u2019 and that the office was not a place for such \u2018political\u2019 hairstyles. Whether they are casual comments about texture or blatant insults, many Black women feel that there is a price to pay for sporting a natural \u2018do.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Cheryl Thompson (<a href=\"https:\/\/quod.lib.umich.edu\/cgi\/t\/text\/text-idx?cc=mfsfront;c=mfs;c=mfsfront;idno=ark5583.0022.105;g=mfsg;rgn=main;view=text;xc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Source<\/a>)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Grooming policies refer to when a school or workplace has specific rules about how employees and students can wear their hair, do their makeup, and dress. Common grooming policies prohibit facial piercings, visible tattoos, or unnatural hair colors. Some policies will explicitly list hairstyles that aren\u2019t allowed \u2014 such lists almost always include popular natural styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Legally, grooming policies can be different for men and women as long as the two sets of rules take equal effort to meet. However, there are no explicit protections to ensure that these rules don\u2019t affect one race more than another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of years of hair discrimination and natural hair being labeled as \u201cunprofessional,\u201d hairstyles such as locs, twists, afros, and cornrows are often listed as breaking grooming policies. Many policies circumvent banning specific styles and will instead require that people keep their hair \u201cneat,\u201d which allows managers to freely discriminate if they have negative opinions on natural styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2019, the CROWN Coalition wrote and introduced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrownact.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the CROWN Act<\/a>. CROWN stands for \u201ccreating a respectful and open world for natural hair.\u201d The act prohibits race-based hair discrimination and ensures that Black people everywhere are free to wear natural styles to school or work without worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The CROWN Coalition surveyed 2,067 women in 2016 to ask about hair policies in the workplace. Their key findings include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>80 percent<\/strong> of Black women say they need to change their hair from its natural state to fit in at the office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black women are <strong>1.5 times<\/strong> more likely to be sent home from work due to their hair.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black women\u2019s hair is <strong>3.4 times<\/strong> more likely to be labeled \u201cunprofessional.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The CROWN Act is law in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrownact.com\/about#:~:text=19%20States%20Down%2C%2031%20To%20Go\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">19 states<\/a> and certain counties or cities across the country. There are only five states where the legislation hasn\u2019t been filed, and no counties or cities have this law. In 2022, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman brought this legislation to the House of Representatives and it passed. But it didn\u2019t pass when Cory Booker brought it to the Senate floor, and it will need to be re-introduced in 2023.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Black hair is beautiful and versatile at any texture. At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/m\/?utm_source=wordpress&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=home&amp;utm_content=styleseat\">StyleSeat<\/a>, we want you to feel comfortable with your tresses, regardless of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/hair-type-quiz\/?utm_source=wordpress&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=hair_type_quiz&amp;utm_content=hair_type\">hair type<\/a>. Though there\u2019s plenty of room for improvement to combat hair stigma in the United States, there\u2019s still a lot to be proud of in the history of Black hair, thanks to the innovators and advocates of Black hair. Style your curls, braids, or sleek strands with confidence and know that you\u2019re carrying on a tradition that goes back centuries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about the history of Black hair, hair stigma, and the status of hair discrimination today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14884,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[87,97],"tags":[103],"class_list":["post-14883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hair","category-trends","tag-natural-hair"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Unraveling the History of Black Hair - StyleSeat<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The history of Black hair is closely tied with Black peoples\u2019 freedom. From African origins to the CROWN Act, learn where hair stigma comes from and how it still exists today.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.styleseat.com\/blog\/history-of-black-hair\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Unraveling the History of Black Hair - StyleSeat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The history of Black hair is closely tied with Black peoples\u2019 freedom. 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