Braids serve as the universal tool in the world of hairstyle which is suitable for almost every occasion. Be it a classic French braid that you wear to the market or the dressy Dutch braid chignon you put on at the cocktail party. Be it for long or short hair, you will come across a stunning number of braided hairstyles that will help you attain a stylish look with very little effort. Some of the styles you can try that tales every little effort are side-swept waterfall braids, fishtail half-up braids, rope braid ponytails and braid crowns. Surprise everyone by switching between these gorgeous hairstyles at regular intervals and you’ll never have to get back to those messy buns.
The African history of braiding
Braid hairstyles that have turned into a fashion statement today are basically considered as a cultural symbol amongst the people of African people. There is a deep and age-old relationship between the history of African tribes and the cultural importance of braiding. Africa is one of the largest continents that include an innumerable number of tribes. The Zulu and Massai are two of the primary tribes. Others include Anlo-Ewe, Bambara, Ashanti, Bakongo, Afar, Amhara, Bemba etc. These tribes have different cultures and their unique hairstyles identify each tribe. The braids indicate their community, marital status, age, power, wealth, religion and social position. During special occasions like wedding, preparation of war or any social ceremonies rich and decorative patterns are done. Amongst the tribes, a lot of importance is given to the pattern of braiding. The art of braiding is usually taught by the expert senior members of the family to their daughters and close friends and it follows as tradition. By noticing the style of the braid you can identify to which tribe the person belongs to. The person who braids considers it as his or her social responsibility and does not expect any reward in return.
Common beliefs amongst the tribes
Some of the common beliefs of the tribal people regarding hair are:
- You must get a haircut only on a full moon day if you want it to grow longer.
- Two people should not braid another person’s hair at the same time, as it could result in the death of one of the groomers.
- Pregnant women should not braid the hair of other people.
- One should not cut a boy’s hair until he reaches a certain age.
- The hair that gets tangled on a brush should be burnt to avoid any kind of black magic spells.
- Women should never cut men’s hair.
- You should not thank a groomer, it is considered unlucky.
- Hair should not be combed or braided in an open space.
- During menstruation, women should keep their hair covered with scarves as menstruation is considered as an impure period.
- Braid hairstyles are considered as a common act amongst the tribal. It is known to establish a bond of brotherhood and friendship amongst the members.
- The African tribes are known to convey the cultural significance of braiding to the rest of the world.
