Spaniards who colonized the area.
The Afro-Colombian hairstyles have origins from these times of slavery, when women would sit to comb their children’s hair after a backbreaking day of labor.
The braids were often used to relay messages between slaves, signal that they were going to escape, or even used to keep gold and seeds to help them survive after they would run away.
Because women slaves were initially perceived as a lesser threat, they would hide symbols and items in their hair that would mean various things. Although they were raped and treated as sexual objects to the slave master, their crown carried messages of hope and freedom.
The box braids [we saw in] the ‘90s and [even today] aren’t that different from the Eembuvi braids of Namibia or the chin-length bob braids of the women of the Nile Valley over 3,000 years ago.
Women weaved the hair into a fiber skull cap made from extremely durable materials, such as wool, felt and even human hair unlike the wig caps you find in most beauty supply stores today.
“Cowrie shells, jewels, beads and other meaningful items charmed box braids of earlier women eluding to their readiness to mate, emulation of wealth, high priesthood and various other classifications,” stylist and hair expert Eamon Fowler tells Ebony.com.
“Box braids were expensive in terms of time, material and installation. It could have been assumed that a woman who could afford to sit for many hours adorning her crown was indeed a woman of fortune.”
‘FRO ZEN: WINTER HAIR PREP
The winter is on its way, and if you live in the North its basically already here. Christmas music, candy canes, gifts, snow……split ends, brittle hair, hair battles with hats, hair snags from coat zippers – you catch my drift. It’s not all fun in the sun and snow these days.
Don’t let all of your hair goals go down the drain now that the frigid weather is upon us. With a little more tender love and care, your hair can thrive through the winter as well.
Hot Oil Treatments
Not only is it relaxing to run warm, moisturizing goodness through your hair and scalp, it’s a great way to pre-treat your hair prior to a good wintertime shampoo.
This makes sure that your hair doesn’t completely dry out from cleansing it. Try coating your hair with olive oil and sit with either a hot towel or heating cap on your head for 15-30 minutes before rinsing out.
Condition and Then Condition Some More
Finding a good conditioner is key to keeping your hair soft,