The History of Natural Hair

The afro is in no way a new concept, but the newest iteration of the decades old hairstyle is taking a firm hold. A new report says that black women's transition to natural styles is having a huge economic impact, which is leading many to believe that this is not a fad, but a permanent shift.

For decades black women have been inundated with a gadgets, creams, and tonics claiming to be the “cure” for kinks and coils. Hot combs and straightening irons have been in the black woman’s arsenal since the 1800s, but it was the relaxer — or perm — that made the permanent straightening of curls and coils a reality. By the mid 20th century, every beauty shop was stocked with a barrel of relaxer, ready, willing, and waiting to tackle whatever kinks walked in the door. But then came the '60s and the Black Power Movement.

Created to reawaken racial pride and promote black interests politically and socially, the Black Power Movement was a force aiming to change the black community’s view of itself and the power it held in the world. One of the movement's prime targets was the practice of straightening black hair.

Fast forward to 2007 as cultural anthropologists began noticing a new natural hair movement. The new push had no political agenda and was not an organized effort. Instead, individual women across the country began transitioning on their own accord and for their own reasons.

“The '70s movement was about making a political statement and couched within that was the goal of recapturing black power and recapturing the black is beautiful message,” Patrice Yursik. To Yursik, the new movement is about choice and the freedom to choose, which is its own brand of empowerment.

Fast Forward to 2017:

Pinterest deems Natural Hair as top beauty trends tor 2017.

Don't believe me.........Research for yourself!