It has been the yin to our yang for centuries, and I am not just speaking of black women. White women and white men wore weaves and wigs as well. In fact, some have dated its revolution back to 3,400 B.C! This was, of course, during the Egyptian times when women like Cleopatra wore wigs even in different colors. (The Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim hair beef has just been settled. You’re welcome.)
Today, when people think of hair weave, they predominantly think of that fake straight hair on that black girl’s head…annnnnnnnd this is where I come in.
The Nerve
I had a friend make a post on Facebook recently saying, “I HATE WEAVE!” His main point was that black women should feel beautiful wearing their natural hair. I actually agree with this statement. Yes! We should! Unfortunately, it will NEVER be that simple. Two words: America & Brainwashed. How about a little history?
It’s All About Control
First and foremost, we live in America aka “WHITE AMERICA.” Europeans brought us here and cut our hair as soon as we got on the boat! They labeled our hair NAPPY, which to them was UGLY and UNATTRACTIVE. For years we have been taught that straight hair was “good hair.” When the slave masters raped and impregnated black women slaves, the product was light-skinned mixed children with “good hair” who were usually the “house niggers” and were treated better than the “cotton picking field niggers”. Yeah, I’m going there.
We were taught that our hair was bad and needed to be fixed. As we evolved and became free, that’s when black people started experimenting with how to straighten our hair. Why? Because straight hair was what was accepted, and this wasn’t about what black people thought LOOKED better. It was about SURVIVAL. As crazy as that sounds, black women AND black men started using hot combs and chemicals to straighten their hair just to fit in society and to become more succesful in their careers.
Nice Try
For a time, there were some brave African-Americans who rocked their big Afros like the black panthers and were all for black power. The Afro was even accepted on shows like Soul Train where men and women portrayed having an Afro and being natural was beautiful, but you see how long that lasted in white America right? When was the last time you saw an Afro Sheen commercial?
The result?
Millions of black people ruining their hair! The beautiful, strong hair that once was, began falling out, becoming weak and brittle. Bald spots were appearing in African-American women’s heads from the lye in relaxers and we needed a fix…WEAVE.
Sidebar: Did you know that hair braiding was once not a money-making business?? We actually did each other’s hair for FREE. I’d like my money back, thanks.
Don’t Hate the Weave, Hate the Man.
If you want someone to blame, blame yourselves! You look at all the magazine covers, models, music videos, these urban party flyers and social media networks like Facebook and Instagram or listen to the lyrics of these rap songs who constantly portray black women with straight, flowing hair as the most beautiful. Also, did you know that some black women actually wear “kinky” weave. Yes, it exists! This is so that we can match our own textured hair for a longer hair look just as white women get their tracks and hair extensions for a more dramatic look. You’ll be surprised how many White, Latin, Indian, Asian and all other raced women wear hair weaves these days, even celebrities, but men are so quick to judge black women for it. This world has become filled with nothing but insecurity, myself included, so this statement is basically a big, F. U. America!
The Conclusion
Weave does not define us. Black women who wear weave should not be frowned upon by men ESPECIALLY black men! Number one: Every black woman is NOT wearing weave today because she wants to look white or wants to get a better job or wants to feel more pretty, some actually have no damn hair or are trying to grow back the natural hair that they lost, YOU FOOLS, so be patient!
Number Two: If your woman is wearing weave just because she does not like her natural hair and you truly love her, you can try to get her help, but still respect her because it came from something far deeper than anything you would ever understand.
Number Three: We are very sensitive about our hair. It is unfortunate, but you have to face reality. I am pretty sure the perception of beautiful hair by women is not going to change especially with all these new weave techniques, wig inventions and weave brands with all the Yaki, Straight, Remy, Virgin, Brazilian, Malaysian, Peruvian, Silky, Buttery Creamy smooth locks of just pure FLAWLESSNESS! <—–I made that up. Excuse the excitement.
AND, NO! YOU STILL CAN’T PULL IT.
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