BIX BRAIDS HOW TO

It originally considered their natural hair 'not neat' and the protective styles 'unprofessional'. There were concerns and comments that these regulations were too restrictive for African American women. In 2014, the army reviewed its policies and made changes to it. Army has strong regulations and restrictions on hairstyles for both men and women. People belonging to a tribe could easily be identified by another tribe member with the help of a braid pattern or style. Elaborate patterns were done for special occasions like weddings, social ceremonies or war preparations. Hair was seen as a symbol of fertility, as thick, long tresses and neat, clean hair symbolised ability to bear healthy daughters. Members of royalty would often wear elaborate hairstyles as a symbol of their stature, and those in mourning, usually women, would pay some attention to their hair during the period of grieving. Hair styling was entrusted only to close relatives, as it was explained that if a strand fell into the hands of an enemy, harm could come to the hair's owner. Africans believed that hair could help with divine communication as it was the elevated part of one's body. Hair was and is a very important and symbolic part of different African communities. Cowry shells, jewels, beads and other material items adorned box braids of older women alluding to their readiness to have daughters, emulation of wealth, high priesthood and any other classifications. Human hair was at one point wefted into fiber wig caps made of durable materials like wool and felt for reuse in traditional clothing as well as different rituals. Layers of finely chopped tree bark and oils can be used to support the hairstyle. In some Caribbean islands, braid patterns were used to map routes to escape slavery.

In some countries of Africa, the braids were used for communication. In Africa, braid styles and patterns have been used to distinguish tribal membership, marital status, age, wealth, religion and social ranking. Box braids are also commonly worn by the Khoisan people of South Africa and the Afar people in the horn of Africa.

BIX BRAIDS HOW TO

Older women would gather with their girls and teach them how to braid. In the Mbalantu tribe of Namibia, braiding was an important social practice. This style of braiding comes from the Eembuvi braids of Namibia or the chin-length bob braids of the women of the Nile Valley from over 3,000 years ago. Box braids were not given a specific name until the 1990s when popularized by R&B musician Janet Jackson, but have been used for years. Hair-braiding styles were used to help differentiate tribes, locations, and also possibly a symbol of wealth and power due to the amount of effort that went into styling braids.

Bix braids