- When Africans were brought over to the New World as slaves, their heads were shaved for sanitary purposes. In order to gain back their identity and assert independence, many of them grew out their hair and had it braided. Since they didn't have the same tools and treatments as they had in Africa, slaves had to use kerosene, butter and bacon grease to clean their hair and condition it.
- West African hair braiding is considered an art, and techniques have been handed down through the generations. Intricate braiding patterns communicated a person's affiliation with a particular village as well as their social status. Some more elaborate braiding styles were only used for special occasions, such as a wedding or a child's rite of passage ceremony.
- During the 1970s, additional types of West African braiding was introduced to the United States. Immigrants from West Africa wore traditional braiding styles. When actress Cicely Tyson appeared on television in 1972 sporting delicate Nigerian braided hair, a new style was born. Cornrows gained in popularity during the 1990s when hip-hop artists and athletes began wearing their hair in the style.
- Traditionally, girls wear their hair braided from a very young age in West African culture. Their hair is braided by older females in their family, such as their mother, grandmother, sister or cousin. Girls are also expected to learn how to braid hair, both by watching and practicing. It's widely known in the community that if your hair is braided, you're expected to braid in return.
- Hair braiding is extremely time consuming, and it's not often that you see individuals braiding each other's hair in their free time anymore. Instead, hair braiding is often done in salons by professional stylists. However, salons don't often braid hair in as intricate styles as West African villagers do. Hair braiding salons are increasingly common in urban areas of the United States, as well as more urbanized areas in Africa.
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