i am not my hair or am i?

THE HISTORY OF NATURAL HAIR VS FLAT-IRONED KINKS, CHEMICALLY STRAIGHTENED LOCKS OR LACE-FRONT WIGS GOES A LOT DEEPER THAN THAT INDIA ARIE SONG.. WE UNPACK THE 'GOOD HAIR' PHENOMENON

- MELISSA NDLOVU

it was 2006 when singer India Arie debuted her song, I Am Not My Hair. It may have seemed a somewhat progressive at the time, but women in Hollywood started to take charge of their natural hair (or choice of hairstyles) and the song started a movement. But before we hold hands and sing Kumbaya, let's backtrack a bit.

Throughout history, people have used hair to showcase good health, wealth and status by constantly using dyes, extensions, wigs and decorations to outdo the next. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks are excellent examples of how hair was used to emphasise social status and spiritual value. The women in ancient Egypt decorated their hair with ornate accessories, flowers, ribbons, headbands and even wigs to flaunt a higher class. Similarly, the ancient Greek women decorated their hair with gold and silver wreaths. Moreover, the Greeks viewed hair as a life source, growing it long and offering their hair as part of ritual sacrifices to the gods.

In the Middle Ages (500-1 500 CE), wigs lost their popularity because they were frowned upon by religious leaders, but made a swift comeback in the 16th century thanks to the iconic style of Queen Elizabeth who donned nearly 100 different auburn hair pieces as her hair started to thin out.

Wigs continued to grow in popularity throughout the 18th century. This time, men of circumstance favoured long, white hair pulled into a braid at the back of the neck. As the trend evolved; wealthy men used gold combs as accessories, whereas women created extravagant scenes in their hair, even putting model furniture, small musical instruments and live birds in birdcages in their do's (think Bridgeton).