Hair braiding, for the Black community, is more than just a beauty routine. It is a time that reflects generational traditions. For many Black mothers and their children, the act of braiding becomes less about the final style and more about strengthening the familiar bond.
“I learned to braid because of my grandmother and Auntie Jean. There were no formal lessons on braiding, though each of them was a “kitchen beautician” in their own right. They taught me the context of braiding, that Blue Magic and precise parts were nonnegotiables,” Ambreia Meadows-Fernandez wrote in an article for Parents.com.
She continued, “They showed me that braiding was love and each of them took turns caring for me, and by extension my mother who wasn’t as well-versed in hair as the last of four sisters. They taught me that braiding was foundational.”
Per National Geographic, “Archaeological evidence confirms that hair braiding has existed in Africa for at least 5,000 years, with roots traced back to 3500 B.C.E. . Early depictions include rock paintings in the Sahara and intricate terracotta sculptures from the Nok civilization in Nigeria (dating from roughly 1500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.), which showcase detailed braided hairstyles.”
Braids have traditionally served not only as a form of cultural expression, but also as a way to communicate identity and connection to the past. Beyond the bond that braiding can create between mother and child, braids can help to improve a child’s self-image.
“Because hair can serve as an important part of identity, the act of braiding hair can be seen as a parent helping to nurture the identity of a child,” Dr. Donna Oriowo, a licensed therapist and owner of Annodright, tells Parents.com. She continues, “It can be a time to affirm their beauty, especially given that they will face discrimination in a white supremacist society that doesn’t often value the diversity in Black beauty.”
In a world where Black hair is sometimes misunderstood or even stigmatized, it is nice to know that a simple act can create a moment between mother and child that lasts far beyond a hairstyle.
