The history of hair beads in african and black societies extends well beyond their use as a way to jazz up a hair. Hairstyles and headwork served as messengers in most West African communities in the early fifteenth century. And the residents of these communities were the individuals who crowded the slave ships bound for the western countries. Hair Example was an important feature of these societies' intricate linguistic systems. Hairstyles have been used to identify a person's religion, marital status, ethnic origin, and other characteristics since the dawn of African civilization.
The History of hair beads
Hair jewellery is a beautifying tradition that precedes our modern interpretations by a long time. Beads provided the perfect way for people to enhance their hairstyle. They were also used to determine social rank. People in Ancient Egypt typically wore alabaster, white glazed earthenware, or jasper rings in wigs, depending on the materials available locally. They were emblems of prestige and authority, with individuals of high class position, such as a young Cleopatra, employing them to represent riches and status.
The Origins of Hair Beads in Black cultures
Hair accessories are used not only used to create a fashion statement, beads and other accessories served functional purpose. As a result, this is one of the primary aspects that has contributed to the longevity of hair beads. Hair accessories are extremely important in Africa and in other African and Caribbean cultures.
Coral beads are worn as crowns in traditional wedding rituals by many Nigerian tribes. These crowns were known as okra by the Edo people and erulu by the Igbo. An Oba's crown, fashioned of multicoloured glass beads, is a work of the greatest authority in Yoruba.
Beading was more than simply a hairdo in ancient Africa, Black slaves, and African diaspora women today. Instead, we employ hair accessories to communicate with the world.