It is considered compulsory in some parts of India to wear the thread as a married woman due to its symbolism. Are you simply admiring how they look on others or do they hold deeper significance for you? In India, Mehendi is typically applied during festivals such as Diwali and during weddings. On the plus side, wearing them can be a way of expressing pride in ones culture and heritage. While it can be irritating, even humorous, to see white people praised for doing something that other cultures have been doing for years, the rhetoric around appropriation is wrong and petty. I am not the best at draping a saree, but I do appreciate the place it has in my life as an Indian woman. 5. It is the representation of the three sacred Vedic scriptures Rig, Yajur, and Sama. The answer to this question depends on the individual and their intent. 8 Times Black Hairstyles Have Been Culturally Appropriated But as you have read, I value and understand their significance enough to be able to inform you that these are not of mere aesthetic value. Policing people and telling them what they can and cant do with their hair feels draconian and dull. my little sister (5) adores black hair and styles. Cookie Notice Im becoming more comfortable inhabiting a fluid, complicated space. These cultural appropriation scandals can often feel driven by people who are so left wing they've gone right. and our In conclusion, Hair cuffs are a fascinating example of how fashion accessories can gain traction over time thanks to shifts in culture or society at large. We are conditioned every day, from the all-white magazine covers that dominate the shelves of WHSmith to the lack of representation we have in the media, to believe that our natural beauty is not enough. Welcome to Beauty In A Tik, where each week we put TikToks viral beauty hacks and innovative trends to the test. Even Beyonc has been accused of culturally appropriating. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. For those of you wh, Every once in a while, a brand gets so big, so fast that you dont even remember what it was like before Sephora stores and salons carried it. One trend that has caught some backlash in recent years is hair cuffs. A place for the curious to ask questions about black people. If someones appropriates said specific style along with wearing the Nigerian Fulani braids associated with theirs by using jewellery pieces such as cowrie shells or beads (which in turn represents wealth.) Dear White Girls These Appropriated $14.00 "Metal Hair Cuff Sets" From Urban Outfitters Are Actually $2.00 At The Beauty Supply! The main thing that frustrates me is the discrediting of the influence that a certain practice brings, says Moore-Karim. "That 'Afro' side of us has been downplayed for centuries," says Rojas. While it has been traditionally expected that married women wear bangles, it is no longer imposed upon us. Ive had many conversations with her about the difference between appropriation and appreciation, in ways that a five year old can understand. Hair cuffs were originally worn by people from different cultures and ethnicities throughout West Africa to signify social status and traditions within their respective tribes- specifically Fulani women have worn them ceremoniously for centuries. Acknowledging is key when borrowing from other cultures if your intent bears no malice; sharing honors the legacy while building relationships by showing appreciation for other cultures differences instead of homogenizing them. To fully understand its consequences, though, we need to make sure we have a working definition of culture itself. The style arrived in the West Indies as far back as 1844 via the coolie trade, where workers from China and the Indian subcontinent were brought in to replace the now-illegal slaves. Recently, Rachel Dolezal , the white woman who infamously posed as a black woman in 2015, lent her name, face and talent to a Braiding Demonstration in Dallas, Texas hosted by the organization BraidOn. The answer is that Im figuring it out. Ultimately, it is important to remember that cultural appropriation can have serious consequences for communities. This act of unconscious disrespect leads towards offence disrepects whole cultures this could be seen as harmful appropriation rather than appreciation. If someone is wearing hair cuffs out of a genuine appreciation for the culture from which they originate, then it could be argued that it is not an act of cultural appropriation. Its beautiful because the black women who have chosen to wear their hair natural are beautiful. That black people have felt the pressure to change their hair since slavery and colonialism (potato and lye burned our hair straight, grease slicked it down), and that when we do wear our hair in natural styles are told that they are unprofessional, smell of patchouli oil or weedor inappropriate might not mean a lot in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement in some peoples eyes, but in my opinion we need to fight these microaggressions as hard as we can, as they ultimately all point to the pervasiveness of racism in our society. recently shes been talking a lot about how she loves the look of hair cuffs in dreads/braids. The hairstyling technique known as braiding had been practiced for generations within this community and involved creating intricate patterns with braids or twists using synthetic extensions. If Everyday Feminism has been useful to you, please take one minute to keep us alive. That means that at any moment Dolezal could abandon her blackness and leave it on the side of the road. So, what should we do if we still want to wear hair cuffs but dont want to appropriate someone elses culture? Ultimately, whether you wear ethnic-inspired jewelry or not- what matters most is remaining respectful toward others backgrounds- appreciating diversity without erasing individuality altogether! There are brands that work to create culturally curated hair accessories that represent different cultures without diminishing their exclusivity or history. Hair cuffs have been traditionally worn by African American women for decades as part of their unique hairstyles such as braids and dreadlocks. Historically, the tradition seems to have originated in the 5th-6th century A.D. Body Policing Police: Because Your Body Belongs to You! By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. However, it is important to remember that cultural appropriation can have serious consequences for communities and should be avoided whenever possible. The foot is regarded in Hinduism as the humblest and most impure part of the body since it touches the ground first. But times have changed, and we draw them on the front of our hands and legs to display the patterns henna artists work laboriously over. Since my mother wasn't able to join our trips because of her work schedule, my dad needed a low-maintenance way to keep my hair from getting extremely knotted. "Peoples fear comes from them not owning their identity.". By wearing hair cuffs without taking into account their deeper cultural meanings, non-black people have exploited Black peoples attributes liking them on themselves but denying any kind of cultural context beyond aesthetic or fashionable traits that they see as trendy. 4.Hair Jewelry Practice Is Not Exclusive To The Black Culture Today, hair cuffs continue to be prevalent among those who appreciate unique accessories that add character to their style. Whether or not wearing hair rings is considered cultural appropriation depends on the context in which they are worn and the intentions of the person wearing them. This feels a lot more personal than the rest of the accessories mentioned. It doesnt absolve her actions, but it could go someway towardsexplaining them. They have become popular in recent years as a way to add a decorative touch to hairstyles, but some people have raised concerns that they may be seen as cultural appropriation. Hair bonds, that is. While I have no idea as to whether Justin Bieber, who in the past few weeks now famously (or perhaps infamously) has decided to twist his peroxide-blonde mane into a head full of dreads, knows about the sufferings black people have gone through with their hair, too much of this conversation has focused around whether or not white people should be allowed to dread their hair. For rastas they symbolise a spiritual journey, but theyve been worn by African Maasai warriors and even have biblical roots. Trans & GNC This is deeper than hair; its about history. Hair cuffs are small metal bands, often studded or engraved with intricate designs, placed around braids or dreadlocks to add embellishment to hairstyles. Being a socially awkward introvert, she prefers to put her thoughts into writing while observing the world. This was cultural appropriation at work. The design really depends upon the family traditions. I hate this assertion, because there is nothing inherently wrong with how white people look with dreads. Shes posing. If you sport one as a pendant, bangle, bracelet, or a tattoo (be mindful of its placement) and are a practicing Hindu, While I am deeply appreciative of tattoo culture, it would be advisable to get these tattoos only if they hold a deep significance to you. Unlike Dolezal, black women are not able to simply take out their braids when they are done being black. Why do artists use appropriation? In a society that continues to prioritize, I think about cutting all my 4C hair off every wash day, reads an anonymous post from one Reddit user who identifies as a Black woman with ADHD. How to Handle Cultural Appropriation: 16 Examples, Next Steps - Healthline Cultural Appropriation is a Concern He often discusses how his love of black music gave him and the black community a common ground during a time when it was largely believed they were fundamentally different. Rachel Dolezal is by no means alone in her desire to emulate and imitate the black culture. Celts weresaid to have hair like snakes. Fashion and music thrive when they are influenced by a wide range of styles. Not making a blanket decision right now about how I express all those things with my hair feels like the right decision for me. Actually, let's start with the age-old fight over so-called good vs. bad hair. The Cultural Appropriation of Natural Hair. On the other hand, there are those who believe that it is a form of cultural appropriation and should not be done without the permission of the community from which it originates. Despite the fact that naturally straight hair is not as adaptable for braids, the women were called beautiful and cutting-edge. Look at it this way: When you have been colonized, had your finery stolen, and your identity poked fun at, cultural appropriation is not just personal; it points to a bigger picture. Anything outside this normative framework becomes exoticized thanks to similar microaggressions enforced upon particular traits implying anything not European looking might turn ugly. Learning about the origins and proper usage of cultural traditions while creating fashionable trends should be crucial as it can lead to both respect toward cultures we borrow from and a better understanding about our own choices hence moving towards more inclusive society rather than contributing to shallow appropriation which belittles various communities. While some may view wearing them as a sign of respect and appreciation, others may view it as an act of exploitation. What Is Cultural Appropriation? | Britannica My peers had no clue as to what the significance of the bindi was and given that I used to get strange stares when I did wear them before No Doubts popularity; I felt uneasy about the immediate mass appeal for it. In my eyes, its not that serious. Locks of hair from loved ones were often turned into items like brooches or pendants, which would subsequently be worn by family members as a sentimental keepsake. Some hairstylists believe that the responsibility also lies with professional hairstylists. I Tried The Internets Most Hyped Hair Brand & Here Are My Honest K18 Just Launched A Hair Oil & R29 Editors Tried It First. Indians wore rings on the nostril and septum way before it got fashionable.
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