African Wigs

Background and History

The Science Of African Hair
Though the most blaringly defining feature of African Americans is their skin color their hair is the second. African hair is very different then Caucasian and Asian hair. While the latter's hair is smooth, fine, soft and silky, African hair is course, thick, and tightly curled.

The chemical make up of African hair is no different than any other ethnicity. A strand of African hair has the same building blocks as any other strand of hair. This includes the outer covering called the cuticle, and the inner center called the medulla. The middle cortex is primarily composed of keratin and moisture. Also found there is the melanin, which defines the color of the hair.

Why is African hair so tightly coiled? The shape of the hair is determined by the shape of the hair follicle. Straight hair grows out of a perfectly round follicle, which produces a smooth straight piece of hair. The curlier the hair, the more narrow the hair follicle. Africans are born with narrow oval - nearly flat hair follicles. Picture the hair like a piece of curling ribbon. Its flatness lends itself to curling.

Contrary to popular misconception, African hair actually does produce protective oils - probably even more then their Caucasian or Asian counterparts. However, because their hair is so tightly coiled the oils do not spread evenly throughout their hair. Hence, the bending points usually remain dry and brittle. The hair is very fragile at these places and breaks easily. This explains another misguided belief that African hair doesn't grow as much as other ethnicities. It grows just as much - it just breaks. The color associated with African hair is a deep dark brown. Although this is definitely the most common color in African hair, their color can actually range from sandy blond to solid black.

American African Styles Traveling Through The Ages
In olden times, hair styles reflected their unique hair texture. Their curly hair can be easily shaped into dreadlocks or many strands of thin braids. In ancient Africa there were many different styles of dreadlocks which represented a person's status in society. For example, warriors had one type of hair style, house women another.

In the sixteen hundreds slave trade began and Africans were shipped to America and sold as slaves. This continued to the mid eighteen hundreds. As can be well imagined, braiding the hair into dreadlocks required much time. The African slaves did not have the time or energy necessary for this procedure. Instead they developed other hairstyles which linked them to their African tradition.

Slavery continued until 1863. In 1863 the American Civil War was fought and when it was over the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, abolishing slavery. Slowly, the African Americans tried to gain entrance into the American society, and started mimicking the American / European hair styles. But the African hair was so different in texture then European hair, it could not naturally mold to the styles. The African Americans expended much effort employing dangerous methods, using heat and chemicals to straighten their hair.

In the 1960s the "black pride" movement arose amongst the African Americans. Blacks started taking pride in their own heritage and their own values instead of seeking the acceptance of others. At about this time, actor Cicely Tyson wore a TWA (a teeny, weenie afro) in the popular network television series. An afro is a curly hair style, with hair protruding in all directions, sometimes doubling or tripling the diameter of the head. Wearing Afros became a symbol of the black pride movement during that time. The dreadlock style as well as other old African Styles also had a rebirth.

Near the end of the twentieth century the African American hair bounced back to the middle. While many stopped wearing their old fashioned styles, they made use of their own texture rather then trying to mold their hair to the European styles. The most popular style was the jheri curl. By using certain chemicals hair stylist figured out how to shape the hair into loose, wet curls. Today African Hair styles span the gamut. They range from the traditional very curly styles to the chemically straightened styles.

Today, many African Americans also turn to wigs as a convenient solution for their "difficult-to style" hair. Instead of having to constantly make trips to beauty salons, many African Americans conveniently wear wigs and hear extensions. Indeed, a considerable percentage of the wig market is consumed of African American or "ebony," wigs.

Consumer Information
There are many wig shops that specialize in African American wigs. Many wig companies also have separate section for their African America wigs. It is best to buy from these places because their styles are specifically designed to suit the African American's needs.
African American wigs stores are often a great outlet for cheaper wigs. African's course hair texture can be much easier replicated with synthetic fibers than the smooth Caucasian hair. Even human hair wigs only require Asian hair, a much cheaper material then European hair. African hair is not used because it is not strong enough for a wig. The Asian hair, which is next closest to African hair is stripped and processed so it should look like African hair.
African American wigs require the same hair care as any other wig. If you have a synthetic wig, see synthetic wig care. If you have a human hair wig see human wig hair care.
Many of the African American styles can suit Caucasians and Asian as well. Don't dismiss a store or company, just because it says African American wigs. You may find a style you like.

Online Venues for African American Wigs
Paula Young
Best Wig Outlet

Popular Styles
Afro Wig - a curly hair style, with hair protruding in all directions, sometimes doubling or tripling the diameter of the head.
Dreadlocks - A hairstyle consisting of long thin braids starting from the scalp.
Jheri Curl - A style of loose wet curls.
Straight Hair - Many African wigs are styled after the African American straight hair look. There is quite a large variety of styles. From very long to very short. Blunt cuts and layered cuts. The variety of African American styles is basically as wide as any other group's styles.

Usages
Hair Cover up: African American hair is extremely thick and course and very difficult to handle. Hair care usually involves frequent visits to the hair salon, and time consuming care at home. Many African Americans find wearing wigs much more convenient than dealing with hair.
Hair Replacement: African American wigs serve as a hair replacement for African Americans suffering from Alopecia, hair loss from chemotherapy, and any other hair loss.
Costume Wigs: Certain African American styles also serve as costume wigs. The most used African American costume wig is probably the Afro wig.

Tools
Steel Hot Comb - Madam C.J. Walker (Sarah Breedlove) developed this comb in the early nineteen hundreds. At this time, African American ladies worked tirelessly to straighten their hair and mimic the European hair styles. Often very dangerous methods were employed in order accomplish this feat. C.J. Walker herself used to twist her hair and then wrap a string tightly around it. Eventually this method started causing her hair to fall out. First Walker set out to find a product which would grow her hair again. After quite a long unsuccessful search an African man visited Walker in a dream and gave her, the secret recipe to the "Wonderful Hair Grower." Low and behold it worked. Walker used it on herself as well as herself. Next she developed some more "hair regrowth products including "Glossine" hair oil, and "Temple Grower." Following that came her most famous development, the wide toothed hot hair comb. Thick African texture hair was able to fit between the teeth of the comb and it created a much safer method for African Americans to straighten their hair.

Afro Pick - The afro pick is actually a modernized tool which originally comes from the traditional Africans. It is a narrow comb with long, widely spaced teeth. This is a tool very often used in order to create Afro hair or an Afro wig. This method only works if one is starting out with naturally kinky hair. The hair should then be braided together to create more volume. Then the coils can then be separated using this Afro Pick.

News
Bank Robbery - In December 2005 a Wachovia Bank in Plantation was robbed. The robber was wearing an afro wig and sunglasses. He placed a box on the teller's desk with a note claiming that there was a bomb inside the box. The teller gave him the money. Subsequent investigations proved that there were no explosives in the box. Only one customer was in the bank and no injuries were reported.

Fun(d) Raising - Want to know what "fun raising" is all about? Ask Andrew Delport. He is busy at work and fun collecting money for an organization Ikamva Labantu (the future of our nation,) which provides food for the underprivileged. How does he accomplish this? He walks through the streets of Cape Town dressed in a hilarious afro wig and hot pink pants, selling Christmas hats. His fun raising technique has proven quite successful. He says he will continue until he makes R20000.