Hair Care is Important

Hair styling. 

Google Image

The scalp is a microbial habitat. It secretes yeast and oil. Both attracts dirt and debris which ends up being trapped onto the scalp and hair. In addition to debris, unclean and unkempt hair and scalp are also the perfect breeding ground for head lice and nits. These biological factors applies to the entire human race. The environment of the scalp and condition of hair are what differentiates hair care and separate it from hair styling. Believe it or not, there was a time when hair care meant something. America was in a frenzy to clean up and to get their people clean. That time can be seen from a historical and cultural perspective. For example during the early to mid 1800's, America was transitioning from no plumbing to plumbing and from slaves to freed slaves. This time was unique because both histories were almost happening simultaneously; impacting American culture. A portion of this unclean problem would require tenacity and creativity. The unsanitary and unclean conditions not only affected the environment and communities, they also affected scalp and hair; especially of slaves. Now that they were freed, what was to come of their hair? Who could help? This came in the form of the tenacious and creative Madam C.J. Walker. This pioneer extraordinaire used her unique business acumen to introduce her cleansing methodology of hair and scalp care by promoting the use of her handcrafted hair care products. Historically and culturally she ends up teaching the masses of women (Black) that clean hair and scalp is hair care. Promoting cleanliness was very important during America's unique history of transitions. As of now that important history has been traded in for hairstyles and the now fading natural hair movement. It is my goal in my upcoming series of blogs, posts and videos to remind people that hair care is important. I plan on doing this by showing the difference between the two.

The current focus on hairstyles and the constant barrage of misinformation from the autodidacts of YouTube and their infodemic that fueled the natural hair movement, unfortunately has resurged the same hair and scalp problems that plagued people of color from yesteryear when America had no plumbing, people did not wash up and blacks (enslaved and freed) had no access to hair care products. Hairstyles definitely have their place and a very purposeful mainstay in people's freedom of expression. However, when you take a glance at the history of hair styles, it will validate the framework of the importance of hair care as the precursor to all hair styles. 

The history of hairstyling is strange in many ways. For example, in the 1500's, the Asians were saving cooked rice water to ferment and style their long tresses. The Assyrians were heating up metal helmets to achieve curls. The Europeans were coiffuring wigs with lard and covering them up at night in cages to keep away the rats. Meanwhile on the continent of Africa, Egyptians wore unique cornrow braided hairstyles that represented their tribes. They shaved their heads of hair to ward off lice. And they created elaborate wigs that were hand crafted from the scalped heads of their captives to wear stylishly. 

As societies grew and changed, so did their abilities to live on and off the fruit of the land. Make no mistake, living on and off the fruit of the land was no small feat. As mentioned above, cleaning, hygiene and plumbing would be a few of the various hurdles many developing nations struggled with. Some nations resolved their plights faster than others. Interestingly, the United States was close to last in developing sanitation, hygiene and effective plumbing systems with standards. They faced severe challenges in getting their citizens to clean and wash; even after getting their plumbing up and running. 

The lack of cleanliness and plumbing caused unsanitary and unsafe conditions. These were big problems for this newly forming nation. History teaches these unsanitary problems created conditions that were responsible for thousands of deaths for the soldiers serving during the civil war. In 1862 when President Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation freeing all enslaved Africans, that changed the trajectory of what the United States would become. And of all the things to worry about, focus on, document, record and report during that time, hair would not be one of them. 

President Abraham Lincoln at the signing of the

Emancipation Proclamation. Google Image 

Hair was not a priority to the powers that be and the society at large. On the contrary, if you were a newly freed slave, hair was priority one. Newly freed slaves were all too aware of the role hair played in the culture of America. Hair determined if they would be rejected or accepted into certain aspects of this new "freed" paradigm. In addition, unbeknownst to many, having beautiful hair was also a rich part of their history as Africans. So, putting hair care and hairstyle at the forefront of their agenda as freed people would be inevitable. Free Indians, Mexicans, Asians, Blacks (freed slaves) who could pass as White by way of their softer textured or more straight to lighter colored hair would prove to be advantageous. They were being accepted into the new paradigm differently compared to the newly freed Negroes with tighter darker colored textured hair. The newly freed slaves knew that too. 

Hair, texture, and appearance would soon be resolved for this unique group of American citizens. The newly freed slaves had new racial categories assigned to them such as Negroes, Blacks, Mullatos, quadroons, octoroons and hexadecaroons. They were now experiencing the "Damned if you do and damned if you don't," idiom in the matters of hair care and hairstyling. This conundrum was quickly solved by the tenacious intelligent hair care pioneer, Madam C.J. Walker. This daughter of former slaves boldly entered the scene to do the damn thang for hair care and hair styling for newly freed Africans, now called negroes by demonstrating that hair care is important. She did it so well, she became America's first Black female millionaire.

Madam C.J. Walker's 

Wonderful Hair Grower.

 Google Image

Continue to read my blog as I delve into the difference between hair care and hair styling. I will write and discuss this issue on many levels. Follow me on social media, listen to my "What They Don't Tell You at the Hair Salon" podcast and watch me on YouTube @LadoshaWright. It is on these platforms where you will hear my take on the history of hair care starting with my reviews on the upcoming Netflix series titled, Self Made about the life of Madam C.J. Walker and her successful hair care empire! Peace, love and hair.