The curls, the kinks ,the texture, and the styling of African Hair is one of the most
beautiful things about being black and African. African hairstyles go way beyond just styling
the hair. It symbolizes economic, marital, and social status of the wearer. Today on
ohafro we looking at 10 Very Iconic African Hairstyles that’re becoming extinct.
Mangbetu Hairstyle Wait is that a hat? Nope, this is..…
Mangbetu hairstyle worn by Mangbetu women of Congo in the early 20th century. Also called
the tumburu style, it was popularized and fetishized by fashion designers and movies.
This iconic hairstyle has been worn by famous celebrities like Beyonce. Man she looks gorgeous.
The coiffure is expressively used to appreaciate the culture of skull elongation among the
Mangbetu people
Bantu Knots
When we mentioning natural hairstyles with history and lasting popularity, Bantu knots
is a name we cannot forget. This super cool looking hairstyle originates from southern
Africa. You probably seen this Bantu knots on your favorite celebrities like Rihanna
and Lupita the style isn't new by any means. Bantu is a word that means ‘people’ in
over 300 African languages. No wonder it has become so popular among Africans and African
Americans.
Amasunzu Hairstyle
The amasunzu haistyle was designed by cutting away some hair, towards the middle, then leaving
it to grow. Some designs look like circles inside circles while some look like walls
behind walls. The hairstyle comes from the Tutsi and Hutu people of Rwanda dating back
abt 500 years. Now there are over are over thirty different styles of amasunzu worn by
both men and women.. For men, amasunzu shows one’s power, bravery, and nobility, as well
as prestige. For females, the story is different. It shows single the girls is ready to tear
rubber if you know what I mean.
Fulani Braids and every other braid
Almost every African woman today is wearing Fulani braids or has worn one before. Fulani
braids, made popular by the Fulani people of Africa, The late award-winning actress
Cicely Tyson was one of the first Black women to wear Fulani braids on red carpets and even
on the cover of JET Magazine in the 1960s and '70s. Alicia Keys later made the style
popular as she wore them on the cover of her debut album, Songs in A Minor.
African Threading African thread is a very common African hairstyle
all over the continent. This beautiful hairstyle is native to the Yoruba people of South-west
Nigeria. Over time, threads have become popular all over West Africa. Among Africans, threads
have different names from different tribes, some of which include Los, Eko Bridge, Akula,
Sunga, It is a natural hair straightener, which has been a major part of hair care routines
for centuries. It’s a style used by many African girls to make their hair longer
Himba Locs
Himba is a tribe in Northwestern Namibia. For the Himbas, locks symbolize age and life.
Himba stylists use a mixture of butter, ochre, and goat hair to create the locs. They also
use hair extensions and ornamental accessories for beautification. Usually, teenagers wear
strands of their locs hanging over their faces to symbolize their entrance into puberty.
When these teenagers are ready to marry, they tie these locs to ‘reveal’ their faces. Simply
put I’m ready for tear rubber
Zulu Topknots
The conical hairstyles of Zulu women have evolved into the intricate headdresses now
worn by many Africans. For this look, hair is gathered into a top knot and stretched
into sections, separated by ties. In the early centuries, women in these communities used
the style as a status symbol—only members of the ruling class wore them. These days,
although still heavily worn by Zulus, Topknots have permeated other cultures, such as the
Ethiopians and Somalis
Goscha Hairstyle
Goscha is a cultural symbol of the Hamar tribe of Ethiopia. When the Hamar people came to
settle at the Omo Valley, they blended into the society of nomads which they met there.
Together with these nomads, they invented this traditional hairstyle and called it ‘Goscha’.
Hamar women create their locs with binding resin, ochre and water. To add some beauty,
the women wear colorful beaded jewelry.
Another Iconic African hairstyle is Ngala Hairstyle
This hairstyle is native to the Igbo people of Nigeria. This hairstyle is signifies pride
and elegance. The hairstyle is usually worn on special occasions like marriages and coronations.
A special feature of the Ngala hairstyle is the adornment of beads on the hair to compliment
beads worn on the neck
Sahrawi Cornrows
Sahrawi Cornrows are indigenous to Sahrawi people living in Mauritania, Algeria and Morocco.
The Sahrawis wear cornrows in the typical Sahelian way which is two sections running
through the middle. Hair extensions are used to form smaller braids
Which of these hairstyles look great on Afican women? Leave us a comment