Why do black women wear wigs? Black women have a complicated relationship with hair. Historically, they weren’t allowed to wear their hair as they pleased. Additionally, black women were constantly demonized for having their natural hair. It wasn’t considered professional and symbolized low status.
As such, these voices shaped how they viewed their hair. For a long time, straight hair was the ideal and wigs gave black women a chance to wear straight hair. However, with the reemergence of the natural hair movement, black women now wear what they prefer. We enumerate the reasons they wear wigs.
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Why Do Black Women Wear Wigs?
Black women wear wigs for several reasons
Protective Styling
Black hair is prone to damage because it retains little to no moisture. As such, wearing a wig locks in the moisture. Additionally, this prevents them from constantly manipulating their hair with heat or constantly brushing it, making it healthier.
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Convenience
Another reason black women wear wigs is that it takes less time. It takes a few minutes to put on a wig compared to styling their natural black hair. It’s not impossible, but it takes longer and is expensive. It is a long process of washing, moisturizing, applying products, visiting the salon, and maintaining it afterwards.
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Fashion and Self-Expression
Wigs are part of many black women’s wardrobes. It’s akin to changing your clothes or shoes. Black women do this to switch their appearance, stand out, and feel good about themselves. Our hair is versatile, giving us the option of styling it in many ways. Plus, a wide range of weaves come in different cuts and shapes, giving us options.
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Cultural and Societal Pressure
For a long time, black women’s hair texture was considered ugly and straight hair was cherished. For this reason, we covered our hair. Additionally, they couldn’t get jobs wearing their natural hair. It’s well documented that numerous companies had policies that forced black women to wear wigs.
Some schools are discriminatory to black hair. Girls are forced to straighten their hair to conform. They are perceived as being unkempt. Additionally, the acceptance of natural styling has led to some being considered wasteful.
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Hair Loss and Health
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, almost half of black women experience hair loss, like traction alopecia, and few experts can help them. Hence, they resort to treating the condition by themselves or harmful practices that cause further damage. For this reason, they wear wigs to cover the damage and feel proud and beautiful.
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Influence of Celebrities and Media Representation
Historically, the media has upheld and enforced the European standards of beauty. Slender, slightly tall women with straight hair receive positive coverage, while women who don’t depict these stereotypes have received negative coverage.
Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o played a huge role when she wore her natural hair when she won the Oscar Awards. South African model Shudu also depicted the beauty of black women when she won Miss South Africa wearing her natural hair. Opinions have significantly shifted and many black women feel confident in their natural hair.
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The Role Of Wigs In Black Beauty Standards
The wearing of wigs can be traced to Ancient Egypt. They were used to show ranking in society, with members of the royal family wearing elaborate wigs. Some even shaved their heads so they could choose the hairstyles they wanted. However, black women wore wigs to fit into society. They suppressed their natural beauty to be accepted and to receive opportunities.
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In Conclusion
Why do black women wear wigs? They do it for the reasons shared above. The black community has come a long way in getting recognition for their hair. Black celebrities have played a big role in promoting it and now, they can wear whatever they want despite some people still questioning them.
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