Significance

• In African-American culture, hair is an important part of everyday life. African-American culture is one of the few where hair length, texture or style can make a political or social statement.
  The unique texture and versatility of Black hair lends it to use in ways that cannot be appropriated by any other racial group. Therefore, there is a sense of pride and art in Black hair care, as well as a long history of African-American-owned hair industries.
  
  

Types

• 2006 She Who Shall Not Be Named / Creative Commons
  
  There are many types of hair in the Black culture. Due to the blending of African-Americans and other nationalities over the years, many varieties of texture, color and length abound. Black hair can be coarse and tightly curled, or long and straight. It can be black or light brown. It can grow outward or straight down. There is little chemical difference between African-American hair and that of other cultures, although there are structural differences that account for varied textures and available styles.
  
  The advent of chemical relaxers and the return of ethnic styling changed the landscape of African-American hair. Many women choose to get their hair relaxed, perhaps adding extensions in order to increase thickness and length. Still others opt for locks or intricate, hand-woven braids.
  
  

Identification

• African-American hair is largely a product of history. During slavery, Black people were introduced to European standards of beauty. Slaves that had more Anglo-Saxon features found favor; this brought about a cultural change that held up an ideal that favored hair straightening, longer length and finer texture.
  Since Black slaves had served as hairstylists for their owners, many freed men started small businesses stying hair. Like the church, African-American beauty parlors were a place for the community.
  
  Straightened hair ruled the day for a long time, along with Madame CJ Walker and the "Walker System" of haircare. The Civil Rights era, coupled with the 70s "Black is Beautiful" movement, brought back the idea that natural hair was acceptable and attractive. Hair relaxers came back into vogue.
  In the 1990s, many prominent Black personalities also started using hair extensions, bringing them to public favor.
  
  

Considerations

• 2008 whatsnextonline / Creative Commons
  
  African-American hair is important because it signifies business and money that stays in the community. Hair care businesses such as salons and barber shops are easy to start and can grow popular quickly. Black women seldom leave their cultural centers for their grooming needs, believing that non-Black salons may not know how to care for their hair properly.
  
  Black hair requires different technical knowledge. Because of the curl pattern, it's more prone to breakage. For instance, relaxed Black hair should never be cut wet, but should be blow-dried straight first. These small changes in procedure are signposts to whether a stylist is used to Black hair or not.
  
  

Misconceptions

• African-American hair isn't an oddity. Many Black people find it offensive when people approach and want to touch their hair as if it's something strange. Also, natural hair isn't any more or less dirty than most people's hair.
  
  Some people think that relaxed Black hair is just as simple to take care of as other types of hair. Straightened African-American hair can take a lot of time to style and may require additional products for moisturizing. Many Black women prefer to keep their hair dry for just this reason.