Three Videos Of Black Women Showing Different Ways Of Styling Box Braids (with rhree article excerpts about the history and cultural significances of Black people & box braids)

Rachel Christine, Dec 2, 2012

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases several YouTube videos about box braids. This post also  presents information about the history of box braids and their cultural meaning for people of African descent. 

The content of this post is presented for cultural and educational purposes.

All copyrights remain to their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/05/article-excerpt-about-andre-walkers.html entitled "Article Excerpt About Andre Walker's Hair Typing System And Selected Black Natural Hair Care & Hair Styling Terms". This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on an African American hair typing system and video examples of those hair types.

That post provides text only information about the Andre Walker hair typing system with a focus on its descriptions of the most common African American hair types: type 3 and type 4 (with type 3c and type 4c additions).

That post also includes some definitions for Black natural hair care and hair styling terms. By "Black natural hair" I mean type 3 and type 4 hair that is in its natural state (without the addition of heat or chemicals). [That 2018 post includes a definition of "braids",but doesn't specifically include any definitions of  "box braids".

Although that term was used prior to 2018 (as the 2012 videos in this 2022 pancocojams post document), I think that the term "box braids" has become more widely used since 2018.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2:  How I Style My Box Braids

Jennifer Olaleye, Apr 10, 2012

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3: 10 Ways to Style Box Braids - Quick, Easy & Trendy!

Kenzey Cooper, Jun 13, 2018

Hey beauties!! I know that when it comes to protective styles it can be hard to get creative and come up with great ways to style your hair. In this video I share with you my top 10 favorite ways to style my box braids! Hope you love them as much as I do!

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ARTICLE EXCERPTS ABOUT BOX BRAIDS

These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Excerpt #1
From  https://www.byrdie.com/box-braids-4783121 "Everything You Need to Know About Getting Box Braids" by Cortney Moore, Updated on JAN 11, 2022
"In the world of protective styles, there’s one that has been worn in the media for at least three decades—we’re talking about box braids. Janet Jackson definitely played a role in popularizing the style statewide with her debut film Poetic Justice in 1993.

More recently, popular celebrities like Beyoncé and Solange have worn the style, as well as Gabrielle Union, Zoe Kravitz, Tia Mowry and many others. But box braids and several other braided styles originated in Africa as far back as 3500 B.C. And if you’re a real history buff, you might be pleased to hear that experts say the box braids of today aren’t that different from what was worn by the people of Namibia and the Nile Valley all those years ago.

[…]

For the uninitiated, box braids are three-stranded plaits. They aren’t too different from standard braids, but they are certainly more defined since the tension that is applied to the braids are enough to prevent fly-aways. And unlike cornrows, box braids are not braided flat against the scalp—hair is sectioned off into precisely shaped squares (or boxes) all throughout the scalp and gets braided down its entire length, so you can shake your freestanding plaits to your heart’s content. To get added length, volume, and protection, many naturals and relaxed heads opt for extensions.

Kanekalon, a synthetic fiber that is used in most braiding hair packs, is commonly used to achieve the style due to its affordability and ability to withstand extreme heat for sealed ends (if rubber bands aren’t used). However, bulk human hair can also be used for a more natural look that’s environmentally friendly and sustainable. Though, this option is pricier and takes a bit more work since it’s real hair.

Whichever, hair extension type you choose, it can be reused for future box braids or other braiding styles.

[…]

Box braids are not a monolith. The style can be long or short, thick or thin. And depending on the look you’re going for, the hours you spend in a stylist’s chair can vary.

“The time it takes depends on the skill and technique of the braider and the hair type of the client who is getting the braids—not so much on the braid style,” Hill* says. “On average, a quality braid style can take anywhere from four to eight hours.”…
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* trichologist and stylist Bridgette Hill of Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa.

Here's a definition for "trichologist" from https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-a-trichologist
"A trichologist is a specialist who focuses on trichology — the study of diseases or problems related to the hair and scalp, as well as their treatments.”

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Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_braids
"Box braids are a type of hair-braiding style that is predominantly popular amongst African people and the African diaspora. This type of hairstyle is a "protective style" (a style which can be worn for a long period of time to let natural hair grow and protect the ends of the hair) and is "boxy", consisting of square-shaped hair divisions. Box braids are generally installed by using synthetic hair which helps to add thickness as well as helping the natural hair that is in the braid. Because they are not attached to the scalp like other similar styles such as cornrows, box braids can be styled in a number of different ways. The installation process of box braids can be lengthy, but once installed they can last for six to eight weeks. They are known for being easy to maintain.[1][2]

History

Hair-braiding styles were used to help differentiate tribes, locations, and also possibly a symbol of wealth and power due to the amount of effort that went into styling braids.[3] Box braids were not given a specific name until the 1990s when popularized by R&B musician Janet Jackson, but have been used for years. This style of braiding comes from the Eembuvi braids of Namibia or the chin-length bob braids of the women of the Nile Valley from over 3,000 years ago.[3] The mothers in the tribes would teach their young daughters how to braid each other's hair, and this became a social activity for the tribes.[4] Box Braids are also commonly worn by the Khoi-San people of South Africa[5] and the Afar people in the horn of Africa.[6] [7] In Africa, braid styles and patterns are a way of distinguishing the different tribes, marital status, age, wealth, religion and social ranking. In some countries of Africa, the braids were a form of communication. In some Caribbean islands, braids were used as a way to escape slavery by forming intricate braid patterns that signified a map.[citation needed] To achieve the braids, the tribes would typically use thick layers of finely chopped tree bark and oils to base and uphold the hairstyle. Human hair was at one point wefted into fiber wig caps made of durable materials like wool and felt for reuse in traditional clothing as well as different rituals.[3] Cowry shells, jewels, beads and other material items adorned box braids of older women alluding to their readiness to have daughters, emulation of wealth, high priesthood and any other classifications.[3]"...

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Excerpt #3
From https://maneaddicts.com/history-of-box-braids/ "6 Things You Didn’t Know About the History of Box Braids" by Shawna Hudson, Feb 4, 2021
"Although you may have seen box braids worn by many women of color over the years, did you know that it’s actually a style rich with culture and history, dating back to about 3,500 B.C.?

Let’s kick Black History Month off right by celebrating this intricate, versatile braid and the stunning women who rock it. Scroll through below for everything you didn’t know about the history of the box braid.

1. Braids can be traced back thousands of years in African culture.

“African women have a rich history in terms of the ways they adorn their hair,” Zinga A. Fraser, Ph.D., told Essence Magazine. So rich in fact, that ancient paintings show women in North Africa wearing styles like cornrows and braids, literally, thousands of years ago. These styles were worn for numerous purposes, a few of them included societal customs, but mainly because they were just so dang fashionable. Further proof that women of color, and their hair, have been killing it for as long as humans have been around, TBH.

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 2. Braid patterns were an indicator of important aspects of a woman’s identity.

Many of us consider our hair a large part of our identity, but a woman’s hair in African culture could say so many quintessential things about her marital status, age, religion and more. “Braiding was and is a social art,” Alysa Pace of Bomane Salon told Byrdie. “Almost all women, children, and most men, in some way, had their hair braided.” Hairstyles were also passed down through the women of the family and many went the extra mile to embellish their braids with tricked-out accessories like discs, shells, jewels and beads.

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5. The first natural hair movement coincided with the Black Power Movement.

As the Black Power Movement took off in the 60s and 70s, so did the first natural hair movement in the U.S. People of color began rejecting European standards of beauty and embracing their roots. Styles like cornrows and afros became all the rage. Best of all, braids were starting to make a serious come up.

[...] 

6. Janet Jackson gave the style a trend-push in the 90s with her debut film Poetic Justice.

Do a quick Pinterest search and you’ll find so many chic photos of Janet Jackson in her iconic debut film, Poetic Justice. When it was released in the 90s, box braids garnered a major trend-push. Many women were inspired by how effortlessly cool her braids and simple black cap were."

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