Documenting And Comparing A Variety Of Hairstyles Worn By Zulu School Girls & Young Women With hairstyles Worn By African American School Girls & Young Women

Embo Films, November 21, 2024

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision- March 2, 2025

This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on Black female hairstyles throughout the world.

This post showcases five YouTube videos of Zulu girls performing Ukusina (a traditional dance that features kicking your leg high.) . These videos show various hairstyles that are currently worn by those girls.  

For comparison's purposes, this post showcases two videos of that show hairstyles that are currently worn by African American school age girls.

In addition, this video presents my lists of some terms for African American females' hairstyles, with a particular focus on the hairstyles that I observed in these showcases African American videos and in these showcased Zulu girls' videos.  

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural purposes, and educational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the producers of these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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This post focuses on female Ukusina dancers' hairstyles and not male Ukusina dancers who hair is usually either very closely shaved or in very short fros.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/02/videos-examples-of-black-high-school.html for the closely related pancocojams post "Some Hair Styles Worn By Black Girls In Africa And In The African Diaspora, Part I. his is Part I of a five part pancocojams series that showcases several YouTube videos of Black high school students from various African nations and various nations from the African Diaspora.

In alphabetical order, the nine countries that are featured in this post are Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, the United States, and Zambia.

The links for the other posts in that pancocojams series are given in each post. 

For information on Ukusina, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/07/is-south-african-ukusina-high-kicks.html for the 2023pancocojams post entitled "Are South African Ukusina (High Kicks) Dances Becoming Westernized?

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DISCLAIMER This post isn't meant to be a definitive documentation or review of female hairstyles that are currently worn by African American girls or by Zulu (South African) girls performing Ukusina.
I'm an African American woman who has never had any experience as a hair stylist.. With regard to the videos about South African Ukusina, I've only recently learned about Zulu (South African) Ukusina from watching a number of online videos and from reading a lot of the comments in those videos’ discussion threads that are in English. Unfortunately, I only speak and read English, and I have never visited South Africa or any other African nation. I also read some selected comments in those discussion threads that are translated from Zulu to English.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

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A LIST OF AND NOTES ABOUT GIRLS HAIR STYLES THAT I THINK ARE SHOWN IN THESE VIDEOS OF ZULU FEMALES PERFORMING UKUSINA  
I'm using African Americans terms for these hairstyles. These terms may not be used among Zulus and/or other South Africans. Additions and corrections are welcome.

These hairstyles are listed in alphabetical order and aren't given in any order of their frequency in these videos. 

afro puffs
tightly curled (tightly coiled) hair that is styled into one ponytail on the top of a girls' head or two pony tails (one on each side of a girls' hair) 

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braids
This term usually refers to what African Americans used to call "braid extensions" (usually fake hair that is braided onto a female's own (natural) hair; "Braids" can be any length. The custom in the United States (as of 2025) is that African American girls school prefer at least shoulder length braids (which are then can be worn in various hairstyles such as "wearing them out" or wearing them in one ponytail in the back, or wearing the braids tucked in a bun on top of their head, or a combination of those styles.

It appears to me that currently African American girls younger than eight years old might wear small plastic beads of usually one or two color. However, after age eight, African American girls don't wear beads in their hair. I didn't notice any Zulu girls in these videos or in any other Ukusina videos wearing beads in the hair  .     

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bun
A bun is when all or part of a person's hair is gathered together hair, pulled back, and twisted into a round shape on top of or at the back of the head. Buns are usually held together by rubber bands.

I noticed some girls in  these Ukusina videos with their hair in a bun.

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closely shaved hair
I noticed a number of girls in most of these videos (except for video #4 and #5) with hair that was closely shaved to the scalp. That hairstyle is rarely worn by African American females of any age.

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closely braided hair 
I noticed a number of girls in Video #1, #2, and #3, with their hair braided close to their scalp either their entire hair or only in the front of their head. African American girls may wear their hair braided in the front and the rest of their hair styled some other way (such.as braid extensions worn out or worn in a ponytail). However, I think that African American females, particularly, after age five years, rarely wear their entire hair closely braided, including in cornrows, in public.  

cornrows
cornrows may be the same hairstyle as what I'm calling "closely braided hair". I believe that cornrows are when the rows of closely braided hair is somewhat raised and not as flat on the scalp as the other closely braided hair (whatever that style is called.)  

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dyed hair 
I noticed a few girls in most of these showcased videos (except for Video #4) with red or brown dyed hair.   

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'fro
The word 'fro is a form of the word "afro") .There are multiple hairstyles in which tightly curled (tightly coiled) hair can be worn in different ways without any chemicals or other treatments used to straighten that hair. The word "natural" (a natural) that is given immediately after this entry used to be a synonym for 'fro.

A 'fro (also given as (an afro; plural 'fros /afros can be worn in various lengths and without or with texturizing (to add curl definition i.e. to make the hair curlier.

The most common size of 'fros that I've noticed in Ukusina videos for females and for males (in 2024/2025 ) are 'fros that are either very short or somewhat short afros that are un-texturized.

This is in stark contrast to how Black women and Black men wear our hair in afros in the United States in the 2000s since at least 2015 (to arbitrarily pick at date). 'Fros in United States are much bigger (wider), texturized (to emphasize the curl), or loosely styled (i.e. often not styled at all. This is far different from the round shaped "bush" (which was a term that I recall being used for afros in the 1960s. Think about the afro that was worn by activist Angela Davis). 

I noticed a girl in the Ukusina showcase video #5 with what I would call a "medium sized 'fro that is dyed brown. That style appears to me to be not commonly worn in these Ukusina female dancers videos, but somewhat common in among Black females in the USA now (in 2025). 

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natural (hair styles) 
The general African American meaning for "naturals" (in reference to hair) means a person's hair is  that is largely left in its natural state/texture i.e. not straightened with chemicals or with a heated comb or by any other means. However, the hair is still washed, conditioned, treated with oils, combed, styled etc.

The term "a natural" used to be used among Black Americans to refer to an afro ('fro), but I don't think that word is used by us that way any more.
 
Almost all of the Zulu girls' hairstyles in these Ukusina videos would be considered natural hairstyles in the United States.

I haven't noticed any women in these showcased Ukusina videos or in the other Ukusina videos that I've watched wearing their hair in twists which is a very common natural hairstyle for Black women in the United States. "Twists" is a style that is created when the natural (often texturized) hair is braided in a style that can be and is usually worn out in public for a period of time (for instance, for three days). After those days, the hair is unbraided and worn "as is" (without combing or brushing). The hair can be styled but may be left un-styled i.e. leaving the hair "as is" is the style.

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perms 
The noun "perm" and the verb "permed" (both abbreviations of the word "permanent") is commonly used by African Americans tor refer to hair that is straightened by chemicals or a heated comb or by some other means to loosen that hair's naturally tight curls/coils. The hair is then worn in any number of styles, including worn "out" (loose, down, not in a ponytail.

"Perms" may be mistaken for naturally straight hair, naturally curly hair, or wigs. I've noticed some females in some of these Ukusina videos with hair that might be permed, but that might be those females' natural hair textue/s (Black people and perhaps other people can and usually do have more than one natural hair texture.).

Many (straight hair or curly hair) wigs may also be mistaken for perms or for naturally straight or curly hair. I haven't noticed any wigs being worn by Ukusina dancers. In contrast, wigs 9especially "lace front" wigs are worn by a number of Black female (high school) teenagers and Black woman in the United States. 

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ponytails
A "ponytail" is a hairstyle where some or all of a person's hair is gathered together and kept in place (usually) by a rubber band. The most common ponytail hairstyles for females are one ponytail in the back (at the neck) or one ponytail on each side of one's head (usually worn up but sometimes worn down).

If the hair is long enough, any texture of hair can be worn in a ponytail. "Afro puffs" (read the description above) are a ponytail hairstyle.

I've noticed Zulu females in these Ukusina videos wearing their hair in different ponytail styles.

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Weave
A :weave" is real or fake hair that is braided, sewn, or otherwise attached to a person's hair. For Black females, the natural hair is usually straightened (permed) and the weave is a straightened or curly texture. The hair is then styled. 

I believe that I saw some examples of weaves in most of these showcase videos of Ukusina performances, but what might be a weave could also be the females' natural hair texture.    

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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS OF ZULU (SOUTH AFRICAN) GIRLS HAIRSTYLES

These showcase videos were relatively randomly selected and are presented in no particular order.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - #4 Oqondanisa | Ingoma yezintombi | eMidrand eGoli | 1,1 

Nhlaka Mdlalose, Feb 24, 2025

Oqondanisa is a revered group of young Zulu maidens who uphold the sacred traditions of purity, discipline, and cultural pride. Rooted in the rich heritage of the Zulu people, these girls participate in ceremonies that celebrate womanhood, respect, and moral integrity. Adorned in vibrant traditional attire, they embody the values of dignity and honor, serving as living symbols of the community’s commitment to preserving its ancestral customs. Through dance, song, and ritual, Oqondanisa stands as a testament to the strength and grace of Zulu femininity, bridging the past with the present in a powerful display of cultural resilience.
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Update- March 2, 2025, another video of Oqondanisa is added as a bonus video to further document the variety of hairstyles that these females have.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - QHAWEKAZI TEAM BLUE OBUKA | ISIBAYA SAMADODA | EMKHANDLWINI | OBUKA

Embo Films, Embo Films, April 1, 2024

#ingoma #zuludance #zulu

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4- Team Pink | Mehlo | Naba sebayabaleka | Lapha e Newcastle Ingoma yasemajuba camp & workshop



Embo Films, Nov 19, 2024  NEWCASTLE
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Some girls in this video may be wearing braids (extensions) as in the style of a long ponytail in the back, but other long ponytail hairstyles in this videos may be some of these girls' natural hair textures and hair length.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - #intombi ❤️❤️

Confidence Buthelezi ♥️☯️, Mar 4, 2023

-snip-
BONUS VIDEO -#5 Oqondanisa | Ingoma yezintombi | eMidrand eGoli

Nhlaka Mdlalose, Feb 28, 2025

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TWO SHOWCASE VIDEOS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL AGE GIRLS HAIRSTYLES
These videos showcases African American middle school & high school (11-18 year old) female who are members of Stomp & Shake cheerleading teams.  These videos were randomly selected and are presented in no particular order.

Dilworth School - Black History

 

Urban Music, Jun 8, 2023

Music Video made and produced by the students and teachers of Dilworth School in Pittsburgh PA.

Dilworth is currently a performing art focused Pittsburgh public magnet school i.e. (students from any Pittsburgh neighborhood may attend Pittsburgh Board Of Education magnet schools. The racial makeup of that Pittsburgh public school is African American. 56.5% · White. 28.3% · Multiracial. 9.4% · Hispanic. 3.8% · Native American. 1.1% · Asian. 0.9% · International. 0% · Pacific Island 0%.https://www.niche.com/k12/pittsburgh-dilworth-k-5-pittsburgh-pa/students/
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Notice the wide variety of natural hairstyles for African American girls (and to a lesser extent for boys) in this video. A few of the African American girls have perms or that may be the natural texture of their hair. 

One of the girls who is featured in this video's snapshot has red colored hair woven into her braids (braid extensions). It appears to me that in 2015 that the custom of wearing isn't being done as much any more at that school (where my granddaughter graduated from* and where my daughter still teaches (and consequently I'm very familiar with that school). 

* My daughter is the woman with locs who is shown doing sign language at 4:44 in that video. My granddaughter is the girl with the big hair bun that is shown doing American sign language at 1:26 in that video. 
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/02/african-american-elementary-school-age.html for a 2023 video that showcases five YouTube videos of African American school age girls (from 2013-2023)

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SHOWCASE VIDEO # 2
🏀💜🤍 HALFTIME CHEER DANCE 📣 #cheer #cheerleading #highschoolbasketball #shorts


@SaginawDanceShow, Jan 31, 2025 -snip-

This video showcases an African American high school Stomp & Shake cheerleader team performing during half time at a competitive basketball game. (city/state unknown).

Notice that most of the girls wear their hair loose ("out") in braids (micro braids or other (probably fake hair) braid extensions without any beads or other adornments in their hair. Not wearing any beads in the hair is quite different from the custom of much younger Black girls (probably up to age eight or so) adorning the hair with beads or barrettes.

Also, notice the length of the hair that almost all of these Black cheerleaders had. Many African American females highly value long hair. The last cheerleader in this video is the only one who didn't have hair at least to her shoulders. Her hair was closely braided to her scalp.

The first cheerleader may have dyed her hair brown or that may be the natural color of her hair. Also, that first cheerleader may have permed her hair to achieve that curly texture or that may be the texture of her natural hair.  

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Visitors comments are welcome.

"Kinky Twist" Protective Hairstyle For Afro-Textured Hair (information, videos, & comments)

Adeea RogersApr 2, 2010  Part one in a 3 part series on Kinky Twist Hairstyles...

Part 2:

http://youtu.be/mMm_34QRU1E

Part 3:

http://youtu.be/y1su_Zv8PJY

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Edited  by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases two YouTube videos of the Kinky Twist protective hairstyle for "Afro-textured" hair.

This post also presents selected comments from these videos' discussion threads.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the vloggers of these showcased videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
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This pancocojams post is part of an ongoing series on the use of the word "kinky" as a reference to certain types of hair.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/10/braids-twists-protective-hair-styles.html for one of the post in that series. That post is entitled "Braids & Twists Protective Hair Styles For "Afro Textured Hair" & What's The Difference Between Marley Hair & Other Brands That Are Sold" 

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INFORMATION ABOUT PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLES FOR AFRO-TEXTURED HAIR
From https://www.curlsqueen.com/blog/hairstyles/best-protective-hairstyles-recommended-to-black-women-with-natural-hair.html  Best Protective Hairstyles Recommended To Black Women With Natural Hair by Curls Queen, June 24, 2022
..."As its name suggests, protective hairstyles are styling methods that protect your natural hair. Wearing protective hairstyle are beneficial to natural hair health and hair growth in all ways no matter you are concerning about natural hair damage or hair loss.

[...]

Protective hairstyles for black women include natural twist hairstyles, natural updo hairstyles, braided hairstyle and so on. They are perfect style which promoting new growth while allowing bountiful looks to switch flexibly with adding hair extensions in different color, thickness, length, and texture.

How protective hairstyles protect natural hair

Protective hairstyles minimize unnecessary manipulation on your natural hair and exposure to environmental damage caused by the sun, the heat and cold. Natural hair is prone to breakage, especially 4 type curls. That’s why so many black women wear protective hairstyles in daily life to keep hair healthy by retaining hair moisture while hair grows."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT KINKY TWISTS
From https://hairmotive.com/kinky-twists/  "50 Hairstyles Ideas for Kinky Twists for Natural Hair in 2022" August 20, 2022 by Lorene Kendall
"Twists are some of the most beloved African-American black hairstyles. Generally, this style is recommended for curly-haired women or anyone with “kinky” hair. Hence, these are the different names and styles of Kinky Twists.

Even more so, besides being pretty, twists are also one of the best protective hairstyles. They help protect natural hair as it grows out – and they also let you experiment without damaging your tresses.

First things first: What are kinky twists?

Kinky twists are a traditional African style that dates back many centuries ago. While their history goes way back, it started trending again in the 2000s.

How do you make kinky twists?

Kinky twists use hair extensions that are installed only after you braid your hair for about an inch from the root. Then, the style continues in a two-strand twist that traditionally ends in curled tips.

Are there any differences between kinky twists, Havana twists, and Marley twists?

Kinky twists differ from Marley twists and their related Havana twists in two major ways: the installation process and the thickness of the strands.

[...]

kinky twists tend to be much thinner or at least not as thick as Marley and Havana twists.

Are there differences or similarities between kinky twists and Senegalese twists?

Senegalese twists and kinky twists are similarly made and styled. The difference between them is in the hair used for making them. Kinky twists use coarser hair that is closer to the natural texture."...
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That article was written by an African American. However, as a number of  YouTube vlogs and their comments show, many Black females in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and elsewhere in the world wear use kinky twists hairstyles and other similar protective hairstyles (such as the Senegalese twists) as protective hairstyles. 

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM SHOWCASE VIDEO #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5huylYt6YE4

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1.  nowhatbeauty, 2010
"excellent so many different styles but i think i still dont like the kinky twists for me im just going to head back to my micros"

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2. Adeea Rogers, 2010
"@soks123 I had it done at an african braiding salon, so i'm not sure what brand. They curled it using the yarn method and hot water."

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3. Astin Shanell, 2011
"Excuse me but what hair did you use for the kinky twist?"

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Reply
4. Adeea Rogers, 2011
"@ILuvChocolate2012 I do not know what brand of hair. It was a marley hair that I used from the braiding salon."

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Reply
5.  Adeea Rogers, 2011
"@chevystaypretty marley hair. if you go to the BSS and ask for hair for kinky twists, they will get this."
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BSS= (probably “Beauty Supply Store”)

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6.  Sweet Dee, 2011
"Is it ok to do Kinky twist to transition to natural?"

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Reply
7. Adeea Rogers, 2011
"@LilD249 Absolutely! It is a protective style, so it's good for transitioning, hiding your hair, getting over a growth plateau, etc."

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8. NiK MinTeR, 2011
"lovely!! how long did u keep ur kinky twist in? ive had mines a month now...gonna try for 2 months lol"

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9. Adeea Rogers, 2011
"@nicolleminter about 6 weeks..."

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10. Dee Urban Collective
"love the coltrane!  use hairpins to hold them in place when u want to wear them out. cute do"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: How To Kinky Twists Crochet Braids Tutorial On Short Natural Hair

cynthykay obi, Aug 23, 2019 

Hello love thanks so much for watching, in this video i will be showing you guys How To Kinky Twists Crochet Braids Tutorial On Short Natural Hair, i am so in love with this hair, its so easy to do and it feel so light, i used a total of 2 and half packs to make the hair,

Short Natural Hair, i am so in love with this hair, its so easy to do and it feel so light, i used a total of 2 and half packs to make the hair,

[…]

THING[S] USED IN THE VIDEO

Two and half packs of Kinky Marley hair

scissors

hair cream

its Cherish Afro Kinky Bulk 24" in colour 99J, i used 2 and half packs

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VLOG'S DISCUSSION THREAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YDPbObOPk8

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only

 Linda Hubbard-Brinston, 2019
"Love! Love! Love this style! I really enjoy your tutorials. I'm seriously considering wearing this style for the fall and winter season. How long does it last?

Blessings & Aloha!"

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Reply
cynthykay obi, 2019
"thanks dear up to a month"

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Dametris Wess, 2019
"GORGEOUS! !!! VERY NATURAL LOOK 💖💖👏👏💖💖👏👏💖💖"

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Yakisha Merritt, 2019
"That is SO PRETTY!!! OMG! and red and copper colors looks great on u because u have red undertones in ur skin..i do too. Thats sharp!

Slay!🐆🌹"

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Asake Ogunwusi, 2019
"Love you love your style ooo...yes I must do it tooo its perfection."

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Beautiful Melanated Goddess, 2019
"Your 4c hair is gorgeous and so are you. Your edges are getting better everyday😘 # 4c hair is beautiful."

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Marcia ScottBeckford, 2019
"Looking beautiful... great work 👏💯....I did mine like that yesterday,but I use honey gold hair,I single plait mine.💕😘"

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Ronette Winston, 2019
"I love that! It's very cute on you. When you twist the hair, do you roll as your twisting, or is it just regular twisting?"

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Reply
cynthykay obi, 2019
"its regular twisting dear"

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S Hilaric, 2019
"Always slaying it mama❤❤

Love all the way from🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹"

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Reply
cynthykay obi, 2019
"aww thanks sweet"

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Reply
Kayla Edwards, 2019
"Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 aye"

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Lynn E, 2019
"What is that rope called you put all your twist on before applying them? Where did you get that at?"

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Reply
cynthykay obi, 2019
"its one strand of marley hair"

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l.am_Ngozi, 2019
"Waoo waoo waoo.. this is beautiful"

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Ndorike Enyinkeowo, 2019
"Hi a  new subbie here just really like the style. How many inch did you buy that you have to fold it into two. I want to order this hair. Thanks"

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Reply
cynthykay obi, 2019
"thanks dear its 8 inches"

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 Musicministry2012, 2019
"I am just wondering I don't know which country are you living in?"

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Reply
cynthykay obi, 2019
"England"

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Reply
Musicministry2012, 2019
" @cynthykay obi  Wow amazing I am also in England too. Love it."

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Donutqueen 1, 2020
"This is tooooo cute-great tutorial!! Do you remember how it long it took, start to finish ??"

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Reply 
cynthykay obi, 2020
"thanks about 4 hours"

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Bamitale Adeyinka, 2020
"You are beautiful. The extension suits you perfectly."

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Adeola Ojo, 2020
"Great job on the video... Does it really matter if you twist to the right or left?"

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Reply
cynthykay obi, 2020
"I always twist to the right"

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Eddie Coats, 2020
"do you think this hairstyle would look good on a guy?"

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Reply
cynthykay obi, 2020
"yeah"

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Diane None, 2020
"You go girl! You know u t he queen! of hair grl! You helped me so much during corona!   Nobody to do our hair grl!!!  You know we special peeps!! "
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During the Covid 19 pandemic (corona virus), many cities closed hair styling shops and barber shops to minimize the transmission of the virus.

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Mae Okwandu, 2022
"Love this short kinky style"

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Excerpts From Various Online Articles & Discussion Threads About Afros And Afro Picks

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on afro picks.

Part II provides excerpts from various online articles & discussion threads about afros and afro picks (pics).

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/erykah-badu-pick-your-afro-daddy-afro.html for Part I of this series. Part I showcases Erykah Badu's song "Pick Yo Afro Daddy". This song is also known as "Pick Yo Afro Daddy" and "Afro (Freestyle Skit)" is track 7 in Badu's the 1997 album Baduizm.

Part I also provides information about the Baduizm album.

The Addendum to that post includes a definition of "afro picks" and my comments about what afro picks and how afro picks were used and are now used. The Addendum also includes two related videos about Black hairstyles.

The content of this post is provided for cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-changing-shape-of-womens-afro-hair.html for a pancocojams post entitled "The Changing Shapes Of Women's Afro Hair Styles (with January 2018 Update)"

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ARTICLE AND DISCUSSION THREAD EXCERPTS
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Excerpt #1:
From https://www.quora.com/Why-have-afros-fallen-out-of-style-in-the-African-American-community "Why Have Afros Fallen Out Of Style In The African American Community?

[This comment includes photos of different natural styles including the top photo of a woman with a big ‘fro in the style of the late 1960s and 1970s and the bottom photo of a Black woman with hair whose natural curls are more defined.]

[by] Carlet Langford, black all my life
Answered Jun 1, 2015
"It depends on what you mean by "afro".

Do you mean this:

[photos inserted]

Afros that look like the top picture aren't as popular anymore, that's true-for various reasons. Maintaining the above means really paying attention to your hair-black hair is very fragile, and the longer it is, the more care it needs because it tends to break off. The only way to comb big Afros is with a pick-and picking the hair in order to get it to stand up like you see in the above picture can cause the hair to break off. Plus, black hair is pretty dry naturally-so it can look very dull if not constantly moisterized, and the shorter it is, the easier it is to care for.

But afros that look like the bottom pictures are pretty popular. Shorter, with twists or braids or just a shorter version of the above are pretty popular among blacks. There are now more ways to style natural hair in a healthy manner, and there are more products available to keep the hair healthy then in the past-so women (and men) who want to wear their hair in it's natural state don't have to revert to the 60's "black power" style afro.

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Excerpt #2:
From https://www.quora.com/Why-have-afros-fallen-out-of-style-in-the-African-American-community "Why Have Afros Fallen Out Of Style In The African American Community?
[by] Brianna Ruffin, African-American and Afro-Caribbean
Answered Jun 1, 2015
"I would argue that the Afro hasn't disappeared. It, along with other natural hair styles, may have simply changed forms. For example, there's Lupita Nyong'o's teeny weeny afro (TWA), which is shorter and easier to care for. There are also medium-sized afros. In addition to these hair styles, there are other natural hair styles such as twist outs, flat twists, and braid outs that have become much more popular. Some of these hair styles look kind of like the Big Ass Afro (BAA) and have the added benefit of being more socially acceptable."

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Excerpt #3:
From ttps://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-black-people-wear-combs-in-their-hair Why do some black people wear combs in their hair?
[comment by Aaron Ellis, Black on Both Sides
Answered Jan 26 [no year given. However, according to Google search, this question was published in 2015]
"Back when I was fourteen years-old, I stopped cutting my hair. For the first few months, I didn’t notice that my hair was getting long, partly because I played football and helmets hide long hair well. But after six months, I looked in the mirror and realized that my hair had grown like a plant in all directions. I had to face facts: I had an afro.

Personally, I was content to just let my fro grow without paying it any attention. However, my father didn’t like that plan. My dad came of age in the ’60s and ‘70s, when afros were more than just a hairdo: they were symbols of race, culture, and uniformity. He had high standards for the natural hairstyle. If I was going to have an afro, I had to follow his rules, which included regular shape-ups (barbershop visits to keep the hair tidy and shapely) and I had to comb it regularly to keep it presentable. Basically, my afro would have to look like how he styled his natural back in the day.

The one thing you quickly learn when trying to maintain a perfectly globular, velvety-sheened afro is that you have to comb it a lot. No seriously, A LOT.

Combing with a pick keeps your hair at a full length, but it’s temporary. The tendency of the hair to curl closer to the scalp is relentless. So you pick and pat down your hair all the time. Sometimes every hour. Sometimes every fifteen minutes. Sometimes even more frequently than that. If you don’t regularly comb your hair, it will look lumpy and uneven.

Another thing you quickly learn when you grow out a fro is that afro picks are not the most convenient combs to keep around. Even the small ones don’t fit into a front pocket and barely fit in a back pocket, where they are rigid and inflexible. The larger ones don’t fit in pockets at all.

So as a result of frequently needing to use an afro pick that does not easily fit in pockets or elsewhere, eventually it starts to seem like a good idea to just let the pick hang out in your fro. The thick hair is usually sturdy enough to hold it in place, so the pick just stays in place for easy access. As far as I’m aware, afros are the only black hairdos in which it’s possible to keep a comb in it, and afro picks are the only kinds of combs that you’ll find in that hair.

Obviously, some people will keep their afro picks in their hair for other reasons, for example, as a fashion item or hair decoration. However, even people who do this are most likely using their picks on a regular basis to keep their hair combed.

In summary, it’s just practical to leave your pick in your hair."

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Excerpt #3
From ttps://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-black-people-wear-combs-in-their-hair Why do some black people wear combs in their hair?


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Excerpt #4:
From ttps://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-black-people-wear-combs-in-their-hair Why do some black people wear combs in their hair?
[by] Patrick Edwin Moran, former Professor (1968-2010)
Answered Oct 25, 2015
"Decorative artifacts that stick in hair by their several long legs are common in many cultures. They go way back in China.
https://www.pinterest.com/joky717/ancient-chinese-combs/
Ancient Chinese Combs by Joky Lee

Back in the late 60s my African-American friends would stick a "pick" in their Afro hairdos. Those combs looked quite nice that way. Could there be a hold-over from that practice?

The afro comb: not just an accessory but a cultural icon
A new exhibition charts the afro comb from its inception in ancient Egypt through to its ascendency as a political emblem"...
-snip-
This commenter cites the article that is given as Excerpt #5
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Excerpt #5
From https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2013/jul/07/afro-comb-accessory-cultural-icon "Afro Comb: Not Just An Accessory But A Cultural Icon" by Felicity Heywood, 7 Jul 2013
"
The afro comb has long been associated with the 1970s, the accessory of a hairstyle that represented counter culture and civil rights during an important era for both. These days it makes a regular appearance on mainstream TV in America – the Roots drummer Questlove is fond of wearing one while performing as part of the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Forty years ago, the afro comb was worn in the hair not only as an adornment, but also as a political emblem and a signature of a collective identity. It was recognised as a way of saying no to oppression. Wearing the comb led to a kind of comradeship amongst those whose hair grows up and out, not down.

Previously, the Afro comb wasn't very visible. And for this reason it has been assumed that the afro comb was invented in the 1970s. But a new exhibition blows that myth out the water. The afro comb dates back to ancient Egypt. The oldest comb from the collection is 5,500 years old.
The hundreds of combs on display show that over time the style hasn't changed. The comb, sometimes called a pick, is commonly upright with long teeth. Sometimes a motif decorates the top. In ancient times it often referenced cultural belonging, and there are artifacts showing how people wore the comb in the hair. Time marches on and culture is always in transition. But perhaps not at the speed we assume.”...

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Excerpt #6
From https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/02/24/afro-rises/98327072/ "Untangled from politics, the proud Afro hairstyle rises again" by Karyn D. Collins, Special for USA TODAY Published Feb. 24, 2017
"Starla Lewis still remembers her father's reaction almost 50 years ago when she decided to wear her hair natural. She was 18 years old, and she was done using a hot comb to straighten her hair.

"My dad came home and looked at me and said, 'OK, joke's over. Go fix your hair.' And I said, 'Dad, this is the real me,'" Lewis recalls. "He said, 'Do me a favor: If you see me walking down the street, please don't speak.'"

Harsh words.

But in 1968, many black people considered "going natural" to be a radical move, whether that meant styling it in braids, cornrows, or one big puff — the look that became known as the Afro.

"Going natural was a resistance against what had been years of us trying to fit into European-American culture by straightening our hair," says Lewis, professor emerita of black studies at San Diego Mesa College in California. "Going natural was about embracing yourself, loving yourself."

And Lewis loved herself and her "new" hair.

[...]

Lewis has worn her hair natural almost continuously since that day in 1968; these days she sports a short Afro. Her daughter and granddaughter also wear natural hairstyles.

“"Going natural was about embracing yourself, loving yourself."”

She says it took a while for her father to come around, but he eventually did. "I think he realized I wasn't rejecting him. It was about embracing myself."

Today's natural hair is not your father's 'fro. A new generation has joined the natural hair movement and embraced the iconic Afro. Now, the style is relatively free of the political and social implications of the past.

“Back then, a lot of people saw our wearing our hair natural as a rejection of what was deemed socially acceptable. Originally, it was not a style as much as it was an 'unstyle'," says Lori Tharps, co-author of Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America. Tharps is an associate professor in journalism at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Social historians trace the start of the trend to students in the civil rights movement, particularly those in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee working and protesting in the South.

Then, the style was borne out of practical concerns.

"Activists found it was hard to maintain a press and curl after being covered in food during sit-ins, sprayed with high-powered water hoses during protest marches, and housed in cramped, humid Southern jails. Many SNCC women started cutting their hair short and wearing it natural," says Tanisha C. Ford, author of Liberated Threads: Black Women, Style and the Global Politics of Soul and an associate professor in black American studies and history at the University of Delaware. Young men in the movement began growing out their hair as well.

Afros became a political symbol, one that spread worldwide. But ironically, that popularity became its undoing.

"By the '70s, it was all about the Afro. And it wasn't a political statement, it was a style. It was a fashion trend, a hairstyle," Tharps says. "You had white people wearing Afros. You had the Jackson 5 and all of these superstars wearing Afros."

Lewis adds, "When it became the Afro, it became more of a hairstyle. It became about this perfectly shaped creation. You had all these products coming out to keep it perfect. Like any fashion trend, it eventually died, and people moved on to the next trend."

In praise of the pick

The pick, or sometimes pik, and the related wide-toothed Afro comb dates back 5,500 years to ancient Egypt.

But who's responsible for the modern versions some remember from childhood or a recent trip to the beauty supply store?

Willie Morrow was a popular barber in San Diego in the 1960s when he noticed an increasing number of his college-age customers growing their hair longer. Then one of his young customers brought in a comb he had purchased in Nigeria while studying there.

"I took a look at this comb. It didn't look like anything else I'd seen. That was the first time I saw a pick," Morrow said.

Morrow started making his own picks out of wood, eventually adding plastic and metal versions. Those creations, along with other hair implements he has collected, were the basis of an exhibit last year, "The History and the Hair Story: 400 Years Without A Comb," at the Museum at California Center for the Arts in Escondido, Calif.

S. Henry Bundles, Jr., whose wife was the granddaughter of black hair-care pioneer Madam C.J. Walker, held one of the first patents for an Afro pick, along with his business partner Henry Childrey.

A'Lelia Bundles said the pick her father and Childrey developed in 1969 for Summit Laboratories came after they saw a comb in San Francisco in the late '60s.

"Everyone was pivoting to take advantage of the Afro and come up with products for that, various sprays and moisturizers and the combs and picks," said A'Lelia Bundles, a journalist.

Today, Antonio's Manufacturing of Cresson, Pa., appears to be king of the pick market. If you have a pick with a fist and peace sign on the handle, it's probably an Antonio's model based on an original design first patented in the early '70s.

Anthony Romani Jr., the son and successor of company founder Anthony Romani, doesn't know why his father came up with that design.
"I do remember a lady called once and asked him why he put the fist and peace sign together," Romani Jr. said. "And he said, 'Well, you have to fight for peace, I reckon.' "...

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Excerpt #7
From https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/afro/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-an-afro-pick "The Pros and Cons of Using an Afro Pick"
by Victoria Davis, 12.15.17
"The Afro pick has been a staple in the Black community for years -- did you know it was used in Egypt over 6,000 years ago?

And today, this hair tool has made its way into the hands of curly girls of all shades. If you've never used a pick (here is how to), or you want to dust off your comb from years past, there are some pros and cons of using an afro pick.

Pros
You achieve big curls. If you want to stand out amongst the crowd, big hair is surely the way to go. Afro picks can be used once your wash n go, twistout or braid out has fully dried. Don't even think about putting that pick near your head any time before then -- you will cause major frizz. Prevent this by combing from the roots up to an inch downward.

Inexpensive you say? With so many tools made for hair care, they can get pretty expensive, but the afro pick is one you can count on that won't make you empty your wallet. Picks can cost just a few dollars unless you're on the hunt for a handcrafted comb.

There are tons to choose from. Speaking of that handcrafted comb, there are many styles of picks - including your options of plastic or metal. Many stores sell a variety of colors, but what it's made of will matter. Those with looser, finer curl patterns may want to opt for the plastic pick as they are gentler. If you have a kinkier texture - metal picks will work just as well.

Cons
You may break some curls. The thought of causing breakage while using your pick may seem like a nightmare, but it's only a reality if you use the tool incorrectly. I know us curly girls focus a lot on protecting the ends of our hair, but your roots are the real star of the show when you use a pick. Never use the pick by starting from the roots and combing all the way through to the ends. You will cause severe damage and start the day with a massive headache.

Don't get too friendly. You may feel your newfound pick was sent from God, but over-manipulating your hair using any tool can cause breakage. Long story short: find ways to fluff your hair once without restyling with your pick daily.”...

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Excerpt #8
From https://blackhairinformation.com/general-articles/tips/5-dos-donts-using-afro-pick/ "5 Dos And Don’ts When Using An Afro Pick" by Victoria, January 18, 2016
[...]

"Do's

Do it on dry hair

First things first, when you use your afro pick you’re probably going to want to use it on dry hair. One of the biggest things naturals know is that if you take down a style while it’s wet, you’re going to get nothing but frizz. To make sure that your curls are able to form and be defined in their own way, let your hair dry fully first. Then you can start using the pick.

Do it on day 1 hair

Most people use their afro pick to truly define their day one curls. When you first take a style down, that’s when it’s the most flat. If you don’t want to wait until day 2 or 3 (after you’ve finally slept on it more and you curls had a chance to drop), then use your afro pick on day one. It will help you get the big curly fro look that you were looking for.

Don’t overdo it

With that being said, don’t overdo the picking! If you want to make your style last a few days or even a little over a week, you don’t want to get it so big on the first day that it looks like a nest on day 4. If you like frizz, or if it’s for a one time occasion, on the other hand, then feel free to use the pick to get that maximum full look.

Do gently lift the roots

Now comes the test of using the pick – when you actually run it through. To get the most voluminous look, place the pick at the root of your hair and gently pull up.

Lift at the roots and repeat all over your head. This way your curls won’t be disturbed and you can see more volume. You can also shape your style in the way you want it to lay on your head.

Don’t tug all the way through

Even though you are lifting your curls, do not run the pick all the way through. Trust me, this is a mistake I had to learn through extensive trial and error. Pulling the pick all the way through is similar to just combing out the curls. Instead, lift at the roots and stop. You’ll still have definition and volume – the best of both worlds!”...
-snip-
Comment from Tayna [no date given]
"Good info! I just learned how to use an afro pick to create volume for my fine, low dense hair. Now my wash n gos, roller sets, and twist outs have the illusion of looking thick!"

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This concludes Part II of this two part series on afros and afro picks.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Erykah Badu - Pick Your Afro Daddy ( Afro Freestyle Skit), videos, lyrics, & comments about afro picks

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on afro picks.

Part I showcases Erykah Badu's song "Pick Yo Afro Daddy". This song is also known as "Pick Yo Afro Daddy" and "Afro (Freestyle Skit)" is track 7 in Badu's the 1997 album Baduizm.

Part I also provides information about the Baduizm album.

The Addendum to this post includes a definition of "afro picks" and my comments about what afro picks and how afro picks were used and are now used. The Addendum also includes two related videos about Black hairstyles.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/11/excerpts-from-various-online-articles.html for Part II of this series. Part II provides excerpts from various online articles & discussion threads about afros and afro picks (pics).

The content of this post is provided for cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Erykah Badu for her musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: Afro Freestyle



AryKayne, Published on Nov 24, 2012

Track 7 from Baduizm album (Afro Freestyle Skit)

Song: Afro (Freestyle Skit)

Artist: Erykah Badu
-snip-
According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baduizm, "Baduizm is the debut album by American singer and songwriter Erykah Badu, released on February 11, 1997 by Kedar Records.

[...]

Baduizm was met with positive reviews from music critics who praised the album's musical style and Badu's artistic vision; other critics noted similarities between Badu and Billie Holiday. Baduizm was a commercial success debuting at number two on the US Billboard charts and number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album was certified three times platinum by Recording Industry Association of America,[5] Gold by British Phonographic Industry[6] and Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association.[7]

[...]

Badu's particular style of singing drew many comparisons to Billie Holiday.[24] Entertainment Weekly said Badu echoed Holiday in "her phrasing and cadence,"[14] while Greg Kot from the Chicago Tribune commented: "Rather than merely mimicking Holiday, Badu offers a canny update of the socially conscious soul of the early '70s with her midtempo grooves and sultry, conversational vocals."[13] In the Los Angeles Times, Robert Hilburn wrote: "Freely mixing musical eras and inspirations (Billie Holiday to Stevie Wonder, jazz to hip-hop), Badu combines supper-club sophistication with an artistic vision as unique and independent" as Prince in the 1980s.[25] Writing for Rolling Stone, Miles Marshall Lewis stated: "Baduizm showcases the heart and soul of a bohemian B-girl who happens to have an effortless jazz swing."[19]

At the end of 1997, Baduizm was voted the seventh best record of the year in the Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of American critics published by The Village Voice.[26]...

After Baduizm was released, it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[29][30] The album's success helped establish Badu as one of the leading artists in the burgeoning neo soul genre.[2] Baduizm was certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, Gold by the British Phonographic Industry and the Canadian Recording Industry Association. [5] [6] [7]

As of February 2017 the album has sold 2.8 million copies in United States."...

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Example #2:Erykah Badu - Pick Yo Afro Daddy & Jesus On The Main Line LIVE in Chicago March 28th 2013



Kreis Xian, Published on Mar 30, 2013
Erykah Badu performs " Pick Yo Afro Daddy & Jesus On The Main Line " LIVE at House of Blues Chicago in celebration of her 16th anniversary in the music business.
-snip-
Bady's "Jesus [Is] On The Main Line" is a largely non-religious rendition of that song.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/rev-timothy-flemming-jesus-is-on.html for a pancocojams post about the Gospel song "Jesus Is On The Main Line".

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LYRICS: PICK YOUR AFRO, DADDY
Afro (Freestyle Skit)
(Erykah Badu, James Poyser, Jaífar Barron)

Excuse us, Ladies and Gentleman..1, 2..

You need to pick yo afro, daddy
Cuz it's flat on one side
You need to pick yo afro, daddy
Cuz it's flat on one side
What ya waiting for
Well, if you don't pick yo afro
You're gonna have one side high

Well, you said you was gonna take me to see Wu-Tang, baby
So I braided my hair
Well, yes you did
Well, you said you was gonna take me to see Wu-Tang, baby
So I braided my hair, yes I did
Cornrowed and everything, baby
Well, you changed your mind and said we wasn't goin'
But my momma saw you there, yes she did

Check this out, one time
Well, I be blowin' up your pager, daddy
But you never call me back
Well, I be puttin' in 9-1-1, baby
But you never call me back no no
See if you don't know how to use that pager, daddy
I'm gonna take that ho back
Yes I will- you know I'll do it


Source: https://genius.com/Erykah-badu-afro-freestyle-skit-lyrics

Comment on that page by Maira, 2015
"Badu wrote this, as dedicated to ?uestlove of the Roots."

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ADDENDUM: WHAT IS AN "AFRO PICK?" AND WHAT DOES "PICKING YOUR HAIR" MEAN IN THE CONTEXT OF BLACK HAIR CARE & THE AFRO AND OTHER BLACK NATURAL HAIRSTYLES? [Revised November 26, 2018]
An "afro pick" is a type of wide tooth hair comb. "Afro" ('fros) usually refer to evenly cut, rounded (halo shaped) big or small natural (non-chemically treated or non-hot comb straightened) hair styles for Black people with tightly coiled hair.

Afro picks can be made entirely of wood or plastic and may also be found as metal "teeth" with a wooden handle. In the context of Black people's hair care "to pick" means "to comb". Because of their wide teeth (prongs) afro picks help detangle tightly curled hair and make it easier to comb. Afro picks also help achieve and maintain afros that have volume and are evenly shaped.

Among Black Americans, "afro picks" may be more colloquially known as "pics" or "picks".

Afros are certain types of natural hairstyles that are worn (mostly) by Black people with tightly curled natural hair (i.e.type 4 hair that isn't treated with chemicals or hot combed.) Click https://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types/coily for information about and photos of 4a, 4b, and 4C hair).

Afro picks are sometimes placed in the front side of (usually) Black males to facilitate carrying that comb. Much less often, afro picks are (also) worn in the hair on usually informal occasions for ornamental fashion purposes. However, the custom of having an afro pic in one's hair is much less often found in the 2000s than it was in the 1970s -in spite of the increased attention that musician Questlove of the Roots band has given to this custom as a result of the Roots being the house band for the Late Night With Jimmy Fallon series since February 2014.

It should be noted that the uneven style of ?uestlove's (Questlove)'s afro is very different from the evenly rounded (halo) style of big or small afros that were worn in the 1970s.

African Americans who wore our hair in afros, picked our hair for one of these or both of these reasons:
1. to help detangle the tightly curled natural hair
2. to achieve and help maintain a full, evenly rounded afro style

Afros a('fros) are natural hairstyles for (mostly) Black people with 4a, 4b, and/or 4c hair (Note that it's not unusual for an individual to have moer than one type of hair texture. In the late 1960s through the 1970s, afros were round, halo, evenly styled hairstyles, and the bigger (fuller) the afro was the better it was considered to be. However, that afro style became less favored in the 1980s although they can still be found among a small number of Black males and Black females. And in contrast to the 2000s, teeny tiny afros ("twas"- closely cropped natural hair, including shaved almost to the scalp were hardly found at all among Black American women.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-changing-shape-of-womens-afro-hair.html for a pancocojams post entitled "The Changing Shapes Of Women's Afro Hair Styles (with January 2018 Update)"

Another way of achieving a fuller look with afros was (is) to braid or twist one's natural hair (at night before going to bed and then unbraiding or untwisting that hair (the next morning or longer*) before combing it with an afro pick or (more often nowadays) with another style of large tooth comb.

In Erykah Badu's "Pick Your Afro Daddy" freestyle song, Badu suggests that the man she is addressing (originally the drummer known as Questlove, who she informally and affectionately refers to as "Daddy", pick his afro hair in order to achieve an even look to that hair, i.e. one side is "flat" while the other side is higher.

In "Pick Your Afro, Daddy" Badu also refers to the custom (since the 1970s) of Black people braiding our natural hair and then taking out those braids and combing (picking) it in order to help make it easier to comb and wear in a 'fro.

Well, you said you was gonna take me to see Wu-Tang, baby
So I braided my hair, yes I did
Cornrowed and everything, baby"

In my opinion, Badu's reference to "cornrowed and everything" is artistic license. Generally speaking, cornrow hairstyles take much too long to do for people to take that hairstyle out the next morning or the next day after doing them.

It's important to note that way back in the 1970s-1990s, neither I nor any other Black female over the age of eighteen I knew would wear our natural hair out in public in braids or in cornrows, excerpt when those braids were worn with decorated with beads or with cowrie shell. Wearing hair in cornrows or braids were children's hairstyles which could be worn by men but were considered only maintenance hairstyles for women. (By maintenance, I mean that braiding or cornrowing helped keep naturally tightly curled hair from tangling and frizzing up). However, since the resurgence of the Black natural hair movement, particularly since the early 2000s- wearing one's hair in braids, cornrows, or "twist out" are considered much more socially acceptable and are even considered stylish by a number of Black women and others.

To be clear, it's usually incorrect to refer to most natural hair styles worn by Black Americans nowadays as "afros" ('fros).

Here's one example (out of numerous YouTube examples) of "twists outs" - one of many popular natural hairstyles that are now worn by Black women: twisting sections of the hair, leaving the twists in overnight, or for several days, then taking the twists out, and wearing your hair that way without picking out (combing out) the hair:

SUPER DEFINED TWIST OUT ON 4C NATURAL HAIR ft SALON PRO TWIN OLIVE GEL | Luchi Loyale



Luchi Loyale, Published on Jun 10, 2018

-snip-
In contrast, here's a 2013 video of a big afro:

Biggest Afro Hair In The World - Guinness World Record



Barcroft TV, Published on Aug 1, 2013

Biggest Afro Hair In The World - Guinness World Record

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series on afro picks.
Read the selected articles and comments about "afro picks" in Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Five YouTube Examples Of African American Performing Artists With Braided Hairstyles With Beads & Other Ornaments

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I in a four part pancocojams series that provides information about African originated or African inspired braided hairstyles for females.

This post includes my transcription Of a November 1979 Ebony Magazine article about the emerging popularity among African American adults of unadorned braids or braids with beads.

This post also showcase several videos of African American performing artists wearing their hair in braids with beads, cowrie shells, and/or other ornaments.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/more-examples-of-fulani-african-female.html for Part II of this series. Part II presents excerpts from several online articles about Fulani (West African) culture. Part II also showcase several videos about Fulani culture with special focus on Fulani females' beaded hairstyles.

Part III presents excerpts of several online articles about Black females' braided hairstyles that are inspired by Fulani and/or other African culture.

Part IV showcases three African American hair tutorial videos about "Fulani braids" with beads and/or other ornaments. Selected comments from these videos' discussion threads are also included in that post.

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The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copy rights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the author/s of this Ebony Magazine article and thanks to all those who are featured in that article. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these embedded YouTube videos.

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TRANSCRIPTION OF NOVEMBER 1979 EBONY MAGAZINE ARTICLE
https://books.google.com/books?id=28sDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=black+singers+wearing+beads+in+their+hair&source=bl&ots=RhBtTfwaqc&sig=i079tScekssQhjnCkOPCKwxRNN8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi674--vKDZAhUiTt8KHel6CgEQ6AEIXTAL#v=onepage&q=black%20singers%20wearing%20beads%20in%20their%20hair&f=false

CREATIVE AFRICAN COIFFURE CATCHES ON

[two photos of jazz pianist Patrice Rushen with photo caption]

"Beaded braids, such as these worn by jazz pianist Patrice Rnshen, are now a popular hairstyle as an increasing number of Black women adopt the African- originated coiffure. Patrice wears her tiny braids adorned with slender and round beads, and shells."

[article]

"BRAIDS and cornrows until recently were dismissed as hairstyles for children and “country folk”. But now thousands of black young women, and some young black men, are abandoning afros and curly hair to switch to artistically designed cornrowed and braided coiffures that date back to African antiquity.

African sculptures dating back to 900 B.C. feature women wearing braids and cornrows, and they are still the traditional hairstyles for many African women. But the style didn’t catch on in the United States until recent years. Actress Abbey Lincoln and singer Nina Simone wear among the first to wear braids in the early ‘70s, and widespread public attention was focused on the artistic hair design when Cicely Tyson sported her cornrows while promoting the movie Sounder in 1972.

Joni Sledge said that she and her sisters were “inspired” to braid their long hair when they visited Zaire and saw “the beautiful women there wearing long braids and cornrows. We wanted to make a cultural statement and this hairstyle definitely does” says Joni Gwen Fleming, a singer with the musical Your Arms Are Too Short To Box with God, had her hair braided by an African hairstylist when she visited Senegal in 1976. “All the women there wear braids, but they usually have their heads covered,” she says, adding that the Senegalese usually braid their hair around a stiff cord and often weave in extensions to make the braids appear longer than they actually are.

Hazel Payne and Janice Johnson, the head singers and musicians with A Taste Of Honey, have found their braided and beaded hairstyles very convenient for hectic traveling schedules and performances. Says Hazel, “I don’t have to roll it or get it cut. It is easy to keep clean, for I just shampoo it in the shower.”

The cornrowed and braided hairstyles are a natural and creative way for famous and not so famous women and men to express their individuality while freeing themselves from the daily hassles of keeping Afros picked out and curls curled. To get the hair styled in this fashion may take anywhere from one hour to 30 hours (and may cost from $10 to $20 dollars per hour), depending on the complexity of the design and whether beading is preferred. But once finished, the style usually lasts from three weeks to three months and can be shampooed and brushed as is. In this form the hair gets a real rest from daily pulling, teasing and twisting, and the style is fog-wind-rain-humidity proof. Some hair specialist also say that hair braiding promotes hair growth.

continued on page 114"

[photo of Sister Sledge singing group with photo caption]

"Sister Sledge were inspired to have their hair braided during a trip to Zaire where they saw “so many beautiful women with beautiful braided cornrowed hairstyles”...[sisters identified by name]

[photo of singer Rick James with photo caption]

"Entertainer Rick James (left) is among the growing number of men who prefer their hair in braids. Above, Quincella Swymington, a dance with the musical Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God wears long tiny braids. Ms. Swymington says she used to wear a short Afro, but switched to braids for a “different” look.

Continued on page 116"

[photo of singer/guitarist Hazel Payne with photo caption]

"Hazel Payne, vocalist and guitarist with A Taste Of Honey says she designed her Egyptian influenced hairstyle “to complement my large deep-set eyes”. Her hairstylist, Salimu of Los Angeles, spends 20 hours creating the 300 braids. Below, Valerie Simpson of the Ashford and Simpson songwriting/singing husband/wife team, started her career sporting an Afro. But later switched to unadorned braids."

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SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Alicia Keys - Fallin' [2001]



aliciakeysVEVO, Published on Oct 25, 2009

Alicia Keys' official music video for 'Fallin''.

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Example #2: A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie



SweetGeorgiaPeache, Published on Aug 14, 2010

Released in 1978 and peaked at #1 on all the charts.

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Example #3: Stevie Wonder Rocket Love [sound file; 1980]



DJironmonkeyTV, Published on Feb 17, 2013
-snip-
Note the album cover's drawing of Stevie Wonder with colored beads in his braids.

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Example #4: Patrice Rushen ‎– Where There Is Love (HD) [1982]



Dr. SuperFunk, Published on Jul 3, 2016

Genre:Funk,Soul,Electronic, Jazz,

Album: Patrice Rushen ‎– Straight From The Heart

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Example #5: SOLANGE - DON'T TOUCH MY HAIR (OFFICIAL VIDEO) [2016]



SolangeKnowlesVEVO, Published on Oct 2, 2016

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

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