Why Do Black Women Wear Wigs

Short history about wig.
Ancient Egyptian wigs.
Wigs are said to have first appeared in Ancient Egypt, according to experts. Women wore them mostly to display their class and rank. Those members of this Egyptian culture who were more fortunate, such as royalty, even wore wigs that were embellished with lace and gold. This demonstrated their even greater standing in comparison to the other members of the upper class at the time.

Women could choose to wear wig whenever they wanted or didn’t want to since they could entirely shave their heads when they wore wigs. This is how they put it best: were this an option and were this this. Conversely, those who held lesser social positions were not allowed to wear wigs at all. A definite social division was produced as a result.

The fact that Ancient Egyptians didn’t only wear wigs on their heads is an additional fascinating aspect regarding the garments. Also produced were beard wigs. Queen Hatshepsut was a well-known pharaoh who wore a beard wig, and these wigs demonstrated even greater authority and rank.

Wigs for wearing at work and for fashion.
Different traits and aesthetics continued to influence the social stratification in the years that followed, across the various eras. Even as women gained access to more positions in society, black women continued to face prejudice, and some positions were inaccessible due to physical limitations. While she was applying for jobs, appearance played a big part in many women’s careers. A wig was the only way a black lady could find employment because of the prevalent straight hairstyle or specific hairdos. When a woman’s natural hair couldn’t meet a particular hair criterion, she would wear a wig.

Black women’s wig styles also started to catch on at the same period. These women used their wigs to create some distinctive hairdos. Black doo-wop groups, for instance, were known for their distinctive wig-created haircuts. This sparked the notion of utilizing wigs to express oneself creatively. Wigs were also worn for fashion, as opposed to any functional uses, including for the workplace. With many hairstyles, including the recognizable hump at the top of the head, ladies could now express themselves.

Wig usage declining in the 1960s and 1970s.
Straight hair was often the ideal for most individuals in prior decades. The natural hair movement of the 1960s opposed covering up a woman’s natural curls. It urged ladies to forego using wigs in favour of their natural hair. The civil rights movement of 1964–1966 coincided with the celebration of natural hair as an alternative to straight hair. Also, it had a distinctively black look. It represented for many the rejection of earlier aesthetic standards that prevailed throughout white America. Also, they demonstrated their own beauty.

Black actresses of the era depicted themselves with natural hair in movies and on television, and they joined the rest of the community in celebrating the afro. This was one of the reasons that natural hair did start to gain popularity and establish itself as a distinct look. The majority of these natural hairstyles were still made with wigs, but these wigs were only coily rather than straight, despite the fact that they were promoting “natural hair” via this.

During the 70’s.
Black women continued to raise awareness and display a distinctively community-specific look throughout the 1970s, therefore this trend persisted. The Black Panther Party, a revolutionary group that was actively involved in the civil rights fight, first donned the afro as a hairdo. The hairdo, however, became widely adopted among black people as the word got out and awareness increased. They weren’t the only ones with this recognizable hairdo, and a large portion of the general population was giving up wearing wigs. Ultimately, the decision to forego wearing wigs in favour of flaunting one’s natural hair was a sign of the growing black population and it honoured a distinctive style that the populace developed to express their pride.

Yet, this natural hair movement did start to present issues for the black women near the end of the 1970s. It served as a focal point for violence, confrontations, and arrests in public. In order to protect themselves from violent police enforcement, many women were sheltering underground. The wig was brought back by those who weren’t chosen to conceal their real hair. They used wigs to guard themselves from this issue since the afro was once again becoming a target.

In conclusion.
I’m hoping that after reading this essay you’ll discover the greatest explanation for why black women use wigs and have a better understanding of the issue. Do you desire a distinctive wig like that worn by black women? Go through our selection of human hair wigs! From a full lace wig to a lace front, closure, V/U part wig, headband wig, or glueless wig, we offer everything you require.

Please feel free to get in touch with us personally at any time if you have any particular demands for the wig. We are pleased to assist at any time!

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