Black women are often associated with their nappy curls and it gets confusing to other people why a black woman can rock multiple hairstyles. Sometimes it can lead to people outside your race not being able to identify you when you switch to a new hairdo. Once people eventually recognize the black woman with a new hairdo it is accompanied by stares and questions either by people thinking your new hair is cool or why do wear such on your hair?
Rocking Black Hair While Living Abroad
It is a weird stereotype to people to assume all black women are insecure about their hair hence why she wears wigs or has extensions on. I have been asked so many times why I wear wigs and I genuinely have no reason other than low maintenance and I am just trying to keep my hair as healthy as possible.
I have rocked different kinds of hairstyles all my life, from weaves to braids to wigs as this is what I was exposed to growing up in Nigeria and never have I had to question it. For some reason since moving to Canada, the hair changing and wig-wearing has led to people asking so many questions I do not have an answer to. I believe the questions come from the fact I am situated in a much more diverse city.
I do not think wig wearing and including of extensions in one’s hair is for one race. However, I think because as black women we can switch our hairstyles often and have a variety of looks, it confuses outsiders. We wear hairstyles that are much different to women from other races – the braids- so I get it.
Read Also:
What I Wish I knew Before Moving Abroad
Getting A Job Placement In Canada
Embracing Black Women Wearing Wigs
It was while living in the UK I got acquainted with the wig-wearing lifestyle. For me, this was the norm then as every black woman I was surrounded by opted for this hairstyle. It’s interesting how the culture here in Canada (Halifax to be specific) amongst black women has more black women wearing braids compared to the UK where women wore more weaves and wigs.
I remember the first time I changed my hair, my classmates were staring so hard. It was a good stare and they began to ask if I was going on a date. The people I live with won’t stop asking why I wear a wig and tell me how beautiful my natural hair is. I have seen impressive growth in my hair since I stopped leaving out my hair for a long period. My hair length has gone from barely touching my neck to bra length over the past 5 years. I have never had any reason to cut my hair so I am not a naturalista. I realized the insistent putting of chemicals otherwise known as relaxer in my hair made a lot of difference. I went from putting relaxer almost 4 to 6 in a year to barely once or twice and always having my hair made.
For the first time in over 5 years, I let my hair out for over 5 weeks in the summer, it is safe to say had a significant amount of hair loss due to consistent combing. I decided to switch hairstyles to a wig that is different from my natural hair colour and my colleagues couldn’t help but stare and wonder what I had done to my hair but refused to ask. So if any black woman has answers to these questions that people keep asking me to share them in the comment section below.
Of course, this post in no way reflects the opinions of other black women’s hair as everyone has a choice of how they style their hair. For me, it is just a weird question asking why I wear wigs as I wear simply for convenience.
Where to Buy Black Woman’s Extensions Hair In Canada
- Curls & Cut – This hair company is based in Halifax, you can purchase mostly wigs and bundles
- Hfx Extension – This hair company sells hair extensions for braids and crotchet
The great thing about these two stores is that you can purchase online & it will get delivered to you.
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Olushencko Segun
Well, I’m not a fan of wig wearing, and for me I see it as inferiority complex before now. But this blog post is giving me a mental shift to thinking that It’s not always about the inferiority complexity but perhaps their convenience.
Kudos
Unravel with Tolu
Inferiority Complex? Can you explain more about that and how you draw your conclusions?
TAV
I understand the inferiority complex. On the past, I’ve felt Inadequate that my hair wasn’t beautiful because it was thick, “nappy” and not naturally straight and long. I felt that non black women with long hair were seen as beautiful
Aneree
The same time black people take to learn how to apply a wig that looks like their own scalp or spending $500 on a wig plus curling iron etc can be spent on learning how to wear and style their hair so its no longer an “inconvenience.” Its all a perceptive.
Mj
Personally I think most black women don’t spend that much money on wigs e at least those in my life. Max 200 and even that is a lot. Tbh I’m all for braids and natural hairstyles but getting my hair done evert 6 weeks is expensive especially as people are starting to charge more for braids like even 90 pounds. Whereas a 130 pound wig can last years. I think it depends on a person’s lifestyle and what they can afford to maintain in terms of money and time.
Unravel with Tolu
Thank you for sharing this MJ. I know people spend lots of money on hair whether braids or wigs. Tbh! it solely depends on your income level. I have been able to find good alternatives to maintaining my hair asides from wig & braids which is crotchet.
Uche
It actually is inferiority complex. You all never wear a wig that looks like the African hair. But always wear a wig that looks like your idea of beautiful. Stop deceiving yourselves. Its OK to wear wigs but accept you feel inferior without them.
Adaeze
True talk. I also don’t have a reason for wearing wigs except the ones you mentioned. I’ve never had to think a lot about it.
Unravel with Tolu
Lucky you, I have had to think about this often especially when interacting with non Nigerian men. They cannot understand why I keep my natural hair under a wig
Bukola
I wear wigs for convenience too. I love that I can change my look anytime as well as protecting my natural hair
Unravel with Tolu
I love the convenience too, right now I am longing to remove my crotchet and just have my cornrows made.
Marybeth White
It seems as if you don’t love your natural hair and think it should be different.
Unravel with Tolu
I love my natural hair
Are You Made O Naw
Shut upppppp Marybeth “White” what do u mean “should be different” she can do anything with her head everyone live once. PERIDOT and you better not reply
Anonymous
“She can do anything with her head , everyone lives once”
But I watch my white friends being shouted at because they decided to braid ones hair , and yes if we look in the past we see where braids come from 3500 BC Aswell as from Egyptians and the Greeks , but when we speak about wigs Greeks and Egyptians Aswell as Elizabeth the 1st era wore wigs to prevent lice and to wear as a sign of professionalism eg. Judges including men. But my friends and family wear wigs and want to argue that they invented the wigs
Uche
Simple truth.
Noble J
Convenience equals too lazy to take care and style the natural hair.
Filipe N
I wondered if it had anything to do with structural racism, but talking from a white washed country point of view. It’s not like you don’t like your hair (as Marybeth White said), but a way to get closer to the white standard (straight long hair). But then again, I’m talking from a country that has tried to whiten its people, and still now people have this unconscious idea that the closer to white standard, the more beautiful and acceptable (it works for women and men, in cases when men wear very short hair cuts, as for the curls not to show)
Barbara
I accidentally got here and I am white southern US. It’s mysterious to me. Black kids I grew up with wife braids and an older black lady I was work friends with wife her hair short but ironed. Another wore wigs. I always thought it was preference then someone said brush/comb daily made it thin and recede. Since that, I have tried learning bc I just do that about everything I don’t know. I tried wearing a wig once and for an awful job of it. But I am hair incompetent! I can’t even use a curling iron. I had a curly perm in my long hair in 80s and really liked it but as 90s came and went I was told it was not “the thing” to do bc “trying to be black” . I didn’t want to give offense so I wear it long and straight or typically last long tail or bun. I’m 64 years old and would like to have it curly perm again bc it had more body and looked good. I’m not going grey yet but wonder if I’d look stupid. Any suggestions?
Unravel with Tolu
Hi Barbara, I am glad you found my website. I believe you should wear your hair however you like. Wearing a curly perm will look absolutely beautiful on you. maintain. I see lots of white young ladies wear curly perm.
carpen7er
Because they want to be white. Yet most of them (if not all) are racist towards white people when in the end is just an inferiority complex. The same to a lot of africans that are racist to other africans that have a lighter skin. There are white idiots that want to be black as well.
carpen7er
Why does Beyonce, Rhianna and several other black celebrities wear a cream to make their skin lighter ? Why do white people like to tan their skin ? Why do women with big breasts do reductions and women with small breasts put implants to make them bigger ?…………………
Daniela
I’m mixed race. Black, white and native. So I’m a light skin and my hair is naturally curly. I never realized about black women wearing wigs cause I just didn’t know about that when growing up cause I grew up in a non black community and my whole family are mixed too and none of us got “nappy” hair. They all got straight or curly hair like me. So I never knew about this until I got older and I started paying attention. I understand when black women say they like to wear wigs to protect their own natural hair or just cause they like to switch to different hairstyles. I personally don’t like it but I respect it. Sometimes I can’t even tell if that’s their real hair or just a wig cause they know how to make it look very natural so when they show up the next day with a totally different hairdo is confusing and leads to a lot of people staring and questioning. Some black women do wear wigs to look more mixed and not too black. Like they bleach their skin and wear wigs, weaves or something to make their hair look more loose so it looks curly and not “nappy”. To me that’s black fishing and ridiculous and lack of self esteem for sure. Other than that I’m ok with it.
Unravel with Tolu
The thing is regardless of the reason why a black person wears a wig should not be questioned. Everyone has their story. I am a black person from Nigeria and moving across the world, my reason is different from someone who grew up in Europe or America who chose to wear a wig. It’s not even just with wigs but with braids and extensions as well. Right now! I switched up my hairstyle and I am sure my co-workers will be staring on Monday.
Daniela
I don’t know much about that. But I’m very curious and I like to learn about every one else’s perspective. So my question is why is it different for black women in Africa to wear a wig than someone who wears it in America or Europe. Cause as I said before I never learned about this when growing up since none of my family is pure black nor have “nappy” hair, not even my friends back then. Even if my friends were black or had that kind of hair they wouldn’t think about wearing a wig. It’s not something you learn in Latin America. Especially in countries where black people are minority like in my case. But other countries with more African mixing like Dominican Republic, Cuba or Brazil wigs are more popular.
Unravel with Tolu
Tbh! I do not have an answer. I started wearing a wig when I lived in England which was a common thing with black British people.
Stephanie
Very insightful. Thanks you for sharing your thoughts.
Dean Jay Peters
As a somewhat white person and a men i really like curly or afro hair on a women.In my opinion its shamefull and almost criminal to suffocate those beautifull gifts with some bad wigs.
Kathy G. Powell
I did not know black ppl were still bleaching their skin. 🤷🏽♀️.I have also learned that every culture that is not white, bleach their skin. Social media teaches us a lot. I am a black woman with naturally curly hair, so call “good hair.” I wear my natural hair and keep it mostly no longer than to my neck, since I am in my mod 60’s. It has thinned a lot, but I still rather rock what God gave me naturally. To each it’s own though. I do think the wig and weave wearing is excessive, not to mention expensive. I wish folk would invest in something to benefit themselves financially instead of making folk rich, who have very little respect for us as a race of people. I pray my young people will wake up and feel good about themselves as they are, kinky hair and all. I do see a lot of young people embracing natural hair and they are simple gorgeous! Love to all my beautiful people!
Amber
Hi serious question here. When you wear a wig and cut/glue the edges to blend into your natural forehead, does it last longer than a day or do you usually have to take it off by the end of the day?
Unravel with Tolu
I think it depends. If it is professionally done, you won’t want to take it out the same day but if you do it by yourself you can take it out the same day.
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