Is it ever okay for someone outside of that culture to wear hair cuffs? In summary, simply the willingness to educate oneself shows that one wants to use other cultures accessories with love rather than disrespectfully embodying another cultures hairstyle or textile as our own. Either you can shave your afro off like mine or you can have dreads, she said, and proceeded to braid my hair unevenly, leaving one small plait sticking out at the front. While some may view it as a positive celebration of their culture, others may feel that it is a form of exploitation. While many individuals who use decorative hair cuff accessories admire their appearance for what they bring to the style industry, its important to acknowledge that this trend has raised concerns about cultural appropriation. Acknowledging is key when borrowing from other cultures if your intent bears no malice; sharing honors the legacy while building relationships by showing appreciation for other cultures differences instead of homogenizing them. It seems that people always credit a celebrity as opposed to crediting the actual history, she says. Not only does it make you look incredibly bitter, but it only increases cultural and racial division, of which we dont need any more on this inexplicably divided earth. While it has been traditionally expected that married women wear bangles, it is no longer imposed upon us. Concave Layers Are Going Viral On TikTok HereR Springs Top Hair Color Trends Are Straight Out Of NYC (& T Unpacking The Many Layers Of The Big Chop & What It How ADHD Makes Natural Hair Care Hard For Black Women. The foot is regarded in Hinduism as the humblest and most impure part of the body since it touches the ground first. Look at it this way: When you have been colonized, had your finery stolen, and your identity poked fun at, cultural appropriation is not just personal; it points to a bigger picture. Not making a blanket decision right now about how I express all those things with my hair feels like the right decision for me. Locks of hair from loved ones were often turned into items like brooches or pendants, which would subsequently be worn by family members as a sentimental keepsake. My peers had no clue as to what the significance of the bindi was and given that I used to get strange stares when I did wear them before No Doubts popularity; I felt uneasy about the immediate mass appeal for it. Dressing up and accessorizing is supposed to be fun so lets make sure we have fun together without hurting anyone elses sentiments along the way. Are hair cuffs cultural.docx - Are hair cuffs cultural? Are A saree is typically six yards long, and there are countless of textiles and draping methods that vary according to the region you hail from. What tires us, however, is the misinterpretation, misrepresentation, and disregard of South Asian culture. Bond-building treatments like those from Olaplex and K18 have been all the rage for a minute among those looking to, Even though Im a beauty girl to the core, Ive always been very low maintenance when it comes to hair products. We have a duty to fight cultural appropriation by calling it out when we see it. However, the impact of whiteness benefiting from aspects of culture that are historically black is not to be dismissed. Cultural appropriation: What is it and what does it mean? Body Policing Police: Because Your Body Belongs to You! By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. The Aum is used everywhere now and not as it should be. Some things might just be as simple as I just do what I feel like. Some black women chemically alter their hair texture and spend money on human hair that once belonged to someone in Asia. Weave in rings to take your hairstyle up a notch - Insider Being a socially awkward introvert, she prefers to put her thoughts into writing while observing the world. Of course, there is something to be said for the fact that Kylie Jenner has profited from surgically enhancing her lips, or that white stars can come off as pioneers by sporting looks that have been cultivated for years by black people. it remains fashionable to wear and accessorize your braids and dreads with these gorgeous little pieces of jewelry. Back home in Queens, my mother would take me to the. The video, which now has more than3.5m views, shows a black student asking if she can have some scissors to cut off the white guys dreads, saying he is not allowed to wear his hair that way because dreadlocks belong to black culture. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The organization BraidOn put out a message through her Facebook page announcing Rachel Dolezals involvement attempting to reassure raised eyebrows that Dolezal made it clear that her intentions in joining the rally and movement are to assist and support [Isis] Brantley Unfortunately, the message has been diluted by Dolezals presence because it communicates that black women need her presence to highlight this important cause that only impacts black women. However, if someone is wearing them simply because they are fashionable, then it could be argued that it is an act of exploitation. The essence of all mantras and divine scripture. Rather than waste time pinpointing the cause of this contention (slavery), Id rather discuss the renaissance that has taken place over the last few years of black women falling back in love with their natural hair. Lip injections, waist trainers and implants have all been implemented in a quest to recreate the classic black womans frame. Indians wore rings on the nostril and septum way before it got fashionable. Ultimately, it is important to be mindful of the cultural context of the things we wear and to be respectful of the cultures that inspire our fashion choices. "America turned free people into 'niggers,' and to everyone's surprise, we created new forms of beautiful expression out of that pain. Are Hair Beads Cultural Appropriation? : r/AskAnAfrican - Reddit It feels like nobody can escape the label of cultural appropriator. She is a plus size fashion blogger, body positive advocate, and feminist. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? These cultural appropriation scandals can often feel driven by people who are so left wing theyve gone right. And many conversations about racism because of course if 5 year old black kids can experience it then 5 year old white kids can learn about it. A newlywed bride from parts of North India and Punjab, for example, is expected to wear a full set of bangles known as the Chuda for the first two weeks of marriage. Over time, the trend spread worldwide becoming adopted by different cultures and worn in various forms. Why do artists use appropriation? To even place it on this list feels wrong, but it has been accessorized and thus needs to be addressed. Photo Credit: Flickr userJosh Rodriguezvia Creative Commons. We keep this symbol close to our being because it centers us and beckons us to perhaps utter a prayer (most Hindu prayers begin with the Aum). Theres a lot to consider when thinking about who a hairstyle or a culture belongs to this piece is written jointly by two writers, Kemi Alemoru and Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, who have differing opinions on the matter. The women in my family have been wearing nose rings all their lives. "Certain types of hair are also associated with so-called 'low-status racial groups,' and therefore, that serves to identify a person as a particular race." Father, writer, poet socially conscious. As an Indian woman, I dont know where to start with the appropriation of Indian culture. Cornrows, or what I affectionately refer to as doo doo plaits, have become a new trend known as boxer braids adopted by white celebrities. This could undermine the efforts of those who are trying to raise awareness of cultural appropriation and its potential impacts on communities. Wearing them without understanding the origination or just because they look trendy while ignoring their historical significance may lead to unintentional disregard for acknowledging their roots which can result in erasure. Naturally, I was sent to detention for disobedience, even though this is a mark of my culture. The Cultural Appropriation of Natural Hair. According to the market research firm Mintel, sales of styling products increased 26.8% from 2013 to 2015 but sales of relaxers have dropped over 18% in the same time frame due to the transition to natural hair. Moore-Karim says she ultimately knows that she cant stop people from wearing braids, but if they are going to do it, she urges one thing: Dont change the names or purposely unacknowledge its Black roots and history. Cultural appropriation refers to the act of taking elements of a culture that is not ones own, often without understanding or respecting the context in which they originated. by Emily Cottontop October 19, 2022 in News Stories, Culture 12 Dear white girls before Culture vultures, Urban Outfitters have ya'll out here spending a grip on appropriated accessories let me put you on game real quick! The band No Doubt made waves on the radio and MTV when I was a teenager, and bindis became the new cool accessory thanks to Gwen Stefani. By embracing these accessories with an acknowledgment of their origins into our lives respectfully implies that we can admire black peoples exclusive stylistic history in a way which enhances diversity rather than causes friction or offense amongst different groups everywhere! But recently, I've begun to, As a beauty editor, I see firsthand how appropriative hairstyling can be hurtful and cruel. Since I am a North Indian married to a South Indian (our cultures could not be any more different), it has been interesting to see the differences in which we pick out fabrics and styles. Also, some of us dont have a choice in the matter. And while the culture behind the trend may not initially belong to all those who use this accessory, appreciation is essential for respecting other peoples heritage/culture when engaging them. It can be anything really, any type of hair jewelry that will stay in her hair. Since there is a shortage of traditional mehendi artists, using plastic cones makes the application of henna easier and more accessible. Personally? Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. Natural hair has once again become a big business and the business is finally staying in the community. However, have you ever thought about the origins of these accessories? Full Document. Unlike with blackface, the history of dreadlocks is not as cut and dry, but the reasons why some black people feel uncomfortable seeing white people with dreads often comes from the same place: the racism and prejudice they have faced. For example, YouTube user Dav Ze asked the pertinent question: lolz why the dude didnt killed that negress right there?. Comparing blackface and white people having dreadlocks might seem extreme, but it helps to simplify this discussion. The tradition of wearing a toe ring has dated back to the Ramayana a Hindu epic poem where Sita tosses her toe ring after getting abducted by Ravana in the hopes that it would help her husband Lord Rama during his rescue mission. Without it we wouldnt have jazz, Tex-Mex or even Christmas trees (look it up). Questioning the chaos of calling out cultural appropriation This feels a lot more personal than the rest of the accessories mentioned. In pop culture, you have probably seen the likes of Iggy Azalea and Selena Gomez wear them for music videos and performances. As more black women return to natural hairstyles, the economic impact is undeniable. A black bindi is worn in parts of South India by unmarried girls, while married women wear a red bindi. Men flocked to her show to catch a glance at her despite the caricatures of her buxom body drawn and distributed all over Europe. In Native American culture, they were used in ceremonial hairstyles. The hairstyling technique known as braiding had been practiced for generations within this community and involved creating intricate patterns with braids or twists using synthetic extensions. This time, its white people sporting dreadlocks who are provoking wrath the first being a white student at an American university who was filmed being confronted over his hairstyle, the second none other than Justin Bieber, who posted a selfie sporting a new do. Thats not to say that just because youre not wearing a certain hairstyle, you cant learn about it. The concept of cultural appropriation is a topic that divides many, and the debate recently made headlines again when Justin Bieber posted a selfie of himself sporting dreadlocks and a video of a black student telling a white teenager to cut his dreads went viral. It can offend people when people do this without making it clear . If youre genuinely interested in learning about their cultural importance and are willing to do research, its possible to wear hair cuffs in a way that is respectful. 10 Trends That Are Actually Cultural Appropriation - Bustle Some of our Gods namely Ganesh, Shiva, and Kali seem to be cooler than the rest, and they have been tatted onto bodies across the world. Okay, lets start with the obvious and overt cultural appropriation. There are many hairstyles black women and girls wear that directly correlate with their identity and culture, but mainstream media often doesn't seem to recognize it -- and bashes them when they do. So, what should we do if we still want to wear hair cuffs but dont want to appropriate someone elses culture? Gold anklets are strictly forbidden in Hinduism because Gold symbolizes Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, and we do not place God at our feet. The embracing, blending and opening of cultures can help aid understanding, and drive creativity. The rest of the five have been mentioned in the article toe rings, bangles, nose ring, and kumkum (vermillion powder worn at the Maan just before the forehead). Different regions and communities of India have varied versions of the mangalsutra or taali. So when I see someone wearing it on their tie-dye camisole or sarong during a resort vacation, you can imagine how it feels. There is limited scientific evidence to, Short answer: Does Calquence cause hair loss? Racial Justice At only 4 feet 10 inches tall, Baartmans curvaceous body was the source of ridicule, laughter and silent lust. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Ultimately, it is important to remember that cultural appropriation can have serious consequences for communities. It started with immersing into someone elses culture and ended with him becoming more socially aware, more politically engaged. Yes, chlorine can bleach hair by stripping away, Short Answer: Does Cat Hair Grow Back? 1. When considering the debate around hair cuffs and cultural appropriation, it is important to recognize the complexity of the issue. Click to learn more, 11 of the Most Culturally Appropriated South Asian Accessories And What They Really Mean. This is deeper than hair; its about history. Im becoming more comfortable inhabiting a fluid, complicated space. The design really depends upon the family traditions. Which was why I was defiant in school when I was told to remove my nose ring after piercing my nose at fifteen.