From the ironing fad to decolonizing our hair – a trip down memory lane
In the bygone days of the sixties until the nineties, ironing one’s hair into submission was a favored activity among friends. People used to straighten their hair using an iron- not just any iron- but a clothing iron. Carefully, one would bow their head beside the ironing board, allowing a trusted companion to deftly navigate the thin metal plate over their rebellious tresses.
The result was a sleek, smooth finish, but a moment of inattention could lead to the dreaded burn or the imprint of the iron forever etched onto your locks. This was a popular method of hair straightening starting in the 1960s, when there were no professional flat irons or straighteners. The process involved laying the hair flat beneath hot flatplate of the iron and then slowly but firmly pulling the iron from the roots to the tips.
This practice was common for many North African girls seeking to tame their luscious curls. In recent years, however, there has been a shift in the beauty trend, and people are embracing their natural hair texture rather than conforming to the beauty standard of silky straight hair. More and more people are opting for their natural curls or waves rather than fighting against them to achieve straight hair.
Nowadays, thinking about era of protecting and revering our natural hair has brought laughter and reflection about the fact that this practice is linked to the sprawling empire of colonialism and its obsession with external appearances in the African continent.
This shift in beauty standards is promoting self-love and acceptance, and people are embracing their natural beauty instead of conforming to unhealthy societal expectations. Today, social media platforms are flooded with curly hair influencers who are encouraging people to love and embrace their natural hair texture.
It is essential to appreciate and love ourselves just as we are: your natural hair is perfect as it is!
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