A hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human scalp. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural, and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles. The oldest known depiction of hair braiding dates back about 30,000 years. In ancient civilizations, women's
hair was often elaborately and carefully dressed in special ways. In Imperial Rome, women wore their hair in complicated styles. From the time of the Roman Empire until the Middle Ages, most women grew their hair as long as it would naturally grow. In the 16th century, women began to wear their hair in extremely ornate styles. In the later half of the 15th century and on into the 16th century a very high hairline on the forehead was considered attractive. During the 15th and 16th centuries, European men wore their hair cropped no longer than shoulder-length. In the early 17th century male hairstyles grew longer, with waves or curls being considered desirable.
African Hairstyle
The history of black hair style and beauty culture mirrors the intricacy of both african and afro african american cultures; over the years , african american hair style has been associated with the idiology of white visual conception.
some people says that black have embraced hair style and beauty method that reflect popular european standards of beauty.
however , black have used their west africa roots and their own artistry to create style and standards that reflect a unique black culture.
the african women hair style is one of the major trend in nigeria today each hair style symbolisis a meaning
Like the Famous AfroAfro, sometimes shortened to 'fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair. The hairstyle is created by combing the hair away from the scalp, allowing the hair to extend out from the head in a large, rounded shape, much like a halo, cloud or ball.
In persons with naturally curly or straight hair, the hairstyle is typically created with the help of creams, gels or other solidifying liquids to hold the hair in place. Particularly popular in the African-American community of the late 1960sm, the hairstyle is often shaped and maintained with the assistance of a wide-toothed comb colloquially known as an afro pick.
The profusion of cultures in Nigeria is reflected in the sheer diversity of the hairstyles among its peoples.
Ori mi ye e, ori mi ah,
Ori ma se pa kun de o,
Lodo re mo m bo o,
Jowo wa saye mi di rere,
Ori wo bi ire gbe mi,
Ona wo bi ire gbe mi gba o.
My head permit me,
My head, please do not close the door,
Please come and make my life prosperous,
My head please take me to a successful end,
Let my roads lead me to my fortune.
-Hubert Ogunde, composed in the 1960s.
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Nigeria secondary school call new hairstyle for female students weekly On the Assembly ground,basically Fridays..New hair style is choose by head girl or teachers. The hairstyle for next week.
Today, we are looking at countless hairstyles among Nigerians in West Africa, over 100 different hairstyles in Nigeria to be specific. Among the Yorubas of southwestern Nigeria, the head (called ori) is given a very prominent position and particularly in the females, the hair (irun ori) is considered to be the crown of a woman’s beauty, this trend is also noticed in other ethnic groups in the country. Over the years, the culture-rich Nigerians have come up with various beautiful and dazzling hairstyles. Over time, these styles, many of which are have demonstrated impressive resilience. This piece will be spiced with various Yoruba sayings and proverbs relating to one’s head (ori).
Ile, Ogere, afi oko yeri (Earth, the goddess, who combs her hair with a hoe).
These hairstyles are not just for beautification. They also serve other purposes and these can be religious, as a sign of identification, age, political power, ceremony, occupation or even to reflect the mood of the lady. It can also signify the marital status of a woman. In Yorubaland and other parts of Nigeria, failure to properly groom the hair will be translated as a deviant, anti-social behavior or can even be taken to be a sign of illness or disease. The hair is a very central point in Yoruba beliefs, humans are referred to as ‘Omo adarihurun’ meaning ‘the species that grows hair on its head’.
Ori buruku ko gbose; ayonmo o gbogun (An accursed head cannot be washed clean with magical soap; destiny cannot be altered by charms).
Married women in Yorubaland in those days adopted hairstyles in which the hair flows from the front down to the nape of the neck, or it can emerge from both sides and culminate at the top of the head. Some other married women adopt the one in which the hair comes from the forehead and from the back and then meet up at the center of the head.
-Among the Yorubas in those days, the hair of newborn twins was not shaved and when they are eventually groomed at older age, they are usually given the same hairstyle. Multiple births are still taken to be very special among the Yorubas, and yes, they are indeed very special.
-Reverence for the hair among the Yorubas starts once a baby is born. During the naming ceremony, the hair is cut and kept for various purposes. The hair can later be used to make medicinal preparations or used to make good fortune charms or amulets.
-Among Yoruba males, the hair is periodically shaved, and among the older men, a well-shaved or groomed hair is also a sign of wisdom and class.
-In some parts of Yorubaland, the belief is that spirits enter and leave a human being through the head.
-To highlight the significance of ori (head) in Yorubaland, there are shrines called Ile Ori (House of Head) dedicated to ori, and it is usually very well decorated with beads, pottery and jewelry.
-There is a special greeting among the hair stylists in Yorubaland. The person saluting them will say ‘oju gboro o’ and the stylist will respond ‘o ya ya o’. If you want to know exactly how this is said,
-When a person dies, the hair is also shaved again and this is to signify that the deceased has left this terrestrial world for that of the spirits just as they shave that of a newborn baby seven or nine days after birth, who is crossing into this world from that of the spirits (that is the Yoruba belief). Religions such as Islam and Christianity have dampened the effects of many of these traditions but there are still many areas in Yorubaland where these cultural values are fiercely adhered to. In addition to this, some Yorubas shave their hair when they are mourning the loss of a loved one.
-In various households in Yorubaland, the art of hair styling is passed from one generation to another.