I remember the days when I was a weave girl. Those fat cornrows littering the back of my scalp. I could always hear the thread embedding itself in the cornrows, before the sheets of human hair were framing my face.
My friends and I love what I call “weave-watching”, especially on famous people like youknowwho. Critiquing weaves seems to be a favourite past-time for many women, whether you are talking about famous women are not. When I think about the days when I was wearing weaves, I think I always knew it was not me. They made me look like an entirely different person.
I became another woman. Braids with extensions never made me feel like that. But weaves did. It seemed like another extra effort to blend in with what hair should look like. Not necessarily in a European context but in a black context because especially in the United Kingdom, weaves seem to be de rigueur. I think that is the reason I fell out of love with weaves. They became another extra effort. It was like trying and trying to be a member of a society where the entrance was based on appearance.
I think if a black girl wants to wear a weave, that is fine if she wants to. Weaves do look great on many black women (except Meagan Good). All I am asking is that we rethink the position of the weave and its dominance in many black women’s life. Let us put it under a microscope and do something different: let’s ask ourselves why it has become so important.
Women who I would like to see step out of the Weave mould**
Meagan Good - This girl is a stunner. That goes without saying. But her hair. I am not saying all girls have to be adventurous and leave the weave but I think she would really be jaw-dropping if she did. What do you think ?
Beyonce – lol, it is youknowwho time! I think it goes without saying that she would look great with non-weave hair. There was an image I used to have of her on my old laptop with what I believe was an afrowig. She looked fab.
Lil Kim – Enough said. *sigh*
Naomi Campbell – Ditto.
The examples aforementioned are fairly obvious but I believe they point to rethinking the weave. As much as we hate to admit it, conformism is key to an extent. I am not saying people should burn weaves at all. I am not against extensions or weaves. I just think it is important for black women to look at why they run to embrace weaves first and why natural hair is left to the dust. I think the answer to this question will reveal a significant amount about black female identity and how post-colonial images are constructed because whether we like it or not, weaves are part of the post-colonial mind and psyche, because like this definition of dictionary.com highlights, weaves are basically interlaced into the fabric of our (post)(colonial) minds in how we see hair.
I agree with everyone…I’ve worn weaves but as I grow older I find it hard to step back into that phase in my life. I wanted to be even more beautiful and to me I thought I was. I still relax my hair but now I find that my short hair reveals my true beauty instead of hiding behind something that I have to take off. Somehow extensions/weaves have become the definition of what beautiful is and you know what it doesn’t matter to me because I know the truth and ignorance is bliss.
I agree with Marco.
All your answers are fabulous and so on point. I especially agree with Kandee about how all other images are seen at times to be manly and you are seed as “belligerent”.
If who you really are is made to seem ugly, then attempting to hide that ‘ugliness’ has its rewards. It is a showing of your loyalty to western gender identity which places females as having long flowing silky shiny voluminous hair. All else is manly. And anyone who goes against those norms is seen as disruptive and belligerent.
“I think the answer to this question will reveal a significant amount about black female identity and how post-colonial images are constructed” – Well said.
Great topic and post.
I am a black woman and feel people will do and wear whatever makes them feel comfortable in their cultural and social environments.
Hair is, unfortunately, such a big issue when I feel there are many more important things that we need to deal with as humans.
I always felt uncomfortable spending a whole day in the hairdressers – what a complete waste of precious time!
I have never had a weave but have intermittently had locks (very fashionable!), extensions/braids and now as I much prefer to spend as little time on my hair and am seriously contemplating shaving my hair off completely. Time-issue problem solved.
I much prefer to update my blog, or read a good book or connect with people who mutually love and care about me than spend whole evenings/days washing, perming, curling, conditioning, relaxing, braiding and all the other stuff that comes with it.
All these so called ‘stars’ wake up with the same issues as we all do. They must live a pretty sad, uinhappy lives where they are controlled so much by how they look. The definition of beauty has shifted to something which has been imposed. The younger generation are being raised in an environment where HOW you look is more important than WHO you are. Therefore we evolve into empty-headed, non-thinking humans.
Sad.
Zee
“I just think it is important for black women to look at why they run to embrace weaves first and why natural hair is left to the dust. I think the answer to this question will reveal a significant amount about black female identity and how post-colonial images are constructed because whether we like it or not, weaves are part of the post-colonial mind and psyche, because like this definition of dictionary.com highlights, weaves are basically interlaced into the fabric of our (post)(colonial) minds in how we see hair.”
YES!!!! I could not have said it better.
They are already very beautiful. The addition of heavy (too much) makeup, plus the weave – and they look overdone. Whoever are their stylists isn’t complementing them, but smothering them in extras: fake nails, hair, eyelashes, etc. I see the extra stuff as an expression of fear, not glamour: don’t let people see the “real” and natural me.