Braided hairstyles are an artform in their own right, with a rich history dating back thousands of years. They have appeared in many cultures worldwide, on almost every continent.
From classic cornrows and simple three-strand braids to French braids and beyond, hair braiding has been used to show societal and marital status, ethnicity, religion, wealth – not to mention sheer style and artistry. To celebrate the beauty and variety of this heritage, Darling would like to introduce you to several of these classic braid styles.
The French braid
“The French braid is a variation on the classic three strand braid, where you add hair to each section as you form the braid,” explains Darling Stylist, Jimmy Shibambu. Although it’s known as a “French” braid (or plait), this style can be traced back to North Africa, specifically to Algeria, from where it was adopted by the French (in fact in France, this is known as an “African braid”). Examples of this style have been found in art from ancient Greece and the Sung Dynasty in China, and it was also worn by Celtic warriors – so this style has a long history spanning many diverse cultures. It remains one of the most popular hair inventions, no doubt due to its elegance, simplicity and practicality.
Dutch braids and Cornrows
Unlike the French braid, which is done underhand and appears flat at the surface of the head, Dutch braids are done overhand to create a chunky, statement look. “Cornrows are very similar to Dutch braids – but whereas with Dutch braids only part of the hair is braided, with cornrows all of the hair is braided,” explains Shibambu. Dutch braids are also known as “pineapple braids” or “inverted French braids”. This type of braiding was adopted by the Dutch during the colonial era.
Cornrows, in turn, date back as far as 3000BC in Africa, and have also been documented in Native American paintings from 1000 years ago. During the era of the Transatlantic slave trade, Africans would braid their hair into cornrows as an alternative to being forced to shave their heads for “sanitary reasons”, and as a way of holding on to their culture and reconnecting with African rituals of braiding. They used elaborate patterns as an act of pride and rebellion, and it is said that such braids were also used to secretly communicate escape maps and other messages.
Twists
“Two-strand twists are created using synthetic jumbo braiding hair, such as Kanekalon or Toyokalon,” says Shibambu. “These are a very popular protective braid.” Two-strand twists protect the natural hair and are a good choice for women wanting to take a break from using heat and chemical styling techniques. This twist style originated in the region of Senegal in West Africa, and became a popular style in the 2000s, especially among African-American women. Two-strand twists are also very versatile, as they can be styled in many ways.
Source: Darling Hair