Do Black Women Hate Their Hair Because of Wigs?

It's laughable that people go online to debate about the real reason black women wear wigs. I mean, come on, we know why black women realllyy wear wigs, don't we? Let's talk about why black women wear wigs, if black women hate their natural hair, with a special bonus at the end on the luxury of minding our own business!

Why Do Black Women Wear Wigs?

There could be a thousand reasons why a black woman chooses to wear a wig. And it's never because we need them. 

 

Natural Hair Growth

As a black woman who wear wigs myself, some of us just wear wigs simply to grow our hair. We opt in for something that allows us the creativity of style without damaging our hair and instead, retaining length due to the low manipulation wigs provide. Most of these women, like myself, know how to take care of their natural hair. Some of us don't have enough time to do a style and then have the style not come out as expected. Wearing wigs is not a form of neglect, it's a strategic choice. 

 

To Feel More Confident

I can already hear the comments of people who think that we don't feel confident in our natural hair. *EYE ROLL* Now granted, some people do, infact struggle with loving their natural hair. And for those who do, read this article about how to love your natural hair!

But for others, we just want to feel confident in the predictability of the style that we're getting! Imagine spending hours on a hairstyle just knowing you finna eat the same way your inspo pic did, and then when you unravel the twist/braid, it flops. It's frizzy, it's not dry because you didn't have enough time, AND you have to go to work in the morning! I've been there. I've skipped class because of it. 

Having the ability to change up your hair without damaging your hair and avoiding the feelings of despair is an instant confidence booster. Especially when hair is one of the first things people look at when forming a first impression.

 

Mental Health

Hair is an entry point to therapy, as Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka states in her article.  Most black women (and this is coming from a black woman), would rather go get their hair done than go to therapy. Ever heard of hair depression?

Most people can relate to feeling stress-free, as if they can take over the world after getting a new hairstyle. 

Do Black Women Hate Their Natural Hair?

You been waiting for this part, haven't you? It can be argued that black women have deep rooted issues that we fail to address. Some even say that black women hate their hair, are lazy and "too deep in" to admit they have a problem. So do black women hate their hair, seriously? Welll....the answer is yes (for some) and no (for others). It is ignorant to believe that one group of people act and believe the exact same way, or thing. It is even more ignorant to talk down on women who do wear wigs simply because YOU don't.

 

The History of Black Hair

Reaching back to the 15th century, the Hair-Story of black women began in Africa. It served as a cultural messenger, conveying messages about identity and tradition. Hairstyles functioned as clan identifiers, emphasizing the role of hair in signifying origins and communal belonging. But when we were brought over as slaves, they made us cut our hair. Completely stripping us of our identity. The "elite" back then was any black person who was light enough to pass as white, and had loose wavy hair. So what did we do? We started perming our hair because they wanted us to conform. They stripped us of our identity then began to help us hate ourselves... and each other. But when we got freedom, that included our hair. We started rocking afros and jerry curls.

Don't worry, I won't make this a history lesson but I wanted to show you that some of this stuff has been around and ain't nothing new.  But if you want the full scoop, read Deeper Than Hair: A Journey Through Black Women's Hair History.

I'm showing you that I KNOW that some people actually hate their hair, which is a bummer. But when we trace back to our roots, we gain an understanding as to WHY.

Minding Our Own Business

The harsh truth is, if you're wondering why black women wear wigs with malicious intent,  you may just need to mind your own business, respectfully. There are many different reasons why women, men, and aliens wear wigs. Wigs are not exclusive to just one group. Whether it's because they had cancer and would like to gain some confidence back, or they just like the time it saves. Do what works for you and continue to mind your business.