2. You get great advice
I do not know what it is about getting your hair done in that manner that allows your parent or older cousin to have so much wisdom.
Some of the gems that were dropped on me in my life happened right there seated on the floor. Advice about boys, advice about teachers, confidence, being a woman, have all happened while I was getting my hair done.
3. Your hair gets special care
You already know before you even sit down that the person who will be caring for your hair will take great care of it. There is no doubt in your mind that she or he knows what they are doing and your hair is in great hands, this doesn’t happen all the time, but most times you are aware of how your hair will be cared for.
4. You laugh a lot
When you sit between the legs of a relative it is story time, time to laugh, listen to jokes, gossip and have a really great time in the simplest of ways.
Depending on who is doing your hair at the time you already know what you are in for, and if you aren’t crying laughing by the end of it all it would be pretty surprising.
5. It is traditional
Tradition is huge in the African-American community and as simple as this practice is, you will see a picture of something similar throughout history.
We get it, Afro textured hair is sometimes a lot easier done by someone else especially with the types of styles that we choose to do with our hair.
Corn rows and pretty braided styles can be pretty time consuming when done ourselves, but if you have someone to help you, you can finish the style in half the time.
6. Simple is good
Sometimes we check out on life and on face to face interactions with people due to the popularity of smart cell phones and social media.
These days it might be tempting to pull out your phone as you get your hair done instead of connecting with the person doing your hair.
But we encourage you to not let those simple moments pass you by. Use the time to connect with your family as you have always done before the internet, before Instagram, you will not regret it.
What hair other hair traditions do you love and hope never goes away? Comment below!
Dionne's TwistedLife says
Well, idk abt tradition. We did it because of height or no chairs. Wtf?
Sarah Walters says
Its tradition. There is a awesome 6 min video called History of Black Hair and you can really see the traditions passed on through many generations. I love it.
Greene Kenya says
I always like that and I do my own braids
Carmella McCoy says
I be wanting to sit these clients down on the floor too lol
Morgan Stroud says
I do see it as a tradition but since you mentioned it, Dionne’s, I have to tell this story. There was this mom that was preparing Easter dinner. Her daughter asked her why she cut the bottom of the ham off? She said tradition & because her mom did it. She asked her mom & her mom replied, “I don’t know that’s what my mom did.” So next she asked her Grandmother and she replied…………because her oven wasn’t big enough to fit the whole ham in. LOL Most traditions, good & bad, come by accident.
Tolindra Marie Collins says
It’s never that deep. Lol
Naima Watson says
Sometimes it’s very sentimental to some people. I remember being a little girl and my grandmother doing my hair and during the time she used to tell me stories about her younger days and it was a bonding moment for us. Now that I’m an adult and she’s gone on to the Lord, there are some days where I wish I could go back in time to live in those moments all over again.
Lia says
unless you’re extremely tender-headed and being between someone’s legs to do your hair means yelling, screaming, crying, and running away from the comb lol
Sarah Walters says
It is tradition and tradition has turned into culture.
https://youtu.be/U48565qmqUk
Hannah Okorafor says
It’s definitely NOT a African-American tradition, they’re not the only black folk in the globe who does this *sigh*
It’s not that deep…they won’t always um the most pleasant experiences 😉
Me like the chair
Sarah Walters says
The article didn’t say that its origin was with the African american community but that we uphold a lot of traditions. It was apart of African culture before the European slave trade and is something that we have continued through out generations both black Americans and others around the world. Its something we do with out thinking about it. It’s culture.
Leotta Michelle Davis says
^^ Took the words right out of my mouth!!
Bisi Okusami Sonuga says
Yes, I’m of west African descent and born in England. Growing up in England, I remember all my relatives doing hair in turns. and it was known that you sit on the floor, just like Willow and Ms Kravitz to do the hair. I got to live in my native country in West African and it was the norm to sit on the floor while the local hairdresser plaits your hair. When you go into the interior rural villages, that’s how it’s done. Now, I’m not saying it’s a cultural thing but, it’s a habit that became part of tradition. When I was young and mum wants to do our hair, it was the norm to get out all the tools and sit on the floor; head on her lap or whichever way that she directs your head.
Anastacia Stephens says
I’m remember does days
Rachael Kay says
Impossible
Rachael Kay says
I agree. It wasn’t ever pleasant and I truly aimed to break that tradition. It was very traumatic for me personally.
Devera Smith Robinson says
It is a tradition; that’s how my mom did my hair and that’s how I did my daughter’s hair. My daughter is now 22 (also natural) and I sink wash her hair, deep condition it and detangle it and she sits on the floor while I twist or braid her hair. She loves when I take care of her hair and still falls asleep, head rolling all over the place, like she used to when she was a little girl.
Marlene Blyden says
This is a good tradition. For me, I was usually the one doing other’s hair. My treat used to be going to the hairdresser.
Gloria Burns says
Mim mom did my all the girls hair like that, and my sisters and my older sisters didy hair like that. I was the girl in the neighborhood that braid the corn rows and the afro blow outs. Then braid my sons hair, and did their high tops. And was getting paid to do it. Taught myself how to sew weaves and glue in tracs, and put crochet hair, and braid exstenions. Skilz that I still.can do and have people drive up from another city for me to do.their hair, I.am an old school og. Press and curl.hair because my mon taught me that. cut and color , relax and condition. Old school women. it is something truely that has been.passed down from generation to generation. It is part of our culture, roots, and heritage.
Jo Norfolk says
Ummm
Lisa Thomas says
If it wasn’t my mother I was,never with sitting between any other woman’s legs I didn’t need my nappy hair done that bad and back then natural was really in
Lameka Tillman says
Right lol
Johnna Williams Nash says
I use to hate it bc my mom’s leg hairs was prickly lol
Jazmine Turman says
it won’t lol