Every Hawaiian I spoke to agreed that coconut is at the center of their beauty routine. "It's rich in fatty acids to help keep hair hydrated, strong, and glossy," said Cabell. Coconut oil or milk can be used as a conditioner, overnight treatment, nourishing oil, and beyond.
Restorative Kauai clay, exfoliating Hawaiian salt and sugar, and moisturizing kukui nut, macadamia nut, and coconut oils all work wonders on skin and hair…and that's just the beginning. Read on to see how Hawaii's homegrown products and practices can benefit your beauty regimen.
Understanding the Significance of Hair in Hawaiian Culture
It is believed that hair holds the essence of one's being, and cutting it can disconnect an individual from their spiritual roots. Therefore, hair is often kept long and adorned with various accessories to honor ancestors and show respect for the culture.
Polynesian culture has long used monoï oil in daily beauty routines for good reason. Made from combining coconut oil and Tiare flower, monoï oil is rich in fatty acids that can add lustre and strength to both hair and skin.
In terms of fashion, Native Hawaiians dyed hair around the face forming a frame or rainbow as with Kaʻahumanu. That style was seen as a status symbol. But sometimes hair was bleached as a sign of mourning , to mark an important event or in honor of a deity i.e. Pele.
Every Hawaiian I spoke to agreed that coconut is at the center of their beauty routine. "It's rich in fatty acids to help keep hair hydrated, strong, and glossy," said Cabell. Coconut oil or milk can be used as a conditioner, overnight treatment, nourishing oil, and beyond. It's basically a miracle of nature.
The idea that Hawaiians always have long hair could possibly have come from the fact that during the times of old, there was a specific “kapu”, or law, set for hula dancers. This “kapu” stated that hula dancers were not allowed to cut their hair.
Left Side (Pono): Placing a flower behind the left ear denotes that a woman is taken, married, or otherwise unavailable.
If you wear the flower behind your right ear, that means you are single. If you wear the flower behind your left ear, that means you are in a relationship.
In the Hawaiian culture, if you are to wear a flower behind your left ear, you are married and/or unavailable. Wearing a flower on the right side signifies the opposite, that the person in question is single and possibly looking for love.
Also refrain from wearing the lei you intend to give someone — drape it around your arm or keep it in the container. And one more thing: In Hawaiian culture it's taboo to give a pregnant woman a closed lei, as it symbolizes the baby's umbilical cord wrapping around its neck.
Some endangered species such as Hawaii's State Flower, Hibiscus brackenridgei, are available at local nurseries and can be easily grown in the home garden. Add them to your garden to help preserve Hawaii's biological heritage. Never harvest these plants from the wild ~ it's against the law.
It is perfectly fine for one to purchase or make a lei for themselves. It is common for locals to have a nut, seed or shell lei on hand to wear on special occasions. And hats are often adorned with flower, fern or feather leis.
If you are taking lei, cut flowers and/or foliage with you from Hawai'i on a domestic flight (baggage or hand-carried), allow ample time before departure to have them inspected at USDA Airport Inspection points. For plant items being mailed, there are offices at or near the airports.
It is customary to return the lei to the earth. You can either remove the flowers from the string* and scatter them in the ocean, bury them or burn them. Or simply hang the lei on a door or window to dry it out. Questions about caring for a specific lei?
A double-strand of sewing thread (which offers more robustness) is often used, as well as dental floss and fishing line. Insert the needle into the thickest part of the stem; tuck the next flower behind it, and so on and so forth until the strand is complete. Knot at both ends.
The pink hibiscus flower has its origins in Asia and the Pacific Islands, where it has served as a symbol of beauty, femininity, and young love. It is commonly associated with the Hawaiian culture and the Aloha spirit, which celebrates love, happiness, and peace.
Other factors in Hawaii include the affects salt water can have on hair, drying it out making hair brittle and much more easy to break.
Many Native American communities crafted their own shampoo using locally sourced ingredients, harnessing the power of nature to maintain clean and healthy hair. Lavender, mint, and yarrow were some of the most commonly used botanicals in these homemade shampoos.
For centuries, native Hawaiians have used the fragrant juice of awapuhi ginger to moisturize skin and hair. Packed with 19 amino acids hair needs to look and feel its best, the awapuhi plant provides natural nourishment for dry and damaged strands.