Early braids had many uses, such as costume decoration, animal regalia (like camel girths), sword decoration, bowls and hats (from palm leaves), locks (such as those made in Japan to secure precious tea supplies through the use of elaborate knots), and weapons (e.g. slings).
Braids are a great protective style, meaning it keeps hair from having to be manipulated (styled) so much. This is imperative if you have fragile hair, which many people have, as it reduces breakage. It saves a lot of time and headache, especially for kids and people with difficult-to-manage hair.
Throughout history, braiding has been used for several reasons—from defining tribes, social status, and other societal classifications to mapping escape routes for slaves. This tradition of carefully intertwining tresses has been passed down through generations and become an integral part of Black and African cultures.
1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV Do not let your adorning be external -- the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear -- (4) but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
Indigenous people, like many other cultures, express identity, spirituality and individuality with their hair. For Indigenous people, our hair connects us to our heritage and our ancestors, but also to the creator and earth. Braided hair is symbolic of strength, wisdom and honouring ancestors.
Braiding was and still is an important cultural tradition among many Indigenous American tribes. While each tribe has its own relationship to braids, many see braiding as a spiritual act, with the three strands representing the body, mind and spirit.
The Bible does not specifically mention anything about hair attachments or wigs, probably because they were either not invented or were never fashionable.
[14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? [15] But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
The bible talks about dreadlocks too: Numbers 6:5 “All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
African-American, Afro-Latino and Caribbean folklore also relates multiple stories of cornrows being used to communicate or provide maps for slaves across the "New World". Today, such styles retain their link with Black self-expression and creativity, and may also serve as a form of political expression.
Braids indicated wealth, marital status, power, and religion. Slaves used braids to communicate escape routes. White slaveholders forced slaves to shave their head and keep a “tidy” appearance. Braids became popular worldwide during the 1900s.
to join three or more pieces of hair or string-like material by putting them over each other in a special pattern: She braided the horse's tail. a braided leather bracelet/belt.
Braids are a commonly adopted style to protect naturally thick and tightly curled hair from the effects of heat and humidity. However, in Western societies such hair type has been a source of discrimination, so now many people of African heritage are reclaiming the hairstyle as part of their heritage.
The longer your braids stay in, the harder it might be to maneuver around the build up. Some people end up having to cut their hair after leaving braids on for too long. So how long is safe? I'd recommend 6 to 8 weeks and if you want to go longer, you have to really take good care of it to avoid a lot of breakage.
In some cultures, they convey messages about background, tribe, and status, and document life events such as childbirth, war drafts, and funerals. Hair care and styling define Black identities by allowing individuals and groups to express their personal style.
It states in the Bible that apart of Jesus' vows were to allow his hair to grow as it came from his head, no cutting, no trimming, no brushing, no nothing. If you are aware of how dreads work, this would most definitely lead to Jesus having dreadlocks.
Some people prefer to use the term "locs" instead of "dreadlocks" because they feel that the latter has negative connotations and associations with fear or dread. "Locs," on the other hand, is a shortened version of "locks," which is a more neutral and descriptive term for the hairstyle.
Denominations that teach that women should wear head coverings at all times additionally base this doctrine on Saint Paul's dictum that Christians are to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), Saint Paul's teaching that women being unveiled is dishonourable, and as a reflection of the created order.
“Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered” (verses 5 and 6).
The Bible does indeed teach that women are supposed to wear head coverings. This is pretty clear. Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 11 that in church, in worship, women are supposed to wear head coverings.
The Bible does not specifically say a lot about makeup. But it does talk about beauty, modesty, and self-control. Proverbs 31:30 says beauty is fleeting. 1 Peter 3:3 discourages seeking beauty in elaborate adornments.
It's not that wearing jewelry is a sin or forbidden in the New Testament, but rather that outward appearance is not the focus of the Godly woman. That doesn't mean that she can never wear a womens gold cross necklace, however, to express our faith to others.
Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot. He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!
Little kids called Elijah "baldhead." “He (Elijah) cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys” 2 Kings 2:23-24.