# In What Ways Did Colonial Policies Shape Textured Hair Care Beliefs? ❉ Question

**Published:** 2025-06-14
**Author:** Roothea
**Categories:** Question

---

![This artful study in monochrome captures the essence of modern Black elegance, showcasing the woman](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochrome-portrait-of-african-american-woman-with-natural-textured-hair-style.jpg)

![This portrait captures the timeless allure of an elegant updo, celebrating African textured hair through refined braiding and hairstyling. The image evokes ancestral heritage and expressive styling, presenting a harmonious blend of cultural tradition and modern beauty standards](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/elegant-portrait-of-a-woman-with-braided-textured-hair-bun-updo.jpg)

## Roots

Consider, for a moment, the living archive that is a strand of textured hair. It holds not simply biological code, but also centuries of stories, whispers of ancestral wisdom, and the indelible marks of history. To ask in what ways colonial policies shaped [hair care](/area/hair-care/) beliefs is to reach into this profound legacy, recognizing that the coiled helix is not merely a biological phenomenon.

It represents a living history, a direct connection to the resilience of Black and mixed-race people, embodying their triumphs, their struggles, and their unbroken spirit through time. We are talking about heritage, pure and unfiltered.

The very understanding of hair, its diverse anatomies, and the language used to describe it, underwent a stark transformation under colonial rule. Before the onset of widespread European contact, African societies viewed hair with immense reverence. Hair was a potent symbol of identity, social standing, religious belief, and even spiritual connection.

Hairstyles served as a complex visual language, conveying age, marital status, tribal affiliation, wealth, and community rank. The meticulous styling processes, often spanning hours or days, became deeply communal rituals, strengthening familial bonds and intergenerational knowledge.

> Pre-colonial African hair practices were deeply embedded with cultural significance, serving as visual markers of identity and community.
The arrival of colonial powers, particularly with the transatlantic slave trade, initiated a profound disruption of these established beliefs and practices. One of the earliest, and perhaps most brutal, acts of dehumanization inflicted upon enslaved Africans was the forced shaving of their heads upon capture and transport. This act stripped individuals of a core aspect of their identity and cultural lineage, severing a tangible connection to their homeland and people.

It was a deliberate attempt to erase the past, to render the enslaved anonymous, a blank slate onto which colonial narratives of inferiority could be inscribed. This marked the beginning of hair’s weaponization in a system designed to subjugate.

![The monochrome braided fiber embodies the resilient spirit and intertwined legacies within textured hair communities. The meticulous weave symbolizes the dedication to preserving ancestral techniques, celebrating diverse beauty standards, and fostering holistic self-care practices for healthy textured hair growth](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/braided-white-fiber-close-up-revealing-intricate-texture-and-weave.jpg)

## How Did Colonial Views Distort Hair Science?

The imposition of colonial ideology extended beyond mere physical control of hair; it infiltrated the very conceptualization of [textured hair](/area/textured-hair/) itself. European colonists, in their quest for justification of enslavement and exploitation, categorized Afro-textured hair as closer to animal fur or wool than human hair. This pseudo-scientific classification served a chilling purpose: to dehumanize Black people, validating their forced labor and subjugation within the colonial system. Words like “wool” or “cotton” became common descriptors by European men and women, while terms such as “nappy,” now reclaimed by the Black community, originated as racial slurs designed to embarrass and diminish. 

This degradation of textured hair deeply impacted the emerging hair care beliefs. If textured hair was inherently “unruly” or “animalistic,” then the traditional, often elaborate, care practices were dismissed as primitive or unnecessary. The rich understanding of various curl patterns, the specific needs of different hair types within the vast spectrum of African hair, all became obscured under a blanket of prejudiced ignorance.

Modern hair classification systems, while aiming for scientific rigor, sometimes inadvertently carry echoes of this historical bias if not critically examined through a heritage lens. The scientific understanding of textured hair’s unique structure ❉ its elliptical cross-section, the density of disulfide bonds, its inherent dryness ❉ was overlooked in favor of a narrative that depicted it as problematic, rather than simply different and demanding specialized care.

- **Shaving** ❉ A primary act of identity erasure during the transatlantic slave trade, disconnecting enslaved people from their ancestral practices.

- **“Wool”** ❉ A derogatory term used by colonizers to describe textured hair, reinforcing dehumanizing narratives.

- **“Good Hair” Dichotomy** ❉ The societal division of hair into “good” (straight, European-like) and “bad” (kinky, coiled) directly stemming from colonial beauty standards.
The impact of these early colonial views created a foundation of negative perception that permeated generations. This was not a passive reception of new ideas; it was an active indoctrination into a system that devalued Black physical traits. The sheer weight of this societal and institutional rejection contributed to an internalization of self-hatred within some communities, where [natural hair](/area/natural-hair/) became associated with social exclusion and lack of opportunity. This historical shaping of beliefs about textured hair’s fundamental nature forms the critical starting point for understanding its subsequent care practices. 

![Bathed in radiant sunlight, these Black and Brown women engage in the practice of styling their diverse textured hair patterns, highlighting ancestral heritage, affirming beauty standards, and demonstrating holistic haircare routines that honor coils, waves, springs, and undulations in a shared setting, reflecting community and self-love.](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-and-brown-women-in-sunlight-styling-natural-textured-hair.jpg)

![This evocative portrait features a woman whose braided hair, adorned with ribbons, and traditional embroidered dress speaks to a deep ancestral heritage. The image is an exploration of textured hair traditions and cultural expression reflecting identity and empowering beauty standards for Black women](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/portrait-of-black-woman-with-braided-hairstyle-and-embroidered-dress.jpg)

## Ritual

The rhythms of daily hair care, once deeply rooted in ancestral practices and community connection, were profoundly altered by colonial policies. Where communal grooming was a social activity, strengthening familial bonds and allowing intergenerational knowledge to pass down through touch and story, the brutal realities of enslavement and colonial life stripped away the time, resources, and freedom required for such rituals. Enslaved individuals, subjected to grueling labor, often had Sundays as their only day of rest, and this became the singular opportunity for hair care, often performed communally with limited available materials like butter or goose grease. This transformation from daily, holistic practice to a weekly, survival-driven endeavor speaks volumes about the systematic dismantling of cultural life. 

![The portrait captures a young girl](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/portrait-of-young-black-girl-with-high-density-afro-and-shadow-play.jpg)

## Did Colonial Law Regulate Hair Appearance?

Beyond the practical disruptions, colonial policies actively legislated hair appearance as a tool of social control. A striking historical instance that powerfully illuminates this connection to [textured hair heritage](/area/textured-hair-heritage/) and Black experiences is the enactment of the **Tignon Laws** in Spanish colonial Louisiana. In 1786, Governor Esteban Rodríguez Miró issued a decree compelling free women of color to wear a tignon, a headscarf, in public. The stated purpose was to distinguish them from white women, particularly those of mixed heritage who, through their elaborate hairstyles and attire, were perceived as too attractive and socially threatening to the established racial hierarchy. 

> The Tignon Laws illustrate how colonial policies weaponized hair as a visual marker of subjugation, though it often sparked defiance.
This law, ostensibly about modesty and social order, was a direct assault on the self-expression and social standing of free Black women, aiming to diminish their beauty and reinforce their subordinate position. Yet, in a powerful act of resistance, these women transformed the tignon into a mark of distinction. They used vibrant, costly fabrics, styled their head wraps with intricate knots, and adorned them with jewels and feathers, making a political statement through fashion.

This defiant creativity showcases the enduring spirit of heritage, even when faced with oppressive legislation. It was a silent, yet potent, reclamation of identity.

The pressure to conform to European beauty standards, a direct consequence of colonial ideology, led to a shift in desired hair textures. Straight hair became associated with “civility” and “respectability,” influencing hair care practices significantly after the abolition of slavery. The mid-19th century saw the invention of hair-straightening combs, later popularized by figures like Madam C.J.

Walker, who built an empire on products that altered textured hair to achieve a straighter appearance. While Walker’s success is a testament to Black entrepreneurship, her products also responded to a societal demand shaped by [colonial beauty](/area/colonial-beauty/) ideals, where straight hair was linked to social and economic advancement.

This phenomenon of straightening hair was not simply a stylistic choice; it was often a survival tactic in a racist society. Discriminatory practices in employment and education often favored those who conformed to Eurocentric appearances, creating a compelling, though painful, incentive to alter natural hair. The widespread use of hot combs and chemical relaxers became a norm, despite the potential damage they inflicted, as they offered a pathway, however fraught, to perceived acceptance. The very tools and techniques adopted by many within the Black diaspora were, in essence, a response to a world structured by colonial standards. 

![Through expressive braiding and adornments, the portrait captures the essence of cultural identity and beauty standards. The monochromatic palette accentuates the intricate details of the braids, symbolic of resilience and the enduring legacy of Black hair traditions and holistic hair care practices](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochrome-portrait-of-a-young-woman-with-braided-hair-and-feathers.jpg)

![The photograph elegantly frames a woman](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/elegant-woman-with-asymmetrical-bob-hairstyle-black-and-white-portrait.jpg)

## Relay

The echoes of colonial policies reverberate through contemporary hair care beliefs, shaping not only individual choices but also the broader industry and societal perceptions. The systemic devaluing of textured hair during colonial periods laid the groundwork for persistent prejudices that continue to surface in educational institutions, workplaces, and media representations. The concept of “good hair” versus “bad hair,” a painful legacy of colonial distinctions between those with lighter skin and less [coiled hair](/area/coiled-hair/) (often granted preferential treatment) and those with darker skin and more coiled hair, still impacts self-perception and societal treatment. This racial hierarchy, based on skin tone and hair texture, persists as colorism and texturism within the diaspora. 

![The image evokes a serene yet intense presence, showcasing rich cultural heritage through traditional braided styling, emphasizing cowrie shells and white cosmetic markings on the textured Afro hair. The child](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/striking-portrait-of-a-young-person-with-braided-hair-adorned-with-cowrie-shells.jpg)

## What Current Practices Show Colonial Influence?

Even today, the market for products geared towards straightening or relaxing textured hair remains substantial, reflecting a lingering preference for European hair textures that was ingrained during colonial times. This preference is not merely aesthetic; it is a historical artifact. Dr.

Nusrat Jung of Purdue University points out that deeply ingrained prejudices from the colonial past still cause hair stylists and the public in the Global South to reject natural options rooted in their own heritage. This highlights a continuing disconnect from ancestral wellness philosophies in favor of products and practices aligned with Eurocentric standards, despite growing awareness of potential chemical harms.

> The enduring preference for straightened hair, a direct colonial legacy, continues to influence global hair care markets.
The Natural Hair Movement, which gained prominence in the 1960s with the “Black Is Beautiful” movement and saw a resurgence in the 2000s, represents a powerful counter-narrative. It actively seeks to reclaim and celebrate textured hair in its natural state, challenging the very [beauty standards](/area/beauty-standards/) imposed by colonialism. This movement emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting textured hair’s unique properties, advocating for care routines that nourish rather than alter its inherent structure. It champions traditional styling methods and ingredients, drawing from a rich ancestral knowledge that [colonialism](/area/colonialism/) attempted to suppress. 

One powerful data point that underscores the ongoing struggle against colonial-era [hair beliefs](/area/hair-beliefs/) comes from a study involving Black South African women, which asserted that many Black African women’s relationship with their hair is shaped by violence ❉ both physical and cultural ❉ perpetuated in the quest for ‘beautiful’ hair, which often mirrors European and Asian textures. This research, drawing from Johan Galtung’s work on cultural violence, suggests that achieving this hegemonic beauty ideal results in a generational cycle of identity erasure. The study, based on a survey of 159 Black female students in a rural South African university, revealed that the juxtaposition of natural [Black hair](/area/black-hair/) with Eurocentric standards creates a form of violence and leads to efforts to conform. This speaks directly to how deeply entrenched [colonial beauty ideals](/area/colonial-beauty-ideals/) became within the psyche, continuing to shape beliefs about hair care and self-worth across generations. 

- **Chemical Relaxers** ❉ Products designed to permanently straighten coiled hair, popular partly due to a desire for conformity to colonial beauty standards.

- **Hot Combs** ❉ Early tools used to temporarily straighten textured hair, gaining prevalence as a means of achieving a more European appearance in a discriminatory society.

- **Hair Discrimination** ❉ Policies or societal attitudes that penalize or marginalize individuals for wearing natural Black hairstyles, reflecting ongoing Eurocentric beauty biases.
The scientific understanding of textured hair has advanced, yet colonial-era misconceptions persist in certain circles. Modern research confirms that the unique structure of textured hair makes it more susceptible to dryness and breakage if not cared for properly, validating many traditional practices that focused on moisture retention and gentle handling. However, the legacy of colonial thought often means that Black hair is still misperceived as “difficult” or “unmanageable,” overlooking its inherent versatility and strength when cared for with ancestral wisdom. The work of accessible hair scientists today often involves demystifying these misperceptions, connecting biological realities to cultural practices and historical contexts. 

![This intimate monochromatic image showcases a mindful approach to dark, coiled hair maintenance through controlled combing, symbolizing a deep connection to ancestral grooming traditions and the art of nurturing one](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/person-combing-dark-coiled-hair-with-wooden-wide-toothed-comb.jpg)

## Do Educational Policies Reflect Colonial Hair Bias?

Indeed, educational institutions in various parts of the world have, until recently, maintained policies that reflect colonial hair biases. Stories from South Africa and other African nations reveal how [school policies](/area/school-policies/) mandated short hair or prohibited specific Afro-textured styles like dreadlocks, often resulting in severe punishment, including expulsion. In Ghana, for instance, a tradition of requiring local girls in “castle schools” to maintain trimmed hair served to differentiate them from “mulatto” or mixed-race children, a direct colonial strategy to maintain racial distinctions. These rules were not merely about tidiness; they were about enforcing a visual separation rooted in a colonial caste system.

Such policies forced young individuals to internalize negative stereotypes about their natural hair, creating a disconnect from their cultural heritage at an impressionable age. The recent efforts to challenge and amend these discriminatory policies, such as the protests in South Africa and the implementation of the CROWN Act in the United States, represent a collective push to dismantle these colonial structures and celebrate the innate beauty of textured hair in all its forms.

![Through focused hands shaping hair, artistry unfolds, preserving Black haircare heritage. This intimate moment reveals beauty standards while honoring ancestral methods and providing versatile styling options to promote scalp health and celebrate community through intricate woven patterns and design](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/intricate-braiding-process-showcases-textured-hair-artistry-and-cultural.jpg)

![The black and white tone adds a timeless quality to this scene of cultural exchange, inviting contemplation on the ancestral heritage embodied in textured hair, its ongoing evolution within modern beauty standards, and the commitment to its care and creative expression.](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-and-white-image-of-textured-hair-stylist-creating-protective-hairstyles.jpg)

## Reflection

Our journey through the historical arc of textured hair care beliefs, marked deeply by colonial policies, reveals a story of enduring resilience. The strand, once dismissed as “wool” or “unruly,” now stands as a testament to an ancestral spirit that refused to be quelled. It is a living, breathing archive, each coil and curve holding not only the memory of oppression but also the vibrant legacy of survival and cultural reclamation. This re-examination of history is not an exercise in grievance; it is a profound act of honoring heritage, giving voice to practices and beliefs that were systematically undermined yet steadfastly preserved. 

The conscious reconnection to traditional ingredients, to the communal rhythms of ancient care rituals, and to the powerful symbolism of textured hair is a vital act of self-discovery. It is a quiet revolution, allowing individuals to ground their wellness in wisdom passed down through generations. To understand the deliberate ways colonial policies sought to diminish textured hair is to understand the strength it took for communities to guard their customs, to secretly braid rice seeds into hair for survival, and to transform enforced headwraps into statements of defiant beauty. These acts were not just about maintaining appearance; they were about preserving a soul, a heritage, in the face of relentless erasure. 

The work of tending to textured hair today becomes a continuation of this legacy. It is a practice steeped in reverence, a dialogue between ancient ways and contemporary understanding. The choices we make regarding our hair care, the stories we share, the affirmations we whisper to ourselves in the mirror ❉ all contribute to an unbinding of the helix, allowing it to spring forth in its natural, magnificent form. This unfolding is not merely physical; it is a spiritual unfolding, a cultural blossoming.

The legacy of colonial policies reminds us of what was lost, yet the vibrant, growing heritage of textured hair constantly reminds us of what could never truly be taken away. It is a beacon for identity, a source of collective strength, and a profound declaration of self-love that extends far beyond the surface.

![This monochrome portrait highlights the beauty of textured hair, its helical formation rendered in striking detail. The woman](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochrome-portrait-of-woman-with-elaborate-textured-afro-hairstyle-and-shawl.jpg)

![Hands gently massage a scalp treatment into tightly coiled hair, amidst onlookers, symbolizing a deep connection to heritage and holistic self-care. The black and white aesthetic underscores the timelessness of these ancestral practices, reflecting the enduring beauty standards and communal bonds associated with textured hair](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-and-white-image-of-young-woman-receiving-scalp-treatment-outdoors.jpg)

## References

- Byrd, A. D. & Tharps, L. (2001). Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America. St. Martin’s Press.

- Mercer, K. (1994). Welcome to the Jungle: New Positions in Cultural and Gender Theory. Routledge.

- Banks, I. (2000). Hair: A Cultural History. University of Massachusetts Press.

- Craig, M. A. (2014). Afro-Natural Hair: A History of Natural Hairstyles of African-American Women. Praeger.

- White, S. (2018). The Social Impact of Hair on African American Women: A Cultural Analysis. Lexington Books.

- Willaert, R. (2007). Colonialism and Cultural Identity: The Shaping of Modernity in the Caribbean. Caribbean Studies Press.

- Dabiri, E. (2019). Don’t Touch My Hair. Penguin Books.

- Galtung, J. (1990). Cultural Violence. Journal of Peace Research, 27(3), 291-305.

- Oyedemi, T. (2016). ‘Beautiful’ Hair and the Cultural Violence of Identity Erasure. ResearchGate.

## Glossary

### [Hair Spiritual Beliefs](https://roothea.co/area/hair-spiritual-beliefs/)

Meaning ❉ Hair spiritual beliefs, within the context of textured hair understanding, denote the deep, often ancestral, connection individuals hold with their strands, viewing them as more than biological fibers.

### [Textured Hair Heritage](https://roothea.co/area/textured-hair-heritage/)

Meaning ❉ "Textured Hair Heritage" denotes the deep-seated, historically transmitted understanding and practices specific to hair exhibiting coil, kink, and wave patterns, particularly within Black and mixed-race ancestries.

### [Student Grooming Policies](https://roothea.co/area/student-grooming-policies/)

Meaning ❉ Student Grooming Policies, within the Roothea understanding, refer to the institutional guidelines established by educational environments concerning student appearance, particularly hair.

### [Colonial Beauty](https://roothea.co/area/colonial-beauty/)

Meaning ❉ "Colonial Beauty" refers to the historically imposed aesthetic standards that subtly, yet deeply, influenced perceptions of hair worth, particularly for Black and mixed-race individuals.

### [African Albinism Beliefs](https://roothea.co/area/african-albinism-beliefs/)

Meaning ❉ African Albinism Beliefs speaks to the nuanced spectrum of traditional understandings and cultural interpretations concerning albinism across various African communities.

### [Akan Spiritual Beliefs](https://roothea.co/area/akan-spiritual-beliefs/)

Meaning ❉ Akan Spiritual Beliefs, a framework rooted in the understanding of a living cosmos and the continuum of being, offer a gentle lens through which to approach the specific needs of textured hair.

### [Prison Grooming Policies](https://roothea.co/area/prison-grooming-policies/)

Meaning ❉ Prison Grooming Policies are institutional directives outlining personal presentation and hygiene within correctional settings.

### [Colonialism](https://roothea.co/area/colonialism/)

Meaning ❉ Colonialism, in the tender world of textured hair, speaks to the historical introduction of external aesthetic ideals and care practices that regrettably diminished the inherent beauty and structural integrity of natural Black and mixed hair textures.

### [Hair Beliefs](https://roothea.co/area/hair-beliefs/)

Meaning ❉ Hair Beliefs signify the collection of deeply held convictions and cultural understandings that shape how one perceives, tends to, and adorns textured hair, particularly within Black and mixed-race communities.

### [Natural Hair](https://roothea.co/area/natural-hair/)

Meaning ❉ Natural Hair describes hair that maintains its original structural configuration, untouched by chemical processes like relaxers, texturizers, or permanent color that alter its natural coil, curl, or wave definition.

## Explore Your Heritage

### [What Spiritual Beliefs Connected Hair Care to Ancient African Heritage?](https://roothea.co/question/what-spiritual-beliefs-connected-hair-care-to-ancient-african-heritage/)
![This evocative monochromatic image highlights a woman](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochrome-portrait-of-woman-with-platinum-blonde-finger-wave-hairstyle.jpg)

### [In What Ways Did Textured Hair Become a Symbol of Resistance to Colonial Rule?](https://roothea.co/question/in-what-ways-did-textured-hair-become-a-symbol-of-resistance-to-colonial-rule/)
![This evocative portrait captures the essence of natural beauty, highlighting the resilience and strength embodied in the woman’s short, coiled afro. The play of light and shadow accentuates the intricacies of her hair](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/striking-black-and-white-portrait-of-a-woman-with-natural-hair.jpg)

### [In What Ways Did Colonial Beauty Standards Impact the Human Rights of People with Textured Hair?](https://roothea.co/question/in-what-ways-did-colonial-beauty-standards-impact-the-human-rights-of-people-with-textured-hair/)
![The photograph elegantly frames a woman](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/elegant-woman-with-asymmetrical-bob-hairstyle-black-and-white-portrait.jpg)

### [What Ancestral Beliefs Shaped the Spiritual View of Textured Hair?](https://roothea.co/question/what-ancestral-beliefs-shaped-the-spiritual-view-of-textured-hair/)
![The black and white image captures a moment of quiet contemplation, as the woman](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/introspective-portrait-woman-with-coiled-hair-hands-framing-face.jpg)

### [How Did Ancestral Hair Care Adapt under Colonial Rule, Preserving Heritage?](https://roothea.co/question/how-did-ancestral-hair-care-adapt-under-colonial-rule-preserving-heritage/)
![The portrait captures a profound sense of wisdom and strength emanating from her detailed afro braided hair, reflecting African ancestral beauty traditions. Woven hair ornaments enhance textured elegance, a legacy of holistic cultural expressions and enduring commitment to heritage and wellness.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/resilient-elder-with-braided-afro-textured-hair-and-traditional-adornments.jpg)

### [How Did Ancestral Water Beliefs Shape Textured Hair Care?](https://roothea.co/question/how-did-ancestral-water-beliefs-shape-textured-hair-care/)
![The aloe vera, a cornerstone in ancestral botanical practices, illuminates textured hair](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/aloe-vera-composition-exploring-ancestral-herbal-traditions-and-textured-hair.jpg)

### [What Ancestral Beliefs Shaped Holistic Textured Hair Care and Identity?](https://roothea.co/question/what-ancestral-beliefs-shaped-holistic-textured-hair-care-and-identity/)
![This compelling macro view mirrors the varying porosities in textured hair formations, an artistic illustration serving as a visual analogy for understanding how essential moisture penetration and retention are for healthy hair care rooted in knowledge of ancestral practices.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/porous-rock-texture-macro-black-and-white-natural-volcanic-formation.jpg)

### [Can Celebrating Black Hair History Influence Future Workplace Policies?](https://roothea.co/question/can-celebrating-black-hair-history-influence-future-workplace-policies/)
![This black and white portrait captures the artistry of protective styling, highlighting the intricate braidwork and celebrating Black hair traditions. The elevated ponytail emphasizes a strong, elegant silhouette, resonating with ancestral heritage and the expressive possibilities within textured hair formations.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/elegant-black-woman-with-high-ponytail-of-protective-braids-bw-portrait.jpg)

### [What Ancestral Beliefs about Hair Persist in Modern Textured Hair Practices?](https://roothea.co/question/what-ancestral-beliefs-about-hair-persist-in-modern-textured-hair-practices/)
![This image offers an intimate view of black beauty, heritage, and strength, enhanced by meticulous protective braiding. The study in light and shadow elevates it beyond a mere portrait it is a celebration of ancestral hair care traditions, resilience and self-expression through natural hair styling.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/elegant-portrait-of-young-black-woman-with-protective-braids-and-poise.jpg)

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                "text": "\nEven today, the market for products geared towards straightening or relaxing textured hair remains substantial, reflecting a lingering preference for European hair textures that was ingrained during colonial times. This preference is not merely aesthetic; it is a historical artifact. Dr. Nusrat Jung of Purdue University points out that deeply ingrained prejudices from the colonial past still cause hair stylists and the public in the Global South to reject natural options rooted in their own heritage. This highlights a continuing disconnect from ancestral wellness philosophies in favor of products and practices aligned with Eurocentric standards, despite growing awareness of potential chemical harms.\n"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Question",
            "name": "Do Educational Policies Reflect Colonial Hair Bias?",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "@type": "Answer",
                "text": "\nIndeed, educational institutions in various parts of the world have, until recently, maintained policies that reflect colonial hair biases. Stories from South Africa and other African nations reveal how school policies mandated short hair or prohibited specific Afro-textured styles like dreadlocks, often resulting in severe punishment, including expulsion. In Ghana, for instance, a tradition of requiring local girls in \"castle schools\" to maintain trimmed hair served to differentiate them from \"mulatto\" or mixed-race children, a direct colonial strategy to maintain racial distinctions. These rules were not merely about tidiness; they were about enforcing a visual separation rooted in a colonial caste system. Such policies forced young individuals to internalize negative stereotypes about their natural hair, creating a disconnect from their cultural heritage at an impressionable age. The recent efforts to challenge and amend these discriminatory policies, such as the protests in South Africa and the implementation of the CROWN Act in the United States, represent a collective push to dismantle these colonial structures and celebrate the innate beauty of textured hair in all its forms.\n"
            }
        }
    ]
}
```

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    "mentions": [
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/hair-care/",
            "name": "Hair Care",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/hair-care/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Hair Care, when understood through the lens of textured hair, signifies a mindful discipline for preserving the vigor of coily, kinky, and wavy strands."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/textured-hair/",
            "name": "Textured Hair",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/textured-hair/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Textured hair describes the natural hair structure characterized by its unique curl patterns, ranging from expansive waves to closely wound coils, a common trait across individuals of Black and mixed heritage."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/natural-hair/",
            "name": "Natural Hair",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/natural-hair/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Natural Hair describes hair that maintains its original structural configuration, untouched by chemical processes like relaxers, texturizers, or permanent color that alter its natural coil, curl, or wave definition."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/textured-hair-heritage/",
            "name": "Textured Hair Heritage",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/textured-hair-heritage/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ \"Textured Hair Heritage\" denotes the deep-seated, historically transmitted understanding and practices specific to hair exhibiting coil, kink, and wave patterns, particularly within Black and mixed-race ancestries."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/colonial-beauty/",
            "name": "Colonial Beauty",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/colonial-beauty/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ \"Colonial Beauty\" refers to the historically imposed aesthetic standards that subtly, yet deeply, influenced perceptions of hair worth, particularly for Black and mixed-race individuals."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/coiled-hair/",
            "name": "Coiled Hair",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/coiled-hair/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Coiled hair refers to hair strands forming very tight, often microscopic, helical or spring-like patterns, common within hair types typically categorized as 4A, 4B, and 4C, particularly among Black and mixed-race individuals."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/beauty-standards/",
            "name": "Beauty Standards",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/beauty-standards/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Beauty Standards often describe societal ideals dictating what is considered appealing, particularly concerning appearance."
        },
        {
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            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/colonialism/",
            "name": "Colonialism",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/colonialism/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Colonialism, in the tender world of textured hair, speaks to the historical introduction of external aesthetic ideals and care practices that regrettably diminished the inherent beauty and structural integrity of natural Black and mixed hair textures."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/colonial-beauty-ideals/",
            "name": "Colonial Beauty Ideals",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/colonial-beauty-ideals/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Colonial Beauty Ideals describe aesthetic standards historically spread through colonial presence, often favoring features linked to European appearances, such as straight hair, over the natural forms and strength of coils, curls, and kinks."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/hair-beliefs/",
            "name": "Hair Beliefs",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/hair-beliefs/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Hair Beliefs signify the collection of deeply held convictions and cultural understandings that shape how one perceives, tends to, and adorns textured hair, particularly within Black and mixed-race communities."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/black-hair/",
            "name": "Black Hair",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/black-hair/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Black Hair describes the spectrum of hair textures primarily found within communities of African heritage, recognized by its distinct curl patterns ❉ from expansive waves to tightly coiled formations ❉ and an often elliptical follicle shape, which fundamentally shapes its unique growth trajectory."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/school-policies/",
            "name": "School Policies",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/school-policies/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ School Policies, in this context, refer to official guidelines governing student appearance, particularly hair."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/hair-spiritual-beliefs/",
            "name": "Hair Spiritual Beliefs",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/hair-spiritual-beliefs/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Hair spiritual beliefs, within the context of textured hair understanding, denote the deep, often ancestral, connection individuals hold with their strands, viewing them as more than biological fibers."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/student-grooming-policies/",
            "name": "Student Grooming Policies",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/student-grooming-policies/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Student Grooming Policies, within the Roothea understanding, refer to the institutional guidelines established by educational environments concerning student appearance, particularly hair."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/african-albinism-beliefs/",
            "name": "African Albinism Beliefs",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/african-albinism-beliefs/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ African Albinism Beliefs speaks to the nuanced spectrum of traditional understandings and cultural interpretations concerning albinism across various African communities."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/akan-spiritual-beliefs/",
            "name": "Akan Spiritual Beliefs",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/akan-spiritual-beliefs/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Akan Spiritual Beliefs, a framework rooted in the understanding of a living cosmos and the continuum of being, offer a gentle lens through which to approach the specific needs of textured hair."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/prison-grooming-policies/",
            "name": "Prison Grooming Policies",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/prison-grooming-policies/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Prison Grooming Policies are institutional directives outlining personal presentation and hygiene within correctional settings."
        }
    ]
}
```


---

**Original URL:** https://roothea.co/question/in-what-ways-did-colonial-policies-shape-textured-hair-care-beliefs/
