# In What Ways Did Textured Hair Serve as a Medium for Communication during Historical Periods? ❉ Question

**Published:** 2025-06-08
**Author:** Roothea
**Categories:** Question

---

![In monochrome, a child’s textured spirals, each coil a testament to heritage, invite contemplation on identity and beauty. This striking portrait embodies resilience and honors hair traditions as an expressive art form, reflecting the ancestral narratives woven into Black hair culture](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/young-girl-with-spiraled-textured-hair-a-portrait-of-cultural-identity.jpg)

![The image conveys a moment of intimate care, as hands apply a rich moisturizer to tightly coiled hair, celebrating the beauty and strength of Black hair traditions and holistic care. This act embodies cultural identity, ancestral connection, and wellness for expressive styling, nourishing the hair](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/nourishing-textured-hair-deep-moisture-treatment-application-black-and-white.jpg)

## Roots

The whispers of ancestry echo through the very fibers of textured hair, carrying tales from epochs long past. Before the written word, before maps were charted on parchment, the coils and kinks of hair served as an enduring archive, a living testament to heritage, identity, and the intricate social structures of our forebears. This was not merely adornment; it held meaning, a silent language spoken across generations, communicating truths as profound as survival and as subtle as a greeting. 

From the dawn of human civilization, hair, in its myriad forms, became a canvas upon which stories were etched. For peoples whose wisdom was passed through oral tradition and lived experience, the body itself became a primary text. Within African ancestral societies, the shaping of hair transcended personal style.

It served as a visual codex, a living chronicle that articulated one’s familial lineage, communal standing, spiritual beliefs, and even marital status. The unique helix of textured hair, with its inherent strength and versatility, permitted an almost limitless array of sculptural forms, each a sentence, a paragraph, or a complete narrative in this profound corporeal language.

Consider the biological foundations of textured hair, how its distinct coil patterns naturally lend themselves to complex, durable styles. The very structure, resistant to manipulation yet amenable to skillful shaping, offered a pragmatic advantage for communicating status or belonging over extended periods in dynamic environments. Early human societies recognized this intrinsic capacity, transforming it into a sophisticated system of non-verbal communication. Hair, quite simply, was a public declaration. 

> Textured hair, from antiquity, functioned as a powerful, non-verbal medium for conveying identity, status, and communal narratives.
Across the vast continent of Africa, before the shadows of colonialism stretched, different ethnic groups cultivated distinct hair practices. These practices, passed down through the hands of mothers, grandmothers, and community elders, created a shared lexicon of hair artistry. The nuances of braiding patterns, the positioning of specific adornments, the presence or absence of certain styles ❉ all conveyed layered messages. 

For instance, among the **Yoruba** people of West Africa, [hair styles](/area/hair-styles/) like the **shuku** (a braided style swept upwards to form a crest) often denoted marital status, while the complexity of the style could indicate social standing. Similarly, specific intricate cornrow patterns among the **Fulani** spoke of a woman’s village or family origin (Sagay, 1983). These were not accidental styles; each strand, each section, was a deliberate stroke in a communal masterpiece of identity. 

The very lexicon used to describe [textured hair](/area/textured-hair/) and its care holds echoes of this ancestral wisdom. Terms like ‘coils,’ ‘kinks,’ and ‘locs,’ though perhaps simplified in modern English, have historical counterparts in African languages, each carrying specific cultural weight and understanding of the hair’s inherent properties and potential. This deep understanding of hair’s biological and aesthetic capabilities allowed for the creation of intricate systems of communication. 

What were some early communicative elements observed through hair styles? 

- **Lineage Markers** ❉ Certain styles were hereditary, worn by specific families or clans.

- **Age and Life Stages** ❉ Hair styles often changed with rites of passage, such as puberty, marriage, or motherhood.

- **Social Standing** ❉ The intricacy, height, or adornment of a style could denote wealth, leadership, or social importance.

- **Spiritual Affiliation** ❉ Some styles held sacred meaning, worn during rituals or to honor deities.

- **Geographic Origin** ❉ Distinct patterns identified individuals as belonging to particular villages or regions.
The contrast between ancestral reverence and later colonial degradation of textured hair also stands as a powerful testament to its communicative power. When enslavers forcibly shaved the heads of captured Africans, they aimed to strip identity, to silence the visual language their hair spoke. This violent act itself underscored the profound meaning hair held, and its removal communicated a horrifying message of dehumanization. Yet, even in this brutality, the spirit of hair as a communicative force persisted, adapting to new, often clandestine, forms of expression. 

![Against a backdrop of sunlit horizons, textured hair in the form of locs is silhouetted, evoking ancestral connections and symbolizing resilience. This image celebrates natural Black hair formations, its beauty, and historical significance in expressive Black cultural identity, wellness, and holistic care through styling](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/silhouette-of-person-with-locs-against-sunlight-revealing-textured-hair-heritage.jpg)

![This portrait of an Andean woman, adorned with braids beneath her hat and traditional shawl, encapsulates resilience and heritage. The stark contrast emphasizes textured hair](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/andean-womans-braided-hair-under-hat-reflects-cultural-identity-and-resilience.jpg)

## Ritual

The very act of styling textured hair historically transcended mere aesthetic presentation, evolving into a living ritual steeped in shared knowledge and societal understanding. It was a practice that wove individuals into the collective, where every twist, every braid, every intentional shape, spoke volumes about the wearer and their community. This living heritage of hair practices served as a complex, dynamic medium for communication, adapting and persisting even through periods of immense challenge. 

Consider the remarkable narrative of hair as a vessel for clandestine messages during the transatlantic slave trade. In the Americas, enslaved individuals, stripped of many overt forms of expression, ingeniously transformed their hair into a canvas for survival and defiance. Braided patterns, often appearing as simple stylistic choices, concealed vital information. For instance, in Colombia, enslaved people braided rice seeds into their hair before escaping, ensuring they had food to plant once free.

They also used braids to depict [escape routes](/area/escape-routes/) (Byrd & Tharps, 2001, p. 25). These acts speak to an extraordinary resilience, where hair became a silent, yet powerful, cartographer of liberty. The very act of forming these braids, often done in communal settings, reinforced bonds and transmitted hope.

Beyond the dramatic urgencies of escape, hairstyles conveyed more quotidian, yet equally significant, details of an individual’s life within traditional African societies. A style could denote a woman’s marital status, her age group, or her readiness for marriage. It could identify her tribal affiliation or the [social hierarchy](/area/social-hierarchy/) she occupied within her community. Hair became a form of social currency, a visible marker of belonging and identity. 

> Hair rituals, beyond mere aesthetics, provided a profound means of social and personal expression, even serving as a clandestine communication system during periods of oppression.
The artistry involved was often communal. Grandmothers instructed daughters, and friends collaborated on intricate designs, transforming grooming into a shared ritual that reinforced social bonds and transferred cultural knowledge. The tools employed, from simple combs crafted from natural materials to specialized implements for parting and sectioning, were themselves extensions of this heritage, passed down and imbued with historical significance. 

How did specific styling techniques serve as communicative acts? 

- **Braids and Cornrows** ❉ Beyond mapping escape routes, specific patterns communicated mourning, celebration, or readiness for battle. The direction of braids could also signify social hierarchy or spiritual alignment.

- **Locs and Twists** ❉ Often associated with spiritual devotion, philosophical principles, or a refusal to conform to dominant societal norms, as seen in Rastafarianism, where locs embody a connection to ancestry and freedom.

- **Shaving Patterns** ❉ Partial or complete shaving of the head could communicate religious rites, periods of grief, or even punishment for societal transgressions.

- **Hair Adornments** ❉ Beads, shells, cowrie shells, and precious metals incorporated into hair communicated wealth, status, tribal identity, or even protective spiritual properties.
The disruption of these hair rituals during the period of enslavement was a deliberate act of cultural erasure, yet it paradoxically underscored the inherent communicative power of hair. The enforced uniformity, the shaving of heads, the limitations on time and resources for grooming, were all designed to strip identity and sever connection to ancestry. Yet, in defiance, ingenuity blossomed.

Head wraps, initially worn out of necessity for hygiene and protection, became powerful symbols of dignity, beauty, and quiet resistance. They often concealed intricate braided patterns, continuing the tradition of hidden communication.

The legacy of these rituals endures, speaking to the deep resilience of Black and mixed-race communities. The practices, often rooted in specific ancestral techniques, survived the Middle Passage and adapted to new environments, carrying their communicative potency forward. The very act of performing these styles, whether in a shared space or in quiet reflection, became a connection to those who came before, a living affirmation of a heritage that could not be silenced. 

![Striking portrait captures the quiet beauty of a woman showcasing a stylish textured bob with braid accentuating the hairline. Through careful contrast of light and shadow, the image invokes feelings of contemplative grace, celebrating individual expression and textured hair as a medium for self discovery](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/portrait-of-an-elegant-woman-with-braided-detail-textured-hair-bob.jpg)

![The black and white medium brings focus to the elegant silhouette of her coiled hairstyle and her poised expression. The image](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/elegant-woman-with-short-coiled-hair-portrait-in-black-and-white.jpg)

## Relay

The conversation woven into textured hair did not cease with the echoes of historical survival; rather, it transformed, adapting its dialect to reflect evolving societal landscapes and ongoing struggles. The relay of meaning through hair shifted from overt tribal markers and covert maps to more nuanced declarations of identity, resilience, and even political alignment. This progression speaks to hair’s extraordinary capacity to serve as a constant, adaptive medium for [communication](/area/communication/) across distinct cultural and historical junctures. 

In the 20th century, particularly during the Civil Rights and [Black Power](/area/black-power/) movements, hair became a potent symbol of protest and affirmation. The Afro , with its unapologetic volume and natural form, became a visible declaration of racial pride and a rejection of Eurocentric beauty standards. It was a political statement without uttering a single word, communicating a demand for self-determination and cultural autonomy.

This was a conscious return to an ancestral aesthetic, a reclamation of a visual language that had been suppressed for centuries. The Afro spoke of Black is beautiful, of freedom, of unity.

Consider the impact of the [Natural Hair Movement](/area/natural-hair-movement/) in recent decades. It stands as a contemporary extension of this historical relay, a conscious choice by individuals to wear their hair in its unaltered state, thereby challenging prevailing beauty norms and celebrating ancestral heritage. This personal choice carries public weight, communicating self-acceptance, cultural pride, and often, an implicit critique of societal pressures. This movement, while individual, has collectively reshaped perceptions of beauty and professionalism, signaling a powerful shift in cultural dialogues. 

How did hair become a political statement in the mid-20th century? 

- **The Afro as a symbol of Black Power** ❉ Its natural, unbound form directly countered straightened styles, embodying liberation and pride.

- **Locs as counter-cultural identity** ❉ Beyond spiritual significance, locs represented a rejection of mainstream aesthetics and a connection to African roots.

- **Hair in protest movements** ❉ The conscious wearing of natural styles became a visual sign of solidarity and resistance against systemic oppression.
The communication transmitted through hair also extends to the economic realm. The historical [hair care](/area/hair-care/) industry, initially driven by necessity and ingenuity within Black communities, developed into a significant economic force. The types of products created, the methods of distribution, and the communal practices of hair styling all spoke to self-sufficiency and communal support. Today, the global textured hair market not only responds to consumer demand but also communicates values of natural ingredients, ethical sourcing, and culturally relevant formulations, reflecting a continuous dialogue between tradition and innovation. 

> Textured hair, through its varied expressions, consistently broadcasts messages of identity, resistance, and evolving cultural landscapes.
Even in less overt ways, textured hair continues its communicative legacy. The choice of a particular style might communicate one’s current lifestyle, artistic inclination, or personal journey of self-discovery. Hair can speak of joy, of sorrow, of quiet defiance, or of vibrant celebration.

It is a dynamic medium, continually reflecting the layered experiences of Black and mixed-race individuals. The way a style is worn, the care invested, even the specific products applied ❉ these are all subtle yet meaningful dispatches.

What deeper insights can be gleaned from hair’s enduring communicative role? 

The resilience inherent in textured hair’s ability to adapt and continue its communicative role speaks to profound ancestral wisdom. The scientific understanding of hair’s elasticity, its strength, and its unique protein structures only affirms what traditional practitioners understood intuitively: hair is not static; it is dynamic, responsive, and capable of holding incredible tension, both physical and symbolic. This duality, of biological capacity and cultural meaning, underpins hair’s enduring power as a communicative agent, bridging the elemental biology with deeply rooted cultural practices. 

![Monochrome resilience shines through helical textured hair, each strand adorned with droplets, reflecting heritage and cultural traditions. The precise styling embodies both ancestral strength and modern expression, deeply weaving narrative of identity with natural beauty and holistic care, celebrating the power of textured hair](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochrome-resilience-textured-hair-helix-water-droplets-illuminating-deep.jpg)

![The intricate monochrome textured hair formations suggest strength, resilience, and beauty. Light and shadow interplay to highlight unique undulations, reflective of ancestral pride and meticulous hair wellness routines](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochrome-abstract-textured-hair-formations-reflecting-light-and-shadow.jpg)

## Reflection

As we close this chapter on textured hair’s historical role as a communicative medium, we are left with a powerful sense of continuity, a living lineage that stretches back through time. The intricate coils and resilient strands are more than mere physical attributes; they are carriers of history, archives of struggle, triumph, and unwavering identity. Roothea’s ‘Soul of a Strand’ ethos finds its deepest resonance in this understanding: each fiber holds the wisdom of ancestors, the artistry of generations, and the enduring spirit of communities who have consistently used their hair to speak when voices were silenced, to connect when scattered, and to declare belonging amidst displacement. 

This journey through the ways textured hair has communicated messages, from sacred tribal markings to coded escape routes and contemporary statements of pride, reveals a profound truth: heritage is not a static relic of the past. Instead, it is a dynamic, living force, continually expressed and reaffirmed through practices as intimate and public as hair care and styling. Our hair, truly, remains an unbound helix, continually spinning narratives of our past, grounding us in the present, and shaping the conversations we wish to have with the future. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of self-expression, a timeless legacy whispered from strand to strand. 

![This potent, dark powder embodies ancestral wisdom, offering a gateway to the restoration and strengthening of textured hair, evoking images of time-honored Black hair traditions focused on deep cleansing, natural vitality, and rooted identity.](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fine-textured-powder-ashy-pigment-close-up-for-black-hair-mask.jpg)

![Embracing the ancestral heritage of holistic hair care, clear water enriches fenugreek seeds, releasing their potent benefits. This ancient ingredient nourishes Black hair traditions and mixed-race hair narratives, promoting expressive styling and resilient formations for generations](/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fenugreek-seeds-being-dosed-with-water-drops-close-up-black-and-white.jpg)

## References

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

- Gaines, A. (2017). Black for a Day: Fantasies of Race and Empathy. UNC Press.

- Sagay, E. (1983). African Hairstyles: Styles of Yesterday and Today. Heinemann Educational Books.

- Corson, R. (1965). Fashions in Hair: The First Five Thousand Years. Peter Owen.

- Williams, T. A. (2006). Kinky Hair, Black Power, and the Performance of Freedom. African American Review, 40(4), 631-635.

## Glossary

### [Black Power](https://roothea.co/area/black-power/)

Meaning ❉ "Black Power," within the sphere of textured hair, quietly articulates a gentle yet firm assertion of personal sovereignty over one's unique hair identity and its care.

### [Hair Care](https://roothea.co/area/hair-care/)

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.

### [Coded Communication](https://roothea.co/area/coded-communication/)

Meaning ❉ Coded Communication describes the gentle, often unspoken, language of textured hair ❉ its unique responses to environmental shifts, consistent care practices, and ancestral heritage.

### [Maroon Headwrap Communication](https://roothea.co/area/maroon-headwrap-communication/)

Meaning ❉ "Maroon Headwrap Communication" denotes the considered practice of adorning one's head with a deep red covering, signifying a nuanced awareness of textured hair's unique requirements.

### [Slave Communication](https://roothea.co/area/slave-communication/)

Meaning ❉ Within the gentle sphere of textured hair understanding, 'Slave Communication' speaks to the deeply resourceful, often quiet methods by which essential knowledge concerning scalp wellness, hair growth, and styling for Black and mixed-race hair was carefully passed across generations during periods of significant historical constraint.

### [Braiding Communication](https://roothea.co/area/braiding-communication/)

Meaning ❉ Braiding Communication denotes the precise interplay of distinct informational streams crucial for effective textured hair care.

### [Covert Communication](https://roothea.co/area/covert-communication/)

Meaning ❉ Covert Communication in the realm of textured hair refers to the nuanced, often unspoken cues our strands present, revealing their inherent needs and tendencies.

### [Heritage Communication](https://roothea.co/area/heritage-communication/)

Meaning ❉ Heritage Communication speaks to the gentle passing down of vital understanding about textured hair, its distinct properties, and its cultural weight within Black and mixed-race communities.

### [Hair Styles](https://roothea.co/area/hair-styles/)

Meaning ❉ Hair styles, within the context of textured hair, signify more than mere appearance; they are considered intentional arrangements of strands that support the health and longevity of natural coils, kinks, and waves.

### [Braids as Communication](https://roothea.co/area/braids-as-communication/)

Meaning ❉ Braids As Communication refers to the nuanced, often silent dialogue held through the styling and condition of textured hair.

## Explore Your Heritage

### [In What Ways Did Textured Hair Practices Serve as Resistance against Oppression?](https://roothea.co/question/in-what-ways-did-textured-hair-practices-serve-as-resistance-against-oppression/)
![The monochrome portrait captures the beauty and radiance of a confident woman with a short, coiled Afro, her textured hair a statement of natural beauty and heritage. Her joyous expression, coupled with the cut-out top and tasteful jewelry, celebrates self-expression through personal style, rooted in cultural heritage.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/radiant-woman-laughing-against-solid-backdrop-with-coiled-afro-hairstyle.jpg)

### [How Did Textured Hair Become a Symbol of Resistance and Hidden Communication?](https://roothea.co/question/how-did-textured-hair-become-a-symbol-of-resistance-and-hidden-communication/)
![Braided formations and coin ornamentation, captured in monochrome, reflect a legacy of self-expression. Cultural pride resonates through the detailed hair work, embodying wellness through ancestral hairstyles.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochrome-portrait-of-woman-adorned-with-braids-and-coin-headdress.jpg)

### [How Did Braided Styles Serve as Acts of Resistance during Enslavement?](https://roothea.co/question/how-did-braided-styles-serve-as-acts-of-resistance-during-enslavement/)
![Soft light reveals the beauty of coiled braids in this monochrome portrait. This is a visual narrative exploring nuanced aesthetics, braided coil formations, and the rich tapestry of mixed-race heritage, inviting reflection on ancestral connections and the personalized expression of identity through natural hair textures.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochrome-portrait-of-a-mixed-race-woman-with-braided-coiled-hairstyle.jpg)

### [In What Ways Did Textured Hair Serve as a Visual Language of Identity and Resilience across Ancient Cultures?](https://roothea.co/question/in-what-ways-did-textured-hair-serve-as-a-visual-language-of-identity-and-resilience-across-ancient-cultures/)
![Illuminated by stark contrast, the portrait highlights the beauty of coiled texture. Her unwavering gaze, combined with the visual contrast, speaks to cultural narratives, empowerment and the celebration of ancestral black hair traditions while embracing mixed-race hair narratives and styles.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/striking-black-and-white-portrait-revealing-strength-resilience-and-textured.jpg)

### [In What Specific Ways Did Textured Hair Styles Aid Survival during Escape?](https://roothea.co/question/in-what-specific-ways-did-textured-hair-styles-aid-survival-during-escape/)
![This black and white portrait illustrates the ancestral practice of textured hair care, a mother nurturing her child](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/mother-combing-childs-textured-hair-at-window-black-and-white-portrait.jpg)

### [In What Ways Did Historical Textured Hair Styling Act as Cultural Communication?](https://roothea.co/question/in-what-ways-did-historical-textured-hair-styling-act-as-cultural-communication/)
![This portrait captures the essence of natural beauty, highlighting the inherent elegance of spiraled textured hair and strong facial features. The interplay of light and shadow adds dimension, telling a silent story of heritage, identity, and the embrace of self-expression through authentic, expressive, coiled hairstyling and form.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/portrait-of-woman-with-spiraled-textured-hair-in-black-and-white.jpg)

### [How Did Textured Hair Care Evolve through Historical Periods of Adversity?](https://roothea.co/question/how-did-textured-hair-care-evolve-through-historical-periods-of-adversity/)
![Handcrafted shea butter, infused with ancestral techniques, offers deep moisturization for 4c high porosity hair, promoting sebaceous balance care within black hair traditions, reinforcing connection between heritage and holistic care for natural hair, preserving ancestral wisdom for future generations](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/grinding-shea-butter-ritual-for-4c-high-porosity-heritage-moisturizing.jpg)

### [Ancestral Hair Communication](https://roothea.co/term/ancestral-hair-communication/)
![The woman’s striking Afro, a showcase of coils and helix structure, presents a balanced sebaceous vitality reflective of holistic hair care, echoing ancestral Black hair traditions. The radiant beauty and soft glow highlight the importance of balance and overall vitality in embracing expressive styling and celebrating natural hair forms.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/radiant-afro-elegance-natural-hair-beauty-sebaceous-balance-holistic-shine.jpg)

### [In What Ways Did Hair Symbolism Contribute to Cultural Survival during Slavery?](https://roothea.co/question/in-what-ways-did-hair-symbolism-contribute-to-cultural-survival-during-slavery/)
![This evocative black and white image captures the essence of natural hair expression, celebrates the cultural significance of Afro hair, and provides a glimpse into the journey of self-discovery, while showcasing the artful shaping of resilient strands into a statement of heritage and beauty.](https://roothea.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/monochromatic-portrait-of-a-young-woman-with-natural-afro-hair-style.jpg)

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            "name": "Coded Communication",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/coded-communication/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Coded Communication describes the gentle, often unspoken, language of textured hair ❉ its unique responses to environmental shifts, consistent care practices, and ancestral heritage."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/maroon-headwrap-communication/",
            "name": "Maroon Headwrap Communication",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/maroon-headwrap-communication/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ \"Maroon Headwrap Communication\" denotes the considered practice of adorning one's head with a deep red covering, signifying a nuanced awareness of textured hair's unique requirements."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/slave-communication/",
            "name": "Slave Communication",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/slave-communication/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Within the gentle sphere of textured hair understanding, 'Slave Communication' speaks to the deeply resourceful, often quiet methods by which essential knowledge concerning scalp wellness, hair growth, and styling for Black and mixed-race hair was carefully passed across generations during periods of significant historical constraint."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/braiding-communication/",
            "name": "Braiding Communication",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/braiding-communication/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Braiding Communication denotes the precise interplay of distinct informational streams crucial for effective textured hair care."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/covert-communication/",
            "name": "Covert Communication",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/covert-communication/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Covert Communication in the realm of textured hair refers to the nuanced, often unspoken cues our strands present, revealing their inherent needs and tendencies."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/heritage-communication/",
            "name": "Heritage Communication",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/heritage-communication/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Heritage Communication speaks to the gentle passing down of vital understanding about textured hair, its distinct properties, and its cultural weight within Black and mixed-race communities."
        },
        {
            "@type": "DefinedTerm",
            "@id": "https://roothea.co/area/braids-as-communication/",
            "name": "Braids As Communication",
            "url": "https://roothea.co/area/braids-as-communication/",
            "description": "Meaning ❉ Braids As Communication refers to the nuanced, often silent dialogue held through the styling and condition of textured hair."
        }
    ]
}
```


---

**Original URL:** https://roothea.co/question/in-what-ways-did-textured-hair-serve-as-a-medium-for-communication-during-historical-periods/
