How Do Black Men Get Waves in Yhere Hair
What White People Don't Understand About Black Hair
I had finally got my new set of clippers in the mail since burning out the last pair. (I was using American clippers on an Italian outlet without a converter — live and learn).
Before I put the clippers to my coarse hair my Italian homestay mom asked: "Why do you need to cut your hair? It isn't long".
What?! Could she not see that my hairline is doing whatever it wants right now?
For a woman that has been d oing hosting students for over 30 years, I thought by now she would have come across an African American student at least once.
But then it hit me. Italians are simply white people with great tans that know just as little about American hair as white Americans.
She desperately needed a lesson on black hair.
Personally, there should be a mandatory course on African American culture. And no Race and Diversity gen eds don't count.
White people just don't know enough about black hair or black culture. And it saddens me that one can't even tell when a brotha needs a shape-up.
Importance of black hair
The black hair is more than just strands of DNA sticking out of our scalp. It's our culture.
The dreads, the waves, the Afro, cornrows; it's all apart of who we are as people. The black hair isn't a subcategory put under the hair aisle of a Rite-aid; It's our identity.
It's an extension of who we are and where we come from. The black hair is a tool for self-expression. The designs, patterns, and styles are a reflection of us.
These styles not only make us unique as individuals but serve as a representation of what it means to be black.
It's not to be touched — we mean it.
And we will go as far to protect our identity with bonnets, scarves, durags and if push comes to shove, stocking caps.
Work & Effort
If you have waves, you know the amount of work required to get them and most importantly keep them.
Pomade is needed.
For years I was using Sportin' Waves every day until my hair started getting stiff and I had to cut back on the dosage.
My daily routine:
Dampen hair with hot towel (let it sit for a minute). Rub a sliver dollar sized amount of Sportin' Waves Pomade in hands until even layer forms. Work into hair of desired wave pattern. Brush into desired style. For the best results cover head with cap for 30 minutes or overnight.
This was my everyday ritual. I would see the prints from the wave cap on my forehead as I gently removed it from my head. A sign that the cap was on for an adequate length of time.
The time spent brushing; hours. I remember being in high school brushing my hair until I had headaches; I just wanted 360 waves. It was no joke.
The most desirable style for a black man is the 360 waves. But it's not easy to get.
For really coarse hair it's going to take some time. Years even. But the end result is worth it.
How Do Black Men Get Waves in Yhere Hair
Source: https://isaacbreese.medium.com/what-white-people-dont-understand-about-black-hair-feb1c2b0164e