Watch This Documentary on Braids and Appropriation in America | ELLE

Lupita Nyong'o, Young M.A, Ayana Bird, Lacy Redway, Vernon François and more talk about braids and black hair culture in America.
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[@lanacooper2086]

No one should be fired for their hair and heritage.

[@vernloves2560]

White ppl use it to approrpiate to make u assemble

[@lenaieoldham3552]

no one should be fired for their "hairitage"

[@everglide15]

@@vernloves2560 how do you know what white people do things for? when i had long hair i would get it braided because i liked the way it looked. it wasnt meant to disrespect anybody, stop taking everything so personally

[@CRAZY4BEINGCRAZY]

lana cooper lol to bad these hairstyles are not even apart of there heritage lol they have to use weaves and extensions

[@CRAZY4BEINGCRAZY]

Big Steve that's because most black people in America got white in them I mean beyonce herself isn't fully black but creole which is French and DNA testing proves they have like at least 20%

[@peji636]

we aint angry about you having braids, we angry about being called ghetto when we wear them but when a white person wears it, its _tReNdY_ and its suddenly been renamed 🙄

[@sauncerayjohnson7449]

Pru Eji right this what I’m sayin I don’t care if you get braids I’m just saying don’t act like my black looks better on you

[@IzBeanz]

Aka Kim kardashian lol

[@fuzzyrodenttips6858]

Pru Eji I get called ghetto too though and I’m Native American mixed with white so like

[@isabella.c.a.]

@@fuzzyrodenttips6858 Hi I'm French and when I was a child I used to love dressing up as a Native American as I admired their beauty, I thought they were so sexy. Does this "cultural appropriation" thing now means that little girls in America cannot do that. Would you get offended? In French we say "Imitation is the best form of flattery or admiration".

[@crayton2004]

EXACTLY

[@Gail-gs9jd]

To think that box braids almost got renamed “Kim k braids”😒🙄

[@XXX-hc9cd]

I can’t believe this 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@Lalaland-og9xr]

Ikr?

[@bluecoopa6510]

The amount of disrespect and audacity 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🙅🏾‍♀️

[@octavialinton243]

They dragged her 😂😂

[@azereth338]

But of course a strong powerful community like ours WOULD NOT let that happen👋🏾🤢🤢

[@summerjones1324]

Sorta funny how Boris Johnson go out with this hair looking like tumbleweed but black women get fired for wearing their hair in neat braids

[@jibarabicha4853]

‘Tumbleweed’ 😆

[@samisage723]

Trueeee 😂😂😂

[@heathervanos8975]

Love that description of Boris Johnson's hair! 😂😂

[@adwowaafful3617]

💀💀💀

[@blackmajick1107]

💀💀💀

[@tyndess4254]

*goes through comments to look at the tea*

[@Reenar1201]

Destiny Hundley same😂😂

[@goretti3528]

Same honestly

[@agrimak1093]

Don't expose me like that

[@kenedii_favored_blessed]

Same sis 💅🏾

[@angeliquereg]

here's some tea: @jordanbeckham_ on instagram is doing blackface and no one's talking about it...

[@yasminrosa5418]

It’s so crazy because when I see people with braids I think they look beautiful never ghetto

[@yasminrosa5418]

Speaking Truth My opinion doesn’t change

[@migueldeluise7252]

Speaking Truth white person huh ?

[@yasminrosa5418]

Speaking Truth Braids ain’t apart of it though

[@simpalot6835]

Speaking Truth no they aren’t. I don’t really have anyone white currently in my life but I have seen white ppl with braids when I go to the mall and they don’t look ghetto and neither do black girls with braids. Braids are a cultural thing not a ghetto thing

[@simpalot6835]

Speaking Truth no not really. I see many girls with more then 2 broads and they don’t look ghetto at all, they look like girls that want more then 2 braids in their hair

[@mariahromero9070]

I am so glad Elle has taken ownership for past wrong doings and using their platform to educate the masses. Love this.

[@nbip2845]

@Father Thomas Nothing.

[@amazingabby25]

NBIP plenty, first of stolen black and latinx culture and profitted from it, calling it there own. Taking sacred traditions and making them fashion trends, esp in early 2000s, with bindis for eg

[@nbip2845]

@@amazingabby25 1. "latinx" lol as a West Euro living in Europe like all my ancestors, with a Latin name and Latin blood, let me tell you 'latinx' is pure garbage from the eternal agitators, and the 'scene' of American Sociology is a circus... 2. All the BS is about attacking Euros, it's not about Justice. Very simple. You just have to accept it. 3. I am sorry but not all "sacred traditions" are the same.. And "black culture" means almost nothing and the thing is a joke.. If you identify as 'white' (it means nothing but whatever..), don't be fooled; lots of people want to harm you and profit from you with an unmatched passion and seriousness. You seem to have a good heart. Don't be fooled and don't get agitated. Stay safe. + _

[@norlout]

Braids were created for the first time in Egypt. So if you aint egyptian and have braids then you have infact stolen their culture. But braids spread and people in other countries started using them to. No egyptian was ever mad about that. Infact they cherrished that other countries did the same as them. But then when the third country "stole" it from the second people lost their mind. No Egyptian have ever complained about countries using their "invention" but other countries complain about other countries using it. Allso in Western Sahara only men between the age of 20 and the mandatory retirement age can use Dreads. No other person is allowed to use dreads in that country. So if you are a women and have dreads you are cultural inappropiate to the country of Western Sahara... In reality there is only hate and love. Love one another and if some white guy has braids or dreads its fine aslong as he or she is just doing it to look good without trying to be someone they are not. The story/history behind dreads and braids should never be forgotten. But we should all celebrate the beuty of those hair styles.

[@nbip2845]

@@norlout BS

[@mehhhhh421]

Remember: The issue is that it’s considered trashy on black people, but trendy and beautiful on others. There’s no issue with wearing it if you acknowledge the cultural origin :)

[@monicacespedes4406]

Well, there is actually, Sarah's Day (white youtuber) was incredibly attacked and bullied for wearing braids in one of her comercials she worked for during 3 months!! she braids her hair often, she is into fitnes and braids help a lot when exercising (I braid my hair when I work as a landscaper too so it doesnt get all dirty and everywhere), she had to redo her whole comercial.!!!! 3 months of work to trash....I feel terrible for what is explained in this documentary and I wish u guys didnt go throught all this nightmare that is still continuing, but also felt so bad for her, she is such a loving person who had to pay for other people's racism. That is not fair either! So where is the line???? Can white people really wear braids? I have used them all my life (I am brown), I have really long hair and I love them...now I am almost afraid to wear them and being attacked... help please!

[@mehhhhh421]

Monica Cespedes well, if you’re ever around me (not that we’ll actually meet), then don’t be afraid to. Like I said, I think it’s fine if you’re aware of the cultural origin, but some people may really find it upsetting. I think...if you (not you specifically, just generally) can find friends that are ok with it, then maybe that works. I don’t want to use the black/brown friend card but it does help sometimes. None of my white friends try to use me for this haha but it definitely makes people think a little bit more

[@monicacespedes4406]

@@mehhhhh421 Thank you for your response!

[@anubis5sibuna]

hey i was wondering how exactly i can acknowledge the origin if i were to wear braids, like people who don’t know me would not know whether i acknowledge it or not right?

[@mehhhhh421]

A.Stargirl hello! I’m not sure if this is the best advice, but I’ll try. Generally, people accept braids as a hair style from the black community. It’s not very specific since many African/American groups/cultures have some form of braids. I wouldn’t say you have to diligently research each braid hairstyle and recite the history of it when you get them. But I think saying something like, “I wanted to wear braids because (whatever reason you want to get them), but I recognise that there is controversial history with them. I want to acknowledge the double standard of braids on black vs white people” not the best way to say it but i think it works. You can also use this for head wraps. Of course, this is all from my perspective, so it’s not 100% fool-proof. Good luck

[@lunamorgenstern9332]

Beautiful skin. Beautiful hair. Beautiful history.

[@queeniebeanie3196]

Positivity

[@tiarahughes7592]

Fr but white people had to come along and take it all over again

[@clonisevalcourt1826]

Amen! Period.

[@lemostjoyousrenegade]

@@tiarahughes7592 As usual...and re-naming s#ite...as they like to do. "Slicked-down tendrils"... WTF???!!!

[@gr3yh4wk1]

Nice to see the only racist comments in this thread coming from the black people.

[@harajukubutterflyyy]

We’re not saying we’re mad about other races wearing cornrows or other braided styles we’re saying they are wearing them and RENAMING THEM! Example: “Kim K braids”. We just want the credit. Call our hairstyles the correct names.

[@jorgelopez6594]

Why do you need credit for a hairstyle? that is the most petty thing I heard.

[@kiarad5674]

Kittys Bestie did you not watch the full video??

[@jorgelopez6594]

I did I'm just responding to this comment what he or she has said. Now tell me what watching this documentary has to do with my response?

[@taylorheyward3064]

Kittys Bestie because credit should be claimed where it’s due

[@harajukubutterflyyy]

@@jorgelopez6594 It's not petty it's about appropriation. It's not about it being a hairstyle it's about culture. The people who are taking the styles and renaming them are appropriating a culture they once wanted nothing to do with.

[@ZowieJay]

I'm a white person who was unsure about why braids or hairstyles were culturally insensitive. I was having this conversation with my sister the other day. Then this video came up and I wanted to watch it to educate myself. Now I get why -- it would be infuriating seeing a white woman wear braids and the whole world praises her and says she's beautiful and it's trendy, but when a black person wears it, it's ghetto or something else. Thank you for this video I'm more aware of why it's cultural appropriation.

[@jonathanfoster4202]

natethebait I think the difference is, like what she was saying in the original comment, that when white people wear a hairstyle that was originally from a discriminated culture, they look “exotic” and “trendy.” But when the people of that same culture, who sourced that hairstyle, wear it, they’re deemed “ghetto” and “unprofessional” and straight up not beautiful. It’s just a double standard. Black people wore white hairstyles in order to progress in society and not be seen as dirty, white people wear black hairstyles to be seen as cute and funky. And like they said in the video, they aren’t saying white people can never wear black hairstyles, they’re saying white people should not rebrand these hairstyles into a current trend, ignoring the fact that they were the same people discriminating against these same hairstyles not too long before. If you’re white and you’re going to wear black hairstyles, do it out of appreciation, and not appropriation.

[@ibijokeodikagbue6982]

@@natethebait please and PLEASE shut the fuck up. And educate your self kid.

[@ZowieJay]

Exactly!

[@jonathanfoster4202]

@@natethebait i mean i don't agree with that either, but that's just not what the documentary was about at all. No hairstyle is for only one race, that makes no sense, it's just hair. It's just when people disrespect and erase the culture that originated that hairstyle that isn't ok. This documentary isnt trying to make anything exclusive, for black people or white people, they're just shedding light on the blatant disrespect when it comes to black people's hair in western society

[@User-un7so]

I braided my two daughters full heads before they were 10 cuz their hair was long and curly and it was always a fight to brush them. When they entered high school, they refused to have it again cuz they could be bullied or beaten for it so they didn’t want to provoke.

[@JasmineIVANNAEspy]

My old boss and I met up recently to have lunch and catch up. We were talking about my time in the office. During this time I wore so many different hairstyles from shaved sides to blue faux locks, to electric blue box braids. He told me, someone, one day came to him and complained about my hair. He never said anything to me because he told them his job is not to police what I look like. I thanked him so much for this because I was deeply depressed during that time and the expression of my hair was the only thing I had to make me feel alive. I'm grateful he respected who I was and how I presented myself. If I had to give that up then I would've felt like I had nothing. My old boss is a cis-hetero white presenting Hispanic man. I say all of this to highlight hair is central to who we are as black women whether you where your hair classically styled or are more experimental.

[@jairusjackson7799]

Your Boss sounds like a really cool cat, and we definitely need more like him.

[@JasmineIVANNAEspy]

@@jairusjackson7799 Truly!

[@monikecarvalho8473]

The fact that all the black stylists here learned braiding from their moms and from their childhood experience and not exactly from a course shows what the word culture means

[@kenya1067]

monike Carvalho ❤ yes!

[@bums009]

You learn how to do multiple different hairstyles in a hair dressing course, there's no course just for braiding because like it or not, braiding is fairly simple. Which is why there are plenty of black hairdressers who have diplomas in hair and beauty courses.

[@monikecarvalho8473]

Halapecia shaniqua there are classes for branding

[@monikecarvalho8473]

Ancerid the tecnic and style iis different

[@monikecarvalho8473]

Ancerid the difference is the style that is being sold by whites is the black ppl braids on whites only! bc when black use they're own Shit they are fired judged and socially discriminated Exemple: box braids Cornrows were used in Brazil to pass the culture on but whites shaved they're slaves so they couldn't socialize, you know what women did?? Fucking maps of cornrows on echothers head to escape slavery! Do you know anything about black diaspora culture? The Caribbean black ppl? And they're hair? Trust me they don't call it Kardashian braids It means a lot to them but for years we were literally forbidden to use Just yesterday a case of racism break the internet here cause a black girl were fired for using her natural hair but the whites said it's the employer right to not want that hair in his store when they don even care to think why? Why he didn't want black hair working in his store? Its called racism Stop bothering me You are an adult capable of understanding explanations if not go watch the documentary again

[@KeeperOfKeys22]

I've been wearing my hair in a full out fro lately. Can't wait till I turn grey, I'm going to look like a dandelion~

[@felixn.burgos2340]

💀💀💀 I used to call them wishy flowers when I was growing up, got so excited whenever I saw one

[@username4261]

Yes queen

[@mommmymilkers3257]

aww that’s cute

[@KeeperOfKeys22]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate your positivity. ÓuÒ

[@justanawkwardnerd]

Since 'black don't crack,' that won't be for a good while! ;P My parents are in their 60s, but they really don't have many white hairs - it's edging in, mostly, and my mom dies what little she has anyway.

[@broombed7888]

the fact is that it's not just racism, it is also sexism, it keeps getting worse and worse. telling women what to do with their hair (at work, in school, anywhere) is a problem in the first place

[@woowoowitchymom]

Periodt.

[@peji636]

it's so frustrating that afros are seen as unprofessional... thats just what grows out of my head and if you have a problem with that jump into a deep hole and don't come back out🖕🏽

[@RandomAutist]

not when black people appropiate the culture of white people? you seem thinking you are the opressed, but i see you doing a lot of the opression..... if your culture cant mix with others, go back to where your culture lives and was born. otherwise you are just like the "white men" taking your culture. educate yourself.

[@peji636]

@@RandomAutist no one was talking about cultural appropriation. read the room😴

[@peji636]

@@RandomAutist also lmao what even is 'white culture'. there are many different caucasian nations with different cultures. for example, Polish culture and Russian culture are totally different. And also who tf is appropriating your so-called 'white culture'? Give me some examples🤨

[@ladygoo0001]

Your hair doesnt define whether you're unpleasant or ghetto. It's the way you carry yourself. Black, white, asian, man and woman shouldn't be discriminated over a hairstyle. Ugh come on people

[@khaniyah1494]

But unfortunately that not the case. I’ve been told I’m ghetto when I’m far from it. I’ve been discriminated against my hair in school. And very young. Unfortunately it happens.

[@_.mayanicole]

Khaniyah Mack same🤕

[@laurafdss1578]

@@khaniyah1494 im so sorry for that, people sucks.

[@carolesmith4864]

@@khaniyah1494 So, who is it telling you that you look ghetto because you wear braids?

[@gravityarts_lhf3234]

@@khaniyah1494 doesn’t matter, anyone can wear braids with the right mind and intentions. It’s only wrong when people rename them as “ghetto” which is in a bad way or as “Kim k braids” which is in a white washed way.

[@onlythereal3233]

imagine not accepting someone because of their HAIR. something that has nothing to do with you 🤦🏽‍♀️ sad world we live in

[@onlythereal3233]

Isaiah Tufor Black women don’t accept people because of their hair? What? What are you on lmao. Please tell me where you got that from cause i’m genuinely confused

[@kirkir6990]

@@onlythereal3233 I think it meant not accepting yourselves or loving yourselves. You know because of the straight silky weaves & wigs.

[@onlythereal3233]

True wis Exactly.. So i guess when I wear different clothes, shoes , i don’t love myself because i’m doing something different from what i usually so 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@BabyGirl-yq3fs]

Braids are a statement of black culture so yes it does have something to do with black ppl STOOPID

[@cadiiiiii]

kir kir not all black girls wear wigs and braids all the time. A lot of girls wear their natural hair and I absolutely love that. I love to wear my hair in an afro or just wear it all big. I see your point though bc some black women aren’t taught to love their hair and it’s sad.

[@dawnthompson9149]

Gabrielle union was fired for her hair. The network said it was "too black"

[@_lsc2883]

Dawn Thompson exactly if Kim k or the other kartrashans Did it would be exotic 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@jaminwaite3867]

Also allegedly it was bc she wasn’t willing to keep one hairstyle during the filming process

[@k.m2149]

@@_lsc2883 what fault does Kim have about that though?

[@_lsc2883]

Katherine Rivera Maines Because she’s the one appropriating black culture

[@catserver8577]

And she should have sued the living heck out of that employer.

[@larryANDlaurent]

y’all need to forward this to the entire kpop industry.

[@chickennugget9412]

Lol right. But for kpop I dont rly know. Cause I think in Korea if they seen someone with box braids they are seen a ghetto but a kpop idol is seen as trendy. I hate that

[@mang-mangsdumpling932]

PLS PLS PLS PLS-

[@aliiirxsa4235]

Korea close minded af, pretty sure they won't learn :/

[@nuclearlefthook5008]

@@aliiirxsa4235 why shouldn't they be allowed to wear their hair as dreadlocks?

[@PlayWaves1]

Braids are not black culture. The first known depiction of braids was 28,800 years ago in modern-day Austria.

[@paulasantos-ds8yt]

I hate so much when people say " it's only hair" girl is never just hair. I am from brazil and my hair so curly like 4c and people used to bully me because of that. Everyday was a battle until i straight my hair. Its a struggle to straight and put a lot of really bad products almost every month, and even with straight hair people judge it. So is not just a hair. Its part of a group of people that were segragated and these characteristics still being opressed nowadays. It's so funny that black people wear this braids for centuries and now that kardashians and non black people wear it it becomes a trendy Think about that when u start to talk shit

[@bluemamba5317]

So you're a hater? At least you admit it.

[@yungbaby535]

@@bluemamba5317 how?

[@ashleighwilliams9765]

@@bluemamba5317 the point flew right over your head 😂

[@shxrpxy6113]

You are black ?

[@jokesonyou222]

@@bluemamba5317 shut up mayo

[@emmad4693]

The hair goes all the way back to black women putting rice or gold in the braids so if they had to escape they could have something to eat or help them. It’s alotttttt deeper than just a hairstyle

[@Kashmachine10]

bruh braids go waaaay back before that

[@janyne7031]

hehe peep cxk

[@superstar2446]

@Jalaya corn rows but ye

[@jenniferfulton3983]

It goes back 5000 years all the way to Egypt and Africa where blacks were slave masters but they also used it when they were slaves as well.

[@wiiaoio3865]

True. It also was used as a map to escape from plantations with the intricate designs used as a map.

[@joyformercy9627]

My non black friend are still convinced that my hair magically grows 8 inches overnight whenever I get braids in

[@gizmo4192]

Lmao how do they not know

[@ms9rabiah]

lmao

[@yasminejefferson492]

My manager tried me like that 😕

[@FriedRice3519]

You need to get friends with better brains

[@acampb724]

🤣😆😂

[@steffanyjaquelineresendiz7363]

YALL SEE THIS? ELLE has recognized their own faults, have EDUCATED THEMSELVES, and have put themselves to educate OTHERS! 10/10

[@PlayWaves1]

Maybe educated yourself first. The first known depiction of braids was 28,800 years ago in modern-day Austria. Not to mention the internet was invited by white people as were cars, planes, electric motors, the telephone etc.

[@draculona4431]

@@PlayWaves1 just say you’re racist and go

[@arianathequeen6855]

@@PlayWaves1 wrong try again 😊

[@josuealopez3167]

@@PlayWaves1 girl or boy bye even the BIBLE has said the first ppl were Egypt or somewhere in Africa so cough cough Adam and Eve were BLACK so go read that section plz and thank you and if you don't have the same religion ad mine then just don't reply PERIOD!!!!!

[@yeochae1254]

Josuealopez 3 it was on ethiopia

[@isavalentina1509]

The fact that people think black people wearing these braids is “ghetto” is dumb . Because it’s their culture and I personally think it looks beautiful . I think everyone should be able to wear whatever hairstyle they want . Even if it comes from another culture . It’s like you’re embracing their culture . It’s just hair . Anyone should be free to do whatever they want with it .

[@Sunshine_Daydream222]

The people judging others for something they don't understand is dumb in itself. Who do they think they are labeling others as ghetto or trashy? Thems some lame ass, sheltered rich folk and the blame is shifted to race when it's a class issue that started as a cultural differences issue when ignorant people saw something different and reacted with a false sense of superiority. Here we are centuries later still mulling over that hereditary ignorance... Nasty nasty nasty...

[@worldinluv]

i agree as long as they use proper terms and are respectful im fine. just dont say "tight little french braids" or whatever

[@Nprelaw]

Its okay to embrace our culture but not mimic us. Acknowledging that you are a white woman wearing an african style is needed.

[@_iam1533]

What about Brown people? Can we wear them?

[@polterpup4440]

@@Nprelaw “mimic us” as if we own the concept of braiding hair. Just because some dark-skinned people on a continent far away decided that they wanted to braid their hair doesn’t mean they own anything and it doesn’t give you the right to say that people of any other complexion who were born on any other continent have to acknowledge you when they want to make their hair look nice. If hair really is just hair and if skin color really is just a color, stop making a fuss whenever you feel that someone is “mimicking” you.

[@tracybannerman5666]

You can always copy others culture and rock it beautifully but don't rename it or take it's culture away. I'm from Ghana and braids are a big deal. Braids are universal but cornrow and some specifics are African. Just be yourself

[@jaydapinkett7606]

Right can u imagine Kim k in Ghana braids I’m waiting in sick of this shit black ppl did it first then ppl come along rename n act like they did it 1st

[@tracybannerman5666]

@@redsonja1793 that's insightful. Thanks

[@melissa-qv7rw]

@@redsonja1793 i don't understand with people STILL calling them FRENSH platt when they are not even frensh to begin with . Like dude they literally originated in NORTH AFRICA. Algeria to be more specific and the frensh learned have learned that style of braiding when they colonized and lived in the country for more than 100yrs .

[@fullmetalprism5249]

Red Sonja I think we need to stop with spreading falsehood about hairstyles. French braids looks nothing like Africans braids, they are hundreds of different hair braids from Africa including a style unique to the Yoruba of Nigeria which we call “Alata” They French had nothing similar to African styles and to even compare the 2 is freaking hilarious. The French did not even invent that type of braid, it was learnt from Africa (Algeria). How about we learn history before you come online to spew ignorant nonsense

[@tracybannerman5666]

@@fullmetalprism5249 I do Alata alot but I couldn't find it's English name but everyone in Ghana calls it alata

[@dreamceline2093]

Culture appropriation= not giving credit where credit is due 👌🏾

[@ana.1485]

@@kanecorbin4940 obsess with you? I think it's the way around "it's ours" idfc who created it, I like it I'll wear it, I won't say I created it. If black people get fired for that hairstyle, something I find ridiculous, it's probably cause the law doesn't protect them, so it's not white people's problems sorry

[@BROOK69BANKS]

💯💯💯

[@mstyles2667]

Lol trust me sweetie MOST of us don't want to be black @ grow the f*ck up @@ana.1485

[@jesuschrist8759]

Cultural appreciation = giving credit were its due and appreciating the background behind styles

[@inquizative44]

​@sheila washington How should they give credit? Should they get a "Cultural Appropriations License?" When a white woman gets "boxer" or cornrow braids, should she thank every black girl she sees on the street? Make a public proclamation? How does she give credit? Should she seek permission and if so, from whom?

[@ingridmolina2173]

braids have been in almost every culture and race through time! from Africa to Asia to Ice Land to South America.... We all can wear them... BUT its about the type, the context and the way you carry them and the meaning. It´s at the end a matter of respect.

[@barryscott3327]

Originally they were were worn by vikings. Vikings were white. Stop cultural appropriating vikings.

[@celineomar3349]

Barry Scott originally they were worn and created by Egyptians 😑🥱😒

[@barryscott3327]

@@celineomar3349 stop cultural appropriating Egyptians then

[@eloisel7449]

waaat

[@barryscott3327]

@@Yamiiiilovcore You aren't an Egyptian. Stop cultural appropriating Egyptians.

[@biblemanawakens1688]

Bro it's hair calm down kids are still dying of hunger and here people are crying about hair styles being called a different name

[@AnonymousLurker]

😂

[@sarahsnow5597]

I clicked expecting to be told I can't wear braids as a white person, instead I learned a lot about the history and culture surrounding black hair. I'm pleased :)

[@ShinySilverBunny]

White people in norther European regions also braided hair pre-Christian era and also had dreads. Don't believe all this came from Africa.

[@j.a.5288]

@@ShinySilverBunny all this DID come from Africa LONG before Europe even existed. You dont believe it came from Africa because you are a racist that doesnt want to face the facts.

[@ShinySilverBunny]

@@j.a.5288 LOL So a stranger off the internet that you never met and know nothing about you label me as a racist simply because I don't subscribe to the same belief as you about the origin of braiding? Newsflash! the world doesnt revolve around Africa! And obviously you have clearly missed out on English 101 "Racist Defined: a person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another." Where on earth did I say anything about a particular race being superior against another?? Hmmm??? Well if you feel you are superior to whites because you are from Africa and because you think you invented the braids maybe you are the racist one!

[@ShinySilverBunny]

@@j.a.5288 And by your foolish thinking, if you believe that ALL people came from Africa then that would mean I am from African and there's no way I could be aracist because I'd be speaking against my own bloodline.

[@jaeminstoes9184]

ShinySilverBunny Whenever Black people wear braids, cornrows, dreads, etc. They’re seen as ghetto, unprofessional, unkempt, ugly, etc. Whenever White people or non-black people of color have braids, cornrows, dreads, etc. They’re seen as stylish, chic, cool & high fashion. Many white/nonblack celebrities have used braids, as well as other pieces of black culture to make profit and benefits themselves. Since OUR hairstyle are seen as unkempt and unprofessional, we can be oppressed, humiliated & punished for wearing them at school & work. Last year two black girls in high school were kicked off their teams and banned from their prom because they wore braids. Also, another BLACK women was humiliated at her job. She was told that her braids were to “urban” and “unkempt” by her white manager. There’s a HUGE problem when Black hairstyles can make black people lose jobs, opportunities, etc. But, make non-black people famous, rich, idolized , and much more. During Slavery, they were forced to live in plantations and had to work to death for white people to the point where they had BRAID MAPS into their HEADS just to find ways to escape. Though you may say, “slavery was a long time ago” even if it is Black people still suffer these same consequences. As Black Women/Men our hair is important to us, it signifies a lot. It’s not just a hairstyle. It’s represents the struggle our ancestors had been through, the struggle we continue to fight. It represents self-love and self-acceptance. As a race that has never truly been equal. Not saying everything is evolved around Africa but certain stuff from Africa was mocked through the misuse of sacred items.

[@tammy2498]

Nothing for a black woman like having braids freshly done and getting them eyes brows done. You feel like the best looking woman in the world.

[@shidas7690]

👏👏

[@Codi892]

Yyyyeeesss! Girl, I be feeling so good with the combo. Don't let me get my nails done either! Can't nobody tell me nothing. Straight diva lol

[@tammy2498]

@@Codi892 lol for sure

[@tammy2498]

Hair, nails and eyebrows !!! Somebody gonna die for sure

[@dollyjoseph3938]

Tamara W ikr😌

[@traceycrain6542]

I was in the military with three black roommates. My hair was all kinds of braided with them offering. No bias. I love them for that!

[@jesuswilljudge7296]

I bet they loved your hair, bw love playing in non bw hair

[@adamlopez9457]

i hope you acknowlege that all those styles they used belong to black culture. Also i hope you actively support the black community

[@esakiriajiri6917]

Proudly Africa, proudly Nigeria 🇳🇬. 😭💋

[@annengd7307]

French here, hence this (big) french disclaimer : we actually call it AFRICAN BRAIDS in France, "Nattes Africaines" or just "Nattes", and yeah everyone here knows it's African and not french hence the specific vocabulary we use. If we want to talk about the EUROPEAN (including vikings and eastern traditions since y'all read just two line of my comment to start debates) way of braiding hair here (in France), we'd just call it "Tresses" (Braids). (In sum : in our language ; Tresse = Braid aka european braids , whereas ; Tresses Africaines/Nattes Africaines/Nattes = African braids aka Cornrows, box braids). Now as to why U.S.A call this French, I don't know, but here's a funny thing : U.S calls it "french braids", "french manicure", "french toasts", "french fries" when as a matter of facts, none of this is called or even used that way in France. For set, a typical french manicure is red since WWII. Fun fact French womens call the white striped manicure "American nails", since it comes from your 2000's movies trend. We don't toast bread that much since we got the habit to buy it everyday fresh, and french toast with milk, butter is actually called "Pain perdu" in our language (you tend to use yesterday's bread not to throw it away, not to loose it) However pain perdu isn't as popular as using yesterday's bread in soup, historically speaking, hence the non-french thing underlying your concept. Now French fries might stands in the north of our country but not in the 21 other regions, we call it "Frites" everywhere anyways. In sum maybe a U.S. habit/wish to add a little bit of european fanciness in stuffs titles to sell more ? Funny but very misleading... :) Thanks y'all ! Tis straight facts copy/paste and share it. Love y'all.

[@MusiC-yj8fk]

Anne Ngd THANK YOU! Tbh there is this American person who’s acting like a French person

[@alia-fj7bs]

Waah j'avais jamais remarqué qu'on faisait cette distinction entre nattes et tresses mais c vrai que je le fait sans faire exprès et je suis noire

[@peachyrose8537]

Thank you for educating because someone is saying they do this in France to so thanks

[@annengd7307]

@@peachyrose8537 You're welcome sis, we're all growing together in this, no matter where at we are living as black people, mixed etc.

[@melissa-qv7rw]

Thank u .i don't know why people call them frensh when they literally originated from north Africa

[@Yupebubble]

I'm french and I never heard "French Braids", in my family we call them "African Braids" (tresses africaines). I thought a long time it was the same everywhere

[@enlathestrange]

Yupebubble They style was appropriated over 100 years ago after french fashion copied the look from African tribes people.

[@wwcc8022]

Yupebubble me toooooo

[@torimayer9357]

Same here, in Russia, this kind of braids called “African” ones, and usually people doing them in the south parts of Russia in summer, next to the sea.

[@suzawilo]

As a Finn (🇫🇮) we were thought it being "French braids".

[@lisamite-5791]

In Germany they are also called French braids

[@elohel1065]

It related with people trying to have “fox eyes” (asian eyes) or wearing a bandana as a top as a trend that came from Mexicans and edges that were called ghetto and people just were them as if they are a trend when black and Mexicans wear is on the daily and same with Asians and how their eyes look

[@yaretziprieto]

Asians aren't bothered by the makeup, just by the had gesture they were making along side it Mexicans also have bigger problems to care for than people now using bandanas

[@elohel1065]

yaretzi prieto you must not have tiktok lol Asians are concerned abt the makeup and Mexicans are concerned about the band and C U L T U R A L A P P R O P R I A T I O N

[@elohel1065]

CeCe's Squad yes black people did but it was originally from hispanics and mexicans

[@elohel1065]

CeCe's Squad they didn’t....

[@martuchroski6971]

@@elohel1065 so following the video, can I use the bandana and make up my eyes as foxy eyes, right? But knowing where it came from/origin

[@sunflower260285]

"Too ethnic for the restaurant"😶

[@Tee90hope]

I grew up in a 90% black community. when I was about 10 my first boyfriend's mom said I always wanted to braid a white girls hair. so I came over the next day thinking she was just going to put a few braids in. I was so wrong 😂 she went and got all this stuff for white hair and weave. I was sitting there was like 9 hrs but loved every minute of it she taught me so much about black culture and she she was so kind and funny I got so much more then a awesome hairdo in those 9 hrs I'll never forget it.

[@TheoCynical]

Thats Black culture. Wonderful in its own right.

[@gwendolyn1003]

Yuck

[@queenEsther318]

@@gwendolyn1003 what's yuck about a kid spending time with a good woman learning new things and being loved on for a while?

[@OhKeiSyd]

@Isaiah Tufor I'm sorry but I think that person is white A, and B, what is wrong with you?

[@vinolacaver8607]

Ooo9

[@mimiky8534]

The thing is that I am Native American and that braids are also part of our culture so I wear them to honor ancestors but more than once people tell me that is it appropriation because I don’t especially look native.

[@cllcccic8270]

blacks want to claim it so it's whatever

[@neweramythology1046]

LAMOOOW That’s not true for one this video doesn’t even give any examples of transitional native braids and claim they are African so how did you come to that conclusion they are so blatantly talking about African cultural braiding

[@twins3xpress241]

@@cllcccic8270 HOW LOOK AROUND U SO MANY WHITE AND NATIVE THINK THAT THEY CREATED IT WHEN THEY DIDNT, PPL LIKE KIM K AND THE REST OF HER FAMILY ITS RACIST

[@texasbelle333]

This video is not about you. And if you’re referring to the two pig tail braids, try again

[@motivationdaily3909]

Jessie Mendez did you just- ok let me just not. But um- Native American braids and different from African braids... b

[@selahrod9572]

side note: i think the points were incredibly well said by the women chosen to speak

[@Nyasiamonique]

Everyone knows this “Can I touch your hair?” Me: no my hair is my crown 👑

[@VENIKA]

Kudos to ELLE for admitting their fault and taking steps to acknowledge where certain “trends” originate from.

[@elya_rose]

VENIKA. 👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽

[@maejune5179]

VENIKA. 9

[@mosunfadare4915]

pipe down Sarah

[@humangecko]

I understand your point, but the difference here is corn rows are a tradition that stems so far into black culture that they're still finding increasingly ancient evidence of them - like the statue from 500BC Nigeria mentioned in the video. Also, black men and women were shamed and discriminated against for wearing their hair naturally or in corn rows, then all of a sudden a white woman wears braids and they are seen as beautiful, and white people had the 'idea' first. I'm not sure that white girls were sipping on pumpkin spiced lattes in 500BC, and they certainly weren't shamed for it. So yes, this tradition is part of black cultural identity and stealing that and claiming it as your own is cultural appropriation.

[@Ishyona]

Oh you mean like the trend of tightly braiding children's hair that originated in Norway? The same custom that is practiced today? The very same cultural custom that was not just copied by African Americans, but claimed to come up with the idea. The idea of braids is tens of thousands of years old, and originates in both North Asian and North European cultures. But NOT black culture. If black people want to stick to not culturally appropriating things, they should stop braiding their hair, and shave it, or coat it in mud like they traditionally did before they stole western culture.

[@blkqueenk2717]

Moral of the story: give 👏🏾 credit👏🏾where👏🏾credit👏🏾is👏🏾due👏🏾

[@dianalozano157]

Yes! Give credit where credit is due: Indigenous Native Americans were the first to braid hair!

[@dianalozano157]

@themailman43 ...Yes, it is along with the many accomplishments we enjoy today!

[@dianalozano157]

@themailman43 ...The white race was inspired by the accomplishments from the past (Ancient technologies, games, food & etc)...Most ideas were stolen!

[@calmesdownes2114]

Diana Lozano ummm....no? Braiding began in Africa with the Himba people of Namibia around 3500 BC. And even when Native Americans braided their hair, I hardly doubt they did cornrows or dreads

[@calmesdownes2114]

themailman43 everything you listed would’ve never been possible without algebra & maths whichwas founded by 7th century Arab & persian scholars. Please stop this “white superiority” bs, nothing would be where it is today if every “race” hadn’t contributed.

[@oliveyule]

I've been wondering about this for so long. Interesting video.

[@user-jd1cp1nk1p]

That was an eye opener in so many ways. Thank you

[@koo-core7274]

A whole 20 minute documentary, and y'all still don't get that it's not about the braids🤦🤦♀

[@ectoid6316]

No it is about an ideology where groups can own simple ideas based on skin color. I mean a lot of racist white folk try this shit as well on electricity and other inventions, and they are as stupid. My view is that if you did not personally invent something you don't deserve any credit for it. If you invented like a dance move then sure you'd be the first to do it and yes you can make your claim. You are the first person on the moon, then sure you can claim that as well. Me personally I haven't invented anything so I don't think I need credit for anything. Sure you can be insensitive for example there were people throwing pigs heads in front of mosques. That is malicious intent, and I see that a completely separate issue. There is still a lot of racism that we need to fix, but I don't see how making claims on ideas based that the people who invented them have been dead for centuries is helping anything? Everything you do and wear has been borrowed from the past. If we didn't do this we'd be living in huts. I say do more benchmarking, take the best of ideas you like and make them yours. I personally love rap, manga, Chinese food, cucumbers, coffee (from Arabs)... and I took them as my own, so should I go around thanking my neighbour who is an Arab for the coffee that I am drinking. There is a really good course on the dissipation of ideas: www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/36-mind-blowing-concepts.html

[@PartyScars._1988]

I have a feed in cornrow ponytail, as my hair is ruined due to colour damage, bleach etc..... i love it and the lady showed me the correct way to keep them clean and how to look after my scalp. She was amazing and so fast. Im like, how you not get cramp in your fingers and hands. I love them and i cant wait to get my next style done by her xx

[@avnikujur5222]

Ectoid agreeeeed.

[@Serpico_Digg]

@@PartyScars._1988 U know what I think you're the only person who gets this u called it a cornrow that's all we really need just dont call it bo Derek braids or Kim K braids like lol

[@sincerelyykayla]

Ectoid no one is gonna read all that 😑 kid wrote a whole a dictionary

[@subbot4417]

I’ve never seen my black friend without her braids and I asked her how she has time to do it everyday and she said that her mom does it and she keeps it on for a week AND THIS WHOLE TIME BEFORE SHE TOLD ME I THOUGHT SHE JUST WOKE UP REALLY EARLY

[@sarahoshea9603]

🤣

[@sarahmadeline92]

Sub Bot its called a protective style for a reason girlie 😭

[@blessingmaduagwu853]

Dead 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@aaliyahetc.6687]

box braids can last a whole month if u wash them

[@lexivivid8073]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@sahkanoodo]

this was a great video and was informative in a way that was so easy to understand. i hope to see more videos like this!

[@timeaseven]

This video educated me so much, thank you!

[@FatimaFarmer]

I just love being a black woman...

[@epicFAILeffect]

i just love being a white man... -THAT'S RACIST!

[@RambunctiousRegan]

Same girl I’d never wana be anything else

[@libeige9022]

epicFAILeffect Who called it racist? Nobody called it racist... Have several seats

[@HenriqueMantovani93]

Loving your race is racist.

[@user-yx6it1yl5x]

Yesss girl 🙌🏾👏🏾

[@territ7952]

Being Native American, braiding was just part of culture. I find it beautiful and a way to bond with who you are, where you came from.

[@sarahm7917]

OMG! GIVE ME A BRAKE...U ALL WEARING WIGS!!!!!!!!!

[@fragmentsofanusha]

@@sarahm7917 You suck and you can't spell break.

[@briannanouvell3783]

Sarah M all she said was that native Americans used to braid she never said anything bad about white people and no they were not wearing wigs .

[@malakitrop1275]

I’m Native too

[@saraht9442]

Terri T it was a part of Native American culture, by way of Africa. Know your history about the feather people of Africa, who migrated from Africa to "America". Also where the feather head rest come from too. Hair braiding comes from African people who are literally in every part of the world because we are the first people in the world, in all parts.

[@Sphinxnominx]

I'm very glad I found this video in my recommended. I always enjoy education, and I learned a lot from this. Thank you for posting this and teaching all of us ❤

[@emmabellon13]

Thank you for this video, it was very informative. Also I must say, all the hairstyles in this video were simply beautiful!!

[@MNerestant83]

Alicia Keys did not start the backwards braids. The Fula tribe in Africa did. Hence why they are called Fulani braids.

[@sabrina9249]

Mercy Nerestant SAME THING I SAID 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@magdelinetabane4509]

she literally just said alicia keys started the backward braids and it was cool . If she was saying what you are saying, she could have just said it. Popularize and start are two different words.

[@katieharte8052]

Who’s Alicia keys

[@MNerestant83]

Aïshaa Queen Fulani 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙏🏾💖

[@fairoadiary]

Katie Harte wtf “this girl is on fire” doesn’t ring a bell to you???

[@diamondwalker9363]

You can tell who actually watched the video and who commented within 7 mins of the video ... “ I wear braids too “ was never the issue 😑

[@trippleme1298]

Diamond Walker 💯💯 You should see some of the comments One woman simply said that “white women in corporate settings when noticing discrimination against braids Nd such , should stand up Nd bring MORE attention to the mess” and other people attacked her for her kindness instead of disliking her comment Nd going about their day

[@alfienice3636]

👏🏽THANK👏🏽YOU👏🏽HUNTY👏🏽

[@diamondwalker9363]

A M actually its really not , a lot of us could careless who wears the hairstyle I mean its just twisting of some hair strands at the end of the day.. its the discrimination that pissed us off .. its just annoying seeing who gets the praised all of a sudden & who gets condemned for a hairstyle

[@kellybobchin8112]

Exactly

[@tatriceshipp9139]

Lol right 😂😂😂

[@orenharari]

As a white woman living outside the United States, I never thought about, or came across, the history and cultural significance of braids. Now I understand that it is my responsibility to learn and know as much as possible to help make this world a better place. Thank you ELLE and all the participants for creating this and for educating us!

[@kierra1660]

I have been wearing my hair in a natural afro and i watched this video being mad as heck seeing white people wear braids and calling them " boxer brads" like wtf. If you are going to wear braids appreciate the culture and be able to understand that braids come from history and you cant rename history. I am black and i have been wearing my hair in braids since i was 1 years old.

[@barryscott3327]

Yes braids were worn by vikings.

[@ashleechan22]

What are they called? I've heard black people call them boxer. Also are there not any boxers that are black? I'm black and just want to know

[@tubaeseries5705]

@@barryscott3327 and also by most girls in middle-eastern europe

[@melanin_butterfly9837]

@@ashleechan22 they are called box braids, Bantu knots or cornrows

[@shxrpxy6113]

Don’t wear it if you aren’t blsck period too

[@ivyyinmi5935]

I'm 14 and doing my hair is always so fun I bond with my mom and the other women in the hair salon

[@Under_myvoodoo]

💖💖💖💖

[@panicontheargo7034]

Aww, that’s so wholesome!

[@saniahborgella1135]

JAYYY LYNNN RICHMOND same I do that a lot when getting my hair braided

[@lana-gf5rk]

*me wishing people wouldn’t get judged for their race*

[@backoff6650]

Dabs

[@JustMe-12345]

No matter which “race”

[@user-tp3zz9ne7b]

​​we have to stop using the word race, whether you are white or black, we are all part of the same species which is humanity, but still you can use the word ethnicity

[@spacebrigader6758]

cornerdelia well like in some cases it can show your heritage but I don’t think race has to do with how you act or present yourself Culture can do that in some cases but yea

[@nativesunnation8323]

@@user-tp3zz9ne7b True. White and Black are both just artificially created classifications created to develop the system of White supremacy in the West, a system that is, by design, an unjust system. This is why the streets of America are on fire right now....this system is boiling.

[@kaylasoto5221]

so educational! love it!🙌🏽💗

[@georgiawilliams3460]

Great vid! Thankyou

[@happyday192]

Why do we brush off the fact that Kenya Moore was the second African American woman to win Miss usa

[@stormstorm7396]

She was the first lol the first one got her title took because she did a nude cover for play boy👌😳😳😳 Kenya came and became the first black miss usa

[@guidedlovemeditation1024]

@@stormstorm7396 vanessa Williams

[@stormstorm7396]

@@guidedlovemeditation1024 not in the world of Hollywood 😂😂😂👌lol

[@abcd-nv1nc]

QUEEN LIL-BOOTY that was miss America not USA

[@backoff6650]

Dabs

[@rainyrainold]

I never knew that black women faced so much for wearing their hair in cornrow braids. When I was a little girl my friends had cornrows and I was so jelous! They always wore cute barrettes in them, and made a fun sound when they clanked together. I used to beg my mom to turn my whispy white girl hair into beautiful braids or an afro, she laughed at me and told me sorry, and I would cry! I could never imagine someone being discriminated against because of their black hair because I thought it was just so so so beautiful. Now I understand, but still have a great appreciation and bit of a secret yearning for black hair, afros and braids.

[@erinwhitaker9033]

Ja Series there was a black girl in my first grade class who would always let the other girls braid her hair and I was SO FREAKING jealous that her hair stayed in place and she had cute hair beads and i tried so hard to make my hair like hers until I realized that it wasn’t possible

[@desiree2desire]

It's crazy to read your comment as someone who grew up in a predominantly white town where the little girls literally ran away from me. They would be scared to get near me because then their hair would be "disgusting" like mine if they got to close. The little Mexican girls would rip my hair out and I even had one try and burn my hair with a cigarette lighter. It's nice to know not everyone is like that.

[@feefs2139]

@@desiree2desire Smh jealousy and hate is REAL. But they were only children, I'm sure they learned that from their parents. Racism is TAUGHT.

[@lalaurlalala]

I was the same! I wanted the two little afro pouffs and cried too when I couldn't have them.

[@feefs2139]

@@lalaurlalala that's adorable

[@cmj1927]

Love this video, more than happy to learn about all this

[@amberrobert8836]

Amazing and educational video.. thank you 🙏🏻

[@emmaadewole3252]

Ignorance is still out there, would you believe my teacher called my braids dreadlocks? Edit: ps this is just a modern day example, i don't blame her for not knowing. Don't get me wrong it isn't the biggest deal in the whole world but is little things like this that make us value pride in our hair and our culture and what can eventually lead to larger prejudices like saying certain hairstyles aren't 'suitable' for a work environment

[@mimi-pb4hn]

emma adewole mine did too! and the class laughed. less than a year ago mind you

[@mimi-pb4hn]

emma adewole sad thing is that i just NOW realized how wrong it was for my grown teacher to laugh at my hair and say that my braids “looked as bad as dreads.” How did I even let that slide?

[@Kwaabi_]

damn I go to a pretty much all white school in England and when I came thru w the cornrows every was like "omg ur dreads look great". its even the clever ones as well who say this. I mean I'm happy for the complement but some people need to learn the difference

[@panicontheargo7034]

My teacher did too. Then again, I think it’s because he couldn’t get a closer look, so I’m not too upset. But I didn’t have the heart to tell him that they were braids, not dreads.

[@Sunrisesabovethesky]

You can't blame him for that

[@lovinliverpool]

Fired over your style of hair? It's lawyer time!

[@Rahab111222]

She's full of shit. 😆

[@TJWC]

@@Rahab111222 no...its real which is why several states have recently passed The Crown Act, protecting people from being fired over their hair.

[@kittydollsxo189]

@@Rahab111222 no is absolutely real just recently laws have been put in place that you cannot fire or kick out a student on their natural hair.

[@Arualole]

So inspiring, thank you for this kind of documentary. Love this culture!

[@galacticwarrior7573]

My first memories of getting my hair done was sitting between my momas legs while she yanking my head with the scent of Bergamont smeared on my forhead while young and the restless played in the background

[@yessmarramirez8238]

Im latino and i moved to the us two years ago and when I came here I thought that only Latinos were the one that face discrimination in the US. I like history so I decided to investigate and learn more about history of this country, and while I was investigating and learning more I just can’t believe all the things that African-Americans had to go through. Before,During, and after USA independice, all the things that happened in the south and how African-American were treated it’s such a shame. The worst thing is that discrimination still exists in America. I’m not racist or anything but it’s incredible how some white people defended all that, how they still think that racism it’s okay, and how they still don’t wanna believe that racism in America is real. Sorry if my grammar is bad and if I typed something wrong, I’m still learning English.

[@Tes-qe1jc]

Yessmar Ramirez thank you so much for feeling and trying to understand our pain and suffering. We are survivors.

[@anna-if8fi]

@@Tes-qe1jc You don't suffer anymore. Stop playing the victim and dragging it along with you. You guys didn't give a shit for over 300 years and now you suddenly bring it up to play the victim.

[@caramelmacchiatoe]

@@anna-if8fi wtf

[@nii9960]

mollinq mollinq LMAO that’s like telling 911 survivors and family members to forget about the incident because it happened so long ago PS: You sound real ignorant

[@SearchIndex]

the word ‘discriminate’ just means to ‘note similarities and differences’ when creating morphing lists of traits

[@heroshyma69]

As a strong black man, I believe that anyone can wear their hair however they see fit, just so long as credit is given where credit is due. I respect and love all of God's children and if those with straight hair want any braids, cornrows, individuals, French braids, etc, then they can. Who are we to deny someone's artistic expression through the beauty that is braids? Remember, darker skin tones were indirectly and directly told to straighten their hair for acceptance into the work force and especially the film industry. It's all love now. Peace and love.

[@charliem.p.4864]

You are the voice of reason here.

[@joshuabeeck6750]

Give credit how and to who? Of course if you’re wearing a certain type of braids that originates from a specific place or culture, then you should obviously acknowledge that and appreciate and give credit. However, braids have been worn by all different types of people, not exclusively black people. Surely using this logic black people should give credit to other races when they relax their hair?

[@hypintesti]

@@joshuabeeck6750 what you just said was unknowingly offensive.DO YOU THINK AFRICANS WERE OUT HERE CHANGING THE TEXTURES OF THEIR HAIR AND BLEACHING THEIR SKINS BEFORE COLONIZATION?im sick and tired if this whole"oh but black women wear weaves,oh they relax their hair.Do you have knowlegde of history? Black people have been told by their opressors time and time again that their skin is unaceptable,inferior feautures etc.hair being unprofessional ,dirty unapeasing.Many women felt as though they were forced to chemicaly straighten their hairs to *SURVIVE* and get jobs to fees their families.in a country of white supremacy.I could go on...😤😥

[@joshuabeeck6750]

rhagar mills i wasn’t talking about bleaching skin, obviously that’s fucked. Yes, sometimes black people may be unfairly forced to change their hair for professional reasons, when this happens it’s obviously an example of modern day racism/ oppression in some way. However, the vat majority of workplaces are not going to force black people to relax or dye their hair. Not all black people who relax their hair or weaves are forced to do so because of their jobs, a lot of them just like how it looks, which is more what I was referencing in the previous comment. Take Nicki minaj, she isn’t exactly forced to relax her hair, she’s worn it naturally in the past, but a lot of the time she does choose to relax it/ wear a weave. So if we were to use the logic of giving credit to a certain hairstyle, should she not give credit to other races? (Not that i think she should). Also, assuming your talking about America, how exactly is it a state of white supremacy?

[@itsyagirlzyllah9141]

Honestly thank you!

[@JJeeves]

So educational!! I loved it!! 🤍

[@TheHellokitty191]

I love that Elle highlighted this topic.

[@MaggieRoo0]

Black women, this comes from a Mexican woman. You are beautiful and your hair is beautiful too. Natural, curly, fro, braids ect you guys can rock it like no one can. I like to admire, respect and see the beauty in all cultures. That's what makes humanity beautiful, different cultures, ethnicities, race.

[@superiorts7232]

Mags😁

[@calisongbird]

Mags Felix Mexican “woman.” “Women” is plural

[@celestemaree4644]

Sarah M bc they want to?? ur point is what? it would be the same as a girl with pin straight hair braiding it and going out with waves. but no one says anything about it. what about people with brown hair dying it blonde? i dont see the difference its all the same: doing whatever the fuck they want bc its their hair. the persons comment was about loving ur hair, and im sure they have no problem with however they decide they choose to style it.

[@iamazeangle3412]

Sarah M because (some not all of) society says that 1)our natural curly hair is not good enough and that we need it to be straight. 2) it’s very difficult to deal with and putting on a wig is so much easier . 3) from someone who had been bullied into relaxing my hair cause it’s not “good or pretty” enough I can tell you that people will hate you because of the hair you were born with.

[@DeleciaBradley]

Sarah M you can’t even say most because you don’t know “most” you only know what you see on tv or around you city. Please don’t say something you know nothing about even if you are mixed you don’t know the real struggle about being an African American woman.

[@mirianv4656]

I always loved my friends braids and hair texture and never understood the issues they faced until i started working. A couple of my coworkers would get box braids and others would talk about how unprofessional it was and i just didnt fucking understand. Her hair was clean, out of her face, she didnt miss work because of it and it didnt impact anyone else. Its racist as fuck and they were disguising their feelings by saying it was unprofessional for work. If we empower women we need to empower all women. We cant pick and choose.

[@somayab3380]

Mirian V exactly. As a black women I totally agree with you girl! 🙌🏾

[@BeautyMarkBeautyMark]

Mirian V 👏🏾

[@cheights13]

In other words, if your hair isn't straight, you're not wanted. Well I prefer my lice free nappy hair.

[@destiny3354]

Mirian V Wow You are the First White Women To say this wow you Get It! That feels really good even if your just one person. Thanks for understanding 💕

[@JudithBisson]

Mirian V I just am glad that slowly but surely women of all races can be who there are. Where the norm is whatever she wants, not what society dictates. 🇨🇦❤️

[@lily.e7244]

Very educational video, more like this please💛💛

[@YouSeenThat]

I loved this, thanks for the great info

[@achiengbilhah2846]

I come from Kenya. Natural braids are recommended for primary school, they look neat and pretty. We all had them when we were younger and I never really thought about it, until now.😊

[@NurseJamu]

In fact it was mandatory to plait your hair esp backwards cornrows in primary school

[@cllcccic8270]

I don't get it... all I see is a black girl with blonde dreads getting offended because white people are stealing a hair style even though its been done by whites thousands of years ago... what the fuck

[@rainyseason3767]

LAMOOOW so cornrows, box braids dreads and more AFRICAN styles were done by white people before thousands of years i need proof and information now lmao

[@ritacampbell7217]

@@cllcccic8270 really?! Like seriously?! Hmmm....every person of black or African heritage will tell you they've been around braids since they were born. Never heard a white person say that before. White folks do braid their hair, but never in the same manner as Africans!

[@cllcccic8270]

@@rainyseason3767 normal fucking dreads. Rofl. Not a style that was made recently by black people

[@sydnaestewart2477]

Imma tell y’all a little secret. The reason non black people should not get African braids, besides the reasons stated in the video, is that your hair and scalp is not strong enough to handle braids like that. African braids are meant for 3a to 4c hair that can grip the extensions to keep from pulling the hair out and damaging the scalp in the process. Anything below 3a and the braid will pull out your hair and damage the scalp

[@Niphredyl]

True, of course. But there are other types of braids historically, see Nomadic tribes, Vikings...

[@tempest_noir9058]

some black folks hair cant tolerate braids regardless.

[@BEss-ei3bm]

Thats a hair type not a race

[@danaiijahv7328]

@@BEss-ei3bm But it is a hair type that is found primarily in those races

[@BEss-ei3bm]

@@danaiijahv7328 yes, but nice to meet you lol I still feel weird wearing braids though, so I'll settle with staying crazy jealous

[@im_mrs_yg4855]

Very nice video , educated me 🤙🏽 and definitely have more appreciation 💛

[@maninderkaurgrewal3813]

Love these type of videos and love african culture too there's so much to learn from it

[@sisiwote2868]

In Ethiopia every braids style it’s has different meanings

[@gatekeeping8528]

You're racist and you think you're a SJW

[@makaylacrudup8690]

@Kir By why do you think that?

[@makaylacrudup8690]

@Kir By but if you know that black women get mistreated for wearing their hair like this why do u do it and if u know that black people dont like it why do you do it anyway?

[@makaylacrudup8690]

@Kir By thats different tho not all cultures are the same you cant compare them like that this is about years and years of oppression black people are ridiculed for their hair by white people and told its ugly nappy unprofessional and they were not allowed to wear it but once we start embracing it white people wanna hop right on the train with us and get praised for it its just confusing for me one day i wake up and my hair is a "trend" no one really knows what that feels like unless you've walked in the shoes of a black person.

[@streammots7758]

Ethiopia is beautiful what's it like I'm Jamaican

[@noirlune7544]

There's nothing wrong with anyone wearing braids just dont change the name or claim it to be your own . My hair is curly and I wear wigs and braids but people will talk bad about me. When I just want to grow my hair out from trying to make it straight

[@govdid195g7]

Your wigs are of your natural texture though...right???? I mean you wouldn't want to be "stealing" taking what is "NOT YOURS TO TAKE" ? ( Straight hair)🤔😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@sarasaeed6349]

KIR Ismyjob are you fucking dumb? black African hair is the most malleable and most diverse hair type there a plenty of blacks with natural straight hair so what the fuck are you on about? y’all are so fucking dumb you need help

[@dollyjoseph3938]

sos plenty of blacks with naturally straight hair??? I'm sorry, but where are they??? We don't have straight hair. Our hair is curly or kinky. Straight are whites

[@dollyjoseph3938]

KIR Ismyjob I have to agree with you on this one. Wig hair is from non black women hair. There is a a video about it too kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaXIY5eJadaNrrc

[@govdid195g7]

@@sarasaeed6349 Sit the f down dumb ass!!! Straight hair! 🤦😂😂😂😂 Not even biracial have Straight hair! GTFOH! Might be less kinky or loose curl but not Straight you idiot! Quit lying to yourself to justify trying to rock OUR TEXTURE & OUR LENGTH!!!! Y'ALL want to talk Shit well let's do it...bring it...what else ya wanna try & deny.💅

[@martamelo1398]

Love this!! Being in the hair industry and having a "black hair class" when I was in hair school, although my teacher was black, she NEVER taught us the foundation and meaning behind braiding and I really wish it was a part of the course. Extremely important to know how it originated and why. So beautuful!

[@kerenacosta6946]

I keep coming back to this because the hair is just so damn gorgeous

[@JosieScott]

This needs more views. So good to see Elle using their platform to educate their audience

[@cyko4]

Now if only they would do that.

[@_Amarin]

Educate?😂😂 More like indoctrinate!

[@liyaroo2735]

You mean indoctrinate

[@g.k.6807]

This needs more views. :-)

[@cance7984]

+Josie Scott Try indoctrinate.

[@domoniquesmith88]

I’ve always wondered why we call them “French” braids if the style is of African origin.

[@eliza9011]

Because used it used to work in France with two braids because they couldn't/ didn't like the look of "little braids" aka corn rows on their thinner hair but they (the French) call it African braids in France still

[@faireegodmuhva]

french call them african braids. lol

[@kittydollsxo189]

Gotta respect the french people calling them from the original origin and not rebranding a culture vs the white americans

[@alyssiak8042]

@You Mad? how you gon watch this video and say that? Make it make sense bc i dont understand

[@kaliahhill7113]

DOMONIQUE SMITH the term comes from slavery, French slave owners saw the slaves braiding hair and they stole it from them and started making their slaves braid their hair and eventually stole it and renamed it French braids.

[@shivanimanoj1290]

oooooh now I get it it, it's not about actually using the elements of other culture but not giving credit for the source and just calling it theirs!! Honestly, Ive been trying so hard to grab this concept of cultural appropriation because I feel its okay to share and embrace other cultures and use elements of other culture.

[@leahgebrehiwot1484]

my white best friend is still convinced that my hair is actually long. in reality my hair is slightly shorter than shoulder-length, curly, painful, lovely. and when i took out my braids in front of her, she yelled at me saying these *EXACT* words: "you lied to me i thought your hair was naturally long. i can't trust you anymore." *BISH WHAT THE FU-*

[@oyinosolo5837]

Tf was she on

[@leahgebrehiwot1484]

@@oyinosolo5837 idk :(

[@arianathequeen6855]

Throw the her away lmao 💀🤚🏼

[@yungbaby535]

What?!

[@tumblebee5269]

as a white-passing brasilian with black roots, i feel so bad for my sisters and brothers who are so much more "black looking" than me who get called ghetto with braids when i can wear them and be seen as pretty

[@TheRealSiahA]

Tumble Bee why white pass tho such a dumbass

[@panicontheargo7034]

E N J O Y Y O U R S E L F it’s not like they can control it, mixed/light skinned people of colour get mistaken for white at times. It’s not their fault, blame genetics

[@byangel6285]

Call me strange! But there’s something so satisfying seeing them braid with their hands greasy and the pick or rattail comb going through the hair.

[@4knewt505]

Ang Robins nope I was right there with you! it was like comfort food

[@pinkaddiction13]

Those all make me cringe! Lol I couldn't stand the smell and feel of the grease and a lot of stylists would rip the comb through my hair.

[@stephbennett139]

Yooo I thought it was just me!! I love seeing hands Cornrow 🙌🏾😂

[@Banana-lk7tf]

Ashleychanelol I'm with you! Definitely strange! I'm 39 years old and I still hate doing my hair. It's super coarse and thick and it's even harder to manage when my hands are all greasy. Combs go flying, hair products go flying, elastics snap, globs of hair everywhere. There's nothing pleasurable about the whole experience. Just did my hair tonight and it was torture. I always feel like I need a drink or two afterwards. No joke.

[@mmu_8]

This was such and amazing, documentary, i learned so much more about my roots

[@Psych.o.delica]

Thank you for voicing this from the right perspective. x

[@wiscovirgo]

I love being black. ✊🏿

[@MrVinceMunro]

I love being white.

[@seanm7539]

Me to ✊🏽

[@zxyatiywariii8]

Yes let's all love who we are ✊🏽

[@tiarawhite3923]

ARMY!!!

[@Leeeeeee9975]

Army😁😁😁

[@katrinaclark900]

I like the atmosphere of this video. It is not any angry about cultural appropriation, it is simply educating and telling people to think about their choices. Very effective

[@tatriceshipp9139]

@Gyri Sulcie its not a european thing either.

[@Yasmin-jn3my]

@Gyri Sulcie Egyptians created it. Egypt is in Africa

[@ana.1485]

@@Yasmin-jn3my suddenly you claim Egypt, you don't even know where it is on the map lmao

[@Yasmin-jn3my]

@@ana.1485 Who even said I claimed a country?. Are you blind or just dumb?. I learnt it in history. And Egypt is located in North Africa headass.

[@TradBarbie]

No one has the right to tell me what to think. And no racist black bitch is going to tell me you pay her lying ass homage as I do my hair like my people have been doing it for thousands of years.

[@josephnash8927]

Braids have been around for thousands of years and in many cultures.

[@afrolore7462]

Originated in Africa though

[@allthingstravon21]

About to start locs soon. So ready for the journey

[@KatFromMars]

Im a white lady working with kids, and we have a few african girls who wear their hair natural, braided or styled in other ways, and I often tell them how lucky I think they are, for I always wanted corn rows, but my hair can't handle it :) They look amazing and they get so happy when I complement them. I love those kids

[@morrisonmorrison3505]

KatFromMars Thank you so much. Please do not stop loving them and complimenting them. They need all the positives in a society of negatives. All children!!

[@ojo6178]

i love that you compliment them!! i have some black friends who grew up without those compliments, it makes a big difference coming from a different race.

[@frankgeorge9017]

You are jealous AF

[@KatFromMars]

@@frankgeorge9017 Whatever floats your boat man xD I'm happy with my hair, and I also love the look of all the amazing braids. But when I was a kid, I was jealous af ;) Also in part for the reason that my mum and sisters have thick hair, and I don't. :)

[@ikesmith1993]

Frank George how tho?

[@giuliam9645]

Agh I’m so happy I don’t live in America

[@JL-yg3ku]

Giulia M good, it sucks.

[@TEWMUCH]

Lol lucky. Save us!

[@giuliam9645]

Ahnna Beruk I always wanted to live in the USA when I was younger but yeah I kinda realized the American dream is not what I thought it was. Anyway I want to visit America but I don’t think I wanna live there. Nothing against Americans tho.

[@giuliam9645]

Lairde Scotte that’s great so we’re both glad I don’t live in America I guess. Also why do I as a Croatian person speak more proper English than you do?

[@backoff6650]

We are still gonna take ur oil

[@noodlepoodle3582]

I don’t know why this video popped up (I was searching for viking braid tutorials) but I’m glad I watched it. It’s a nice window into a whole world I wasn’t even aware of. I just want to learn so much more about these hairstyles and the cultures behind them and I’m really excited to research it.

[@mistiwobig7331]

As a white women, I always love how beautiful braids look in black hair and I think black hair is beautiful and I love how creative braids and weaves can get how colorful and the different designs can be so intricate. The effort and love put into braids is something that needs to be more widely recolonized because braids in the African community is more than a hairstyle as this video points out. It is beautiful. :) Keep on with the love and hard work ladies and gentlemen!