The Hold Laid Edges has on the Black Community: Texturism, Locs, & Desirability

[@SonjaS222]

The natural hair movement was initially about loving our type 4 hair and not manipulating it to be straight. Now it’s about manipulating our type 4 hair to look like type 3 or 2 hair.

[@RoyaltyAC]

I was thinking about that too recently. It was about wearing your actual texture not just stopping the use of chemicals straightening. Most women early in the movement talked about the importance of embracing their texture and not wearing straight styles to appear more “presentable”.

Yes this.. this is why I never went natural..I just kept relaxing my 4c hair. Yall not about to stress me out

[@AYellowSun]

Right! A few years ago the natural hair movement was about wearing natural hair…hidden. “Oh, this is how you silk press your natural hair!” “Oh, this is the best wig for your natural hair.” We weren’t working our natural hair. We weren’t changing the narrative and the standards of beauty.

[@marlak4203]

100% that is what I tell others too. In the earlier 2000s(when I got in not the movement decades earlier) we would talk about encouraging each other to embrace, accept and love our natural hair. All of the kinks and naps. Appreciate it. Don't fight against it. Take time to learn it. Move WITH it not AGAINST it. Many women were doing the big chop but because it was so dramatic it takes time to get used to seeing yourself that way so many went to wigs and weaves to help their hair grow. That is, as far as I can tell, where the problems came because the synthetic hair is how they got into dependency. And looking back now I can see how it unfortunately got stuck because you had women brand new to the movement who were still in the "straight hair" mindset and then going right into some straight synth hair instead of dealing with their own. So they never got to understand and deal with their hair. However i do believe something else got into the movement too that derailed the love and appreciation.

[@NickyM_0]

@ This comment doesn't make sense.

[@keisha_james]

Takes us back to how people, especially Black people, were dogging Blue Ivy and saying Bey and Jay needed to "do that baby's hair". A LITERAL BABY WITH HER HAIR GROWING HOW IT NATURALLY DO had folks up in arms. Even now when people complain about Jayz's locs (and it makes me mad cuz I'm like don't make me defend that man pls lol). Texturism and the respectability needa goooo. The internalized AntiBlackness needa goooo, free ourselves already.

[@88Roshan]

THISSSSSSSSS

[@quasar4472]

@Japhya Again her hair looked fine to me tho, it's beautiful - I appreciate seeing 4type hair in it's true texture. I am glad they didn't over manipulate her hair to fit into the "slick" mentality to look 'put together'- Her beautiful 4 type texture is already "done" and "put together" . Blue's hair looking full and healthy! glorious huggge luscious head of hair .

[@quasar4472]

@Japhya Again I'm saying her hair is maintained well...and I brought up texture because people feel some type of way seeing 4type texture in it's true form.

[@E_MZ_]

@Japhya Again No, they don't. All it needs is to be clean and moisturized. Who does a baby need to look good for? All they're going to do is mess it back up anyway. My hair STAYED looking wild when I was a kid. I also said waist length hair by the time I was in the first grade because of how little my mom touched my hair.

[@E_MZ_]

@@quasar4472 I think Blue's hair has always been cute. I'm with you, girl.

[@onwodoh]

Love that you brought up the conversation of these "goddess" hairstyles. It's the truth. The "goddess" hairstyles are all about having a Black hairstyle that's not too Black

[@gothbat676]

I personally think “goddess” faux locs are ugly and can never match to being as beautiful as real authentic locs are

[@mooreholistic]

They have the nerve to name it GODDESS loc?????? Why?? We already know

[@alisharo58]

@@gothbat676 theyre SO ugly

[@gothbat676]

@@alisharo58 Right?? I never understood the hype. Who ever thought stringy fake locs would look better than real locs?

[@alisharo58]

@@gothbat676 it’s wild how people will jump on a bandwagon of the ugliest looks just because a celeb/influencer wears it. I’m be wanting to scream “will y’all please OPEN YOUR EYES?” Mayowa’s hair is goals in my book, and it makes me extremely sad that actual locs aren’t more appreciated. Tsk.

[@AlatOnDemand]

A lot of people aren’t ready for this convo but I love this and we should definitely shed light on this topic !

[@_tiaa_5594]

Yes!

[@taleah6288]

They really not!

[@charnacharna3981]

And a lot of folks shouldn't accept this foolishness,No woman or man,black or white should tell you how to wear your hair or what to do with your body. Not even this fool. How can you sit there and judge others ? Having natural hair,locks,or dreads does not make you a higher class or closer to God,infact he is NO RESPECTOR OF PERSON & DEFINITELY NOT OF A HAIRSTYLE. ITS SAD THAT BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS DAY AND AGE DON'T KNOW THEIR HISTORY. My Great,Great,Great Grandmother had straight hair,No curl pattern what so-ever,she was dark complexioned and Afro/ Blackfoot Indian. Several of my family members have proven it thru DNA. Black people are also born with blue eyes and blonde hair. Nothing "Wet Dog" about that. Europeans copied our culture and not the other way around. Body waves came from blacks/Egyptians not whites.I wish people would learn their history & stop listening to every Tom,Dick & Harry that has a social media platform. Stop jumping on the bandwagon of every CRAZY that's out here just because they say something YOU want to hear instead of The TRUTH.

[@Neochaotic_]

I absolutely LOVE that you are starting this convo. I only wish you had gone deeper into it because it's alot to unpack. Would love to see another vid! ^_^

[@victoriafrancois3474]

Agreed!

[@hilly8705]

As someone who slicks her edges, you are absolutely correct. Gonna continue to unpack this. Thank you for this insight!

[@mercyme4262]

Locs gave me freedom. For the first time in my life having 4c hair was a good thing. I loved every part of my journey. Even today am so in love with my locs and how they make me look, like the girl God created. In her real form, dark skin, kinky hair. In my opinion I look prettier now than I ever did in weaves and braids. I wake up in the morning and look at my self in the mirror (straight out of bed) and I look beautiful even with no makeup. Dreads give me life.

[@INAN2222]

❤️

[@aliciamomat7963]

There is nothing wrong with braids guys.

[@Kenyacannn]

I feel the same way! ❤️

[@xPostpunk]

@@aliciamomat7963 Except for the fact that they cause traction alopecia lol

[@andria8279]

@@xPostpunk not for me.. I always wear braids and my hair is thick asf

[@evaosirus6055]

I refuse to style my edges because I don’t like manipulating my hair more than is necessary.. my family judge me so hard for it. Like I didn’t style my edges at my grandmas funeral and they were upset like do you think our dead grandmother is judging me hair style right now??

[@jagirl_vendetta2197]

My condolences but 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 your fam is something else

[@jagirl_vendetta2197]

My condolences but 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 your fam is something else

[@KemiKayy]

I feel u. I have a type 4 short afro and find it so annoying when say my hair would look nicer if i gel down the front/edges

[@monicajenkins4687]

That's just sad...people checking for your edges at grandma's funeral...smh

[@MSALIYAHJORDAN]

Me too i have 4c i believe our is meant to free.

[@nessaduh8033]

Mayowa, let's not even get into the fact that these new age braiders won't braid hair, especially natural 4c hair, without slopping on gummy wax and extra hold gel for a more 'defined and clean' look complete with extra swoopy edges. Some even have extra charges if your hair is 4c and make it a requirement to come to the appointment with your hair blown out AND straightened. It's a serious problem. 'Whiteness is a gravitational pull', yup! you said that

[@kobysmultiverse.4643]

Thank you for this. I’m from Nigeria, but I’ve noticed it’s a big trend over there, and I’m just confused because we make braid here without all that trouble.

[@nessaduh8033]

@@kobysmultiverse.4643 Oh no! I always thought it was because the new girls can't grip hair because they don't have the finesse of the african aunties that braid hair. I had no clue that awful trend is taking charge in nigeria

[@sassymedea3065]

It's insane it's like even when the hair is braided they still don't want the texture to show

[@reinelena9915]

@@nessaduh8033 The African hairstylist caused a lot of traction alopecia. I'm African, yet I am so traumatized by the pulling and pain, I had experienced. They only care about the style, not the actual hair. This is why I taught myself how to braid. I prefer the gel and slick down method.

[@reinelena9915]

@@sassymedea3065 Jam grease is used on all hair types. Most stylists, apply grease to keep the hair moisturized under the Synthetic hair. Not to change texture.

[@Lucismyname]

Remember how Gabby Douglas was crucified for her edges by black people. The girl was abused for her hair when she was competing on a world stage. And then it extended to her whole being, she doesn't smile, etc. The self hate on social media at that time was crazy.

[@nix2747]

I remember this. It was so sad.

[@whatsonhermindblog123]

!

[@ertfgghhhh]

I thought Gabby was dragged for a horrible relaxer and bad weave job

[@toningugi753]

The "slick wet dog" sent me 😂😂😂

[@Jay_picassa]

It took me out too 💀💀💀💀💀

[@TT-xz5sy]

@Undefined 22 not orbit 💀

[@emlineclairvil]

Ive noticed, a lot of black woman who wear wigs, weaves and other tight scalp tension hairstyles have suffered from permanent damaged along the perimeter of their hairline. The slick edges look helps to conceal the receding hairline and bald spots.

[@twalker3867]

If you have permanent damage along the perimeter of the hairline, where in the sam hell are edges coming from for you to slick?? Y'all sound ridiculous and ignorant af. And this comment shows that y'all are just here to bash Black women.

[@katherinedelacruz9876]

oop

[@emlineclairvil]

@@twalker3867 I've had thin hair and my mother do hair for black woman. It's a fact not an insult. It is simply a great well known black girl hairstyle hack.

[@twalker3867]

@@laurenlocd3180 Don't tell me to shut up just because you're upset about being bald! I'm glad you're able to perform miracles with the few strands you have left. But up and down these comments, it's open season on my culture, and I'm not having it! I wish YT wouldn't have had this ignorant-azz video in my recommendeds.

[@jeanbastien9424]

And it also contributes to the receding hairline and bald spots.

[@AyyeeIysMe]

Literally hate how people will literally treat you like you cannot do your hair or like you are messy or less than for having your hair HOW IT LITERALLY IS MEANT TO BE!! The lace front culture/desire to have sleek straight hair has completely fucked up people’s perception of what optimal beauty looks like on black women. Also the point about how edges that are laid mainly come from those with very loose hair, like please talk about it. The way they dragged the h&m little girl makes me want to cry. I work with kids after a day of playing little black girls hair often reverts or is messy but it’s not less beautiful. I’ve seen little black girls after a day of fun run up to me to feel shameful that their hair no longer looks like it did earlier. Those same white kids in that class are never scared or worried about their hair even when it looks crazy! It’s shameful the practices and thought process black women have about hair. To me though it’s even more shameful to see such young people heavily conform to this standard bc that literally don’t know any better yet 🥺

[@tima2553]

Meant to be? You mean locks? Every hair locks when not brushed dude.

[@serenatsukino5252]

I don't think op was just talking about locs. I think they meant just having and showing your 4C hair in general (which is why they used the H&M girl as an example. The little girl has no locs but you can clearly see she has textured hair).

[@amberlyn28]

STORY OF MY LIFE!!!! They treat you like you are not kept. In reality, my edges are so full that slick in them down 24/7 will break it off. I’m starting to do Diana Ross styles without slicked edges and just let my hair beat itself. I hate feeling like I’m not done enough to go outside when really my hair is in its healthiest state when I stop manipulating it so much

[@genevievegreene1595]

Honestly, when I see the laid edges on a loc'd head I laugh. It's like you got a foot in each boat and they drifted apart until you clinging to the other boat with your pinkie toe 😂 pick a boat and sit yo ass down.

[@alisharo58]

The picture you just painted has me cryin 😂😭🤣

[@soleio.7421]

Hahaha pinky toe 😁

[@E_MZ_]

I had a boss (who definitely had super fine, 3a/3b hair) who has had locs for over 25 years. I will say that her laid edges with her locs always looked nice. Then again, her hair was so fine that she had to reloc it every morning

[@charaboston1566]

I used to be obsessed with laying my edges in high school but since I locked my hair in college I really only lay my edges if I’m feeling extra that day because for me it’s not longer a necessity it’s just some razzle dazzle majority of the time I leave my edges as they are 🤓 I don’t think there is anything wrong with laying baby hairs when the intent is just for switching it up rather than covering up insecurities

[@BoundLessBeauTCo]

It's the "pick a boat and sit yo ass down" fah me 😭😭😭😭

[@lookatme375]

I watched this as I was laying down my edges and felt attacked . Really sat here pondering my motivations. It's more than an aesthetic. You right , setting my baby naps free ❣️

[@leonagrant61]

Ok that made me laugh. Setting your baby naps free. That was hysterical. Lay em,slay em or set them free do you

[@kameralkutie5594]

We complain about people policing our hair and now we are policing black women for their edges??? I don’t care how a black woman does her hair just as long as she is happy. Just because a woman does her edges doesn’t invalidate her blackness. This is nonsense.

[@CoolBeans193]

@@kameralkutie5594whoosh. Style your hair however you want to, sister. But there are no alternative facts here. The obsession with slick edges is rooted in a non-black standard of beauty. Period. Some girlies subscribe to that unapologetically and I can respect their choice.

[@navashana]

You betta speak this truth sis! As a teenager, I did the slick “baby hairs”, but as a grown woman, nope! I did not subscribe to it. I also teach my daughters to embrace their nappy, kinky hair, fuzz and all! We don’t do that over here.

[@INAN2222]

❤️

[@casswashwash1070]

Girl i tried to explain this to a family member and she said when having braids locs etc. edges needs to be slicked otherwise it looks like (her words exactly) “soggy bread” wtf does that even mean idk but its anitblack ik that 💀😂

[@navashana]

@@casswashwash1070 LOL!! Seriously? Soggy bread? Too funny!!

[@Blindfold-Me]

I remember asking my sister in law why she doesn’t go natural and her reasoning was “I don’t have the hair for that.” Broke my heart. Not having the time, not feeling like it, enjoying straight hair better… all great reasons. believing your hair type is “not acceptable enough” naturally shows the world has a lot of work to do

[@tantig5923]

❤Dig up that kindergarten picture …I bet she HAD hair for “that”. We only had one girl in our 1st grade class who was not mixed, that had “soft loose wavy hair” with two long braids. All the rest of us had the typical three, four, five braids, 3 or 4 ponytails or cornrows. Stop it people. Please stop the foolishness.😢😢

[@identitycritiquing3437]

It's like our obsession with shrinkage, its not shrinkage, that's our hair. Like we desperately need to prove that our hair can be straight, curly or long to be validated.

[@lindiey2659]

Literally, I've noticed this ever since going natural. But one thing I've also noticed is naturals who only wear wings that have a straight/wavy texture or even 3b at the most. Like, I understand wigs are protective, but nobody questions why we're wearing textures that aren't our own or close to our natural texture. I'm not sure if you've done a video on this already, but I'd love to hear your take on this :)

[@jaszlyyy]

This this THISSSSS all these “naturals” in “protective styles” (blond or straight lace front wigs 24/7) it’s just idk like can we unpack that. How we decolonizing in the shower but not out in public just weird. I don’t wear wigs but I wear extensions fair braids and twists but yeah idk it’s interesting.

[@lindiey2659]

@@jaszlyyy exactlyyy. I mainly think of influencers who say they love their natural hair but their audience only ever sees them in silky textured wigs. I feel like that sends a conflicting message to their audience, who are probably young black girls who are already told that their hair isn't beautiful as it is. Like, I just wanna see more influencers and mainstream celebs wear their type 4 hair out haha

[@Nothinggirl]

I feel like constantly wearing those really warp your image subconsciously. And my parents are Gambian. It’s all I see people wear back there. Almost no one’s hair naturally growing like that there. Why doesn’t anyone pause and think hey, why are we doing this?

[@sororicide6]

To wear a 4c wig you’d it would be extremely high maintenance to clean/comb/moisturise/style etc rather than looser textures so what would the point be? You’d be putting just as much if not more effort into an Afro wig than you would on scalp-grown 4c hair.

[@Ami-ml7gp]

Lol this reminds me of that scene from Good Hair where he talks about how people don't want to buy wigs/weave in afro textured hair.

[@Dfgjgjod]

I don’t do baby hair which is why I still have an abundance of baby hairs 🤷🏽‍♀️ I think it’s cute to have a halo of baby curls.

[@quelquun2018]

Saaaaaaaaame!!!!

[@katherinedelacruz9876]

same its so cute and fuzzy lol

[@allergic2choco]

I really needed to hear this. I have 4c hair and felt like in order to be beautiful I had to have long hair so I wanted to get extensions and/or wear weaves. I wanted my edges laid because I always subconsciously used to associate these things as beautiful and while they are beautiful I used to think that having short 4c hair with barely any "texture" and "curls" was ugly. I'm unpacking all of these harmful beliefs and mindsets. This video was helpful and really spoke to my soul. Thank you🧡

[@navashana]

We are beautiful sis, love every part of you, we were made in the image of God. That’s why our hair rises to the 🌞

[@INAN2222]

❤️

[@tantig5923]

@@navashana ❤❤❤ beautiful

[@angie101972]

I wholeheartedly agree with you! Don’t know why ppl who have locs are obsessed with edges! Permed in the front and nappy in the back. I don’t do anything to my edges. They’ll be nappy like the rest of my head. I think ppl hate their hair texture so much and the slick edges makes it seem as though they don’t have nappy hair.

[@navashana]

You hit it on the nail sis, that is the issue. A lot of sisters hate their hair, and we were conditioned to hate it. Whether it was Mommy hot combing it, or the media pushing relaxers, we have been brainwashed.

[@shari-leewhyte8887]

There's also this weird obsession with 'stretching out' your hair to show length. I'm glad you're speaking on edges as well. I don't slick my edges as much as I used to, but at no point did I think that my 'look' was incomplete without doing it...idk..it just never got that far for me, but it would be ridiculous of me to deny the points where that desire has overtaken how some people view their hair.

[@amaraLoveLife]

You’re onto something with stretching obsession! (Which I do as well. Constantly pulling at my hair to see the length) it’s gonna take some time but we’re progressing slowly but surely.

[@adeleisnamedafterme]

Whats wrong with stretching hair?

[@kookiekiki]

@@adeleisnamedafterme It's like being obsessed with length which is a bad thing constantly have to show and pull our hair by stretching it out that we can have long hair but it's just shrinkage we don't have to prove that to people

[@adeleisnamedafterme]

@@kookiekiki i dont think stretching hair means we're obsessed with length. Whats wrong with wanting to show off your hair?

[@kookiekiki]

@@adeleisnamedafterme I said it can start to read you being obsessed with length shrinkage is not a bad thing but we treat it like it is because people are ignorant to our hair

[@andeendrayton1253]

When I was growing up, my aunties call it "Baby hairs." They always meant one thing--you have "good hair" when you have edges 》"good hair" means you're "mixed" 》 Mixed is "better" than "just Black." For those who say, nah this is just a style choice. Hate to break it to you...it's not. 😔

[@twalker3867]

I hate to break it to you: IT IS! Just because your aunties were ignorant, don't assume that the rest of us grew up that way.

[@nix2747]

This is what I know it as too. In the Caribbean where I'm from it especially means means you're mixed with East Indian (on who it appears in that specific way most naturally)

[@katherinedelacruz9876]

people will always say its just a style to hide their self hate behind. Just how perming was "just a style". in a decade we will see another generation bald from these lace front wigs and wonder wtf happened tot he natural hair movement

[@andeendrayton1253]

@@katherinedelacruz9876 Exactly. I can usually spot the self-hate from the ones who come at me with insults over what THEY claim is *just* a "hairstyle."

[@andeendrayton1253]

@@nix2747 Phew chile! My dad was Trini and I lived there for a whilei. I know exactly what you mean.

[@brooklynforever1990]

Hair perfectionism is not only killing our hair but our spirit. It's sad.

[@luvlocs06]

Soooo...yeah I've personally felt this way for a long time. The obsession is intense. I've never liked the look. It always disturbed me because what are we as black people saying with laid edges and loose natural or loc'd hair? Your reasonings aside (and I 100% agree with you) there's also the products used causing acne and buildup, and breaking of the hair from constant manipulation. And in *my personal opinion* laid edges look like a weird 5 o'clock shadow plastered to the forehead. It's a jarring aesthetic when you combine laid edges with loose natural or loc'd hair.

[@mynameispeaches]

I rarely get weaves or extensions but recently I did the goddess locs. I’m 50 years old and the stylist sure enough did the baby hairs. It felt beyond ridiculous.

[@tammygant4216]

You said all I was thinking ...except the 5 o'clock shadow.....I never thought of that, but I love that imagery! Also, I always thought it was strange that non-babies were striving for baby hair.... I mean, if you're not a baby, why do you expect your hair to be? It looked fake and weird. So glad there's a push back against the idea

[@Maki-00]

Someone in a video I saw commented calling slick edges “wet cursive” on your forehead! 🤣🤣🤣

[@JonezCee]

This really has me 🤣🤣🤣🤣 oh man, people are too creative lol

[@hannahbonaparte5500]

I'm loving everything about this look. And again delivering with those insights, love it!

[@mzSte]

4:12 Don’t shoot the messenger, “abeg” 😂😂. Thanks for all you do Mayowa

[@chiu8159]

I've always felt this way about the edges thing too Honestly, I always thought it looked kinda weird. But when you're in school, looking around and realizing you're the only black girl with non-laid edges... it definitely makes you feel like YOU'RE the one who looks weird. I never did lay my edges, but I definitely felt less confident about my hair bc of it throughout middle and high school(even though I knew I shouldn't feel that way) Now I'm in college, have locs, and don't care quite as much about what others think of me. If ppl wanna lay their edges, fine, but I'm not gonna feel bad/be made to feel bad for not laying mine- that's how I see it

[@katzwhite5962]

Be proud of the fact that you don't follow the flock. You are no sheep but unique👍🏿💥

[@ForbsieLaLa]

I was one of the few black girls that did not use gel to manipulate my hair when I was in high school. I combed my hair for the day of the week and that was it. Plaits and done. I could not care. I loved my hair even then and was proud of how it was full and healthy

[@OOOO0OOOO0001___]

same and most of my friends never layed their own edges either and some do. i guess im not alone? i don't really do my edges because i don't know how to style them properly

[@Issaydee]

I like the look of laid edges and I like the look of non-laid edges. I mostly go with the non-laid edges look but sometimes I go with the laid edges look. I honestly don't really care what others are doing with their hair, I just don't want ppl coming at me telling me how I should style my hair because it's none of their business. It's my hair I do whatever I want with it.

[@chiu8159]

@@Issaydee yes exactly! I see the appeal of the look and I don't think less of people who decide to wear it, I just would like them to give me that same courtesy and let me wear my hair the way i want without judgment

[@marysophy3665]

OMG the picture you inserted at 7:46 ... I got chills... The edges are ugly!!

[@long_live_shay1174]

I be having these types of conversations with myself. Glad to see someone actually bringing this topic to light.

[@mingflemming5396]

Girlfriend you spoke my mind, I see these obsessions with slicked edges that even wigs come with them. I don't get it but to each her own, i guess. It's sad that we cannot see our textures for what they give. We have been so colonized to not like our own and embrace others that are not ours. Good video again, keep it coming.... Love the makeup

[@katzwhite5962]

Its embaressing, tragic and sad to see Black women slavishly embracing the hair that we were not born with, fighting over and stealing it. We don't seem to embrace the hairpieces, wigs, weaves that looks like our own texture but we want the caucasian, asian hair. The fake hair is making many of the women look like transvestites. The natural afro texture hair that grows out of our head is beautiful. I wish we would understand this.

[@mingflemming5396]

@@katzwhite5962 well said

[@katzwhite5962]

@@mingflemming5396 Thank you honey👍🏿

[@seachelle2316]

@@katzwhite5962 it's not hard to get a point across w/o being transphobic

[@naeb9486]

Whewww…Chile let’s TALK about this. Let’s talk about hair hatred for 4c. Your hair is beautiful coming from someone who has 4c hair and hated my hair for so long.

[@girlinterrupted2625]

The disdain for our own hair is where the problem lies. You don’t have to be a fan of locks or natural styles but don’t disparage what is uniquely you because you are beautiful and so is your hair. You don’t have to look “mixed” with European features to be desirable or pretty. Not everyone feels this way but someone needed to hear this.👌🏾

[@marajones1828]

This comes like a fresh breath of air. I never lay my "edges" and I remember getting shamed for it when I was modeling in a black cultural fashion show at my college. It made me feel so bad but at the same time it confused me cuz it felt like why is it so important for black hair to be so controlled, contained and flat and so far from how it is naturally. Thank you so much for talking about this cuz this convo needs to be started.

[@GDL364]

"laid edges" is us chasing the mixed girl aesthetic once again.

[@RestorativeClarity]

This conversation is long overdue.

[@celinakay4367]

I've been trying to convey this somehow but didn't want to sound rude. It's like people want to "clean up" blackness. Make it not too black, you know what I mean? I was always questioned for not slicking down my hair when I do high puffs, or not laying my edges. I just never felt it was necessary. And this is not to say that doing your edges is bad, but people suffer without doing it, or lose their minds and don't feel like their hair is done if they aren't slicked down. Or if you don't smooth your natural hair out in some way that your hair is messy, unorganized, or for younger kids they'll harp on how you not doing your child's hair. It's crazy.

[@amandamaryanna]

oop you're so right though

[@chantellew1782]

I have seriously been thinking about how people who lay down their edges do it FOR DAYS. I sweat a lot on my face and I have fine 4c hair so I’ve never had that look. Also, I call faux locs boneless locs; it’s got the essence, but easy for consumption.

[@cherahsBroll]

They use those harsh gels like Gorilla snot

[@tsuyuasui7297]

@@cherahsBroll and wonder why they be breaking out smh

[@realnettieb]

What is fine 4c?

[@chantellew1782]

@@realnettieb my individual hair strands are very fine. I don’t have thick strands of hair, and my Grama and Poppa said I had hair like fresh ginned cotton

[@nycdyke2867]

@@cherahsBroll gorilla snot is harsh? And here I was thinking I was doing something lol. I barely do my edges and I’m not educated on my hair since I’m biracial and my mom never really taught me about it

[@kokowl]

I feel so bad for the new loc babies coming in seeing the 3a girls with curly loc ends or Lisa Monet/Eva marcille locs like girl even people with the same hair texture won’t have the same locs. Locs are very personal and that’s something I had to learn no matter who your loc crush is 90% chance your hair won’t look like that, hell not every loc journey on the same head will look the same

[@RealRamRamInThecut]

Thank you I feel like she think if your her skin color and your Freeform locs don’t look like hers then you got your locs did when it’s boy facts

[@lx9037]

I have type 3 hair and it looks nothing like Lisa Bonet. I agree with this because mine came out thicker and hers is more fine. I don’t know if she manicured some of them. But it’s something I’m learning.

[@ertfgghhhh]

@@lx9037 it is possible that they are extensions. She has had loc extensions on the Cosby show and curly extensions on a difft world and angel heart

[@lotusflowerbombmadchenvomm4343]

Omg, very good that somebody's talking on that topic specifically. Locks should not be also a field for isms and skissms.

[@lotusflowerbombmadchenvomm4343]

@Layla Cartelina Good for you. Originality always sets trends, Bye

[@lotusflowerbombmadchenvomm4343]

@Layla Cartelina Nobody asked for your Family story, but you just proved your point, on point. And you can also change your original comment. I really appreciate that mayowar made this video, cause it relates to alot. I commented on her edited topic, not to you. Okay So why trying so personal to a stranger from a far?? I'm Kenyan- Jamaican 😅😅😅 The end of this story is: 💕The Real Mantra vibes more tuned in is💞 (Our african heritage people) groupsense, don't accept BS, like this anymore. First people of a world come from eastern part Africa, Africans locked and braided before anyone else. Ignorance is a choice in these days. Those ismss /skisms manorisms/ texturists, featurists, colorists, racists and followers taktiks been exploited. People like that never belong to anything positive. And they keep exploiting themselves to all. Fact and real fun is: The darker the berry more ancient the story. A real tight 4c free-form loc, tell a story of a person, an original, proud, beautiful African heritage, anywhere to anywho, Nonverbal. ❤️❤️We love our people❤️❤️ No time for isms and skissms in locs, or any features our people are born in, own, and unite them as a extended family❤️❤️❤️

[@Listening4n0w]

To lay or not to lay? It's whatever you want to do.

[@DanceSkittlezDance]

Mayowa!! From your shirt, to makeup, attitude. Naija is glowing on you! I have faux locs myself right now because i'm growing my hair out and I noticed the difference too. At one point I was almost going to lay out my edges daily and I even noticed that i felt like I "needed" my locs to look a certain way. This video is definitely help me rethink my relationship with my hair but also makes me look even more forward to evolving my natural hair jounrey! Edit: took the faux locs out and started my loc journey 8/30/21.

[@MayasGlow]

So happy I discovered your channel this year! I just love how you question things and take your time to analyze concepts that have been normalized in society. As a dark-skinned woman with Type 4 hair, your content has really validated my experiences. Thank you 🙏🏿

[@wbton5052]

the edges have returned with a vengeance. we did it in the 70s too, Sis. but this edge control products thing - maddening.

[@Introvertsan]

What did you guys use to do it in the 70s?

[@drob517]

@@Introvertsan I was a teenager in the 70’s I don’t remember edges, we all wore afros, the afros were so big you couldn’t see edges. Even some white people were curly perming to wear afros.

[@NopeUghUghAbsolutelyNot]

@@drob517 I have pics of my mom from the 70s with edges lol. I remember them from the 80s when I was born.

[@twilliams4880]

@@NopeUghUghAbsolutelyNot right they act like this just started 😭

[@twilliams4880]

@@drob517 if u look at the Soul Train from the 70’s and 80’s some of those women had laid edges

[@coldblooded568]

It is really interesting how they started doing locs with the baby hair, curls and the loose ends just to keep the look of being mixed

[@theamethyst93]

Ive always thought the edge laying was strange because when you have 4c hair your hair doesn’t do that, that’s something that people with loosely textured hair just naturally have. So when you’re slicking your edges down you’re trying to mimic a looser texture in the front but the rest of your hair is still kinky. Like logically it just doesn’t make sense. Also remember that girl who felt the need to slick her hair down so badly that she used gorilla glue on her scalp? The slicking obsession is out of control.

[@alykatttt]

but when you don’t slick down your hair, society will laugh at you and call you unkempt (especially black women!!)

[@tornadosirenwednesday]

Who cares let them laugh..I pray my sisters can free themselves from the shackles of colonized people's worthless opinions

[@alykatttt]

@@tornadosirenwednesday the funny thing is, i wasn’t talking about white people laughing. it will be your own kind laughing at you ! black women will call us unkempt for having our natural hair out unstyled. white people don’t care.

[@nycdyke2867]

@@tornadosirenwednesday start with Christianity first

[@mandalove3408]

@@nycdyke2867 LOL i swear some of yall bring Christianity into the most random discussions...

[@kikibrown9548]

I clicked so fast! My friends and I have the conversation about edges and achieving the sleek look all the time. I have long abandoned that quest for slicked down hair and baby edges. My hair just isn’t made to do that and it’s okay!! Shout out to all my 4C girls who keep their edges frizzy!

[@beautyandfashion1563]

and you know what is so funny, my edges NEVER LAYED, i spent like 200 dollars on different edge controls and the shit just doesn’t work🤣 my 4c isn’t made to be slicked down and i came to terms with that. it’s freeing.

[@mynameispeaches]

Neither do mine. At least not from the mediocre effort I put it. It’s not worth it. I mean if I have to use military grade product that’s a sign it’s not meant to be.

[@beautyandfashion1563]

@@mynameispeaches exactly you get it sis!

[@heavenking2065]

I agree with you 100%. I peeped that too. I personally like to do my edges, but I definitely do agree that this style is originally European inspired. And as far as locks, I thought I was the only one that noticed that these faux locks are very loose textured nowadays, and resembles looser textured “mixed” hair and not type 4 hair. I’m glad you are keeping it real. I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed.

[@lalauo]

People are RELAXING their edges to lay them down 😭😭😭

[@mayowasworld]

I was one of those peopleeeee lolol

[@suzannebudlong8376]

my daughter is twelve, with the locs that she has wanted since she was 4. She has a specific size of loc that she wanted, so we maintain them. she likes it best about 2 to 4 weeks after a fresh re-twist, when the parts don’t show so much and it’s a bit fuzzy. She tried to lay her edges about a week ago, and became so frustrated that her 4b (approximate) hair wouldn’t lie down. Then she shrugged and said, “why the crap would anyone want to go through that mess more than once!”

[@opheliad7452]

I love my edges standing up am not laying down nothing. Having locs was the best thing I did. My hair texture is 4 and up and I don’t care I love my hair. It hard, strong and stick up and I love it. Am not laying nothing down I love everything about my hair standing up I agree with you 100%.

[@CoCoTopaz90]

I agree that there's an obsession with laid edges and with rejecting Black beauty by subscribing to white standards. However, I wonder if there is a slight possibility that maybe someone might just like a style, which is why they decide to get it. I think it's difficult to say since people don't really think about why they think the way they do. But how far does it go? You allude to this being self-hatred, but is that so for those of us with pincurls? Sew-ins? Wigs? Is there ever a time when it's just preference or is it always brain washing?

[@amaraLoveLife]

I think it is brainwashing or a social construct but some people are unaware and don’t know yet. So they don’t look at it like that. Ignorance is bliss lol. Like there was a time where I loved straight weaves and didn’t like wearing my real hair but now I’m aware that my natural hair is beautiful too. & straight hair is literally not for me. I think ppl are at different stages in their journey

[@amaraLoveLife]

Although I’m a hypocrite because I still look forward to straightening my hair 😫😫

[@Ruby-iw5uo]

I think both possibilities are true. But it’s less blatant self-hatred, and much more of a subtle, subconscious conditioning that has gone on for centuries. Whereas we think we prefer certain styles without actually realizing WHY. We gravitate to things that society deems beautiful and assume that these thoughts we have about our appearance and what is better suited for us is truly coming from our own insight. I wear my hair straight, always have, yes I think it looks better that way but I also recognize that I grew up in a world that really pushed that narrative on me as a child. I think it’s ingrained in me now. Finally at 30 I’m re-learning what my definition of my own beauty is and I’m very much enjoying just letting my hair be free sometimes. Kinda sad that being natural can feel unnatural at times (not for all, just speaking for myself personally)

[@Alisa_the_Wanderer]

Wow. Spot on commentary. The idea of “slicking” ones edges did have an allure on me when I was younger. The ONLY reason I never did it is bc I didn’t have the energy to put time & effort in it. I saw the the gel, the toothbrush, the headband and said NOPE lol. It takes effort!! I’m planning on getting my hair loc’d so this was great for me to watch.

[@LoveLife-gv8jg]

I totally agree! I feel real cute when i pull my locs up and add a little gel to the perimeter so that it looks softer, waves and curls. I think it has to do with needing ppl to accept my look or feeling more feminine with my locs as if locs arent feminine without softness around edges. Damn, i didn't even realize i felt this way until the video🤦🏿‍♂️

[@lemonscenic6207]

I didn’t start doing my edges till high school and I do them here and there every now and then. I’m not sure why caucasian’s are doing this because black people been doing this even with the edge control just pushing it back but still… I love edges because the curls and creativity but you’re right, it is something that is expected but that’s why you shouldn’t let people tell you what you should and shouldn’t not do and if you are beautiful or not when you do this or that. At the end of the day, do what makes you happy and don’t push someone down because they don’t do what you do.

[@genevaxo]

Do you blame them tho? It's a "hairstyle" trend and shit It's easier to do on their hair than black hair.

[@lemonscenic6207]

@@genevaxo They look ridiculous with it. But it’s strange because anything we do they do too. Even though I do understand your point!

[@kookiekiki]

I get your comment and all but you're also missing her point you're probably feeling judged because you do your edges and you have done your edges but her point is it can literally be harmful to the edge of your hair with high manipulation because our hair grows with low manipulation that's why some people out here don't be having edges

[@lemonscenic6207]

@@kookiekiki I understood her point but I’ve never felt judged because I simply do not care what others think about my edges. My edges FELL OFF and are still sparse not because I did them but certain hairstyles you do that involves much manipulation like ponytails. Not to mention, I have huge ears and was really insecure of them as a kid. So I wore headbands which also pulled my edges. I barely do my edges anymore.. may do them here or there but I do it for me.. Some do feel judged and pressured because they believe edges is a “need” when it’s not.

[@apocalypsgoddess1]

As a woman who is confident in her blackness, I'm gonna speak for myself, and maybe some other women feel this way. Personally, I struggle to like the shape and height of my hairline. It's not because of the texture of my hairline, it's not because the shape "looks black" (whatever that would mean). The height and shape of it does not look the most pleasing to me. However, when I lay my edges, I can create an illusion that I like better. I feel like I'm not the only one who thinks of it this way because when I look at other womens' hairlines who have laid edges, and I look past the laid edges, I can see that the natural shape and height looks similar to mine and that yes maybe laying the edges looks better. It has nothing to do with anti-blackness. It's about framing the face better. I feel like no one else wanted to talk about this perspective on the topic of edges. It's very evident when black women wear lace front wigs way lower down on their foreheads than their hairline actually is, and the shape of the wig's hairline does not resemble the woman's natural hairline shape.

[@rayannlogan9590]

I disagree with you. There are many methods that can be used to change the appearance of a hairline. Why use specifically this one that causes the hair to appear straighter?

[@apocalypsgoddess1]

@@rayannlogan9590 okay. Please inform me of these methods.

[@sunnc]

I get what you mean I noticed this after watching a qoves video about women's hairlines. I started to look at photos & I was like oh I get why some ppl lay their edges. It does frame the face a certain way & same with the wigs like you said. There's hair transplants & fibres or whatever but not everyone is gonna do that. I have a rectangle hairline and I just like for it to look softer at times. So I'll brush forward the hair sometimes or do side parts or wear a small silk scarf over my hairline. I also watch what hairstyles I do. This is def a real thing that's why sometimes when they braid all your edges it looks some type of way.

[@apocalypsgoddess1]

@@sunnc yes ma’am indeed. It’s not something that’s usually talked about, but subconsciously many women lay their edges and wear lace fronts for these reasons. It may be trendy but it’s also works for the most part. I’ve actually thought about getting a hair transplant a lot over the years

[@beautyandfashion1563]

thank youuu for making this videos😭 i made a tiktok a couple of months ago about the obession with slicked edges and it went kind of viral, so many of the comments were agreeing with me about how tiring it is, but some of the commenters don’t know how to critically think and took my video as an attack ig🤷🏿‍♀️

[@Ami-ml7gp]

Thank you for this. I have often felt this way, but it is the uncomfortable conversation that those who don't agree will drag you for. I have microlocs and I do not do my edges or ever had them done. People always ask why I don't and I don't get why I need to. I love that you unpack the European standards of beauty. On a side note, your skin looks amazing!

[@moonlightbae9635]

Finally somebody speaks on this!! 🙌🙌

[@xcloudymoonx6738]

Babyyy natural or not a manicured edge is fire..period. Like ur style is so bomb either way, if u even just combed it back a lil not even a swoop.. chiillleeeee. I’m telling YA.

[@doreenkalibala2508]

Yes... Very well said💚we have to really examine why we do and like certain beauty trends

[@thewovenpath]

I don't understand the desire for the laid edges.. I tried it a literal handful of times and I was like "wtf am I doing this". I can't do it even with the hair texture I have which is a but looser in the front.. I like my hair more unruly anyway. I grew up with my mom hot combing my hair until HS. I don't want it.

[@Getuptocarr]

Did I say love your channel? No!? Well, I love your channel and your energy girl sooo clean. ❤️

[@juteandolive]

Can someone explain to me why BW are not allowed to Brush/Comb their hair? I saw one channel on youtube (not this one) that said that even BW growing their natural hair long was seeking eurocentric beauty standards. Not her in particular, but from these commentators, I just get the feeling that they have a problem with BW doing any self upkeep past a bar of black soap.

[@ClearAbyss]

They do. A whole lot of people (regardless of race or gender) hate it when they see other people look better than them (in their opinion), do better, seem happier. Everybody else in the world can style and modify themselves as they please, but if black women do it, it's categorized as self hate/trying to be white 🙄

[@cuttie24you]

I really think you misconstrued the statement she made and are now using a logical fallacy to justify your argument. Brushing & combing our hair has nothing to do slicking down baby hairs. One is needed to maintain healthy hair while the other is done purely to attain a phenotype that is not naturally present in our hair. So then why do we go through all that to achieve baby hairs?

[@mendingwall3823]

There is nothing a black woman can do without being policed by the community. Even when you go natural, they police how you should go natural. Anything other than an afro or free-form locs is anti black these days. They want to keep a tight collar on us, town us down while other races can do as they please. 😊

[@niaimanicooper7757]

Lol, I loved the gravitational pull analogy. I'm glad you talked about this. I never really understood where the obsession with baby hair came from. Or where the trend to have hair look like it's glued to your scalp came from. Although it does look nice, it saddens me when I overhear girls telling others to slick their edges down. Your edges don't have to be "laid" in order for the hairstyle to look nice. It kind of reminds me of the "messy bun" and how it's only acceptable to have that look when you look a certain way or have a certain texture of hair.

[@priestlaaris8208]

Thank you for Mayowa so much for making this video. I really appreciate you and the content you make. I KNEW when ppl started flat ironing their edges it went way too far. I would never ever do that. I dunno bout y'all but seeing that was so triggering, it brought me back to the days where my mom used to use a hot comb and later a flat iron to straighten my hair. I hated those days, I'm just happy to embrace my hair in its true nature. I hope other black folx feel safe enough to do it as well.

[@sassymedea3065]

They used to relax their edges texturism has my people losing their minds

[@Yassss-rj9zf]

This isn’t new. Women have been doing this in the 70’s. I’ve been laying my edges since I started doing my own hair back in the 80’s. In fact I never stopped laying my edges because I like how it frames my face. But that’s just me🤷🏽‍♀️

[@Joined4theVideos]

Glad I'm not the only one who does my edges to frame my face. It makes a big difference to me and I personally like the look.

[@sd8150]

She is not saying whether it is new or old or whether or not it is a tool used to help enhance features. She simply just points out how it originated and how it takes away from just being in totality. No modifications. You love it by all means continue to do what makes you happy.

[@tinagoodlow2217]

Thank you! My family is from the west coast (Cali) and we’ve been doing this for yearrrsss! My mom never stopped (until she passed) and she did ours too. I wear my hair in its natural state 99.9% of the time (wash & go). Granted- we do have a “looser” hair texture in my family- but that’s not something we can help. Black women and Latinas been doing this in Cali for the longest. I guess it finally went mainstream. Even if you look at 90s movies set in Cali- a lot of those women had their baby hairs laid. And we’ve always called them “baby hair.” I don’t at all agree with saying that we’re trying to be closer to white by doing it either. I never saw white women with that done. Mostly black people and latinas that messed with black people.

[@Yassss-rj9zf]

@@sd8150 My baby hairs are laid right now🤣😂🤣 Thanks for your input.

[@sugarpearl9781]

Where did she say it was new?

[@sunnc]

I had to come back to this video bc I wear my hair without edges or gel bc my scalp cant take it & my mom keeps saying my hair is messy. We're so used to slickness that anything other than that is messy & I dont really like that. Like why are we acting like this is not how our hair naturally looks? It's so weird. Alot of the practices I've been taught to do to make my hair look "neat" have actually been the things that caused breakage to my hair. Now I just do what works for me.

[@moviechick007]

Nappy is beautiful! I happily nappy.

[@sarahjade8598]

This look is transporting me to a fairytale land I can't even pick a favorite part literally perfect from head to toe

[@camazrealestate50]

You don't have to apologize for what you observe. You are telling the truth. So many of us hate our hair and afraid to admit it. We still live under the Stockholm Syndrome.

[@anikaweeks1172]

Mayowa you for sure speak the truth girl! and it can be frustrating as a natural girly( i don't have locs but I have nappy hair okay lol ) to have to battle with the opinions and ideal of my family( not a single natural) and not adapt their ideas as my own

[@tornadosirenwednesday]

Can we talk about how hair typing is racist and unproductive? We already have words to describe our hair (coarse, kinky, coily, fine, dense, etc.) so why put a number on it? Why is "4c" hair, the hair of the original human beings, last on the list while straight hair, "type 1" is first? It's not like most black people's hair fits perfectly into one classification anyway..

[@WaboMotiki]

you know whats interesting here in my side of Afrika people want tough hair (what Americanins call nappy) and not soft hair cause we feel it shows ones Afrikan roots.... but on the flipside i completely witness what u are saying

[@livingcute427]

I get where your coming from…but I never looked at a Caucasian women and thought “I want my edges to look like hers 🤣) in my head, the art of edges are a black/Hispanic hair art. Its in the same category as corn braids, like hey if your white and want braids do you..But it doesn’t compliment the same 😅 but I do agree it’s hard to separate the love of laid edges and texturism ESPECIALLY with how popular and mainstream they’ve become with the rise of frontals/wigs.

[@boxgaming281]

HISPANICS HV NEVER DONE ANYTHING WITH THEIR EDEGES.. THATS BLCK PPS TREND THAT STARTED IN THE 80S IT WAS CALLED BABY HAIR

[@twalker3867]

@@boxgaming281 Actually, it started much earlier, like 50's-60's

[@kyramoonrise4921]

Not just hispanic, imagine Indian girls feeling unseen for this generalizations. Every culture has it's very own traditions for hair and personal care as a form of self expression and pride of their own cultures

[@theultimaterelaxationqueen]

Oh God, I love my edges. I don't feel obsessed as I just enjoy the little bit on the side showing various textures. And I love a good wash and go on a hot day. As far as shrinkage, I don't mind anymore because it keeps the hair off my neck when its hot outside. But I'm keeping my edges, lol. #GreatVideo

[@sis4482]

S/O: your conversations offer new perspectives, glad I found this channel, much love 💕

[@willenefranklin8465]

Your hair is always beautiful and admiring. I think we should lighten up on each other regarding how we as women want to wear our hair. Yes there are obsessions and that should be a personal option. Freedom to be ourselves without hurting one another is freedom. I enjoy your videos and appreciate your style.

[@oruguita.lylita78]

I never considered a lot of this before thank you for sharing! I have around 3C hair and my family always laid my edges but I didn’t ever consider how harshly a kinkier textured person would be looked at for not styling their edges. In my family edges was always what made me look more black in comparison to my lighter Latin family. This was pretty thought provoking thank you

[@OkaayYall]

First let me say I LOVE YOUR HAIR!! 😍 And this baby hair obsession really gets me. I’ve been natural for over 10 years with type 4 hair. I never tried to stress about laying my edges; it just doesn’t seem realistic for my hair type.

[@inofanmegastar]

Okay, but can I tell you how happy I am to see another person sport white freckles?!?! I love the look on me but am a little apprehensive of wearing it out. I'm definitely getting courage from you. Thank you! ps: You look extra good with the white eyebrows

[@drapedingold723]

Baby hair is just that....what babies have until a certain age. Grown women are well beyond having it. In trying to get it out edges are now bald....not for us

[@Maki-00]

It’s so ridiculous to see women with 5 inches of damaged hairline slicked down into “baby hairs”.

[@ForbsieLaLa]

I can't love this enough. I say I haven't had baby hair since I was a baby so

[@andria8279]

@@ForbsieLaLa I still have baby hair-

[@ForbsieLaLa]

@@andria8279 I know few people still have but within the black community(baby hair) fades out and the texture changes as we get older into what I prefer to refer to as edges or hairline

[@annaellemay8590]

Kinda unrelated but I'm 4.5 months into my loc journey! Your hair looks amazing! I started with 3 strand twists!

[@Shesroyal85]

Ever since I became a Freeformer, I have been less interested in slicking down my edges and having baby hair. I love being free ✊🏽 I would like to say that sometimes Freeform locs can look like a set of manicured locs. Especially if you separate. Every head is different. My 1st set of Freeform locs looked liked manicure locs

[@LiahB]

I love your videos. You’re so real. You definitely inspire me to do better! 💙💙💙 I’m deciding between sister locs and micro locs!! Until then I may where a wig but it will be texturized!! Kinky Afro 🥰🥰

[@FOOCI]

It would be nice to live in a world where natural black features like edges weren’t seen as unkept or unsightly. Feeling like you can’t walk out of your house without alterations is exhausting

[@sd8150]

This comment 👌

[@katherinesavarese6009]

Im so glad you brought up your thoughts about faux locs. I'm black, with 4c hair, and I am 2 years into having my first set of locs (semi free form). I don't have a uniform grid pattern or loose curls. And often times, the only time I see women around me praising or getting locs, it's always super shiny synthetic type 3 hair, with slicked down baby hairs. I hardly ever see any black women around me embracing real locs with kinky hair coming out of the roots and all the way down the loc, or uncombed edges

[@anniepannie8682]

......"slick wet dog" & "I beg" take me out Every time💀🤣 missed your content😍

[@christineibrahimpuri562]

i can't believe i'm just discovering this channel. Pleeaaassse I LOVE YOUR HAIR AND I AGREE I THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY. wow i feel so heard and seen

[@mariah8062]

I ain’t gone hold y’all laying my edges is a must for completed look if I don’t I feel like it’s missing something but That’s a personal choice

[@ChoglitParis]

Exactly why when I locd my hair I don’t “lay” my edges!!

[@em8625]

Wow. I don’t know what forces of the universe made me see this video but I was literally just thinking about this when I got braids for the first time in like 10 years. It was done by a family friend so of course she didn’t do the edges, but I remember looking real hard at the edges that were poppin’ up and debating whether or not I should go through the trouble of doing it myself. But I then had a voice in the back of my head say, “it’s okay, that’s just your natural hair. You don’t need laid edges for your hair to look nice.” But I found myself needing to reaffirm this every so often because I saw other people with laid edges. And I’m glad that I wasn’t the only person having thoughts about this.

[@thewellfoodie]

I remember as a teen we used to slick back our edges into slick ponytails with water and grease. Lol. Those were the days. The whole leaving out a potion of your hair to make "baby hairs" even though we are adults never resonated with me. Not saying I didn't try it a couple of times. It looked good but who has the time to do that every day?ol. Nope. Even now that I'm locked, no faux baby hairs for me. I feel like embracing that style leads to not having any edges. So grateful that I have a full hairline 🙏

[@reginaa6080]

Let's talk about it! My flyaways give no fucks about edge control! They tired lol! I'm sick of jailing my baby hair lol! like you said it rooted in texturism and black aesthetic - which is being hijacked by others!

[@1wholistens]

You’re 1000 percent right. These days people will make it seem like your hair isn’t done if your edges aren’t laid.

[@ElisiasEvolution]

I have semi freeform locs, 16 months next week, yay!! I tried to do my edges once, I just cant be bothered tbh and I haven't got the time or energy, My hair is 4C and thats it love, end of story. love the intro btw

[@shaesdivinetarot]

I’ve been saying this ever since I loc’d my hair. Like there is no point and slick edges with locs looks weird to me, but to each it’s own *

[@Tessitura9]

I literally had a thought today after waking up with a messy bun that it "doesn't look desirable" despite knowing that the "messy look" has always been considered cute for straighter hair. I'm embarrassed to say I've watched some tutorials on how to achieve a messy bun look when in fact I can just wake up with a messy bun lol. Problem is my texture doesn't align with what's considered cute for messy buns. Also, the wet hair look obsession is weird.