African Hair Spirituality: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated on September 5, 2024

Wonder why many people in Africa invest a lot of effort into nurturing their natural hair?

Well, according to them, the main purpose of hair is to be a beacon of spirituality. It sends and receives signals of divine emanation. And it makes them more functional in their everyday lives.

Throughout black history, black hair has played a crucial role, symbolizing resilience and identity, especially during pivotal events like the Transatlantic slave trade and its continued cultural relevance today.

In this article, we’ll discuss African hair and its spiritual importance. We’ll talk about what natural African hair looks like, what makes African hair different from other types of hair, the importance of hair in African culture, and more.

Table of Contents

What does the natural hair of Africans look like and how is it viewed spiritually?

African or Afro-textured hair, often characterized by coily hair, is known for its kinks and tight curls. Each hair strand is said to grow in a helix shape with angel-like features.

Here’s why natural African hair matters spiritually:

Flattened – Despite its kinkiness and curliness when it grows, African hair is actually flat. It only looks kinky and curly because it adheres to a spiral hair structure.

Positive symbolism – African hair’s adherence to a structure is one of the main reasons its value is incomparable in a spiritual sense. According to spiritual experts, it’s a symbol of strength, strong will, and authenticity.
Order – It also deserves praise for its organization. A person with natural African hair is often known for their ability to stay organized.

The unique hair texture of African hair contributes to its spiritual significance, symbolizing resilience and cultural heritage.

What is silicon and what does it do for the hair of black women?

Natural African black hair contains an important mineral, silicon. Silicon is believed to contribute to a person’s “antenna ability” or their ability to be in touch with their spiritual side.

What makes African kinky hair different from other types of hair?

A common distinguishable feature of African hair is that it’s one of the diverse hair types known for its thickness. That’s not all there is to it, though.

Here are more discussions about what African hair looks like:

The slow rate – African hair’s slow growth rate (0.9 cm per month) may be disappointing to Africans who want to grow their hair fast. But this rate isn’t surprising because it’s apparent African curls upon itself during its growth.
Unique – It stands out from the hair of people of other ethnicities. It is different from Asian hair, for example. Compared to Asian hair, it is more dense. Kinky hair, a common type among African hair, stands out due to its density and unique texture.

Parallel implantation – The hair implantation of African hair is also parallel to their scalp whereas the hair from people of ethnicities is oblique or perpendicular to a person’s scalp.

What is the importance of short and long hair in African culture?

For thousands of years, hair was considered sacred in Africa. There, Africans see it as a spiritual element that allows a connection to spiritual forces and an otherworldly realm. Black hairstyles like braids and cornrows have deep cultural significance and convey messages about heritage and identity. This is why the people in Africa treat their hair as their prized possession.

Is long, black hair better for spiritual awareness?

People in Africa are divisive on the issue of long, black hair. While some believe it is better than short hair, others would argue that a short length is better because it makes a person feel free. Historically, societal pressures have favored straight hair over natural textures, influencing perceptions and biases.

The concept of ‘good hair’ has significantly influenced perceptions of long hair in African culture. Here are arguments that point out why long hair is better:

Long hair contains more coils – Coils have the ability to synchronize with a person’s deeper spiritual self. The more coils there are, the more balanced a person feels.
Long hair harnesses more energy – With long hair comes lots of energy. This means, more energy can enter the thousands of nerve paths that lead to the brain.
Long hair contains more melanin – Melanin absorbs all forms of energy. Therefore, long hair is known to have a wider field for attracting energy.

Meanwhile, here are arguments that point out why short hair is better:

Short hair leads to more freedom – As noted earlier, short hair is linked to a person’s sense of freedom. It empowers them to feel free to do more things.

Short hair sharpens focus – Because short hair takes less time to care, it encourages people to focus on other aspects of their lives.
Short hair symbolizes a less fragile life – If a person’s hair is short, people in Africa view this as a sign that the person has their life together.

Final thoughts

While African hair length can be an issue, there are Africans who also believe the length of African hair doesn’t matter. Whether it’s short or long hair, it’s not important. What matters is the quality of hair, and that hair is kept sacred. Race-based hair discrimination continues to affect perceptions of African hair, highlighting ongoing societal biases.

Plus, the fact remains that Africans think highly of their hair. Many of them would panic the instant someone touches their hair.

In other cultures, this act is considered dramatic. But in Africa, it’s an acceptable practice — to Africans, it’s a way of keeping their connection to their spiritual side holy. African hair carries a uniquely meaningful history that shapes the identities and experiences of individuals, symbolizing survival, resistance, and cultural celebration.