Exploring Her Roots: Black Caribbean Hair Identity and Going Natural Using Social Media Networks

Abstract

In spite of the recent popularity of “going natural” among Black Caribbean women of African descent, the wearing of natural hair by these women continues to be a contentious issue in the English-speaking Caribbean. As such, social networking sites (SNS) may provide supportive environments within which some Black Caribbean female emerging adults can explore their hair identity narratives as they embark on their “natural hair journey.” By employing a qualitative case study research design, we found that among the 12 participants of the study, SNS provide an informative and supportive environment for exploration of Black-hair identity for these women. Findings revealed a number of themes that emerged from the narratives of the participants. Most important, that hair provided a means for hair identity self-expression and individual self-classification for Black Caribbean women. SNS also facilitated an online sisterhood, opportunities for personal exploration, and exposure to online models who embraced their natural hair. Study implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research are discussed.

“I Remember My First Relaxer”: Black Women Voicing Psychologically Engrained Practices of Chemical Hair Straightening

“…The extant literature regarding chemical hair straightening practices revolves around the social implications of changing hair texture from tightly coiled to straightened (Bellinger, 2007; Maynard & Jules, 2021; Robinson, 2011). Contextually, chemical hair straightening has become a statistical norm for Black girls and women, with over 70% altering the texture of their hair at some point in their lifetimes (Davis-Sivasothy, 2011).…”

“…Hair and hair care practices complicate the psychological study of Black people (Awad et al, 2015; Capodilupo, 2015; Ellis-Hervey et al, 2016; Gautier, 2021; Green et al, 2000; Johnson & Bankhead, 2014; Lewis, 1999; Maynard & Jules, 2021; Neal & Wilson, 1989; Pitts, 2021; Winfield-Thomas & Whaley, 2019). The existing psychological research positions hair texture as a symbol of racial identity (Jenkins, 2022), hairstyle as a language for processing identity formation and meaning making (Mbilishaka, 2018), and hair care as influential in mental health outcomes (Ashley & Brown, 2015; Green et al, 2000; Lewis, 1999; Mbilishaka, 2018).…”

“…Ellis-Hervey and colleagues (2016) gathered quantitative evidence that Black women were distressed with the psychological choice to chemically straighten their hair or wear natural styles (i.e., as twists, braids, locs, weaves, wigs, and heat straightened styles). Similarly, Maynard and Jules (2021) described the choice to wear natural hair as a controversial one within the lives and communities of Black women. Hair narratives may reveal dimensions of self-expression, identity, emotion, womanist consciousness, and body image (see Awad et al, 2015; Jacobs & Kelemi, 2020; Maynard & Jules, 2021; Mbilishaka, 2018; Teteh et al, 2019).…”

“…Similarly, Maynard and Jules (2021) described the choice to wear natural hair as a controversial one within the lives and communities of Black women. Hair narratives may reveal dimensions of self-expression, identity, emotion, womanist consciousness, and body image (see Awad et al, 2015; Jacobs & Kelemi, 2020; Maynard & Jules, 2021; Mbilishaka, 2018; Teteh et al, 2019). Eliciting and unpacking early memories of chemical hair straightening within Black women’s life stories can be helpful to understand how Black women make sense of who they are and how they came to arrive to their current body image.…”

Historicizing black hair politics: A framework for contextualizing race politics

“…With the increased use of virtual outlets, digital communities of women with natural hair have emerged throughout the Diaspora. These support and informative groups' contributions to raising Black women's self‐esteem have been abundantly documented (Davis et al., 2019; Gill, 2015; Jacobs & Kelemi, 2020; Maynard & Jules, 2021; Neil & Mbilishaka, 2019). Countless TV shows have encouraged Black girls to embrace their natural curls and have inculcated hair pride from an early age in the past 2 decades.…”