16 The Hermeneutics of Hair Braiding: The Expertise Associated with Black Hairstyling

From using blades of grass to the plastic hair of a Barbie doll, the hermeneutics of hair braiding originates from several outlets. To effectively interpret the skillset necessary for braiding, a student opts into a diverse set of classrooms. The expertise necessary is acquired by those with innate talents and formal training. Black hairstylists have cultivated communities to create and disseminate information needed to be an efficient hair braider. This knowledge includes business skills as well as effective braiding techniques. These communities have founded media platforms as well as businesses to provide necessary counsel to beginners. Along with lucrative businesses, the disseminated information has led to a broadening of black culture throughout the diaspora.

Ethnographic research is one of many methods employed when studying the art of hair braiding. Many black beauticians understand the skillset associated with braiding due to their own cultural ties to these hairstyles. With origins in Africa, hair braiding is a skill which is traditionally tied to beauty and spirituality. Elements of the black diaspora’s vast culture are often utilized to reinforce the skills necessary to achieve braided styles. Braiding culture’s origins stem from indigenous religions in which hairstylists were revered throughout villages for their innate abilities. Hair was styled with the purpose of worshipping deities, as hair is the part of your body that is closest to the gods (Sherrow, 2023). During enslavement, hair styling became functional and emphasized the necessity of protecting hair. These innate abilities were a manifestation of cultural discoveries, as well as survival methods.

In present day, media platforms are also used for instructing beginners in the field. Content analysis is employed when information from sources is consumed to further understand the techniques of braiding hair. Media including videos and blogposts contain instructions on how to perform proper braiding techniques. Communities formed around hairstyling began in the early aughts, when the use of the internet became more prominent. The teachings within the content often offer foundational instruction and allow for the students to widen their range of abilities. YouTube has primarily been used as the source for research on these instructional videos, and forums have created an outlet for many in the community to receive feedback. Through analyzing this content, the braiders make use of their natural talents, as well as utilize new methods to perfect their craft.

Hairstylists throughout the black diaspora have learned the necessary techniques for braiding from seasoned experts in the field. In formal settings, instructors often provide information through literature. The information includes details on braiding techniques and the business aspect of hairstyling. These methods include using ethnomathematical concepts to create intricate patterns throughout the process of styling. This includes the usage of tessellations and other geometric patterns (Gilmer 1998). Learning to create these shapes and precise lines while braiding allows for versatility in the field. The method of grounded theory research is employed as students learn broad concepts with techniques that are embedded in more complex concepts.  Beyond properly forming braids, the skillset for efficient styling includes physical dexterity as well as stamina. Some African braiders use braiding techniques with more than 3,000 wrist and finger movements per hour (Sy et. Al, 16). Grounded theory allows for a precise method to interpret the skills required.

Presently, hairstylists are continually revered for their skillset, mainly because of the connection between hair and identity in the black community. Due to the connection to culture, qualitative research methods are the most pertinent to interpreting the necessary skillset for hair braiding. In terms of effectiveness, content analysis is the method which provides the most data.

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