The Afrocks Blog

Picture credit: David McFadden, Associated Press file

“Dreadlocks? There is nothing dreadful about my hair!” I have heard this expression and read some interesting posts on Tumblr about the use of the word “dreadlocks” to describe the ropelike matted hairstyle popularised by Bob Marley in the ’70s. Because I was born and raised in the Caribbean in the ’90s, I could understand the very valid point made by these locticians and afrocentric activists about using language to elevate and not denigrate ourselves, but the country girl in me had some reservations and if you have time I’ll tell you why you will never have dreadlocks and if you do, why it is, on the contrary, a wonderful and powerful ting.

Box braids are one of the most popular types of hairstyles for people with afro hair, but believe it or not, this style really came into its prime throughout the 90s. From Janet Jackson to Stacey Dash in the iconic film Clueless, braids were seen everywhere before the early 2000’s when natural hairstyles were swapped for blow dries and straightening.

The afro hair and beauty movement wouldn’t be what it is today without the passionate individuals creating amazing Afro Caribbean hair products and spreading the message about natural hair and black beauty. Here we’ve compiled a list of the UK hair and beauty founders that we think to deserve some recognition.

PS: All information written below has been found online and is available to everybody.

If you haven’t heard the words ‘natural hair movement’, where have you been hiding? From coils and curls to locs and afros, the last few years have seen a shift in the way natural hair is viewed and the accessibility to good, affordable products. In the UK, the natural hair movement has grown from strength to strength, with major stores reevaluating the diversity of their haircare range and helping us naturalistas gets those edges on fleek and curls poppin!

While transitioning to natural hair has become the new wave, very few women have an idea of the basics they should know before going natural. You probably don’t want to end up with an “I Wish I Had Known List” when it comes down to going natural. So before you make the jump of faith to transition to afro hair, here are the top 10 things you should know before transitioning to Natural Hair.

Credit picture: Tia’s Hair salon

Natural hair movement in the UK can be traced back to the 1970s when natural hair movement was at its peak, fuelled by the rise of Black Power and the civil rights movement in the US. Having a fro back then was not solely based on creating a fashion statement or signature look, it was rather about making a political statement to express and showcase your black identity with utmost pride and confidence.
In the last few years, research has shown that black women are making statements in the beauty industry. Due to this, they have become an invaluable voice that must be listened to by stakeholders in the hair industry. In fact, the black hair industry at the moment is worth £88 million, with black women spending six times more on their hair care than their white counterparts. In the UK, the afro Caribbean hair industry has been found to be quite lucrative, with so many brands now venturing into the market due to the increase in consumer demand for natural hair care products.

Youtube recommendations are something else. It was December 25th, the time was 6pm. I was strolling my Youtube feed, trying to avoid the depressing universe that I created for myself with my 2019 obsession for the UK Brexit, the US impeachment proceedings and France new retirement plans wotlessness. Note that I am doing all of this actively trying to avoid the new disturbing ads featuring cows and humans in “funny” sexual positions and cars crushing watermelons … when I found “Hair Love”.

If you have ever done research on promoting hair growth, you’ve probably heard of protective styles. Protective styles refer to any hair configuration that protects your ends, edges and overall curls from consistent manipulation that can lead to breakage and further damage. Protective hair is an essential part of natural hair care that can be of immense benefit to you. Wondering why protective hairstyles for natural hair are important or what protective hairstyles to wear? We have compiled some of the top benefits of this technique as well as some trendy protective styles you should know.

Getting the locs you have always wanted takes a process, and it’s important to know the different stages of locs journey so you can know what to expect. There are five stages of locs, namely the starter stage, budding stage, teen stage, maturity stage, and rooted stage. The entire stages can take 18-24 months upwards, after which you will be able to have the long, thick, and shiny locs you desire. Without further ado, let’s get into the details of what each stage entails.

Edges, edges, edges! a topic that can draw as great a discussion as the afro movement itself. For those who are not aware, ‘edges’ refer to the hair around one’s hairline, sometimes referred to as ‘baby’ hair. What a display of spectacle and artistry it is to see how some black women and young girls create intricate designs and waves with their baby hair.