18 Once-Popular Hairstyles That Would Be Seen as Inappropriate or Offensive Today
The clothes we wear, the food we eat, mannerisms, and art have all evolved from culture. As society changes, so does culture. This extends to hairstyles that were once popular but are now seen as hurtful due to cultural appropriation and insensitivity. The importance of these hairstyles goes beyond fashion but lies in their symbolic meaning and origin. Here are 18 once-popular hairstyles that would be seen as inappropriate or offensive today:
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Cornrows
Some hairstyles hold a powerful symbol in African tribes and cultures, reflecting their strength, resilience, and determination. Cornrows and boxer braids are deeply rooted in this culture and used to symbolize courage and that individual’s identity. Worn by other people without context and merely used as instruments of fashion, they are not appreciated as it ignores their past discrimination.
Dreadlocks
This hairstyle is trendy and used by many diverse ethnic groups, elevating fashion and setting new boundaries of style. However, little is known about its roots, which lie in Rastafarian beliefs and African heritage. It carries significant religious beliefs and cultural context, which spark problems within orthodox communities when worn.
Blackface Wigs
From celebrities to politicians, people who have worn blackface wigs for fun have been criticized and faced backlash. An example is when Ghadeer Sultan tried a new look and was slammed for her cultural appropriation. Previously, these wigs were used in performances to humiliate and demean black people. To this day, these wigs carry the legacy of racist caricatures and historical trauma associated with them.
Geisha Hairstyles
It’s hurtful when original and pure cultural styles are lost after they are mimicked and recreated by other cultural groups. Nowadays, the Geisha hairstyle is propagated in many different ways from the original one. This has upset many Japanese, who claim that the hairstyle has lost its original aesthetic in the entertainment and fashion industry.
Feathered Hairstyles
Kings are marked and honored by their crowns, but in Native American culture, chiefs and warriors were awarded feathers during ceremonies. This Native American headdress held sacred meaning but is now used casually all over the theatre. Wearing it not only diminishes cultural importance but is also disrespectful to tribes’ age-old ancestors.
Kanzashi Hairstyle
How often have we seen different hairstyles using chopsticks and combs just for the sake of it or to add allure to it? Kanzashi’s hairstyles in Japan use chopsticks and pins, which hold a particular cultural meaning. They are worn with exquisite kimonos, especially at weddings, to symbolize their femininity and elegance. These items incorporated in daily wear as accessories ignore their cultural importance, making casual adoption offensive.
Mohawks
Everyone associates mohawk hairstyles with punks and rockstars rather than Native American tribes. In this hairstyle, both sides of the head are shaved, leaving a noticeable strip in the middle. The historical use of this was to represent social status and bravery. New variations of this have led to famous hairstyles like the semi, but the roots have been forgotten.
Bantu Knots
Another prominent hairstyle popular among African American celebrities is the Bantu Knots or Zulu knots. These are associated with black pride and the emancipation of black people after the American Civil War. They are a groundbreaking statement of African heritage popularized in America during the Black Power Movement.
Chola Hairstyles
Chola hairstyles mainly consist of sleek, gelled-back hair and bold baby hair accompanied by curls that play a pivotal role in Chicana identity. These trends originate in solid forms of opposition to excluded Latino groups in the United States. When people outside the Chicana community try to pair these with their illogical sense of fashion, adding invalid meaning to it, this becomes highly offensive.
China Hairstyles
East Asian hairstyles typically refer to Chinese hairstyles and, on the surface, have no deep meaning. However, certain hairstyles that play a role in Korean cultures originating from the Heian period hold cultural and personal significance. The top knot is one such example, which in the 1900s defined a man’s dignity. Incorporating these blended with novel designs reduces their significance and historical context.
Nazi Hairstyles
There is no better term than to use “Nazi” hairstyles for people who tend to copy Hitler and imitate his hairstyle. Previously, these were celebrated to appease the German dictator and his party. Children of Nazi youth camps were forced to get these cuts which later became prideful for Nazi Germany. However, these hairstyles that imitate the German Fuhrer would be inappropriate and result in widespread protests.
Tignon Hairstyle
It is essential to understand that these hairstyles were used by black women in colonial Louisiana who used to wear a tignon, the symbol of their oppression. These hairstyles carry a lot of weight to the objectification and subversion of black women treated as enslaved people. Wearing these and pairing them with fashionable designs led to glamorizing a brutal symbol that was used to depict the inferiority of black women.
Gollywog Hairstyles
In the 19th century, people created Gollywog dolls with wild hair and a comic appearance to look down on black people. Black people who used to have this gollywog hairstyle were marked by their frizzy hair, and people perpetuated derogatory images to embarrass them. These hairstyles, when incorporated now, are viewed as tactics to mock black citizens and stereotype them.
Ghetto Hair
The word “ghetto” itself refers to a poor urban area, and these styles, associated with black culture, are a symbol of the resilience of disadvantaged communities. Their rise from the bottom of the social ladder is characterized by these hairstyles, which contain vibrant braids and colorful extensions. These styles used by others are interpreted as appropriation who pay no heed to the sufferings of the disadvantaged community.
Rastafarian Hairstyle
The African diaspora is a fascinating subject whose associations span deep into spirituality and religion. The Rastafarians of Jamaica believed that Haile Selassie I, emperor of Ethiopia between 1930 and 1974, was a human prophet who understood their pain. This hairstyle originated during this era when people tied their hair in dreadlocks and claimed it was the second coming of Christ. While this may not be true, many began keeping these traditions devoted to spiritual growth and the Rastafarian way of life. When used in contemporary times, the Jamaican Rastafarians are long forgotten, and the religious context is completely ignored.
Squaw Hairstyles
Numerous slurs have been banned from addressing ethnic groups, and such acts are morally inappropriate and are even punishable in certain areas. The “squaw” is also a derogatory term used to address Native American women. The hairstyles are adorned with beads, including loose hair tied down at the top with bead bands. These styles, when recreated and trivialized, perpetuate stereotypes about these women and are looked down upon as exotic.
Space Buns
Space buns have been associated with other hairstyles in the black culture, referring to Bantu knots or double buns. A recent example would be in 2020 when a controversy erupted in one of the most popular games in the world, Animal Crossing: New Horizon. This hairstyle suited on a white character was called out and referred to as space buns, which others denied. This sparked debates where the black community felt the woke culture was oppressing their culture. Nonetheless, space buns have become a significant issue centered around cultural appropriation.
Victory Rolls
Victory rolls may not be as controversial in modern times but have faced criticism bearing the historical context in mind. These were popularized during World War II throughout the 1940s as a symbol of support for the Allied forces. Considering the wartime era coupled with the mass destruction and killing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this support is seen as insensitive.
