African American Beauty Research Paper

African American Beauty Research Paper

Beauty ideals may differ among different ethnicities, and evolve over time. Some are influenced by others, while some develop their own. Hair is one of the most aesthetically important parts of the human anatomy. It is visible to all, and can be manipulated to however the person desires. Each person's hair is unique, particularly to their ethnicity. The hair of African Americans is particularly unique as it is not only vastly different from the hair of other races, but also distinct among fellow African Americans. It can be coiled, curly, straight, wavy, and nearly everything in between. Consequently, their hair became the center of much attention, especially do the fact that its appearance differs so greatly from the long standing European ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...Interestingly, a male Irish hairstylist developed the curls after experimentation of how to tame excessively curly hair. The coiffure consisted of looser "wet" curls that were achieved by a harsh chemical treatment used to perm the hair, then one would douse their hair in heavy moisturizers. Though initially obtaining the hairstyle was cumbersome and time consuming, the ease of maintenance once complete attracted many. Additionally, attainability among all Black Americans contributed to its wild popularity as African Americans of any economic status were able to obtain the style as one could easily purchase Jheri kits from any convenience store. The curls were a fusion of natural and relaxed hair as they incorporated the tight curls that the afro made popular, and the smoothness from chemically relaxed hair. Michael Jackson's legendary song and iconic music video for Thriller set the trend for Jheri curls when his album cover featured him with the shiny wet curls. Its prevalence in popular culture incited men and women alike to sport Jheri curls. After the explosion of the afro, and then subsequently Jheri curls, African American beauty moved into the direction of synthetic hair that worked with their natural hair. New styles that incorporated little to no chemical or heat–related manipulation overtook the popularity of relaxed, or permed hair.

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