Loving My Natural Hair

Unraveling the Roots of Rastafarianism's Natural Hair Movement

The Rastafarian movement has been an active part of the natural hair debate, particularly in regards to the discrimination faced by people of African descent for wearing their hair naturally.

The Rastafarian movement began in Jamaica during the 1930s, inspired by the teachings of Marcus Garvey, a black political leader who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Garvey's message was to unite blacks with their land of origin and he prophesied, "Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be your Redeemer."

This statement became the foundation of the Rastafarian movement, as it was soon followed by the crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie I in Ethiopia, which Rastafarians see as the fulfilment of Garvey's prophecy.

The religion takes its name from Haile Selassie's original name and his coronation was seen as a pivotal moment in the movement's development.…

Is Your Protective Style Really Protecting You? Let’s Talk Braiding Hair and Toxicity in Our Natural Hair Journey

For many of us in the SistaTalk community, natural hairstyles like braids aren’t just about beauty, they’re cultural, practical and personal. They’ve been our go-to after ditching harsh relaxers and chemical straighteners. But a recent study by Consumer Reports is making us pause and re-evaluate what we thought was the safer option.

Here’s what the study uncovered:

• All 10 synthetic braiding hair brands tested contained harmful chemicals.

• 3 had benzene, linked to leukaemia.