It’s Not Just Hair: The Power and Politics of Black Hair
Walk into any Detroit barbershop on a Saturday morning and you’ll feel it — the buzz of clippers, the laughter echoing off the walls, the quiet ritual of transformation. Black hair has never been just hair. It’s history. It’s community. It’s identity stitched together strand by strand. To call it “just a look” misses the entire point.
September 24th . Written by Ryan PackerRoots Run Deep
From the intricate braids worn by African tribes to cornrows that once mapped escape routes during slavery, Black hair has always carried meaning. It has been a tool of survival, a marker of identity, and a declaration of pride.
“Our hair is a crown, not a costume.”
The afro of the ’60s wasn’t just style — it was resistance. Locs, braids, twists, fades — all of it speaks to heritage. Even today, these styles carry the echoes of resilience, each one a quiet rebellion against conformity.
Culture in Motion
Black hair is innovation. It’s why trends that start in barbershops and salons from Detroit to Lagos end up on global runways. Box braids, high-top fades, lace-front wigs, finger waves — all have been lifted, borrowed, and sometimes watered down by the mainstream. But within the community, they remain markers of individuality and pride.
The salon chair is more than a place to “get done up.” It’s therapy. It’s networking. It’s a safe space where culture is exchanged as freely as hair products. It’s where a 10-year-old getting her first press and curl learns she’s beautiful, and where a young man gets the confidence boost of a crisp fade before a big job interview.
More Than Fashion
Today, the fight for hair equity is still real. Workplace discrimination hasn’t disappeared — it’s simply evolved. The passage of the CROWN Act is a reminder that laws are still needed to protect something as natural as locs or twists from being labeled “unprofessional.”
Meanwhile, celebrities like Solange, Lupita Nyong’o, and Zendaya are using their platforms to redefine beauty standards. Each red-carpet moment makes one thing clear: Black hair is not an accessory to be tried on for aesthetics. It’s lived experience.
The Future Is Ours
The next generation is wearing their hair like armor — unapologetically, boldly, without explanation. They’re rejecting respectability politics and leaning into creativity. And they’re proving that Black hair doesn’t need validation to be celebrated.
“To dismiss Black hair as a look is to dismiss centuries of culture. Our hair isn’t just style. It’s history. It’s power. It’s us.”