Apart from adorning it in various styles, the deeper significance of hair is undeniable. It is the extension of our opinions, beliefs and who we are becoming. Similar to our mental and physical wellness, hair is deeply connected to our emotional health and spiritual identity.
Ntombenhle Khathwane, founder of Afro Botanics, a SA haircare range that caters for ethnic hair, believes the spiritual connection we have with our hair ought to be preserved.
“Our hair carries our consciousness. It is like the antenna that links our spirit and soul to our bodies. It has a spiritual significance for everyone. Our hair carries the strength of our spirit and the wisdom of our bodies – it is the complete picture of our DNA,” said Khathwane.
In different religious and spiritual settings, hair plays an important and sacred role. In some instances, it is either cut, covered or grown out for various reasons.
According to Khathwane, this indicates a sacred connection between hair and spirituality.
“I believe that hair carries our messages and quotes from the spirit world, God, guardians and ancestors. As humans we are spiritual beings. We are a mixture of spirituality, psychology and physical wellbeing – our life force comes from the spiritual world.”
In recent years, we have seen a change in trends that has led many black women to a place where they are fully and confidently embracing their natural hair. This shift has promoted the acceptance of different hair types, serving as a reminder that all hair is good hair in its own right.
“People of colour would often shy away from their natural hair because we have been told that it is difficult to maintain and not presentable. In that, we have opted for protective hairstyles that are less fussy. I believe that all hair is good hair. What the natural hair movement has done is just to start at a surface level to bringing in the fact that hair is deeper than just how we look,” said Khathwane.
This is a view Stella Johnson, head of the hair and makeup department on Mzansi’s beloved soapie, Uzalo, agrees with.
“We’ve seen many hair trends throughout the years. What seems to be happening now is that old hairstyles are being turned into something more modern using synthetic fibre. Overall, the love and pride for natural hair has grown,” she said.
For Johnson, hair plays a pivotal role in driving a message about character to the audience.
“Hair plays a very important part as far as characters are concerned. All the hair is done according to a character breakdown. For example, the character of Mamblambo, a spiritual healer on Uzalo, always has her hair covered. We give her head wraps to show respect for her spiritual calling,” said Johnson.
She adds that in the old days, hair would be used to symbolise one’s background, as well as their social or marital status. As such, hair has served as a signifier for centuries.
Khathwane believes our hair is an extension of our wellbeing and should be prioritised. “Everything within our bodies is interconnected to our spirituality and how we feel about ourselves. When we begin to nurture our inner selves and pay attention to the disconnection from our spiritual selves, I believe we will be able to deal much better with mental health issues.
“If you look at where our hair is positioned, apart from the hair on our heads, it is covering our sacred parts which are our reproductive areas.”
While the deeper significance and consciousness of hair may be more broadly explored today, it is nothing new. Khathwane believes hair has been powerful and sacred for many years, especially where one’s purpose is concerned.
“In the olden days, when one would get a dream where they would be required to braid a certain hairstyle, it was probably linked to a life goal or purpose they have. Braiding that hairstyle would essentially bring that purpose into physical manifestations,” she said.
It is because of this that Khathwane believes in the wisdom that one should always take careful consideration of anyone that touches your head, including ourselves.
“When we plait our hair in the evening we sometimes do it when we are frustrated and full of complaints. We are taking those emotions and giving them life in the physical form of our brains. And then we become surprised when life brings us situations that we unconsciously brought upon ourselves.
“There is no right way of taking care of one’s hair because everyone’s head of hair is different, even siblings. Ensure that you are in a healthy space mentally, emotionally and spiritually and that you approach your hair as a unique aspect of yourself. Honour and accept your hair,” she said.
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