What happened to black men hairstyles? (short)
on June 10th, 2005 at 6:27 am
“Close on the sides and high on top”. These are the words I would always utter to my favorite barber at Willie’s in Willingboro, New Jersey . back in the day. Going to the barbershop in those days was like visiting an art class. In one chair, someone was getting the staple of that time–box with high fade. In the other chairs, brothas were getting “the baldy”, modified afro, someone in the back getting Jordan’s famous #23 etched into the back of their head by the “specialist” barber (all with the exception of the baldy with the optional part on the side). Then there was (and still is) the brotha who wanted his barber to spend um-teen hours trimming his hair just right. We would all chuckle to ourselves while either looking at the game on TV or reading some sports magazine ’cause we all knew that this brotha was trippin’ while putting this po’ barber through hell with a razor. Then there were the brothas who sported Jeri curls (dripping Jeri curls). How about yo’ friend from around the way who seemingly spent years trying to grow a tail and all he could ever come up with was a little nap that was longer that the other naps on his head. One word–WHY? I also remember the times I would spend hours brushing my hair to no end trying to get my waves just right. Funny story alert: I remember back in the day first telling my mom I wanted to get waves, so she bought the kit AND LEFT IT IN MY HAIR TOO LONG. Needless to say, my nappy hair became straighter than any white man that I have ever known.
With all that being said, I have noticed for some time now that a lot of that originality has dwindled over the years. Sure, we still have the dread lock/braid thing, some “wavers” and “fadahs” out there, but that really about it. Maybe it was just a phase or something. I dunno. One thing is for certain, I sure miss seeing that part of our culture…
except the Jeri curls 
!
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