Black hair has come a long way as many people are now embracing their heritage. Masses are moving from weaves and chemicals to natural hair and organic hair products. For example, the State of California was the first state to accept and respect black people’s hair in schools and workplaces.
Safo products were designed to revive Black hair, and infuse moisture back into your scalp. Safo Hair is on a mission to support a return to natural hair, and to help Black women love themselves and their look. We’re glad to say that many African Americans of the diaspora are now proud of their natural hair. And so are we!
While the end of slavery marked a long overdue victory for the Black community, but it certainly didn’t end racism. For too long, African Americans have been made to feel bad and inferior because of their skin color and hair. Slowly, it worked and many African Americans saw the straighter hair type deemed by society to be the standard of beauty to be better and more refined. They now started looking for hair care routines and products that would straighten their hair.
African Americans went to great lengths to straighten their hair and achieve a European look. Most of them put themselves in harm's way as they dipped their hair into chemicals that almost burned their scalp.
This era saw the rise of many African American entrepreneurs like Madam CJ. Walker, who came up with numerous hair care products. Her first and most famous hair care product was Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower and Shampoo. It was natural and purely plant-based. Its ingredients were murumuru, Shea, Jamaica black castor, and coconut oils.
All throughout the 1900’s, bold and courageous Black men and women have been shattering glass ceilings for what was expected of them, encouraging others to wear their hair natural. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, many African-American women sported smooth, straight hairstyles, from sleek bobs to mile-high bouffants. As an emerging actress, Cicely Tyson opted for the former, with her straightened hair resting just above her shoulders. Then, one obscure acting role prompted her to make a drastic change that she says sparked a nationwide hair movement. When she showed up on set the next day, her director told her that he felt that he “didn’t have the nerve to ask her to do that”, and was very pleased she made the bold move. This bold move sparked a national movement.
Back in the 1970s, Melba Tolliver was the first African-American anchor for a television news show - ABC News Affiliate. However, she stood up for Black culture and dared to show up for work with her natural hair. She even covered Trisha Nixon's wedding (daughter of the then US president, Richard Nixon) with her natural hair and without a headdress.
Although her actions got her fired from ABC News, Black men and women learned from her and were able to fight for the freedom of hairstyle in their workplaces.
The afro became popular among teenagers in the 1960s. Black teenagers were tired of the oppression and brutality of white people. At a time when African-American men had short and conservative hairstyles, the afro was a sign of rebellion towards the white conformity.
The afro became an identify for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1970s. It became a political symbol as Black activists and politicians like Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis took up the hairstyle.
As you can see, Black hair holds the history of our people. We are thrilled to be part of the natural hair movement, and want to create products that support your hair journey!
