Vintage Natural: 1966 Ebony Magazine article on the growing natural hair trend
BGLH will be teaming up with Rebecca of the amazing vintage blog, B. Vikki Vintage, to provide snapshots of natural hair and Black hair culture in previous decades. Rebecca will be guiding us through these photos, but if you want to submit your own vintage natural pics email blackgirllonghair@gmail.com.
B. Vikki Vintage features advertising campaigns and fashion editorials from Black/African-American publications, video clips and found photographs featuring people of color from the 1950s-1960s, as well as product descriptions and pictures of vintage pieces.
Also be sure to check out the B. Vikki Vintage shop for vintage attire.
My question is: What the heck happened! A lot of the stuff people were saying in the article sounds exactly like what I hear today. It seems we took a step forward. Took a step back. And are taking a step forward again.
What’s old is new again. Fascinating article. Thanks for posting it.
We went from this to permed-died-and-fried and weave-till-you-die. Who’s to say what we’re seeing now isn’t also a trend that will pass in a few years?
Then again, we know more now about what’s in the products we were so happily using and we have so many more resources and style options. Maybe that’ll make the difference now.
I love these vintage posts, keep them coming. I agree with Black Girl With Long Hair, what happened, how did we go so far backward after making such huge progress?
such beautiful pictures
These women are FLY! and I love those tie up sandals, seXy!
Great pics! I would love to see an article about how many Black women are wearing their hair natural in the workplace today. It’s so discouraging when I hear ppl at my job tell me that it’s unprofessional to wear my hair natural and that I should straighten it when in the office.
I agree. This article is wonderful, and if someone told me it was written last month, I would have believed them. It addresses the same issues, problems, and dilemmas that African American women are faced with in the present day. Although it seems that we have taken a step back in terms of wearing “natural” hair, it was still an uplifting and thought provoking article.
Thank you for this wonderful post!
Its sad (and I know we all would agree) that after forty years after this article was published the same issues these lovely ladies dealt with are still being faced today.
Still I look at this as inspiration to continue on our natural journeys and realizing the beautiful diversity that we as black women have.
Wow, if you replace the word “Negro” with “Black,” this article could have been written today. I’d love to know what happened so we could avoid repeating the same mistakes. This time I want natural hair to stick around for good.
PLEASE POST AS A PDF SO WE CAN ZOOM AND ACTUALLY READ THIS ARTICLE. OKTHANXBAI.
This is so awesome. I really needed to see this.
What “happened” was what was destined to happen: 20+ generations of self-hate wasn’t going to be turned around in 1 generation. Natural hair lasted approximately 1 generation (15 years) and then we went back to the status quo. This time around natural hair has a chance to last a little bit longer because the reasoning for it is more organic than it was in the 1960s: A lot of black women just got sick and tired of the crack and realized that, by giving it up, not only did the world not end, (certain) people actually applauded and appreciated it.
What’s REALLY interesting is the Letters to the Editor section commenting on this article. My parents kept that particular issue of Ebony (August 1966?) and the responses never failed to amaze me…even before I went natural myself. One in particular I remember: “The natural is for soul brothers only! Can you imagine the Supremes natural? Yuck!”
Great article. I don’t know if I’m happy or sad that we’re still having this conversation.
Very nice.
I love this vintage series! It’s so sad and true. I think this natural “fade” is going to stay mainly because we know more and the style are so much more vast than ever before!
My grandmother who is 85 has never processed her hair. I always wondered why, I think I will ask her when I next speak to her. I think some women just managed to keep it going while others gave up. I also do not think it particularly died I just think we are becoming dominant as a people. I am also very aware of the fact that there are those among us who think natural hair is totally unacceptable for a black woman. I work in a area that is dominated by whites and whereas they totally love my locked hair one of the three blacks working here made it clear that she thinks my hair goes against the “health and safety” standards and it totally unprofessional. Ha ha.
Hmmn, food for thought.
I think I will email her this link.
Thank You.
Great article, I had to zoom A LOT in to read it, lol.
Did anyone notice that ALL of the women are rocking TWAs or a slightly larger/shaped version of the style? Also, it’s interesting that most of the women appear to be in the 4b hair category. Natural hair in the 60′s was linked to more than style – it was a sort of political statement.
I see very few 4bers wearing their hair natural today. I believe many women today would relax/straighten their hair if they were limited to the styles shown above. Now, I think natural hair is largely linked to fashion and style. That being stated, it’s much more individualistic now, it’s a personal choice to go natural for a different reason.
Love vintage articles! That sista in the blue dress was rocking those sandals!!!