Native Portraits: Native Hairstyles at MIAC

Observed when I was on the rez. Rarely did anyone do their own hair. Unless it was cut short. There was a lot of touching. I so miss that. Men weren't afraid to touch men. Not inappropriately but as kids do. Warmly. Women too. Fixing hair and just in passing.

Man said his straight, long hair is like the rain. Never thought of referencing hair back to nature as they do.

I love listening to Native American people talk about their culture. It's a different way of talking about ancestors. It's a way of speaking that seems to shorten the amount of time between ancestors and present-day. For instance, "we used to use buckskin" makes it sound like this is something she did regularly in her lifetime. She speaks as though her ancestors are standing next to her. Which, they probably are. I love it. It's a beautiful way of speaking about your history.

I'm Peruvian and these images bring to mind many fond memories of my grandmother brushing my hair and putting it in different kinds of braid styles every morning. My grandmother also had braids until she was around 80 and starting losing her hair due to old age. Peruvian society still discriminates against these hairstyles. You can't go to a corporate job interview in the capital of Lima wearing traditional braids, for example. I wish we'd embrace the beauty of these wonderful traditions without needing white American or European individuals to embrace these before it's "cool" for young people wear them again as it happened with other indigenous cultural artifacts such as the chuyo and coca leafs.

I love that she wanted to do her hair like her grandmother did her hair.

I'm from Germany. As a girl I wanted to grow my hair long, but my mother didn't allow it. It always was cut when it reached my shoulders. In my teens in the 80s I had to wear a perm. When I turned 21 I cut my hair very short out of protest. My mother was apalled... Now at 52 I let my hair grow and it will be never cut again!

American Indians are very beautiful with their thick hair, healthy color of skin and tall strait stature of body.I am always glad to see such people with their honesty and wisdom.

Fun fact: US Military found that the original people could track exceptionally well so they recruited men from the tribes for this reason but after entering the military they had their hair cut off and their tracking was that good! The officers over this group ask why can't they track like before and they recruit said it was because their hair had been cut so the officers had them grow their hair back & the officers saw as the recruit's hair grew back they became better & better at tracking again!!! Many cultures feel that having long hair allows you to connect with the forces in the world & universe!!!

hair holds so much spiritual meaning, all over the world in so many cultures. i realized the power my haird holds after doing everything to it, from shaving it all off, to dreads, bleaching, ever cut and colour under the sun, now just letting it grow back to its natural state is a powerful feeling. loved the video

I have hair down to my backside and I don’t think I will cut it until my Mom passes. It will go with her to be creamated. After that it will not be cut again. I’m white but was raised in a mostly native neighborhood. It definitely gives you a different perspective to how you interact with other people and most especially nature!

This was really interesting! I didn't realise that there was so much meaning attached to hair and certain styles.

I'm Native and I was crying throughout this whole video

Their hair is so beautiful, silky, healthy and long!!! Love it. And good on him for not allowing everyone touch his hair. I wear an Afro-puff which is naturally round in shape. People I've never seen in my life want to touch it. Although I don't like it, sometimes - especially with little kids who are entranced with my puff - I allow it. They are usually quite surprised at how soft it is. I guess they think it's going to feel like a brillo pad.

The "boarding school cut" is connected to a very sad, and traumatic history.

Me having long, sleek, straight, long indigenous hair, have always been fascinated with female African American hair. When I turned 15 I begged my mother to allow me to cut it and get a perm...I was so happy with my new look but my grandmother not so much

Native Children forcefully and brutally had their beautiful hair butchered. Very heartbreaking.

Reminds me of the way some of the Japanese wear their hair.

I am native & my hair I charish deeply this video warmed my heart. My great great grandma was on the trail of tears from the stories I have been told then my great grandma was adopted by a pastor husband and wife from what my grandma has told me how the past was. All of our family history was wipes out except for the stories. I sadly don't know my native language. Only thing I know is my great grandma's native name meant 'Butterfly'. I have been unable to find a tribal number. So my hair is something I charish greatly. I'm 5 feet 1 inches tall and my hair is down to the back of my knees. May earth mother watch over us all🙏🏼

I remember sitting with my grandmother and her talking about her great grandmother whos hair was long and white. She also never let anyone touch her hair except her sister and her daughter. I miss the beauty of her voice and stories

Proud yet humbled keeper of long hair ⚘⚘⚘ It's a struggle keeping it healthy with the polution and trials of various haircare products, but I shall maintain it as long as I can. After trying suggestions from many people, now my treatment for to maintain it uses coconut oil, candlenut oil, aloe vera and lime juice.