The Afro

The Afro is commonly known as the natural. The Afro hairstyle is achieved by combing hair away from your scalp; this allows hair to extend from your head in to a big rounded shape. The hair usually stays in place by spraying hairspray on to it or by using hair gel. This hairstyle was particularly popular with the African-American community in the late 1960s.

This hair style was one of the results of the Black Power Movement. The hair style was a political statement; it allowed black people to express their cultural and historical identity through their hair. At first it was not popular with many elders but as time went on it became increasingly popular. James Brown was the man who made the Afro more acceptable, he let his hair grow out naturally when recording the song, '' Say It Loud.''

Image from; http://www.mrcostumes.com

Hair Dye

Hair dye is what you can use to change the color of your hair. It is very popular with many people, over 75% of american women use hair dye. Hair dye was traditionally applied to hair for one overall color whereas nowadays several colors are used to produce streaks or gradations in the hair.

There are three main types of hair dye; permanent, semi - permanent and temporary.

Semi - Permanent; It has smaller molecules than temporary dyes. The color will last repeated washing, normally 4–5 shampoos. Semi-permanents have very low levels of  peroxide and ammonia so they're much safer for damaged  hair. However, some dyes may still contain the carcinogenic compound p-phenylenediamine. 

Temporary; Is available in many forms such as shampoos, gels, and foams. Temporary hair dye is brighter than semi-permanent and permanent hair dye. It is often used to die hair for special occasions.The pigment molecules in temporary hair color are large so they can't penetrate the hairs cuticle layer. The color particles remain adsorbed in the hair and are easily removed with a single shampoo wash.

Permanent; A popular way to acheive permanent coloured hair is by using oxidation dyes. The ingredients of these products include 1,4-diaminobenzene or 2,5-diaminotoluene  a coupling agent, and an oxidant. 

Image from; http://maliberrymakeup.blogspot.ie/2013/03/wishlist-wednesday-on-friday-march.html

Hair Products

Hairspray : It is a product which is sprayed on to hair to keep it in place. It was invented in the 1940's. Hairspray is made up of an array of simple industrial polymers. This includes polyvinyl acetate and copolymers of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Then the mixture is modified so it gets the physical properties wanted such as foaming. The mixture is modified with plasiticers, surfactants and other agents. The main ingredient of hairspray however is solvents needed to solubilize the mixture. This solvents include ethanol and tert-butyl.

Hair Gel : It is a product used to mould hair in to a particular style. Modern hair gel was invented in the 1960's but hair gel can be dated back to almost 3500 years ago. Cationic polymers is the  main ingredient of hair gel. The positive charges in the polymer cause it to stretch which causes the gel to be viscous. Another main ingredient is water which evaporates once you apply the gel leaving you with a sticky film around your hair.

Images from http://www.freewtc.com/buy-taft-hairspray-37451/ and http://www.besthairgelformen.org/tag/hairstyling-products/ respectively.
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The Beehive

The Beehive is a hairstyle that looks like a beehive, it is also known as the B-52. It was developed in the 1960's by Margaret Vinci Heldt. She developed it after she was asked by a magazine to think up of a new hairstyle that would represent the new decade. The hairstyle was particularly popular in the 1960's.  

The beehive is formed by using a comb/brush and running it back and forward down your hair to create a knotted effect which is then combed over to smooth it down. The hairstyle would mainly be seen in the more developed countries such as the USA and in Western Europe.

Image from http://www.marilyn1diva.com/fashion-blog/2011/9/29/the-beehive-hairstyle.html

The Plait

A plait is made by three or more strands of hair intertwined together. It is commonly known as a braid. Many horses also have their tails and manes plaited before they go to a horse shows. Hair braiding is thought to have originated from East Africa. The oldest image of hair braiding has been traced back to a burial site, ‘Saqqara’ on the River Nile. 

Traditionally, braiding is a social art. Because it takes so long to braid hair, women would socialize while getting their hair done.  In America,  mothers and grandmothers braid and put different beads in to their children’s hair, which continues on a  tradition of bonding between the old and their young.

Plaiting also used to be a way of communication so at a glance one could get information about another, such as whether they were married.  Braiding hair from the the scalp has been a tradition in many African ethnic groups such as the Tuareg, Yoruba and the Tigraway, ethnic groups of America such as the Sioux, Inca, and the Aztec, and European ethnic groups such as the French, Spanish and the Italians.

Here is a video which teaches you how to braid you're own hair. 

Video from YouTube/LuxyHair

The Bun

A bun is a type of hairstyle, normally worn by women, where the hair is pulled back from your face and wrapped around itself. They are secured with a hair ties and clips. They can be slightly messy or very tight. There are many different types of buns such as the topknot, the sock bun and the braided bun.

 The Ballerina Bun dates back to the 15th Century. However buns can be traced back to Ancient Greece, they were known as the 'Greek knot' and were usually covered in jewellery. In Ancient China, buns were only worn by married women.

The bun is still a very popular hairstyle in many different countries. This hairstyle is especially popular in teenage girls worldwide . 






Image from http://7beautytips.com/diy-hair-bun/

The Ponytail

A ponytail is the name given to a hair style in which your hair is gathered together and hangs down the back of your head. It is called a ponytail because it resembles the tail of a horse. It is usually held in place by a rubber band.

Ponytails were the standard hair style for many men in ancient Japan as well as in African cultures such as the Miango tribe.A style similar to a ponytail, known as the 'queue', was popular among European men during the 17th and 18th centuries.

The ponytail has always been considered informal by women. In Victorian ages, women would never be seen oustide the house with a ponytail.

The ponytail has many advantages as it is such a convenient hairstyle. The ponytail can hide the fact that your hair may be greasy or dirty. It also stops hair from falling on to your face when you're working.

Image from http://shelookbook.com/hair-care-tips-in-hot-weather.html/tie-the-ponytail-style