• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Afrobella

Natural Hair, Beauty, Fashion and Makeup Blog

  • Hair
  • Beauty
    • Makeup
  • Reviews
  • Pop Culture
  • Style
  • About
    • Awards and Acclaim
    • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

A Little Natural Hair History

by afrobella

I spend so much time looking forward, sometimes I need a reminder to look back, marvel, and appreciate how far we’ve come. I got a wonderful reminder from esteemed Caribbean-born author Nalo Hopkinson, who sent me a link to Yale’s online Beinecke archive of rare books and manuscripts. In the Randolph Linsly Simpson African American Collection there are “vivid pictures of black life and American racial attitudes from the 1850s to the 1940s.” Some are astounding, some are surprising, some are sad. All are worth seeing, absorbing, and appreciating.

 

This full length portrait of Zumigo; lady in very fancy dress and huge Afro, standing next to gigantic basket prop” was taken in 1880. WOW at her stunning hair! And her style is giving me inspiration – a ruffled skirt with a pair of flat boots might be in order this spring, for real.

This is titled “Sissaretta Jones, “the Black Patty” singer, entertainer, leader of a musical company.” The photograph is undated, but Sissieretta Jones lived from 1868 to 1933, and she was a popular opera singer who performed at the White House for Presidents Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley, and Roosevelt – as well as the British Royal Family. Her life story is amazing.

This portrait of young black woman wearing a gingham dress and gold (tinted) jewelry is dated 1860. Unlike some vintage photos where even the woman’s face looks evocative of a previous era, I think this woman possesses a timeless beauty.

Love this portrait of a “woman with “Afro” hair dressing” from 1880. Please check out her outfit – not sure if it’s a top, or a dress. But the shoulder details are FLY and that’s the kind of thing I see fashionistas rocking today!

WOW at this cameo portrait of a lady wearing spectacles; hair dressing comes to a point; elaborate dark dress. Was that the hot style back in the day? That hair is statement making and I bet the quality and age of the cameo portrait doesn’t reveal any of its intricacy. Dated 1895.

There’s something radiant and lovely in this cameo portrait of a young lady with with elaborate lace dress front..

I wish there was more detail here. I’d love to know what products these women used on their hair and skin, what their lives were like…so much more. But for now all we have are these stunning photographs. I hope you love them as much as I do.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Filed Under: Beauty, Hair, Issues Tagged With: afro history, black beauty history, black hair history, cirissian women, hair history, natural hair history, PT Barnum, vintage black hair

« My Monday Manicure: China Glaze Sun Worshiper
An Interview with Phylicia Rashad »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erika

    at

    Gorgeous. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Melissa Danielle

    at

    Thank you for sharing these images. It’s unfortunate that we don’t see enough images like these of black women in the 19th century.

    Made my day.

  3. Tester 70

    at

    Portrait 4, don’t know why this hair speaks to me but it is awesome. And all of them have flawless skin.

  4. Lisa Sperling

    at

    Hair: The ultimate style accessory, then and now. What great photos.

  5. PBG

    at

    Oh wow! I love history, black women and hair! This post is amazing, Bella. I am fascinated by the first lady’s hair. A full afro at that time? I wonder if it was common in her part of the world back then. The lady in the 3rd pic looks as if she could step out of that picture and live in this time. All of these are incredible pics!

  6. Love Is Dope

    at

    OMG! I love everything about this post. Let me find out one of these fly women is my great-great-great grandmother or something. LOL

  7. Roslyn Holcomb

    at

    I downloaded a ton of pictures from the Schomburg Collection when I was working on my historical novel, Given. But I didn’t see any with fabulous afros like this. Too awesome.

  8. Margo

    at

    WOW. very cool pics!

  9. Helix

    at

    Zumingo, was actually known as a “Circassian Beauty”. These were women who traveled with the circus and side-shows. They were often european and were showcased as examples of racial purity. This gets really ironic and interesting the further you dive into it.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassian_beauties

  10. Nicole

    at

    Thanks for a great post

  11. Kasalina

    at

    That is really cool, thank you for posting these photos!

  12. SoFrolushes

    at

    this was such a nice read. The pics are gorgeous.

  13. LBell

    at

    There was a recent NP thread on so-called “Circassian women” pointing to this site:

    http://www.sideshowworld.com/BL-History-CircassianB.html

    Also, for great historical pictures in general…wait, didn’t I get this from your blog? LOL…I need to stay off the Internet. ๐Ÿ™‚ Anyway, check this site out:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackheritage/

  14. Kelly

    at

    I absolutely love this post! It’s awesome to look back at the beautiful and trend-setting sense of style Black women have always had.

  15. MzPurp

    at

    Yes, they are beautiful! great post!

  16. ashtastiic

    at

    That first image is a cessarian women, they had to have their hair washed in beer and teased to make it look like that. They were considered the “purest” europeans

  17. Keebi

    at

    Oh my goodness Thank you for the link!! ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ Love the first image with the sister rocking attitude in her pose and hair. I LOVE IT!!

  18. bella

    at

    Helix and Ashtastiic – you really spread the knowledge today and I appreciate it!

    I found this link.

    More information about Cirassian beauties can be found there – the woman in the top photo was apparently a “self made freak” who would have toured with a circus or appeared at a sideshow or dime museum. Wow. I’m still amazed.

    So glad you’re liking this post – I’ll be sure to do more!

  19. warrior11209

    at

    Love the post , pics and additional info!

  20. Skeeta

    at

    I rarely comment on here, although I’m a daily stalker. But I wanted you to know that this was an awesome awesome post. Thank you. ;o)

  21. ebonys

    at

    This is an amazing collection. I found the male and family portraits fascinating although I got a lump in my throat seeing the photo tagged slave. Thanks for sharing.

  22. Laquita

    at

    Wonderful post :o)

  23. BARBARA SOLOSKI ALBIN

    at

    GREAT PICTURES, THE CLOTHING THE HAIR, AND YES WOULDN’T IT BE WONDERFUL TO KNOW HOW THESE WOMEN DRESSED THEIR HAIR, WHAT THEY USED. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THSE PICTURES.

  24. Mitnb

    at

    Found your blog through jezebel, those pictures are amazing! great find!

  25. Nia

    at

    Thank you for this post. I love fashion and history! This is awesome!…My nephew is at Yale. I am going to encourage him to visit the library and see pictures first hand. Unfortantely,he finds only European features and hair beautiful. PRay for him. ๐Ÿ™‚

  26. Kimmoy

    at

    Absolutely amazing post! I love it, love it, love it! Keep ’em coming….My favorite is the 2nd pic -Sissieretta, is that a dress with a built-in corset? The detailed overlay with slit shoulders, her ring, the jewelry, just gorgeousness from the hair on down.

  27. Goody

    at

    how fantastic is this!

    i love, love them all but the first one is major!

  28. Ginnette Powell @caffeinehusky

    at

    Thanks so much for posting! I had no idea!

  29. Purple

    at

    I love that first photo. I aspire to that afro LOL.So sad that it was actually seen as freakish ๐Ÿ™

  30. mixiepixie

    at

    How wonderful – thank you so much for this fantastic article!

    These pictures are so precious – and so educational. Who knew that afros were worn in Victorian times? Fantastic, thank you!

    xxx

  31. designdiva

    at

    love the story and the photos

  32. Tiffany

    at

    Very lovely photos.

  33. OnceUponaTime

    at

    Definitely gives a different meaning to the words “lace front”. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for this!

  34. Marlena

    at

    Thanks for the suggestion to look up “circassian Beauty”. Absolutely fascinating.

  35. Denise

    at

    This is awesome Afrobella! Thanks for sharing:)

  36. Nic M

    at

    Great post. These are beautiful and thought-provoking. Sometimes it’s just hair, sometimes it’s a sideshow attraction.

  37. Nic M

    at

    I just had to come back and share. Today I was in the library searching memors and ran across a humorous memoir called I’m Down. You have to check out the front cover! It’s very fitting here in this discussion.

  38. Jackie

    at

    Very nice post. How inspirational! Thanks for sharing!

  39. Myne Whitman

    at

    These are great pics!

  40. Clara

    at

    Intrigued by the โ€œCircassian Beautyโ€ references. Must research this.

  41. UmmAmirah

    at

    Great post. My family has late 19th century pictures of our matriarch and patriarch. They are great to see. Reminds me of a simpler time. Even thought black was beautiful it wasn’t fully recognized.

  42. Toy

    at

    This reminds me of the big leather photo album sitting on my grandmother’s coffee table. She has so many old photos from when her mother and grandmother were alive. I really enjoyed seeing all of the hairstyles.

  43. Jessica

    at

    I love all the pictures. Looking at older pictures seems to bring me back in time.

  44. Melissa

    at

    I love the third portrait. I feel like we look alike. Just classy and beautiful! Love them all!

  45. jasminethejigsaw

    at

    omg…this touches my hair and my heart. ๐Ÿ™‚

  46. Susie

    at

    Worn with pride!

  47. Susie

    at

    I’m with you on that one. I didn’t appreciate those styles when I was younger. I do now.

  48. Evelyn Davis

    at

    Who would have thought! Thanks.

  49. Alorye

    at

    I hope my hair grows as long as the first lady’s picture sooooon.

  50. mimi

    at

    Afrobella, you should be careful posting these pictures because a lot of them where doctored by the photography studios they where taken at by the photogrophers. They would chop off the woman’s hair style be it corn rows or hair pinned up and curled in a style of the day and stick the Afro in its place. This was done to photograph of my great great grandmother that was taken at fancy studio in about 1890 and picture of my great grandmother as a little girl taken about 1914. The pictures of the women with the natural hair look just like my families doctored pictures. This was a common practice of that time. Something you should know from a historian.

  51. Talma

    at

    WOW! Great post! Thank you to Mimi for talking about the doctored photos of that time. I had no idea that that was common practice but was surprised to see the 4th photo as I know that type of hair style wasn’t commonplace during that time. Now it makes sense! Especially seeing that there is a triangular dark but still transparent “halo” going from the sides of the afro to the round curved shape of her head. The hair style is also out of place with her style of dress.

    Also, with the hairstyle in the picture just below that, the point on top of her head isn’t her hair. That’s a hair comb or hair pin securing the upswept hair. I collect them and am always on the look out for those at antique shows. Dang it…now I want to go shopping for hair toys! lol

  52. Michelle F.

    at

    I liked all the photos my favourite being the first one, and not so much the hair but the boots! I LOVE BOOTS!!!

  53. bit.ly

    at

    This is the erfect site for anybody who
    would like to find out about this topic. You underrstand a whole lot itts almopst tough to
    argue with you (not that I actually will need toโ€ฆHaHa).
    You definitely put a fresh spin on a topic
    that has been discussed for decades. Great stuff, just wonderful!

  54. GRIZZLY GRIPTAPE tee shirts

    at

    It’s perfect time to make some plans for the longer term and it’s time to
    be happy. I’ve read this submit and if I could I desire to recommend you some attention-grabbing issues or advice.
    Maybe you could write subsequent articles relating to this article.

    I want to read even more issues about it!:
    \

Primary Sidebar


Visit Afrobella Store

Popular Posts

  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • May 2024
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • June 2022
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006

Footer

  • Afrobella Radio
  • Ask Afrobella
  • Beauty
  • Body
  • Books
  • Events
  • Featured
  • Food
  • Hair
  • Health and Wellness
  • Issues
  • Jams
  • Life
  • Makeup
  • Monday Manicure
  • Pop Culture
  • Popular
  • Randomness
  • Reviews
  • Skin
  • Style
  • Travel

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework