Afro hairstyle for belly dance ?

[Remus]

Do you think this might work? Generally this is not a haircut that's associated with belly dance. I guess it would be distracting and people would focus on the hair, and not on the dance. But I think if the hairstyle is not too big it's not quite a problem. What are your thoughts on this ?

 

[Zumarrad]

If a person has afro hair and they want to wear it natural, why not?

The stereotype is long straight or wavy hair. You will probably get more mainstream gigs with hair like that. But there is no law that says you must have it. Wear your hair however you damn want. Most of us don't make a living at this.

 

[Farasha Hanem]

If big hair is a distraction, then I would have to shave all mine off. It's the only big thing about me.

 

[Makeda Maysa]

My natural hair is what you may be referring to as "afro hair". For years, I wore a large, curly afro. Sometimes I would wear a wig when performing sharki, but frequently, I let my hair do what it does and would adorn it with a flower clip or a glittery headband or whatever. Eventually, I loc'd my hair and now sport Sisterlocks (which can be seen in my avi). It is my belief that every type of hair is beautiful. All should be allowed to wear their hair however it naturally grows, if that's what s/he wants to do. There is no hair that's "correct" for the dance.

 

[Ariadne]

Eventually, I loc'd my hair and now sport Sisterlocks (which can be seen in my avi).

Is that what they're called? I just have to say it's one of my favorite hairstyles. I am so envious of women who can look good in them. Every time I see a woman with that hair style I have to prevent myself from running over and telling them how gorgeous they look. (Sometimes I can't resist entirely so I just walk by casually and tell them I love their hair.)

 

[Makeda Maysa]

Is that what they're called? I just have to say it's one of my favorite hairstyles. I am so envious of women who can look good in them. Every time I see a woman with that hair style I have to prevent myself from running over and telling them how gorgeous they look. (Sometimes I can't resist entirely so I just walk by casually and tell them I love their hair.)

Yes. Sisterlocks are a means of locking the hair so that the locs formed are smaller and more flexible. I love them and think it's the best thing I've ever done for my hair. I never have a bad hair day! LOL!

 

[bomu samba]

frequently, I let my hair do what it does and would adorn it with a flower clip or a glittery headband or whatever.

Yes, afro-with-flowers for the win! Before I got locs I'd to wear that style all the time.

Remus - I don't think an afro will distract from your dance anymore than other hairstyles would. Unless you're wearing it like this :

 

[Aniseteph]

Two carefully positioned flowers and that guy has a duck face on his head.

 

[Tarik Sultan]

There are so many ways to wear natural hair besides an afro or locks. It depends of course on the costume too. Another consideration is the length of your hair. If you do the big chop then you'll have the twa, (tiny winy afro). You could wear extensions if you want the look of longer hair. If you're 6 months to a year, you could do a fro or an afro puff. You could also do a twist out for a curly fro look:
[video=youtube;zMn1oqJ7QJw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMn1oqJ7QJw[/video]

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Or a bantu knot out:
[video=youtube;eu5FpGqS440]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu5FpGqS440[/video]

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Sumery shows many different styles you can do with a fro in this video:
[video=youtube;Gb3-jp1fGAk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb3-jp1fGAk[/video]

 

[Tarik Sultan]

By the 2nd year You could do two strand twists.
[video=youtube;GD5cx1Ly_-o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD5cx1Ly_-o[/video]

When you get tired you can do the twist out.

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Bantu knot out on longer hair:
[video=youtube;SszBU-z9ujw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SszBU-z9ujw&NR=1&feature=fvwp[/video]

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Year 3 your hair should be below shoulder length. You can do up dos, or braids, braids outs. You can also do wash and go's:
[video=youtube;HiTSWlaVEK8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiTSWlaVEK8[/video]

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Roller sets:
[video=youtube;LLjip3nXa7w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLjip3nXa7w[/video]

By year 4 your hair should be arm pit length or mid back length. So many options in what you can do. For stretched styles I find that a litle castor oil hepls prevent frizzing and minimizes shrinkage.

The thing is, be creative. If you're wearing a nice dress, then you may want a classy up do, half up half down. You have many, many options.

 

[AndreaSTL]

Sumery shows many different styles you can do with a fro in this video:
[video=youtube;Gb3-jp1fGAk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb3-jp1fGAk[/video]

There is a local dancer who wears a larger afro like this. Usually she puts a flower in it, and sometimes she'll use a headband. I like to see her hair bouncing around as she dances; even her hair looks happy.

 

[Shanazel]

Those of us with three feet of stick straight hair are watching in awed envy.

I had to marry into curls.

 

[Yame]

Those of us with three feet of stick straight hair are watching in awed envy.

I know, right? It seems like a lot of work, but it's oh-so-versatile!

 

[Makeda Maysa]

As much as I love my locs, I sometimes sigh with the remembrance of twists, twist-outs, braids, braid-outs and my huge afro.

 

[Dunyah]

Badawia was a native of Jordan and an iconic dancer of the '70s & '80s, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. She was on the cover of the old Habibi magazine and I believe she taught at Jamila Salimpour's studio in San Francisco for some of her week-long workshops. She was one of my early dance idols. Anyway, she wore an Afro-type hairdo and she rocked it.

If you own it and are fierce about it and express yourself through it, yes, why not wear your hair however you want for belly dancing.

Here is a clip of Badawai - you can see her work the hair around 1:47

[video=youtube_share;UH9_H0Rvghs]http://youtu.be/UH9_H0Rvghs[/video]