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Is Our Obsession With Laid Edges Destroying Our Hair?

From Josephine Baker to Stefflon Don, laying edges has long been a hair ritual in the Black community. But while the styles may be aesthetically pleasing, this tradition can also damage our tresses, causing a thinning hairline over time.

It begs the question whether harmful stereotypes of afro hair textures being labelled as “unkempt” play a part in the obsession with ‘slick back’ hairstyles, as it seems many Black women prioritise looks over hair health. 

“The tradition of laying edges goes back to the early 1900s when sleek styles first became popular among Black women in America in the 1920s and 1930s with styles like finger waves,” says Belinda Asafo Akobel, a professional trichologist and hair loss specialist at Trinity Trichology Clinic.