Why Is My Hair Nappy?: Nappy History, Hair Care Tips, Myths, & More

When you look at your hair in the mirror, does the word “nappy” come to mind? Or maybe your hair is impossible to deal with due to stubborn “naps” or tangles. Either way, you may be wondering why…why is your hair like this? I’ve got the answers you need. I’ll cover why your hair may be nappy, nappy hair care techniques, some background on nappy hair, and more. Let’s go!

Nappy Hair Meaning: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

You may think you know what nappy hair is. But do you, really? Read on to find out — I promise I won’t bore you.

Nap History: The Ugly History of Naps

The term “nappy” goes way back to the beginning of the American slave trade in the 17th century. The root word is “nap”, a word that was used back then to describe the little scragglies that stick up on a piece of fabric.

The term quickly became one of the many derogatory terms used to degrade Black people and reject their natural qualities. So, if you clutch your imaginary pearls when you hear the word (like me), chances are you’re drawing upon this part of history.

Hundreds of years later, and Black people were even using the term to insult each other. I can’t tell you how many times other Black people teased me for having nappy hair in the ’90s. “Get yo nappy-head a** outta here” comes to mind. This was when the creamy crack (hair relaxer) was in full rotation in the Black community.

Recently, as a show of self-empowerment and rebellion against Eurocentric ideals, Black people have taken back the word “nappy” and all variations of it. It’s used all across Black media, literature, and social initiatives. Though the word has left a bad taste in my mouth personally, it’s nice to see.

What Does “Nappy” Mean Today?

Today, the majority of people use the term “nappy hair” in the following ways:

1. To refer to the tight curls common in people of African descent. Chances are you and I both fit into this category. Usually, the tighter your curls are, the “nappier” your hair is.
2. To refer to hair that’s knotted and difficult to detangle. And this doesn’t refer just to those with naturally textured hair. Straight and wavy-haired folks — I’m talking to you! :) Your hair may be nappy, as in “hard to detangle,” once in a while or even every day.
3. As a derogatory term for Black hair. Haters are going to hate however they can. And they may use “nappy” to do just that.

3 Reasons Why Your Hair is Nappy

Now that we understand what nappy hair is and where it came from, it’s time to get down to the why of it all. Here are three reasons why your natural hair is nappy.

Your Hair Type is Naturally Nappy

Black people are typically born with curly hair. It may be slightly curly, spirally, coily, or kinky. Kinkier hair types, which fall under the type 4 hair umbrella, are the nappiest by definition.

It’s all in your genetics — if your mom and/or dad have kinky hair, your chances of being born with this hair type increase. If you’ve always had kinky, nappy hair, give your parents a heartfelt thank you!

There’s no way to change your genetic makeup — you are how you are genetically.

Your Hair is Damaged

Now, if your hair is nappy all of a sudden, that’s a clue that you might be dealing with a hair problem. Here are some common hair damage scenarios that could leave you with unnaturally nappy hair:

• Overprocessing your hair to the point that it’s stringy and easily tangled.
• Roughly brushing or combing your hair, damaging its outer structure.
• Wearing your hair in tight hairstyles that require a lot of manipulation. It wears down your hair’s structure, promoting tangling.
• Failing to properly hydrate and moisturize the hair, leading to dry, rough, damage-prone strands.
• Overwashing the hair or skipping the conditioning step can dry your hair out, leaving you with a wiry, tangly mess.

Note: This applies to all hair types — straight hair, wavy hair, red hair, blue hair, etc.

Your Nappy Hair Detangling Routine Needs an Overhaul

Regardless of your hair texture, you need a good hair-detangling routine. If your detangling routine is lacking, you may leave behind knots and tangles that become a pain in the you-know-where. It’s not good to yank, yank, yank with the comb — it causes more problems than it fixes. Here are some nappy hair detangling tips to keep in your back pocket:

• Don’t detangle on dry hair — only on damp hair that’s coated in a detangling spray or cream. If your hair starts to dry out while detangling, spritz it with a spray bottle of water.
• Use a wide tooth comb or detangling brush instead of a narrow tooth rattail comb. We don’t use those for detangling.
• Be gentle at all times with any detangling tool. It’s way too easy to damage the outer structure of the hair with force, and your strands only stretch so far before they snap.
• Detangle section by section. I’ve tried detangling my hair all in one go — I not only left behind a ton of knots but I was frustrated as hell by the end of the session.

Again, keep these tips in your mental back pocket for an easy detangling sesh every time.

Nappy Hair Is Far From a Bad Thing (In Most Cases)

Yes, I wrote it — nappy hair is far from a bad thing (in most cases). If you’re trying to get rid of your nappy hair, you might think I’m crazy.

Let me explain.

Nappy hair isn’t a bad thing if your hair grows from your scalp that way. It’s a part of your unique being and should be cherished.

Plus, if you fight against your own hair texture, you’re in for a struggle. The most carefree and fulfilling hair journeys come with the realization that all hair is good hair and that your hair is beautiful — nappy or not.

Myths About Nappy Hair

A lot of the stuff you may have heard about naturally nappy hair is 100% myth. And if you’re going to give your hair the best possible care, you need to work with the facts. Here are some nappy hair myths to put in the virtual trash right now:

1. Nappy hair shouldn’t be shampooed. Gasp! Hell no! Wash your nappy hair, please. All hair, regardless of its type, needs to be washed from time to time. If you don’t give your hair a clean slate now and again, your chances of buildup, excessive hair dryness, split ends, and breakage go way up!
2. Nappy hair is ugly. The idea that your natural hair is ugly is nothing but a lie — a lie meant to hold you down. Don’t reject your God-given qualities; your hair is undeniably beautiful and uniquely yours.
3. Nappy hair can’t grow. This is one of the biggest misconceptions I’ve come across personally. Yes, it can be hard to grow nappy hair, due to its fragility and temperamental nature. But I’ve seen long, gorgeous nappy hair sweeping backs, butts, and floors. I’m a believer in the fact that all hair can grow if you give it the basic care it needs.

So, there you have it — why your hair is nappy and answers to other questions you might have about it. I hope you found all the information you were looking for, and I wish you the best with your hair!

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