.@maneaddicts_ believe the “twisted mini buns” (bantu knots) shown in #MarcJacobs SS15 show is a new style. THOUGHTS? pic.twitter.com/DTy7eEtCOf
— Aleigha Nicole (@iamAleigha) May 26, 2015
But he definitely can’t take credit for this one.
Here’s where Mane Addicts and reportedly Mr. Palau have it all wrong at–these twisted mini buns they speak of, have indeed been around for centuries dating back to its origins in South Africa. There proper name, Bantu Knots, in fact, is not a new hairstyle at all. It is extremely popular amongst African American women and has been a staple far longer than what Mane Addicts feel that Guido Palau and Marc Jacobs made up in their minds.
Bantu Knots which can be worn as a style, or as a means to achieve heatless curls (simply untwisting them after letting them sit in one’s head,) is especially popular in the natural hair community giving women with long or short hair another option to add to their list of styles. African American celebs who have been seen rocking the style includes Lauryn Hill, Rihanna, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Uzo Aduba (“Crazy Eyes” on Orange Is The New Black.)
The post even goes as far as to explain how one can dress up their mini buns, “Pair it with bold lipstick for a night out, tribal inspired makeup for a summer festival, or with dewy makeup for a rooftop BBQ,” the tutorial said.
Numerous amounts of tutorials on Youtube, Pintrest, Tumblr, and so forth can be found on how to achieve Bantu Knots. If typed into google, Bantu Knots brings up over 600,000 results, which further proves that they are a far cry from being a new style.
Editorial Director and writer of the article Justine Marjan, has removed the post from the site since its bashing took place on social media.
Cultural appropriation has been the term thrown around on the controversial topic by commentators on twitter and facebook, and it is rightfully so.
