Can a white girl have box braids?

[Anonymous]

[Datboi65]

I'm a Black man, so I think I am qualified to answer this one. This short answer is, it depends. Yes, but not as your primary hairstyle. The long answer is:

Yes, technically it's not illegal. However, you should be culturally sensitive as to where it came from. There's a difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. The thing about cultural appropriation that folks don't understand, is that they think that us Black folks are just out to get you on the slightest thing you do and call it appropriation, which isn't exactly how it works. Appreciation is when you give credit. Appropriation is when you just take it and turn it into fashion/trendy. A Black woman wearing dreadlocks is seen as ghetto, but when a White woman does it she gets complimented? That's society. A Black man wearing a durag is seen as ghetto, but when White men do it nobody complains. It boils down to your intentions. Internalize and find out as to why you are interested in the style. If it is to try it once or twice, no issues. If it's to wear it everyday for the rest of your life, that's cultural appropriation, because your hair texture doesn't need a protective style. If it's to stand out, that's cultural appropriation. If it's to attend a certain event that celebrates African culture/heritage for example, that's cultural appreciation. Black people get upset when people are interested in certain aspects of their culture, but the minute the cops show up they no longer like the lifestyle, because we don't have the luxury of choosing. I hope that makes sense.

[FinalFantasyBro]

You exactly proved the hypocrisy us black must face with this one answer, great job. 👍🏾

[DizzyDesii]

@FinalFantasyBro legit never knew you were black

[FinalFantasyBro]

I tend to sometimes be secretive with stuff but yes I am black.

[Massageman]

CAN they, implying are they physically capable of doing something? Yes.

MAY they, implying permission to do something? Not applicable here.

SHOULD they, implying that there is some sort of a cost/benefit relation to her doing so? This is the real question. If she looks good in a particular hair style, fine. If not, then no.

[coffeeloverr]

I think it’s fine I am biracial (black and white). The braids are not made for straight and thin hair. It could cause damage when it’s suppose to be a protective style. I know there’s an issue around it as cultural appropriation but it is not an issue for me as long as the person isn’t getting it to make fun or “act black”. It’s just a hairstyle that African Americans normally wear. It’s out of the “norm” for white people to wear them.

[FictionalCharacter]

I remember in middle school, a white girl got box braids by her black foster parent. During lunch break, a couple of black tomboy girls ganged up her. Calling her out and causing a scene that “she’s not black!”. Then the white girl went to the nurses office to help her take out the box braids. So she didn’t get bullied anymore.

[AmandaYVR]

People have strong opinions about this but my opinion is yes. It's not 'cultural appropriation.' It's appreciation. No one actually owns style.

[IAMNathanael]

Whole heartedly agree

[SmokinAces2000]

If a white person says the n word is that appreciating black culture as well ( just asking)

[AmandaYVR]

@SmokinAces2000 Really? No, because that word was originally used to degrade and place blacks beneath whites culturally/socially.
It's black peoples' prerogative to take it over now, and use it in their own way, to help somewhat neutralize the negative associations. Making it a term of affection is actually quite bold/clever.
I actually think, ideally, we should do that with a lot of words. But that can be too confusing, too open to misinterpretations, about what the intention of the person is. Especially online and in the written form. It's just too potentially destructive to attempt.
Take a different example, though, of the term 'black' vs. 'African American.' It's obvious why the second was created. But its existence doesn't make 'black' derogatory at all. Black, white, yellow, brown... whatever. This reminds me of George Carlin. I agree with him. I even asked a q about euphemisms being used to soften potentially unpleasant words/ideas. Like 'battle fatigue' vs. PTSD. Can they not both exist, just fine? One in the lay world, and one in mental health circles.
Humans also have an overpreoccupation for labelling things. And then those labels can become bastardized, stigmatized.

[SmokinAces2000]

😊😊😊

[MLGbreezy]

I'll just put it like this, yes they can but in my opinion they don't generally look that good on white girls IN COMPARISON TO BLACK GIRLS. And two is a hiar style worth the potential backlash and negative comments cause you will get it especially if your white cause unfortunately white people are know to culturally appropriate. So if you wanna get it do it at your own discretion.

[MLGbreezy]

Also forgot to add that it's not really a hair style that benefits white woman. For white woman it's just a hair style but for back woman and men it's a protective style that protects are fragile hair.

[Miristheiss]

You can have any hair style you want.
Problem solved.
Now move on to more important stuff.

[t-8900]

it depends. Does she want to be taken seriously or not? lol
Black women pull it off amazingly well.

[MelaninQueen21]

I personally don't think it's right for some to wear them and not know where they came from (not giving credit to one's culture) to like wear them as a trend or something. But if they look good in them, I have no problem. It just depends 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Datboi65]

I would say if they wear it as an everyday thing, then that's cultural appropriation. If they wear it for like an event, or once in a while, then I got no issues.

[FunkyMonkee]

I don't see why not, whatever they are. Maybe if I could see a picture of what they look like... There WAS a little postage stamp here but, as soon as I clicked on it to make it larger so I could actually SEE it, it went away!!

[hahahmm]

Yes. It falls in the category of ancient hair styles (thousands of years old) so you can have that just as much as any other hair style of ancient origin.

[Sweetener_]

Yes they can but most of the time it doesn't really look good on them and sometimes they get hair damage. So it's a matter of finding what works best for you and feeling confident in it.

[RolandCuthbert]

According to the laws of physics, it definitely is possible.

[SaoirseS]

I don't see why not. If you got the money and hair for it then go for it. It can get pretty expensive.

[doopayo]

It’s not made for your hair type, but it’s not like anyone can stop you.

[SmokinAces2000]

People really downvoted a factual statement 😂

[BCA6010]

It looks stupid as f*ck and might get her tarred and feathered by the woke mob, but there's no law against it.

[hhadeshatesme]

They can yes, but should they? No. Not saying no cause of the whole cultural appropriation thing it just looks really dumb and unnatural on white girls

[Wraith_Cemetery]

Sure, you could. But should you? Probably not. There are other braiding styles that look nicer on the hair of Caucasians.

[jshm2]

Not without being laughed at.

None have ever pulled it off and looked decent.

[DizzyDesii]

Sure but its a 99% chance she’ll look a hot mess like the girl in the post picture. Leave it to the culture

[Anonymous]

No, because black chicks will get jealous.
First you take their men, now you're gonna take their hairdos?

[Opinion Owner]

Whooah, I struck a chord, it must be the truth.

[This_Is_My_Opinion8]

So what if they get jealous?

[Opinion Owner]

@This_Is_My_Opinion8
Well, they'll just get all snarky about it and call it cultural appropriation. Even though everything black people do was done by a white person at one time or another.
Black women do a lot of stuff that copies white culture.
Hell, black guys playing basketball (Invented by a white man) is basically cultural appropriation if we want to get ridiculous.

[This_Is_My_Opinion8]

Let them get all moody about it all they want. Like you said it's not logical that they call it cultural appropriation.

[Opinion Owner]

@This_Is_My_Opinion8
Yeah, also watch how many people get triggered and downvote this answer.
The truth hurts. 😂

[Curmudgeon]

Questions like this make me so sad. Once upon a time, we were free to experiment and try new things.

[SmokinAces2000]

It’s her body but it’s cringey as hell and very unattractive on white girls

[Flower7]

It wouldn't look very good and I don't understand how they would stay in her hair and not slide out.

[Gwenhwyfar]

Clearly she can. The question is should she. My answer is sure.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

No. Makes her look stupid. Braids only look good with black hair texture.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Anyone can have any hairstyle they want (so long as they have enough hair to do it anyway).

[Fromdusktilldawn]

See the double standards how society says racism is only against blacks? But why should a certain hairstyle be a black people's only privilege.

[ChiPaPa]

I don't understand the whole cultural appropriation argument, especially with hair. Wear it however you want.

[TheAfrikan]

Do all that you need to your hair, it is up to you. Since you won't be hurting no one.

[Anonymous]

white girls look like they just got out of prison if they do that

[Opinion Owner]

Im just saying the truth 🤷‍♂️

[Joshua0213]

If she wants to yeah although I don't know shy you would

[Luckycharms12]

It's hair can do whatever you want to do. If can pull off the look that's another story

[bamesjond0069]

Sure why not? I think it can be attractive on the right girl.

[Grubhub]

No but latinas can. Not Mexicans but latinas. South Americans , Dominicans and Puerto Rican’s

[Hyped_up_on_coffee]

You may want to use the term AfroLatinas instead of South American women. Venezuelan , Bolivian & Chilean are mostly Mestizo too

[Grubhub]

Chill bro, you can say the n word or have braids because you’re not white

[Grubhub]

You wanna be

[Grubhub]

You just don’t wanna be associated with being anything Afro. That’s why you didn’t agree with my comment

[Grubhub]

Obviously I was referring to fain skin or brown latinas. Not white or whitewashed latinas

[Hyped_up_on_coffee]

Wtf dude. All Latino people are like really mixed and come in a wide shade of colors , there were a lot of Jews and Asian people who came to Latin America too.

[Grubhub]

I know that

[Grubhub]

Latin women are so fast to say they’re white or mixed with something else when people call them African.

[noohair]

So somehow these "Race?" questions sound racist to me. Stereotyping is racism.

[Guanfei]

Wear whatever you want, and those who don't like it can get fucked.

[BigKevHanma]

Any white girl I see with box braids I’m gonna assume grew up in a trailer and has never heard of deodorant

[Anonymous]

Yes, sure why not? And why can’t white boys have them?

[RiverUndertheSkY]

If she wants, she'll look weird though

[dustybiker]

Is permission required?

[ElizaPam]

I don't know why she would want to

[EmbraceThePain]

Sure, I’m sure some women can pull it off.

[Cherry234]

If she looks good with them then sure

[slatyb]

Only if she has hair.

[vald9inches]

Live and let live! Yolo!

[nawtee_me]

if they have a box to braid I guess...

[KrakenAttackin]

Sure if she is a skank-ho.

[dray995]

Sure. Why not? Who cares?

[Waldoe]

anyone can have box braids, even me

[007kingifrit]

no, it looks stupid as fuck

[IAMNathanael]

If she has hair, yes

[Dude_777]

Nope, wouldn't suit.

[SofiSin667]

Why not?

[Idkanything55528]

Of course.

[VikingWarLord]

Awww hell nawww !

[terrangkara]

everything what do u want to do, its fine

[BeMuse]

Yep.

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

Of course.

[Kelly6]

no...

[Wise4myage]

Yes, of course.

[anylolone]

Why not?

[Sketti2021]

Probably anyone can

[Kenzy009]

yes, why not?