How offensive is it for a white chick to wear box braids?

Question

Like if a white chick honestly just loves the way it looks and isn't trying to promote herself on social media and just wants to wear it, would you look down on her or something?

Youryeodongsaeng · Accepted Answer

When I was in 5th grade, I saw a white girl my age with box braids. Me and my best friend were quietly laughing at her because of it.
When I look back at that when I was 14 and now, I was actually being racist without telling her off about her hair style.
After seeing a celebrity with his hair braided back to look gangsta for a TV show that he is an original cast in, it amused me very much. That is when it got me thinking, you don't have to be black or African-American to wear your hair braided back.
After i turned 14, I did see a picture of a white female in box braids and thought again, Everyone looks good in every hair style. Why hasn't this unique combination crossed my mind?

Nowadays, things I really should think of need to cross my mind more often. I see nothing wrong with whites wearing their hair in box braids. It doesn't offend me in any way, but I does make me question if the woman wants to fit in, which also doesn't bother me.

ClosetHoe · Accepted Answer

I'm a black woman and I don't mind it at all. It's more cultural appreciation than appropriation.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Offensive only to those SJWs and virtue signallers who buy into that cultural appropriation nonsense. If a white guy invented pants, does that mean only white men can wear them?

Cherokeehp · Answer

I don’t think it’s offensive, I just think it’s stupid. First of all, black people wear braids like that because it protects our hair. Because of the structure of our hair it can handle the tension and weight caused by braids. Braids like that on white hair cause damage. Don’t be surprised if you have a large amount of shedding or and entire braid breaks off and leaves you with a bald spot. It’s just unnecessary and damaging. I only think it’s offensive when white people try to appropriate our culture. For example boxer braids. BOXER BRAIDS ARE NOT A THING. They are called cornrows, they’ve been around for forever, and they are not a trend. Call them what they are. Don’t try to slap a new label on it and pretend like you just discovered something new. And don’t be a hypocrite and praise white women for wearing braids but then call black women ghetto for wearing them. You may not do this personally, but people do this all the time and it’s infuriating. In all honesty, if I were to see you in the street I would look down on you. Like I said before braids can cause a lot a damage especially on straight hair. In my opinion it’s stupid to put your hair at risk like that for no reason, so I’d assume you’re a little stupid. That’s just my honest opinion.

BlueScorpio · Answer

As a black woman, I'm not really offended by it.. it tends to look a little off since it is a hairstyle i see on black women most of the time but other than that I really don't care. The only time I care, is when society tells black women or people they can't participate in their culture but then America steals it, profits from it, and then make it "trend" that's acceptable if someone white or non black does it. That's my only issue, so if some white girl wants to cornrows, by all means do it.. but don't turn around and tell black women they can't wear their natural hair out cause it's not "professional". Otherwise we're good.

DnSC_ · Answer

Honestly? I'm not offended nor will I be, but will I be put off guard just a bit? Most likely because I dont come across many non-black women wearing the style too often where I am. As mentioned by a couple other people, I think a reason that may get offended is because of some black women who've worn box braids (or even their natural hair) at work or school have either been discriminated against or told to cut their hair because it isn't professional or appropriate. There can be more reasons, but thats one that came to my mind.

Now there are some instances where I have seen people criticize a white girl for wearing it (she was DRAGGED), and others defended her on social media. All I can say is that every reaction will be mixed/different. Some will be ok with it and others will dog you for it.

As for me, I only wear it as a protective style for my hair, especially in the fall and winter to give my natural hair a break and it helps avoid too much manipulation to my hair. Not sure if theis is an answer you're looking for, but it's just my thought on it.

RiJox · Answer

It’s tricky.
Black people use this, it’s culture and it goes deep. It’s a hairstyle we use because our hairs need to be handled differently than the white kind of hair.
So it’s whatever if a white girl wants to do it.
Most white girls can't handle it thought, it’s heavy, it’s itchy, to attach this fake hair you need to pull your hair tight. It can slide down white hair because this hair was made to be attached to kinky hair. And maintenance also plays a part.
White girls can like all they want but Most of them cannot handle it.

They be feeling a a lot when they wear it, it’s funny to watch but it can be “side-eye-looked “ because this is a black thing.
I honestly don’t care but don’t be feeling too much, white people love to get credit for shit they didn’t create, talking about “French braids “ 😂😂😂 anyways
That’s my opinion I don’t care it’s just a hairstyle but it doesn’t look good to every white girl, few can pull it off

Sweetener_ · Answer

I don't understand why non-black people feel entitled to answer this question.
Anyways, I'm going to try to explain this in the best way I can, and I hope I do not come off as rude.
The reason why it's offensive to us it's because black kids get suspended for wearing their hairstyle such as braids, dreads and fros, black girls and boys get picked on by the way their hair looks, then black women get SHAMED for the styles they wear but whites get praises for doing the same, it makes no sense sis. Plus most of them are racist but have no problem with doing black hair styles. That's why it's offensive.
Plus in my humble opinion I don't like to see white people with box braids, because if just doesn't sit right with me, it's almost as if their stealing our culture, that's why I PERSONALLY find it offensive.

And at the end of the day box braids weren't made for white people that's why most of the time they complain that their hair's falling out after doing them.

StarryCrossing · Answer

The reason people find it offensive is because black people wearing braids and/or their natural hair is soon as unprofessional, dirty, ghetto, etc. but on white people it’s totally fine. They call it cultural appropriation.

However, I don’t see a problem with it. People have free will to do what they want. It looks really pretty and intricate. I like it on her and it would look pretty on a person of color too.

HeyMikeyLikesIt · Answer

No, you do your thing and fuck what other people think! they should have no control over whatever you like or want to do with your hair or clothes or anything else. Be confident and you do you little lady, people will respect you more for being yourself than anything else

modelUN242 · Answer

First off, black people don't own box braids, it's just something that complements their hair type, so anyone can wear it really. However, I think it looks unnatural on people with non-kinky hair. It looks like this girl is showing off. But on the other hand, there are black women who wear blond wigs.

hellionthesagereborn · Answer

As offensive as it is for blacks to wear tshirts, suits, ties, western style shoes, have indoor plumbing, electricity, modern technology, modern medicine, cars, infrastructure etc. If you want to pander then don't wear them but the people who would hate you for something like that (which by the way most of them by their own reasoning would not be allowed to wear (it has origins in egypt and Namibia which is not "africa" but rather to smalle regions of africa and most blacks in america did not originate in those regions) then they will find a reason to hate something else your doing. Their goal is control not tolerance, not education, not protecting their "culture"(hence them having no problem taking from other peoples culture).

Or you could do what you want because its your hair and your life.

slatyb · Answer

I have no patience for complaints of cultural appropriation. It's your hair, wear it in any style you like. I might have some sympathy for someone copying sacred clothing from another culture. Daily wear from any culture may be freely copied in my opinion.

btbc92 · Answer

It's not offensive. Practically every culture wears braids. And I think people need to stop getting too obsessed with this stuff. It's just a hairstyle. But now if you're trying to mimic another culture and you're doing it to make fun of somebody, then that's when it becomes offencive.

Hunter7754 · Answer

While on the subject of 'cultural appropriation', why don't I see the same people upset about white girls or white dudes wearing dreadlocks or box braids getting pissed off when white people listen to rock music (which has its roots in black culture), or when non-japanese people learn japanese martial arts, especially knowing the oppressive history of america towards japan, etc?

The whole "mUH CuLtuRaL ApPrOpRiaShUn" thing is bullshit. Let's just call it for what it is. It's cultural gatekeeping. And its no different than what the KKK and white nationalists argue for (the segregation of cultures).

To anyone that gets upset about cultural appropriation, unless you are consistent with your beliefs to a tee and unless you also protest non-black people listening to rock music, and unless you also protest non-japanese people learning japanese martial arts, then I don't wanna hear you talk about cultural appropriation.

sagevalentineee · Answer

Same I don't understand either. Girls are wearing the oriental print that was reserved for emperors in China, and no one said a thing.

Of course, people should take a nod and respect the culture. But you can also wear braids without being attacked for it.

Daniela1982 · Answer

Who would it be offensive to? I think imitation is the best form of flattery. Besides, people always start fads and fashion statements that others imitate. For all we know this lady may have been cosplaying as Rapunzel or as a lady in some past era when women wore braided hair like that. Beats imitating The Coneheads.

FoxnEagle · Answer

Corn rows on a white woman always look a little funny to me, I think it's mostly because of the contrast between her hair and her scalp, kind've like the zebra effect!

As for offensive or not, I know in Haiti it is fairly common for the few white women there to have this done and no one cares... but this is America, so you'll probably find SOMEONE that is going to take offense to it. (Honestly probably another white woman...)

starfire228 · Answer

personally i dont find it offensive but i know it offends those in the African American community. its their hair style. the fact that its looked down upon when they wear braids like that and the fact that when a white woman wears this style and is seen as "beautiful" doesn't sit right with me.

(if any white person attacks me... how the hell are you gonna tell someone how to feel about this style of hair... esp the black and brown community... yes its their choice.. but white people should not wear African styled hair. its culture appropriation. its like if i go and wear a the rosary on my leg and be like "its cute". (religion and race aren't the same im just giving an example)

Shuri · Answer

It's not offensive. It's just annoying as shit that black women with braids are labeled as ghetto and unprofessional and the style is literally banned for us in some work and education places even though it's a cultural protective style, but when a white woman wears it, then it's trendy and cute.

LenaRaye84 · Answer

People can where their hair anyway they want regardless of their race. It's not offensive.

The problem is when black girls do it, it's considered ghetto, rachet, etc. to the point where black women can't get jobs when their hair is braided or in its natural state. But when anyone but black does it, it's considered creative.

SjE78 · Answer

not at all, and neither would it be offensive for anyone of any other ethnicity to wear anything which is considered of any other ethnic styled fashion

Girther10 · Answer

Why are you so obsessed with identity with people? That’s taking a giant step backward when you put identity front and center. Remember these are the characteristics we are born with, and did not have a choice.
So, I can’t even relate to how you think and the way you posted this.
REGRESSIVE- that’s your trajectory, wake up.

Iceseeyou25 · Answer

Black women with natural hair are considered ugly, poor, useless, and unkept looking. Basically the more black a person looks the less value they have to the masses, especially if you are a black women.

People don't like when white people wear black hairstyles because most of the time people say that a white girl is prettier/ better than a black women who has a big butt even if they both have the same fucking butt.

JDavid25 · Answer

No it would not be offensive at all.. It's a style made for anybody to wear.. Especially if they paid for it..

BCA6010 · Answer

It is not offensive at all. Braids originated from Scandinavia/Nordic culture.

jsincal · Answer

It’s your hair do what makes you happy. Color is a product of evolution to protect you from radiation while maintaining vitamin D production. We humans created the idea of race which is a man made. And only in more recent times.

Do what you feel looks good to you.

wankiam · Answer

its a bout as offensive as beyonce going blonde. fashion is a melting pot and what many neo lib ''everything is offensive'' idiots dont realize is that its this very cultural melting pot that encourages less marginalisation or reinforcing of racial stereotyping.

purplepoppy · Answer

Whites were braiding their hair hair long before black people. Look at ancient paintings, sculptures etc and there's a lot of braided European hair styles

PoppingPops · Answer

I think it's very naive to the culture, and their doing because it was a hit new quirky trend from Kim Kardashian. Who is just naive and tone-deaf as her fans. Braids has always been a black thing, will always be. I don't like how people would call black women hurtful things back then, but go on and copy it now. It's never ok to wear something, it's not just a hair style, it was a tradition passed on from girl to girl to keep us connected to Africa. It's never ok for them to wear like a fashion trend. Their naive to the fact. Their inconsiderate to us and disrespect us when they do wear that.

Brokenheartedx · Answer

Girls in the 90s of Al colours wore box braids, they were fashionable and kept African women trained in the hairstyles in a job...

Nobody unless hair is in 100 percent fantastic condition should wear them at all... They are heavy, they drag and pu at the root and also cause permanent damage to the hairline, plus they go stinky as can't wash them often

Nadim171 · Answer

You look beautiful with these. Does it matter if someone finds them offensive? No. People will find anything offensive if they want.

Lol, if someone is offended by braids then I'd wear them more often just to piss them off.

LizzyHale · Answer

Same with black girls with stick straight blonde hair. Just looks really silly. Same how white girls with braids like this look silly. But guess what? Who tf cares.

David92506 · Answer

It's about as offensive if a black chick wore a hairstyle that is typically worn by white women. IT'S NOT OFFENSIVE

Anonymous · Answer

Its not offensive. its just cos white people dont need it their hairtexture is sensitive for it, they already have thin hai. Box braids can make people with think straight hair lose their hairline and just lose hair in general. Whats the point? lets be honest its a trend and back in the days black people got bullied for wearing it and i even saw a WHITE girl with ginger hair (she's a bully) in fifth grade beat up another girl for wearing box braids and tell white people that they shouldn't wear braids and its for black people. Lets be honest white people wouldn't wear box braids if it wasn't trending now?

worldscolide · Answer

Its not. Anyone that says it is, is delusional or just plain stupid and best ignored.

Dargil · Answer

Not offensive at all. It's a style choice.
How offensive is it when a girl waxes her vulva? It's not. It's a style choice.

I know. Cultural appropriation. It's been going on for 10,000 years. It's good and healthy. Don't like it? Burn down all the Mexican, Chinese and Italian restaurants NOW!!!

OfDeath · Answer

Not offensive at all. If anyone gets offended by the way someone does their hair, they have deeper set issues.

Agape93 · Answer

No. More than one culture on more than one continent use braids of various styles, from Vikings to moors, to the Chinese to the various African civilizations.

DizzyDesii · Answer

Lmao. I’d keep my thoughts to myself when around her but yea when the black people group up, we totally gonna talk shit and mumble under our breaths. Its just what it is 🤷‍♀️

Ellie-V · Answer

As a black woman, I don’t like it. I’m not gonna disrespect anyone but it’s not something I can support personally and I’m not gonna press my opinions on anyone unless they ask me to.

Anonymous · Answer

Sure it's offensive. It's offensive blacks claim they're responsible for this look when it originated in Egypt. Damn blacks & their theft of Arabic culture.

In reality, the people who find something as trivial as hair offensive need help. Like locked in a padded room help. I mean I've frizzy curly ass black hair that cropped to ear length looks like an afro in humid weather. I'm white. It's natural. And any black who gets offended over that can kiss my fat arse.

SuccessfulHornDog · Answer

I dont find it offensive but I do find it unattractive.

AmeerX · Answer

Braids is not black thing. I love those Ukrainian braided girls

jmf909 · Answer

How is it offensive? i dont understand it a personal choice like getting a tattoo or having a beard or be clean shaven how can anyone be offended and if they were then they should go kill themselves because they gunna get offended way worse if they look at real offensive shit that this world is full of

loveslongnails · Answer

Hmmm... you know, the first person I can think of to wear a hat with the price tag still on it, was Minnie Pearl, a little old white lady comedian. Should black guys who started doing that be looked down on? Enough is enough, hmmm? "Race Fashion Hijacking Matters" ? Is that next now?

Anonymous · Answer

I thought it was just a hairstyle wasn't offensive, I thought it was just a hairstyle.
But I had a big discussion about it on Instagram. One girl send me this
https://everydayfeminism. com/2015/07/white-people-black-hairstyles/
This explains why it could be seen as offensive.

Fanglite2 · Answer

It's not offensive at all. Anyone can wear that hairstyle and I personally find it extremely cute especially when my girlfriend has her hair like that.

cherrytwist · Answer

If it's just a sense of style, go for it. If the intention behind it is to literally mock and offend, then it's probably a bit offensive.

Blooby · Answer

It's not offensive to me, but I'm white. Braids on a white girl doesn't bother me any more than blond hair on a black girl. I have bigger things to think about.

Anonymous · Answer

It's hair. Unless someone is purposely acting "some type of way," to my face or claiming the culture like they invented it...who cares...and even then--what exactly can you do to stop them? We are literally in the middle of a pandemic! Like I am trying not to die here...I don't have time to wonder why some rando is wearing braids. Do you!

MysteriousDarkness · Answer

Cultural Appropriation is a load of crap. If we went along with it then just imagine how limited your life would be. If you took it too extremes then you would limit clothes based on not only style but fabric as well, food by the individual ingredients. Those are just too examples and there are others but I think you get the point.

Pete671 · Answer

Surely it's a compliment to another culture if you copy them?, I'm in UK and would be awfully flattered if a US person, for example, neglected their dental hygiene, got massively drunk at weekends, and apologised to the driver if you got run over as a pedestrian,,,

Adam1978 · Answer

It's not offensive its just as ugly on a white chick as a black.

NarutoUzumaki007 · Answer

it's her body her hair , she can wear and cut her hair whatever way she wants. Who am I to say anything. Why should this offend anyone?

Anonymous · Answer

It's not a offensive, it's a friggin hairstyle get over it. People who say this is offensive are the type of bitter sad people who constantly need to have something to be upset or offended about because they have a victim mentality and nothing else to define themselves by.

Massageman · Answer

Wear whatever hairstyle you would like. Their "offense" is their problem.  I just don't think they look good on too many women and they really don't help the model in the pic above.

KeziL · Answer

I think if you're not doing it to make fun of or try to be black, just because you like the style, it's okay.

ShadezMcgee · Answer

A hairstyle is not exclusive to one ethnicity. Some races can rock them better than others, but one does not own or deserve it more than the other.

007kingifrit · Answer

anyone who tells you you can't wear something because of your skin color should be given the middle finger and cut out of your life immediately. you can wear whatever you want

that being said i don't like them

GR00VY · Answer

It's just braids. I don't really care what other races wear, just as long as it ain't hurting nobody. 🙄

Hannahm67 · Answer

Personally I don't think this looks good on anyone and make people look trashy which means you attract trashy people. The same goes for dreadlocks. But you do you.

How offensive is it for a white chick to wear box braids?

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