#tignon

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« Deux Antillaises »

Fin 18e siècle

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Tignon, Ayana V. Jackson, 2016

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Tignon Law

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Tignon Laws: The dreadful rule that banned African women from displaying their hair

African women are often praised and revered for their hair. The texture of African hair is suitable for forming unique styles from the afro to braids.  Even mainstream media often imitate styles invented and catered to women with Afrocentric hair without a mention of appreciation.

Nevertheless, there was a time when African women weren’t allowed to display their hair in public. Keep reading to learn about the Tignon Laws and how it was used to fuel racial tensions in the United States.

A tignon (tiyon) is a headdress used to conceal hair.  It was adorned by free and slave Creole women of African ancestry in Louisiana in 1786.  The sumptuary law was enacted under Governor Esteban Rodriguez Miró.  The regulation was meant as a means to regulate the style of dress and appearance for people of color.  African women’s features often attracted male European, French, and Spanish suitors and their beauty was a perceived threat to white women. The tignon law was a tactic used to combat the men pursuing and engaging in affairs with Creole women. Simply put, African women competed too openly with white women by dressing elegantly and possessing note-worth beauty.

Nonetheless, African women did not despair. Instead, they abided by the rule and turned it into fashion. The women used unique colors, jewels, ribbons, and wrapping styles which accentuated their gorgeousness even more. Out of this bore the various head ties seen today on women of color using unique materials, patterns, and flair.

Tignons have been worn by women in the Caribbean islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Dominica which included hidden messages. They used Madras – a popular fabric amongst slaves and free women to achieve their head ties.

Women in two different head wrap styles…photo credit: Fulaba

Tignon law eventually went out of effect in the 1800’s yet, African women worldwide continue to use head wraps as wardrobe staples paying homage to their culture, signifying their pride, and looking stunning while doing so. Enter email address to receive updates from Face2face AfricaSUBSCRIBE

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#Tignon During the Spanish colonial time in Louisiana, the tignon was the mandatory headdress for Creole women, and the style extended throughout the Caribbean island regions as well. Louisiana regulations mandated this headpiece in 1785. Even though it was meant to oppress women of color, Madras was a favorite cloth for tignons among both free and enslaved populations, and it has become iconic. Enslaved women were regularly given mismatched bits of undyed fabric to make tignons. The patchwork of fabric was designed to look festive.. Madras tignon carry hidden meanings depending on how they are tied from island to island.

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Carolle Drake as Michele in Band of Angels (1957).