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Box Braids in the Military
The U.S. Army has strong regulations and restrictions on hairstyles for both men and women. In 2014, the army reviewed its policies and made changes to it. There were concerns and comments that these regulations were too restrictive for African American women. It originally deemed their natural hair “not neat” and the protective styles “unprofessional”. According to an official Army Military article, "Twists, cornrows and braids can be up to 1/2 inch in diameter. The previous maximum was a diameter of approximately 1/4 inch". This gives more opportunity to wear protective styles. Box Braids can be worn but no more than 3/8 of the scalp can be showing. The parting must be square or rectangular shape. The ends of the braids must be secured. Once the newly grown natural hair outside of the braid, also known as new growth, reaches ½ an inch, the style must be redone. All of these regulations are the same for similar styles like locks, twist, and braids with natural hair. These hairstyles must not interfere with the wear of uniform or covers. The synthetic hair for box braids can come in any color but in the Military, they must be natural hair colors without any additional jewelry like clips or beads. Allowing box braids and other styles into the Military is important because constantly perming or straightening hair will cause damage and possible breakage, leaving the hair unhealthy. Box braids protect the hair while in combat without the additional harm other styles may cause outside of combat.

Box Braids in Cultural Appropriation
Cultural Appropriation can be defined as the adoption of elements of one culture by members of another culture. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from disadvantaged minority cultures. Box braids is just one of the many things in the Black community that has been and continues to be culturally appropriated. Box braids have been more recently appropriated than in the past. As previously stated early, hair styles like box braids have great cultural value to the Black community all around the world. Box braids and similar braiding styles have also been discriminated against for being “unprofessional” and “unkept.” With this being said, it comes off offensive and disrespectful when White celebrities like Kim Kardashian get cornrows and rename them “boxer braids.” She also credited a White actress, Bo Derek, as her inspiration from 1979. It is considered Cultural Appropriation because she was using Black culture as a fashion statement and was being glorified for creating something “trendy” when Black women get discriminated for having this style throughout their lives and history. With box braids, it can be dangerous to appropriate. Putting box braids in a person who does not have typical kinky “Black hair” can lead to hair breakage, damage, and thinning. Ironically with these risk, White women still choose to get these braids. It is unknown if women of different cultures getting box braids is helping to normalize the hair style in professional and work settings.

Box Braids in Hair Discrimination
Wearing box braids in work and school settings has led to many situations of discrimination. It does not matter what they are wearing, it is their hair that is breaking the dress code. Kids in grades as early as elementary school have been sent home because their hair was worn naturally or in a protective style such as box braids. In certain cases, the school rule is that hair extensions are prohibited. The problem with this is that it disproportionally affects the black students. It also leads to the damaging of hair because if they cannot wear protective styles and their natural hair is ruled “unkept” (Discrimination based on hair texture) then all that is left is to put in chemicals to make it straight. Students have been kicking out of their class, off of their sports teams, and even unable to walk at their own graduation because their black hair like locs or braids. Banning these hairstyles is about more than the hair. It is racial discrimination. There are four states that have officially banned hair discrimination: California, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia being the most recent in March 2020. This is clearly a problem that still needs some work in order to be fixed. If all 50 states were to ban hair discrimination, it would, theoretically, eliminate the discrimination against wearing box braids in the work and school settings. This is not just a U.S. conflict. There have been similar cases worldwide. Students in South Africa were told to straighten their hair after school said they could not wear cornrows, locs, or braids. This sparked protest against the school’s administration. Hair discrimination is about more than hair. It is about the racism imbedded into our everyday systems.