Should African-American/Black Men wear braids, corn rows, dreadlocks after the age of 40?

[puginabug]

Originally Posted by prospectheightsresident

Since we are going with "should" and talking subjectively, I say it depends. I've seen the hairstyle work with some, but not with others regardless of age. But there comes a time when the style doesn't work for a particular person, at which point it should be stopped. It's like folks who are experiencing significant head balding but refuse to just chop it all off.

How would braids or cornrows NOT work? I’ve not seen any AA person that they didn’t “work” on. If the style is kept up and looks neat, how does it not “work”?

[prospectheightsresident]

Originally Posted by Parnassia

Whether any hairstyle (or mode of dress for that matter) "works" for someone is a matter of opinion...of the bystander, not only the person wearing it. Ultimately, if the wearer thinks it works for them that's all that matters. "Beauty is in the eye of..." you can finish the rest.

Which is exactly why I noted this is a “subjective” matter that requires us to state whether we believe someone “should” do something.

[prospectheightsresident]

Originally Posted by puginabug

How would braids or cornrows NOT work? I’ve not seen any AA person that they didn’t “work” on. If the style is kept up and looks neat, how does it not “work”?

Many of the hairstyles folks often associate with braids are somewhat youthful. Come to think of it, I don’t really see older black men with braids very often. In fact it is rare. Dreadlocks are more common, I’ll say.

Edited to add: Now, I can't and don't claim to speak for all black people on this matter. But in my own circle (I last wore my hair in braids in the 9th or 10th grade . . . my mother would either do cornrows or what I called worm braids) of family and friends, braids are not something that we generally see among older black men. As I mentioned above, dreadlocks are a different story, but even then those aren't exactly what I'd call common in my experience.