The Red Crown: Himba Women’s Hair
What does it mean to wear your history in your hair? For the Himba women of northern Namibia, beauty is a language spoken in red ochre, passed from mother to daughter, and sculpted into every braid. In the dusty, sunburnt lands of northern Namibia, between rocky hills and winding rivers, live the Himba people, a semi-nomadic community known for their resilience, grace, and striking appearance. Among them, the Himba women stand out not just for their beauty, but for their proud display of tradition, carried on their skin, in their dress, and most famously, in their hair. The red-plated hair of the Himba women is a living symbol. A message written in earth, time, and memory. It tells a story of identity, pride, survival, and womanhood passed down from one generation to the next. Who Are the Himba? The Himba are an indigenous people of Namibia, mainly found in the Kunene region, near the Angolan border. They are pastoralists, which means they live closely with their livestock, especially cattle and goats. Their days are shaped by the rhythm of nature. They live in huts made from mud and dung, sleep under wide skies, and follow traditions that have stayed largely untouched for hundreds of years. But beyond geography and history, it is their visual expression, especially their hair that has come to symbolize their enduring strength. A Signature of Himba Womanhood What captures most people’s attention when they see the Himba women for the first time is their hair. Thick, red, sculpted locks that look like they’ve been shaped by fire and earth. These are not wigs or braids from a salon. These are carefully built hairstyles, coated in a rich red paste called otjize—a mixture of butterfat, red ochre (iron-rich stone ground into powder), and sometimes fragrant herbs or tree resins. The women apply otjize every day. It covers their hair and their entire bodies, giving their skin a warm, reddish glow. It protects them from the harsh sun, acts as a moisturizer in the dry desert climate, and keeps insects away. But its meaning goes far beyond physical use. The red color represents the earth, blood, and life itself. It is sacred. It is spiritual. Hair is not just hair to the Himba. It’s a marker of identity and a sign of where a woman is in her life. Himba hairstyles follow clear rules: 1.Young girls wear two plaits hanging forward over their faces, called ozondato. 2.Teenage girls start adding more braids and often begin applying otjize. 3.Married women wear thick, long, red-plated locks that fall over their shoulders, sometimes covering the face slightly. These are called ozondato as well, but in a more elaborate form. 4.Mothers wear a headpiece made of sheepskin called an erembe, which is attached to their braided hair. It’s a symbol of fertility and motherhood. 5.Elder women or widows may cover their heads or leave their hair natural, often signaling a different stage of life. Even the shape and number of braids have meaning. They show your social role, your family’s wealth, your marital status, and more. In Himba society, you can “read” a woman’s life story through her hairstyle. The Art of Maintenance: A Daily Ritual Keeping the hair beautiful and healthy is a daily ritual. Himba women don’t bathe with water in the Western sense, especially because water is scarce in their environment. Instead, they perform a kind of smoke bath. They burn special wood, often from aromatic trees, inside a clay pot, and once it produces enough smoke, they sit over it and let the smoke cleanse their skin and body. This is how they “bathe.” When it comes to their hair, the women take their time. They mix fresh otjize paste and gently coat their braids. Sometimes, other women help. It is an intimate, bonding experience; mother to daughter, sister to sister, elder to younger. It is a shared practice that keeps their traditions alive. Some of the braids are made using hair extensions from other women in the tribe, animal hair, or even woven wool. But the otjize paste always covers it all, binding it into a single, sculpted form. The Meaning Behind the Red To outsiders, the red hair might seem like just a bold fashion choice. But to the Himba, it means much more. The red ochre is tied to the idea of kaoko, a connection to the earth, to ancestors, and to the spirit of the land. The Himba believe in a spiritual life force that flows through everything: the cattle, the trees, the soil, and the human body. Covering themselves in red ochre is a way of aligning with this force. It’s a way of honoring life. Symbols of Cultural Resistance Today, Himba women are seen as symbols of cultural resistance. While much of the world pushes for modernization, assimilation, and change, they hold fast to their roots. They walk through dusty villages and open markets dressed in leather skirts, beaded necklaces, and bare chests unapologetically themselves. As the world rushes forward, the Himba women boldly remind us that our traditions are enough. That our way of being our skin, our hair, our rituals hold deep meaning. They remind us that African beauty is not borrowed, not bought. It is built, strand by strand, from memory, meaning, and the dust of home. This balance between tradition and modern life is difficult. It raises questions about choice, identity, and the future. But one thing remains: the red hair continues to speak.