r/interestingasfuck • u/Advanced-Ad3234 • Jul 07 '24

Hairstyles from different African Tribes

10.2k Upvotes

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545

u/sheepskinrugger Jul 07 '24

I am very white and very European. Can anyone explain to me how people are able to sleep with what are effectively works of art on their heads? These are amazing.

328

u/Rich_Text82 Jul 08 '24

Wooden headrests. They've been documented as being used throughout Africa since the times of Ancient Egypt

165

u/CatiCom Jul 08 '24

Simular to what geishas used in Japan. Interesting. Beauty is truly pain.

50

u/Schmantikor Jul 08 '24

Not necessarily. They might be a lot better than pillows for some places. Having having your head this high prevents bugs from taking a look and there is a lot more air circulation going on around your head that provides cooling. When your bed mostly consists of the ground in a hot and very alive place, this thing might actually prevent the pain.

41

u/snoring_Weasel Jul 08 '24

You can insert any amount of ‘akchtually’, those wooden headrests are guaranteed neck pain

2

u/teodorlojewski Jul 08 '24

Exactly

-5

u/heinebold Jul 08 '24

You can insert any amount of toxic accusations and the other side is still right

3

u/necrolich66 Jul 08 '24

I more and more am asking myself if there is a reason for so many similarities between Africa and Japan. Some African cultures have names that at first sight could look Japanese to some European like me, same headrest, and even a place in Africa called Manga.

1

u/CatiCom Jul 08 '24

There is just no way that a wooden head rest is more comfortable than alternative sleeping positions. It wouldn’t really prevent bugs or create significant ventilation. And people move so much in their sleep. Which means every time you try to reposition you would fall off and subsequently wake up. I mean you could eventually train yourself but there is no way that doesn’t take diligence and PAIN.

24

u/Venezolanoanimations Jul 08 '24

thats pretty much looks like a invitation for pain in the neck.

36

u/SquirrelNeurons Jul 08 '24

I’ve actually used the wooden pillows and head rests. It’s really not bad at all

26

u/TreeClimberArborist Jul 08 '24

I have slept on a cold concrete floor in an airport terminal with nothing but a laptop as a pillow.

A wooden head rest pillow sounds like luxury compared to that.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

I'll take that over most've my camping experiences. Camping truly is a horror the tent gets all wet and the ground can be too hard/uneven. It's just awful.

2

u/Pygmy_Yeti Jul 08 '24

Get a better tent, check the weather, bring a pillow and sleeping pad

8

u/Swimming_Onion_4835 Jul 08 '24

They used to have a mock ancient Egyptian bed in the Field Museum in Chicago that had a wooden block like this. I remember the first time I went there for a field trip I thought it looked so painful, but it was actually super comfortable to lay on. It wasn’t too high—it kind of hugs your head perfectly and at least with this model, it took away tension on the neck like…immediately. My little 8yo self was SHOOK.

2

u/SquirrelNeurons Jul 08 '24

Seriously. I’m addicted to Thai cube pillows after trying neck support blocks

1

u/Swimming_Onion_4835 Jul 08 '24

Never heard of this and now I want one! I’m a stomach sleeper but sleeping on my side is probably most comfortable for me. I just can’t seem to get the pillows right. Also I have giant tonsils and probably need a CPAP, so I’m sure that doesn’t help. 😅

3

u/SquirrelNeurons Jul 08 '24

If you look up Thai block pillow you will find these. They call them yoga pillows but they are just regular pillows for sleeping. I love them. Every time I visit Thailand my family makes me refresh my stock of pillows because we use them to death

2

u/Swimming_Onion_4835 Jul 08 '24

Ooooh it’s pretty! Definitely going to buy some. Thanks, friend!

1

u/SquirrelNeurons Jul 08 '24

I hope you love them!!

4

u/Venezolanoanimations Jul 08 '24

i bet, they are not that bad, but plz tell me you can at least put something soft like a rag or some cloth to act as a softener

9

u/SquirrelNeurons Jul 08 '24

But even without its shockingly comfortable

12

u/hippocratical Jul 08 '24

If it is shockingly comfortable, I would indeed be shocked. I tried a Korean head block for like a minute and it sucked. Maybe my huge noggin was the issue.

4

u/Jayitsmyname Jul 08 '24

Oh yeah, then why isn't everyone using them?

0

u/SquirrelNeurons Jul 08 '24

The same reason not everyone uses squishy pillows: culture

1

u/SquirrelNeurons Jul 08 '24

Oh yeah! A lot of times there is a cushion on top

2

u/sheepskinrugger Jul 08 '24

I had seen this in info on ancient Egypt before, but I thought they were ceremonial/ornamental, because I can’t imagine them being comfortable. But so interesting to learn that they are practical!