Christina Jenkins: The Hair Weave Pioneer

Hair weaving and sew-in hair have been used by black women for centuries to enhance their natural hair and to create new hairstyles. The practice of adding hair extensions to one's own hair can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where women would attach human hair to their own hair using beeswax and resin.

In the United States, hair weaving and sew-in hair gained popularity in the early 20th century. One of the pioneers of this technique was an African American woman named Christina Jenkins, who invented the hair weave and patented her technique. Originally from Louisiana, Jenkins graduated from Leland College with a degree in science and began researching ways to secure wigs and hairpieces. Her method eventually evolved into attaching hair extensions to a person's natural hair using a needle and thread. 

Jenkins applied for her patent in 1947, and it was finally granted on October 28, 1952, with the title "Hairweev and process of manufacture." Her patent was a significant milestone in the beauty industry, as it made it possible for stylists to create hairstyles that were previously impossible to achieve. However, Jenkins faced challenges in enforcing her patent, as many hairdressers and beauty salons continued to use her technique without proper licensing. Additionally, the patent did not provide complete protection for her invention, as alternate hair weaving techniques could be used that did not infringe on her patent.

Despite the challenges, Jenkins continued to work as a hairdresser and educator, teaching her weaving technique to other stylists and helping to popularize the use of hair extensions in the United States. Her contributions to the beauty industry and her pioneering work in developing the method had a lasting impact on the field. In future decades, the sew-in hair technique became more popular as African American sought more versatile and natural-looking hairstyles. With the invention of synthetic hair and improvements in hair weaving technology, women were able to achieve a wide range of styles, from straight and sleek to curly and voluminous.

Today, hair weaving and sew-in hair remain popular among African American women who want to add length, volume, or texture to their hair. The techniques have evolved to include various innovative methods of attaching hair extensions, such as bonding, clip-ins, tape-ins, and more. While there has been some controversy over the years about the potential damage to natural hair caused by these techniques, many women continue to express themselves through their hairstyles.

At The Trini Gee, we strive to honor and celebrate the natural beauty of black women by featuring designs that showcase fros, natural hair, and weaves too. This includes our accessory pouches, tote bags, and shirts, to name a few. By doing so, we hope to encourage more women to admire the unique allure of black women.