Here are some images of old photographs of communities wearing braided hairstyles associated with balls, from different eras, ethnic traditions, and cultures.

Some photographs, originally in black and white, have been partially or entirely colourized by the graphic designer AGOBO.

There are different styles of braids and buns, including cornrows/flat braids, thread braids, and simple braids.

The hairstyles mentioned above involve simply braiding or threading the hair and either:

• Leave the ends of the braid loose in very small, small, or medium curls. The curly hair will naturally form balls due to the natural shrinkage effect of curly hair.
• Or you can tie loose curly hair into a ball and pull the ends up.

This does not give the same result on straight, wavy or naturally very curly hair; manual hair modifications may be necessary to create volume.

For example:

• Creating curls with rollers, curlformers etc... .
• Backcomb the hair.
• Or if the hair is naturally curly (very small to medium curls). But the hair has been stretched and temporarily straightened. The hair will need to be re-wet to activate the shrinkage (formation of balls).

 STATEN