When they think of Native Americans, most people probably think about the weather (hot), or maybe casinos, and not much else.
But in fact, Native American culture is full of interesting facts that you may have never known before!
The body hair question has been plaguing the minds of American citizens for years. The most common question is, do Native Americans have body hair? This article will discuss Native Americans, their culture, and their languages and address the question of their body hair.
Do Native Americans Have Body Hair?
Native Americans have body hair just like the rest of us. A few don’t, but most people have hair on various parts of their bodies. They all have the same basic types of hair as anyone else: head hair, facial hair, arm hairs, leg hairs, chest hairs, and pubic hairs, among others.
Although Native Americans do not have a lot of body hair, they do have some. Their bodies are covered with a thin layer of peach fuzz.
They can also grow beards and mustaches like the other races though they used to pluck their facial hair as a cultural grooming practice in the past.
And although many are usually beardless, many others choose to groom their facial hair. You’ll find some with full-grown beards today, and more often than not, they have long head hairs.
Who Are The Native Americans?
The term Native American is a general, popular term for the indigenous peoples of the Americas (North and South America). Native Americans may be from Mexico, Peru, Canada, and the United States.
Christopher Columbus first touched down in the New World in 1492 and found people living here.
They had their language, culture, and way of life. The first inhabitants of the land we call America today were the Indians.
Native Americans lived in what is now called North America for at least 15,000 years before European colonists arrived.
The first were the people who settled in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland around 8000 BC to 10000 BC.
The next people on the North American continent were the ones who settled in what is now called South America. They settled there between 14,000 and 12,000 years ago.
Various tribes make up the Native American population, such as the Mohican and Cherokee. A tragic history has befallen Native Americans, with the European settlers’ mistreatments and wars against them.
Native Americans’ strong religious beliefs are still deeply held today, as they traditionally worshipped nature and believed in every object having a spirit.
Today, there are many different “tribes” or groups of Native American people. About 9.6 million people in the United States claim to have Indian ancestry.
That’s about 2.9% of the population. And there maybe twice as many if you include Canada and Mexico.
Native American Languages
About 175 Native American languages are spoken in North America, but linguists believe there were once more than twice as many. There are over 57 indigenous languages in the U.S. and its territories.
Although many of these extinct Native American languages have been forgotten, others like Navajo and Cherokee still exist today and allow the modern world to appreciate how complex Native American languages can be.
The most widely spoken language is Cherokee, with more than 140,000 speakers living primarily in Oklahoma and North Carolina; however, other languages like Navajo have over 180,000 speakers scattered throughout the Southwest region of the United States.
Native Americans have their unique language: a distinct group of related dialects that form an independent branch within the language family.
For instance, Cherokee is an Iroquoian language, distinct from the Caddoan and Siouan languages spoken in the Great Plains region.
Native American languages are rich in oral tradition and expression, unrelated to European origin. Among these are numerous dialects and subcultures; some are so different as mutually unintelligible.
Modern Culture
Most Native American communities have readily accepted modern technology, including radio, television, and the Internet, without losing sight of their traditions.
Contemporary culture mixes traditional and modern, influencing contemporary Native American art, music, and film.
Traditional stories are still being passed down orally; elders regularly impart their knowledge to younger members of their tribes.
The culture’s spiritual beliefs include reverence for the land and animals, sacred ceremonies in which gifts are given, respect for dreams, honor, and family values.
In many indigenous communities today, there is a strong connection between traditional practices and Christianity; for example, the Iroquois have a traditional prayer ceremony called the “Smudging Ceremony.”
In modern communities, traditional ceremonies are still practiced. Native Americans produce native American art, and their art is an inspiration to many.
The introduction of Christianity to native tribes throughout the continent has strongly influenced Contemporary Native American music.
While it was originally discouraged by missionaries, who viewed it as too “pagan” since the 20th century, traditional religious beliefs have been incorporated into songs with Christian lyrics. They also used music to convert Native Americans to Christianity.
The incorporation of traditional religious beliefs and practices into Christian music meant that the Native American Church, a syncretistic religion, was also strongly influenced by music. Songs in the “peyote songs” genre exemplify this phenomenon.
Christian music is also very popular among many tribes; Christian rock has been particularly successful among young people.
Why Do Native Americans Have Facial Hair Less Dense Than Usual?
Early Native Americans could develop facial hair, but they chose not to. According to American Indian anthropological specialists, the early American Indians would frequently pluck the new hairs as they appeared, simply because they didn’t want them to grow.
Some American Indians say they would pluck the hairs because it showed respect to their ancestors. This meant that facial hair had to be pulled out with tweezers or fingernails when it grew in.
Some Native American males may develop facial hair, but many Native Americans cannot grow full beards. It’s an oddity of evolutionary genetics. Native Americans and Asian people have less body hair on average.
What About Body Hair: Do Native Americans Grow Body Hair?
While the question may seem valid to some, it also leads to a series of misconceptions about Native Americans. The truth is that all humans have body hair.
What differs from culture to culture – and has been perpetuated in Hollywood, media, and Western society – is how much or how little a person will choose to groom their hair, whether for cultural reasons or aesthetic preferences.
Many people think that Native Americans are hairless; this is not surprising, as most media representations of Native American people are created for and by non-Native people.
Those images almost always portray them as being thinner than the average person and lacking body hair, particularly facial hair.
But while this is what most people tend to think when they hear “Native American,” it doesn’t reflect reality.
Native Americans have ancestors that are genetically close to Asians. These races lack dense hair development on their faces and body.
Many Native Americans nowadays have beards and mustaches, which could be because they have mixed with other races.
Can You Do Something To Help Beard Growth?
Beards are a sign of masculinity, and they are also a great way to hide the double chin.
The Native American Indian population is not immune to the effects of male pattern baldness just because they have a different ethnic heritage from most others in North America. They may be dealing with what many other men worldwide are going through.
There are Native Americans who find it difficult to grow full, thick beards. The reason is because of their genetic make-up.
Some tribes like the Blackfoot and the Sioux have maintained their genetics longer than others.
Despite this, you can do a few things to improve beard growth in general.
- For one, you can take vitamin supplements like biotin or vitamin C.
- You can also use certain oils, like castor oil, which promote hair growth. Beard oil can make your beard softer and less likely to become tangled.
- In addition, you could drink plenty of water each day and eat more protein.
- Grooming: One of the best ways to increase beard growth is to groom it regularly. A well-groomed beard will not only look nicer but will also be more manageable and easier to style.
- Beard moisturizer is a product that can help give your beard a healthy, shiny look and feel. The right conditioning shampoo can help give your beard the proper nutrients it needs.
Conclusion
The answer to whether Native Americans have body hair is that they do. Most Native Americans have hair on their bodies, similar to other races. For the most part, though, it is true that many of them have fewer facial hairs.
It is unclear why Native American people don’t have as much body hair as other races. Unfortunately, this is one area of American history where the truth is still a mystery.
We may never know why our indigenous ancestors were less hairy than us, but several unique possibilities exist.
