🪮
Hair Pick
hɛər pɪk
Definitions
1
Personal Care · Grooming
Common
A wide-toothed styling tool used primarily for detangling and adding volume to curly, coily, or afro-textured hair. Often associated with Black hair care and cultural identity.
Used in conversations about hair care routines, styling techniques, or as a symbol of Black cultural pride.
Just got a new 🪮 with a Black power fist handle! Perfect for my 4C curls.
Instagram caption
Hair routine: wash, condition, detangle with 🪮, then style with gel.
TikTok tutorial
Beyond its practical use, the hair pick has significant cultural importance in Black communities as a symbol of identity, resistance, and the natural hair movement.
2
Cultural · Identity
Common
A symbol representing Black cultural pride, identity, and connection to African heritage, particularly in contexts discussing natural hair movements or Black empowerment.
Often used in discussions about Black identity, natural hair journeys, or cultural expression.
Celebrating Black History Month with symbols of our culture 🪮✊🏾
Social media post
The raised fist hair pick design became an iconic symbol during the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s, representing resistance and solidarity.
Evolution Timeline
1970
The Afro pick with Black Power fist handle becomes a symbol of Black pride and resistance in America.
Black Power movement and growing embrace of natural hairstyles.
2010
Natural hair movement revival increases visibility of traditional hair tools like picks in mainstream culture.
Growing rejection of chemical straightening and embrace of natural textures.
2022
Hair pick emoji added to Unicode 15.0, representing growing digital recognition of Black hair care tools.
Increased advocacy for culturally diverse and inclusive emoji representation.
Cultural Context
The Afro pick evolved from traditional African combs and gained prominence during the Black Power movement as both a practical tool and political symbol of resistance.
The hair pick represents the rejection of Eurocentric beauty standards and the embrace of natural Black hair textures, symbolizing self-acceptance and cultural pride.
The introduction of the hair pick emoji in 2022 reflected growing digital recognition of diverse cultural tools and practices related to Black hair care.
Younger generations have reclaimed the hair pick as part of a broader natural hair movement, while for older generations it may evoke direct connections to civil rights activism.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Used by Black British communities, with growing visibility in discussions about natural hair care and cultural identity.
United States
Commonly associated with Black American culture and the natural hair movement. Often seen as both a practical tool and a symbol of cultural pride.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: May associate with both practical hair care and cultural/political symbolism from their youth.
Gen_Z: Often used in natural hair care tutorials and discussions about cultural identity on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Often connects the hair pick to direct experiences with the Black Power movement and changing beauty standards.
Millennials: Frequently used in conversations about natural hair journeys and embracing cultural heritage.
Common Combinations
🪮✊🏾
Black power, pride, and cultural identity associated with natural hair.
References the iconic hair pick design with a raised fist handle, symbolizing Black empowerment.
🪮💇🏾
Hair styling or hair care routine for curly/coily hair.
Used in conversations about natural hair care practices and styling techniques.
🪮💯
Perfect hair pick or excellent hair styling results.
Expresses satisfaction with a hair tool or styling outcome.