"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!"

Like Erin, I taught the art of braiding. I taught my best friend, who happens to be male, since braiding is a valuable skill for all members of both genders. You know, in case you get stranded on a desert island and have to make a rope out of plant fibers, or if a damsel in distress with 60 foot hair needs her hair styled.

Even though Justin has a sister, he decided to braid yarn tied to a chair (don't ask, he's a guy; he has to do it his own way). The first braid I taught him was the classic three-strand braid that every little girl knows by the time she can spell. Since he mastered that quickly, I then taught him a fish-tail braid. He did quite well. Perhaps he managed to channel his primordial hairdresser roots.

Braiding itself has existed for thousands of years. In Africa, braiding has existed since approximately 3500 B.C. as a form of socializing. Female relatives would cornrow or micro braid the younger girls' hair, and the girls would practice on friends and other relatives until they had mastered the art. In Renaissance Europe, women would plait, or French Braid their hair, while in North America, Native American girls and women would wear either one braid or two.

Not only was braiding for these women stylish, it was also functional. Cornrows and micro-braids tamed thick, wiry hair and made it easier to manage, keeping it out of your way while you are working. Native American's braids revealed that woman's marital status (one braid if married, two if not). And all three continents' braiding had one very specific function: it keeps hair cleaner, longer. In Renaissance Europe, or in the African jungle, or on the American plains, you aren't able to wash your hair as often as you might want. Braiding keeps hair from getting as oily as it otherwise would. It can also prevent split ends (which may not have been a concern if you have to shoot your next meal with a bow and arrow, but it is for some of us). Though braiding may not be used as often today, it is still a beautiful way to dress up your hair (or to wear it on the days you skip washing it!). And just because you're male doesn't mean you can't learn how. Justin did a pretty good job!