Most people wonder some ladies especially African women and ladies wear waist beads.
Some even think that it may be a form of tradition or a symbol of something deeper other than fashion.
In some ways, they may be right but then what exactly are waist beads? why are waist beads worn and what do they signify?
What is the importance of waist beads that is even if they have any? Well, keep reading because this article will do justice to your inquiries and questions.
Waist beads are kind of dangling jewels popularly made with beads and they are worn around the waist.
Mostly, waist beads are for women and they are made with beads placed on a string.
They are mostly worn around the navel or just below the navel. They are like jewelry that is worn to add adornment and beauty to women and ladies.
Mostly common among African women, it is said to be one of their secret sources of appeal.
Mostly worn beneath the cloth of a modest African woman, they tend to pop out underneath the cloth maybe while the female is dancing and swirling her waist or while she is walking.
The beads tend to add a lot to her sexuality and myths and legends have it that it improves her sexuality. Waist beads didn’t just begin in this century or this generation.
The origin of waist beads goes as far back as the 15th century and most people are of the opinion that the wearing of waist beads started in Ancient Egypt but then at this time, they weren’t known as beads.
Instead, they were known as “Girdles“. Although the meaning and importance of waist beads generally cannot be denied, then there are colors attached to waist beads that signify the significance of the particular waist bead and what it was made for or what it stands to represent.
The significance of each color varies from tribe to tribe and choosing the colors for your waist bead is considered as important as choosing the weight of the beads you want to wear.
Also while choosing a particular waist bead, you must consider the design, the length, and how flexible you want it to be. This tip should be noted by all women because it is very important.
Below are colors that are mostly used in making beads and what these colors signify.
- Brown color: Brown color signifies earth, stability, strength, honesty, comfort, reliability, and of course the natural nature of the African woman.
- Red color; Red color screams sexuality, self-confidence and vitality, intense passion, love, power, and immense sexual desire.
- Green color: For prosperity, fertility, harmony, abundance, nature, growth, and hope.
- Pink color: Pink color stands for love, unity, friendship, appreciation, care, sweet nature, kindness, beauty, and tenderness.
- Gold color: Gold color stands for wealth, power, high quality, and good health.
- White Colour: The white color of waist beads simply means simplicity, purity and innocence, humility, youthfulness, and virginity.
- Black color: Most waist beads that have black color symbolize power, protection, authority, and depth.
- Orange color: Orange waist beads are for warmth, enthusiasm, success, and attraction.
There are many uses for waist beads and their importance can’t be overemphasized. They are more than just some pretty beads dangling down your navel.
Most people think that it is only the young slim ladies that use waist beads but that is just a misconception.
In Africa, you may even see waist beads on grandmothers and women who are already of old age. There are several uses of beads but then all their uses can be classified into four main uses.
The four main uses include:
1. Growth and Maturity
One very powerful indication of how much a woman’s body grows and matures over the years in Africa is with the use of Waist beads.
Waist beads help to measure and signify the changes in a woman’s body over the years. Mostly, young females as soon as they attain puberty or hit adolescence are made to wear these waist beads.
This will signify and symbolize that the lady is ready for mating or for marriage as the case may be.
They also help enhance the waist and articulate female features which will in turn make them so much more desirable to the males.
2. Intimate appeal and seduction
One major reason why most females wear waist beads is for seduction. Females will always want to seduce and give a sense of sexuality to their lovers and spouses.
Wives usually use this to communicate their sexual desires by exposing these beads to their lovers.
Some ladies from the Yoruba culture will go the extra mile and add perfumed scents to their beads before wearing them on their waists.
Then they will simply just walk around their mates, lovers, or spouses while ensuring that the beads are swaying and that will, in turn, drive their partners crazy with desire for them. Awesome don’t you think?
3. Ensuring a good shape of the body
Another major reason African women usually use waist beads is to use them as indicators in order for them to know if they are gaining weight or losing weight.
African women would know if they are losing weight or gaining weight by how free or how tight the waist beads become on them after a certain period of time.
This will therefore help them measure their weights and as well maintain them should in case they are okay with their weights. It can also be used as an indicator of pregnancy. Want to know how?
When a woman finds out that she is gaining weight due to how tight the waist bead she is wearing becomes on her, she may decide to go for a pregnancy test if she is experiencing all the other symptoms that come with pregnancy.
4. Purity and chastity
Waist beads can act as a symbol of purity. When a young lady wears a white waist bead, this signifies purity and she is only allowed to pull it off on her wedding night she won’t even be the one to pull it off, it is her husband that is allowed to pull it off after their first sex together.
Are you wondering how to get your waist beads or most especially your sizes? don’t fret. You don’t really need to be a size 18 before you can get your own waist beads.
All you need is to measure yourself appropriately before going to the market to purchase yours.
Make sure that while taking your measurements you will stand straight and also you don’t hold your breath.
Also, make sure that there is no clothing around your waist or on your hips while taking your measurements.
This will ensure that you get your measurements accurately and hence get the perfect waist bead for you.
Waist beads are not only for African Women, they are for every woman, shape, tribe, and race.
And so if you are one of those women who loves trying out new stuff, we encourage you to try wearing waist beads and you just may be amazed at the surprising effects that these waist beads will bring to you.
