Hair braiding isn’t a new beauty trend. The art of meticulously weaving strands into intricate patterns has been around for centuries.
The hairstyling technique has been passed down from generation to generation in the Black community, and tennis star Serena Williams just shared the tradition with her daughter.
This morning in a touching Instagram post, Williams expressed the immense joy she feels in sharing the hair braiding experience with her 1-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. The world renowned athlete, whose iconic beaded braids broke boundaries for the way women wear their hair in the sports industry, said she’s honored.
“Braiding started in Africa with the Himba people of Namibia. We have been braiding her hair for centuries. In many African tribes braided hairstyles were a unique way to identify each tribe,” Williams wrote in a lengthy caption.
“Because of the time it would take people would often take the time to socialize. It began with the elders braiding their children, then the children would watch and learn from them,” she continued. “The tradition of bonding was carried on for generations, and quickly made its way across the world. I am honored to share this bonding experience with my own daughter and add another generation of historic traditions.”
In the adorable Instagram photo, it looks like baby Olympia shares the same joy as Williams, as she appears to watch on as her mom gathers her curly hair.
If anyone can teach this little cutie pie a thing or two about hair braiding, it’s the tennis pro who’s worn the style for decades.
Check out some of Williams’ best braided looks:
