Madagascar Inspired Protective Natural Hairstyle | Tanavoho | Sakalava | Betsimisaraka

I have seen this hairstyle on a few social media posts and it took me forever to find out where it originated. Firstly it reminded me of the red clay (otjize) hairstyles worn by the Himba people of Namibia. After some more research I discovered that it is inspired by the Sakalava women of Madagascar. I’ve come across two different names for this style; Betsimisaraka and Tanavoho.

The hairstyle is traditionally done with natural hair, and sits closely to the wearers face, much like when Rihanna rocked it on the cover of British Vogue, and Cameroonian artist Reniss wore it in her music video La Sauce. More commonly though I have seen it worn with hair extensions, and rather than braided the hair is crochet and wrapped, like a faux loc. Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has worn this way it a few times.

Regardless on how it is done, I find this style gorgeous, and so I decided to give it a go myself.


Videos mentioned

How To Cornrow Your Own Hair for Beginners
   • How To Cornrow Your Own Hair for Begi...  

3 QUICK EASY WAYS TO ADD BEADS TO HAIR with and without beader
   • 3 QUICK EASY WAYS TO ADD BEADS TO HAI...  


0:00 Introduction
2:41 Braid foundation
5:15 Cornrow
6:58 Adding the beads
8:35 Wrapping the braids
9:56 Adding the puffs


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