Last Updated on February 14, 2024 by Nasir Hanif
Have you ever heard of people wearing waist beads? At first glance, your impression about this seemingly simple accessory is that it is just another body ornament. Waist beads sure are elegant and luxurious to look at. They have adorned thousands of women from all around the world. Waist beads have become a trend in various social media platforms as they are being used by several influencers.
But more than a decor, waist beads are used for more than one purpose. Years of history back up the use of waist beads by women.
Table of Contents
What are waist beads?
Waist beads are made up of two materials – a string and a set of beads. The string is long enough to be wrapped around the waist of a woman. Alternatively, wires can also be utilized for waist beads.
Aside from the string or wire, you will need a set of beads to be tied or slipped through the cord. These can be simple beads with a variety of colors and shapes. Others even use gems or crystals and are placed alternately to create beautiful accessories.
History of Waist Beads
Waist beads have had a long history which can be traced back to the time of the prominence of Egypt as an empire. They can be a single strand or multiple ones. The beads range from crystals and metals to bones and wood.
Women in African nations were known to have used waist beads for centuries. They also used different beads and attachments. Tradition allowed women to wear waist beads for various purposes.
Why do People Wear Waist Beads?
Waist beads make a nice belly adornment but they have been utilized for many reasons:
Symbol of Wealth and Femininity
Women of all shapes and sizes wore waist beads as a sign of prosperity and spiritual being. They love wearing waist beads to show off confidence in their femininity. Beauty is definitely shown through the usage of waist beads in Africa and even in other nations.
Different stones convey specific meanings. Blue show harmony, green display fertility, white manifest purity, and yellow indicate wisdom. Charms are also utilized for those who desire luck, prosperity, peace, and love.
Maturity and Growth
Another reason why people wear waist beads is that they want to show their maturity.
Women in some African cultures start to wear waist beads when they have their first menstruation, a sign of maturity for them. They show their transition into adulthood.
Trigger Emotional Responses
Waist beads only adorn the bodies of women but they also summon emotional reactions to the people looking at them. Since most waist beads are not gartered or kept on a hook, they highlight the curves of the women, thus enticing the onlookers to show emotional acknowledgment.
Weight Loss Monitoring
The size of the waist is one of the factors that determine the weight of women. As the waist increases in measurement, people will be alarmed that it is time to shed the weight. Waist beads are now being used to monitor loss or increase in body size. As the waist beads climb up the stomach, people will know that they are also gaining weight. If you notice these changes, you might want to go on a diet.
Posture
Some women use waist beads to make sure that they have the correct posture. The waist beads remind them that they have to stand or sit straight because of their fixed length.
Conclusion
Waist beads come in different shapes and sizes as well as with a variety of purposes. You can use it simply for adorning your body, weight loss monitoring, and even for ensuring good posture. No matter what your reasons are for wearing one, you should always make sure to be comfortable and at ease with the type of waist beads that you use.
Read also: KNOWING WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WAIST TRAINING: AN EXPLICIT GUIDE ON WAIST TRAINERS
