Copyright 2001 by Phillip Martin All rights reserved.	Home	Namibia		E-mail
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Himba women used some kind of red clay and leather to weave very unusual hairstyles.c It didn't look comfortable at all -- but it was fascinating.c Young girls grew two long cornrows that generally grew in points coming down their foreheads.c Himba women used the same kind of red powder on their skin.c They covered their entire bodies with it.c Of course, this also included their clothing and jewelry -- and I was told they never washed it off.c At least that was the case if what I heard was true.c Chris said Himba women never bathed.
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The Himba men had a few unique traditions of their own.c In the front they wore a short loincloth and in the back it was very long.c The cloth was attached around the hips with some kind of belt.c Unmarried men shaved the sides of their heads and grew a long cornrow on the top.c It continued down their neck and then grew out several inches.c Some young men even had special fabric hats that covered this unique style.c I never learned if married men cut their hair.c They always wore hats.c In addition, for whatever reason, at the age of twelve Himba men frequently knocked out their bottom four front teeth.c It would be interesting to know how that began.c