04/03/2026
The term “install” as it relates to our hair styling processes is relatively new. It began with the introduction of lace front wigs which where once only used in theatre for temporary use in movie roles and in stages, or for women who really need them to feel beautiful after losing their hair for medical reasons, to now being sold for $40 in Black beauty supply stores around the world and online.
Historically we, Black women have always referred to our hair styling choices by what we were getting done. For instance, if we were getting cornrows, box, or individuals…we said we’re getting our hair braided. If we were getting a sew-in we’d say we’re getting a sew-in.
But, the process of getting a lace front wig done entails having the wig lace glued around our hairlines. Verbalizing “I’m getting a wig glued down” doesn’t sound like the healthy protective style it’s been misaligned to be.
So, for the sake of “doing what we wanna do with our hair” we cushioned the blow of the what happens to our hairlines with repeatedly wearing glued on lace front wigs with “install”. It made the substance of glue, an adhesive, being applied to our hairline a digestible and normalized reality.
