Waist beads are a traditional African accessory that consist of small glass beads on a string or wire worn around the waist or hips. Waist beads are an African tradition where the colors and charms have a specific meaning.
Traditionally, the beads were a sign of a passageway for young girls. Even though most women nowadays wear the beads as a sign of fashion, the original way waistbeads were meant to be worn are under your clothes.
The history of waist beads dates back decades ago in ancient Egypt where waist beads were worn as a status symbol. West Africans wore them to attract mates, for protection, after young girl hit puberty to show she is now in womanhood, as well as to show growth and beauty. Besides being worn for sexuality, fertility and as a sign of womanhood, they were popular accessories worn for protection.
You do not have to be of African decent to wear waist beads, nor do you have to wear waist beads for traditional purposes. Whether you are wearing the waist beads for fashion, fertility, spirituality, healing, sexual appeal between you and your spouse, or your weight loss journey there is no right or wrong way to wearing your waist beads.