From The Drafts: Why the Doobie Wrap Will Forever Be THAT Girl
the art of wrapping your hair
"From the Drafts" are essays I’ve written but never published…whether because I wasn’t sure they were good enough, lost interest in the topic or just never finished it. But instead of letting them collect dust in my drafts, I’ve decided to set them free. Here they are, finally seeing the light.
Let's talk about the Doobie wrap…one of those hair rituals that have been in Black and Latinx circles for years. It is more than just getting smooth hair after a blowout; it is a feeling.
At first, the Doobie wrap was this underground trick for keeping hair straightened without frying it every day with heat. The early 2000s became a time when, with raised heads, women had become ready to step out of homes, still in their wraps…making a statement, like, "Yeah, I'm running in this wrap because I'm taking care of my hair, and I'm not about to hide that." Somehow, what was earlier kept private or reserved as some behind-the-scenes routine became a style moment; we took something that should have been under wraps…literally…and made it into a statement. Pins, clips, scarves…you name it, we styled it.
The word "Doobie" is believed to derive from "tubi," the Spanish term for wrapping hair in a circular pattern1. This method became very popular in Black and Latinx communities, mostly in urban areas, where it was passed down through the generations.
But forreal the Doobie wrap ain't just practical; it's a symbol of our resourcefulness. It's about working with what we've got and still looking fly. It's also about community if you know, you know. It's a tradition passed down, a nod to the women before us who knew how to keep their hair looking flawless in a world that wasn't always made for us.
The wrap was more than just a means of managing my hair it was about preserving the feeling of self-care and being polished.
I remember when it was taboo to wear your doobie out in public
The Doobie wrap, to me, is way more than just a hair technique; it's part of our story. It is about self-care in a manner that is peculiarly ours. There is something magical about unwrapping your hair and seeing it fall just right. It's a ritual that binds us to our mothers, grandmothers, and all the generations of women that came before us. They knew how to care for and protect what was theirs in a world that wasn't always handing them what they wanted.
And then, of course, there's the confidence. It's as if walking out with your Doobie wrap still in place says, "I know my worth, and I'm not afraid to show it." It's a look that speaks volumes without saying a word a blend of practicality, pride, and an unapologetic sense of self. We took something meant to be private and made it public, flipping the script on what beauty and self-care look like.
So the next time you see a Doobie wrap whether in the confines of a home, on the streets, or even on the red carpet remember, it's not just a hairstyle. Instead, it is a legacy. It is a cultural touchstone. It is that bold declaration that says we define beauty on our terms. The Doobie wrap is a statement on resilience, creativity, and owning power in being ourselves.
That is why the Doobie wrap is not just a style; it's a statement of culture. It screams of all that make us unique, from our roots to our crowns.
Khalea Underwood, "The Cultural Significance of the Doobie Wrap," Refinery29, March 20, 2017. Read more here.