Bantu Knots: The Heritage, Art & Power Behind the Style

When you see those beautifully coiled buns across the scalp, know this: Bantu knots are more than a trend. They carry legacy, identity, and intention. This week, in honour of Black History Month, we’re celebrating the roots and power behind one of the most iconic hairstyles in the African diaspora.

The word Bantu means “people,” representing over 400 ethnic groups across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Bantu knots are believed to have originated among the Zulu (Nguni) people of Southern Africa, where hairstyles were used to express status, beauty, identity, and belonging.

In many cultures, the number, placement, or size of the knots carried meaning — from marital status to tribe affiliation. As African people were displaced through colonization and diaspora, hairstyles like Bantu knots became symbols of strength, memory, and resistance.

Creating Bantu knots is both an art and a form of protection:

1️⃣ Section the hair.

2️⃣ Twist each part tightly.

3️⃣ Coil it around itself to form small buns.

It’s a protective hairstyle that shields ends, locks in moisture, and reduces breakage — and when you unravel them, you get stunning defined curls (the famous knot-out look!)

During colonial and apartheid times, the term Bantu was misused — but today, it’s reclaimed with pride.

Wearing Bantu knots is an act of cultural remembrance, a reminder that our hair is our history and our royalty.

From the CROWN Act protecting natural hairstyles, to fashion runways celebrating textured beauty, Bantu knots now symbolize empowerment, not exclusion.

 

✨ Moisturize before twisting — satin-friendly creams or oils work best.

✨ Avoid twisting too tight to protect your roots.

✨ Sleep in a satin bonnet (we recommend our adjustable reversible bonnets 👑) to reduce friction and preserve your knots overnight.

✨ When you take them down, unravel gently for soft, defined curls.

At Crowned by Royalty, we believe every hairstyle tells a story.

Our mission is to celebrate and protect those stories — one bonnet at a time.

Wearing your natural hair with pride is more than style — it’s heritage, identity, and self-love.

 

This Black History Month, celebrate your crown with confidence.

 

Whether it’s Bantu knots, braids, or curls — protect it in royal style with our satin bonnet collection.

👉 Shop now at CrownedByRoyalty.co.uk

✨ Our hair is history. Our hair is royalty.