Traditional waist beads were worn by West African women to preserve the shape of their bodies, and today women still follow this tradition because it has proven to be effective.
You can wear African Waist beads for weight loss or maintain size and shape. Traditionally, waist beads were worn by West African women to preserve the shape of their bodies, and women today still follow this tradition as it has proven to be an effective way to do so.
The most common choice of waist bead for use as a weight loss tool is the waist bead binding because it is made of a durable, non-stretchy thread. Tying waist beads is usually referred to as ‘permanent’ because once they are tied and fixed, the only way to take them off (besides breaking them), is to cut them. So wearing a bow tie on your waist bead is a commitment because you will wear it 24/7 until you break or decide not to do it anymore.
Do Waist Beads Help You Lose Weight?
Many African women from various West African cultures wear waist beads to manage their weight. Don’t worry if you have no idea how to tie and/or wear African waist beads for weight loss. Just follow the below easy steps, and you will know how to wear waist beads for weight loss!
- When you wear the waist bead, just adjust the waist bead to your waist size.
- First, take the thread and tie it above the navel.
- Next, move the beads around to get enough space to tie them, cut the thread and tie 3 to 4 knots because the waist beads sit higher on your waist.
- You will notice if you lose weight, the beads fall, and you will lose weight because the waist beads do not stretch.
- Waist beads also roll down your waist when you gain weight.
- This means that the waist bead is very durable, so it lasts a long time. You can wear it while showering, bathing, swimming, you name it!
How To Choose The Appropriate African Waist Beads For Weight Loss?
The best thing about waist beads is how individual they are. You can wear as many strands of beads as you like, and you can wear them for any reason you like. It is a powerful means of self-expression.
To measure yourself for waist beads, determine where you want your beads to sit on your body. Do you want it high on your waist? Below the hips? Right in your belly button?
After you decide, wrap a tape measure or string around that part of your body to get the measurement. If you are using a line, mark the string where the two ends meet, then measure that length with a ruler.
Try not to wrap the string or tape too tightly around your body. It will result in a tighter fit than you might expect.
Some waist beads are permanent. This means that the thread does not stretch, and there is no lock to take the beads on or off. They are designed to stay on your body 24/7 until you break out or decide to cut them for good.
Some removable waist beads are also adjustable or come with extender chains. This may be a good option for people who want to continue to wear the same waist pill in any size without worrying about it “fitting” with it. Instead, fit the beads to your health!
How To Tie The Waist Beads For Weight Loss?
Buckle waist bead is different from clip-on waist bead, with clip-on waist bead you can put it on and take it off whenever you want. With a tie on the waist beads, once tied it stays on until you are ready to cut it and in some cases even break it.
You can tie your waist beads permanently by Following these instructions –
- First, Put the waiting bead strand around your waist or the part of your body where you want the waist beads to fall.
- Second, Tie 3-4 knots where the beads end and cut the rest of the thread.
- Third, Burn the ends. This step is optional but recommended because burning them prevents thread loosening.
What Are The Meanings Of Colors And Stones?
There are plenty of styles, colors, and materials to choose from for your waist bead. Your waist bead can be rich in symbolism if you so choose.
Each color and stone is associated with a specific meaning:
Color Meanings
- Blue: healing, harmony, insight, truth
- Brown: earth, stability
- Purple: spirituality, wisdom, and royalty
- Green: prosperity, fertility, abundance, hope, healing
- White: light, truth, purity
- Red: vitality, passion, courage, confidence
- Yellow: Wisdom, clarity, awareness, energy, and joy
- Gold – good health, strength, and wealth
- Turquoise – communication and self-awareness
- Black – power, and protection
- Orange – courage, self-confidence, vitality
- Pink – care, beauty, love, and kindness
Stone Meanings
- Evil Eye: Protection from negativity
- Hamsa: protection from evil or misfortune
- Green Aventurine: Luck, Prosperity, Wealth
- Lapis lazuli: peace, wisdom, truth, and insight
- Quartz: Clarity, amplifies other crystals
- Rose Quartz: Love, Compassion, and Healing
Waist Beads Disadvantages:
- Waist beads can cause infections if worn for a long time without proper cleaning or completely changed.
- Many women use waist beads as spiritual protection and love attraction, which may prompt their partners to break up with them if they discover their true purpose.
- It can cause allergic reactions due to the different materials used to make the beads, such as wood, gemstones, colored glass, and metal. Also, a broken bead can cause injuries.
- It can cause body image problems. An essential myth about waist beads is the belief that girls who wear them grow hips. However, those who do not have larger thighs after wearing beads may have lower self-esteem and dislike their bodies.
Conclusion:
Waist beads may seem like a simple accessory, but they can have a transformative effect on the wearer. Wrapping a pair of beads around one’s waist can feel both emotional and grounding. The beads act as a constant reminder to be more mindful and loving toward the body.
Other women feel empowered by waist beads in other ways: a connection to their heritage, a fertility symbol, or a way to measure their weight and position.
Waist beads are an intensely personal item, so there are as many ways to make sense of them as there are beading patterns. With the growing popularity of waist beads, this West African tradition is likely to continue to evolve for years to come.
