How To Wear Waist Beads

The biggest misconception I constantly hear about wearing waist beads is that you have to be a size 0 with a flat stomach. Which is the farthest from the truth. Women of all ages and sizes wear waist beads! I have Grandmothers and women who have 52” size waists buying my waist beads. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a flat stomach, because they are for YOU to wear.

 I’m a size 0 and I don’t wear my beads for show. I wear them for me and for who I want to see them.

Traditionally worn under clothes by African women, waist beads have several different meanings. Ranging from rites of passage, to enticing your husband to healing and rejuvenation. The art of adorning ones self has been practiced since the beginning of time. In Egypt, waist beads were called “girdles”. All the women wore them and it was a uniform for pre-pubescent girls with out any sexual connotation. But usually servants or dancers wore them and are shown in wall relief’s wearing them and nothing else!

In West Africa, waist beads have several names.; Jel-Jelli, Jigeda, Giri-Giri, Djalay Djalay or Yomba. They’re always worn under clothes. In Ghana women knew that waist beads helped form their body into a particular shape and adult women wear beads to sexually stimulate the male. In other parts of West Africa, women would wear waist beads with bells on them, and when they walked it would make a jingling noise. Dipping them in oil scented the beads.

When you add stones, waist beads take on healing qualities. Depending on ailment or what needs to be enhanced (i.e. love, physic powers, balancing), various semi-precious stones can be included in the design of your waist beads.

It’s only now in modern times, that waist beads are becoming more visible. Pants are getting lower and lower, and women are showing more skin than ever. So why not adorn this blank canvas with beautiful beads. But if showing your stomach in not for you, it’s still all good. You can take glee in knowing that you are wearing something special and beautiful. I always tell women when you buy fancy lingerie; you wear them under your clothes for you or who you would like to see them. Waist beads are exactly the same!

How to measure yourself:

Measure yourself on bare skin, where you would like your beads to fall. Make sure the measuring tape is snug, but not tight and not to loose. Please don’t suck it in!! If you’ve never worn waist beads before, measure right below your belly button. If you have a tummy, measure underneath it. Measure lower if you would like your beads to fall lower. If you would like your beads to be worn over clothes, measure as above but over clothes. Please do not use manufacturer clothing size as a gauge for your waist size. Each brand varies in sizes.