Waco Pastor Bans Weave, Wants Control Of Female Parishioners’ Hair

Women who wore weaves in their hair upset a Waco pastor almost as much as they would had they been weaving webs of deceit. AmericaPreachers.com reports that Resurrecting Faith founder the Rev. A.J. Aamir has banned church leadership from wearing hair weaves. The 39-year-old Aamir shepherds a congregation whose average age is around 22-years-old. He believes the weave-wearing women are projecting false versions of themselves. Aamir says of his weave- wearing parishioners:

Our black women are getting weaves trying to be something and someone they are not. Be real with yourself is all I’m saying.

Aamir said he’s concerned about an alleged lack of financial restraint. He shared an example of a 26-year-old mother, who allegedly spent $300 on a weave. That mother is among many of his church members, according to Aamir, who are in financial straits. According to a 2011 madamnoire.com story, black women spent a total of $500 million on hair care, which including weaves and extensions.


According to Atlanta hairstylist Toni Love, initial services can cost from $300 to $10,000. The costs don’t include ?touch-up? or maintenance expenses, which can range from $4,000 to $80,000 per year. Looking at 2010 median incomes for all American families and African-American families seems to support Aamir’s financial concerns. Aamir says of the financial burden of black women’s hair care:

Consider this: $46,326 was the median household income in the United States according to 2010 U.S. Census data and?the average income for African American families was $32,584, well below a middle-class lifestyle. Yet we over-spend for the purpose of appearance.

Aamir’s strident views reflect strict childhood memories that he brought to the pulpit. He was raised in a devout Muslim home.

Aamir begrudgingly acknowledges banning church members from wearing weaves can’t be done. Harold Sutton, a Facebook commenter on the AmericaPreachers.com story, chided the man of God for failing to get the women’s side of the story. Sutton said black women have valid reasons for getting weaves.

If Pastor Aamir takes the time to talk to the women he will find out that his reasonings are self-centered, distorted, and not a proven fact. I know women who get weaves because they don’t have the time to maintain their hair and look professional everyday when going to work or socially. In addition they don’t have to worry about the hair for up to 2-3 months at a time.

Sutton even acknowledged that black men care as much about their hair (if they’ve got it) as women do.

Men wear various types of hairstyles themselves, some use extensions, dreads, the bald head thang, waves, curls, process, braided, platted etc. C,mon!

Are weaves a sign of vanity? Sure they are. However, it would be hypocritical of this Waco pastor or anyone else to try to stop these women from wanting to look their best, especially in a society that values physical beauty.

Edited by: SB

Jason Carson Wilson is a Chicago-based freelance writer with more than 10 years of journalism experience. Wilson previously worked as a staff writer for daily and weekly newspapers throughout downstate Illinois. He also contribute to the Windy City Times. Wilson, a gay, African-American, is a first-year Chicago Theological Seminary student. He covers stories about GLBT rights, human rights, marriage equality, politics, race, and religion.