One of the earliest published records of the durag was in the June 1966 Akron Beacon Journal, then spelled "Do Rag". There, it was described as "a cloth band worn around the forehead as a sweatband to keep hair in place". They had evolved from the 19th-century when slave women used head wraps to keep their hair up and out of the way during labor. Companies like So Many Waves were credited for selling their version of the durag in the late 1970s, calling theirs the "Tie-down." It became a necessary tool for black men, used to train their curl patterns or to lock down hairstyles during sleep. The durag remained exclusively functional until the 1990s, when it started to become a symbol of inner-city black culture. Years before the fashion industry took notice, it had become fashionable in the streets. The durag transitioned from a haircare item into a legit style accessory, most notably popularized by hip-hop and reflected on the heads of men and boys throughout the country.
