The phenomenon of black grills has its roots in an ancient Asian practice: the teeth blackeningknown in Vietnam as nhuộm răng đen and in Japan like ohaguro. Once widespread also in China, Thailand and in some regions of South Americathe practice had meanings aesthetic, social and spiritual. Today this ancient tradition still lives thanks to artists like Sailorr, Molly Santana And Yasuka here. Public attention exploded when Timbaland shared a video of the on Instagram Vietnamese-American singer Sailorr performing his viral single Pookie’s Requiem: The comments weren’t about the music, but about his black teeth.
Sailorr’s black teeth: a tribute to her origins
The singer-songwriter wears black grillz (black caps over the teeth) to pay homage to the Vietnamese tradition of nhuộm răng đena practice that dates back to the era of King Hùng (2879-258 BC). «My grandmother had black teeth and I always thought she was beautiful», says Sailorr a Dazed. «I get black teeth femininity, strength and protectionand they remind me of the women who came before me and their struggles.” The blackening of the teeth also had meaning spiritual: it was believed to protect against supernatural entities, while white teeth were associated with evil spirits. Women with light skin and black teeth were considered beautiful, elegant and they often belonged to families wealthy.
The phenomenon of black grills: ancient roots and contemporary rebirth
According to the historian Lenora Huỳnhi black grills allow Sailorr to connect the African American hip-hop culture to his Vietnamese roots. Grills, which have always been a symbol of status and self-expressionare reinterpreted as fashion accessorybut cultural intent is key to distinguishing between cultural appropriation and appreciation. Not just Sailorr: also Molly Santana And Yasuka hereboth Japanese-Americanswear black grills to honor their cultural and family legaciesuniting history, fashion and music in a single symbolic gesture.
Teeth blackening: an ancient and global tradition
The practice of teeth blackening it has a thousand-year history, widespread in different cultures around the world. In Japantheohaguro involved blackening the teeth with a mixture of iron filaments and vinegarsymbol of beauty, maturity and social status. In VietnamThe nhuộm răng đen had similar functions: spiritual protection, sign of femininity and social distinctionreserved especially for women wealthy. The tradition was also present in China, Thailand and in some areas of Peru and Ecuadorwhere he indicated prestige, wealth or served as protection against diseases and evil spirits. Ingredients like charcoal dust, beeswax, insect nectar or areca nuts they were used to obtain the black color, making the process complex and laborious.