DISCLAIMER: This is my whole-hearted opinion. If you get offended through anything I say in this rant, you have the ability to politely PM me! I did a lot of research on this topic, and I already knew a lot about this. 

Cultural appropriation is the adoption or use of the elements of one culture by members of another culture (without permission, honestly). These displays are viewed as disrespectful by the members of the originating culture. When someone partakes in this, they do not understand the cultural significance. It also produces the information that cultures are free for taking.

Cultural appreciation is learning about a culture with respect and courtesy. When someone partakes in this, they definitely do not wear bindis, headdresses or hennas to music festivals like Coachella. 

These two topics are different things. One has disrespect towards a culture, while the other has respect and honor towards it.

Here is an example of cultural appropriation:

When you partake in cultural appropriation, you are indeed problematic. You really need to be careful. 

If you are appreciating a culture, you have to raise awareness (ending discrimination) against that ethnic group. You have to be engaged and knowledgeable about that culture. Even though you do all of those things, it still does not give you the right to wear cornrows, give it another name and not say the culture that it is from.

That still does not give you the right to wear bindis in music videos, taking selfies of yourself for Instagram, or festivals.

The henna is used for weddings and celebrations. If you wear one for your friend's wedding, who is in the culture, it is okay (since it is a sign of respect).

Angelina Jolie went to Pakistan where all of the women residents were wearing a hijab. She wore one herself, because it is once again a sign of respect. 

Here is an example of cultural appreciation:

(I was trying to find a clearer image of Linn from SKAM wearing a hijab, but I couldn't find it except this one! Linn wore a hijab/shawl sort of thing because she was going to Sana's Eid celebration. This is a sign of respect.)

I think we all should just look more into our culture, engage in it, and wear our own clothing. It obviously is okay to look into other cultures, but as long as you aren't appropriating anything, you are okay. 

boom, drop the mic