The buzz of late is all about Tyra Banks. Tyra has decided to get rid of the weave and wigs. We've seen Tyra natural before. Anytime black or black natural hair is discussed, she breaks out the cornrows. It is the default natural style of Tyra. Now she didn't say she was going relaxer free, but weave free. Let's not get too ethnic!!!!! It has me thinking though, has embracing natural hair mainstreamed? Michelle Obama is supposedly perm free. Solange had people thinking she was crazy all because she did a big chop (which I thought was darling). Are celebrities embracing natural or weaveless hair now? Will people follow the celebrities in the realm of being wig and weave free? Or are folks like Tyra upset that they get talked about when they do shows on natural hair as they sit there with blonde weave in their hair telling folks to embrace themselves?
One post I STILL get comments on is this one. Now all I said, in my mind is it seems that black women beauty standards seem to embrace the European ideal. Why we feel the need to want blue or grey eyes, or blonde hair, or long flowing straight weave sometimes is questionable to me. People took that to mean I hate all people with weaves, weaves are the devil, and black women with long hair are now jealous and upset other black women can have long hair now.
I do wonder if these same people are the ones who used to ask me when I was going to get my "hair done" when I first went natural, or when I pressed it told me, someone must have "talked some sense into me"?
Back when I went natural there wasn't much choice in celebrities with natural hair, there was no one. No hairdressers interested in my keeping my hair natural, it was perm, wig, weave or bust. It was a hostile environment to have a "kitchen", much less a whole head of unpermed hair. I find now it seems to be a bit easier to transition, but I don't know if it has mainstreamed. Will things like the movie Good Hair or folks like Tyra and Solange going natural or weave free have black women embrace more natural styles?
46 comments:
I was so happy to see Solange's new do. She looks way better than before.
You see BW look good with short hair. Especially if your features aren't keen. Straight hair on broad dark features looks so ridiculous, I wish those women would just get it. Curly yes, but straight, no. Its just simple rules of proportions.
As for Tyra she looks amazing with the cornrows and would look just as good with short hair.
I know we have flooged this dead horse but it time BW accepted their natural selves.
Off topic.
Have you guys seen the film , 'Diary of a Tired Black Man'.
Film
Ithink oyu can see all of it on Youtube. Its ready to view on Netflix.
This thing is hillarious for many different reasons. But what is remarkable is the constant victim stance of almost all the Black Males in the movie. Its unbelieveable.
I can't wait for the day to come when people can wear their own hair.
There is little worse than having to clean all of that shedded weave out of one's vaccum, drains, car and sheets.
She can go bald for all I care...I ain't giving up my wigs for nobody!!
Anybody who has a problem with that is more than welcome to come a fix my hair every morning...
All kidding aside, I think that hair in any form should look like your hair - anything too straight (plastic hair), a color not found in nature, or just plain rolled out of bed and didnt do anything to it natural hair are permanent Hair don'ts!
Because up until very recently, in order for our hair to be acceptable or professional, it had to be altered. Via perm, wig, or weave. It was controversial for a person to wear locs to work no matter how well manicured. It was seen as unkempt to wear your hair in it's natural curly state. People still have a problem with this and my argument is you should be able to wear your hair however you want, but reality is in order to be accepted and deemed feminine or attractive, one must have straight hair. For most black women this is not an option unless we chemically break down our hair or put fake hair in our heads. Why should we have to accommodate the mainstream, and why oh why are the biggest detractors of natural hair other black people?
The plus side for me being natural is I don't have to take a whole day to go to the salon to get my hair done, I wash my own hair and for about three days my hair routine barely takes a minute. Even when I wash it, it's another 15 minutes in the shower, and trust me I have a lot of hair. The biggest issue I see with natural hair is that black women have never been taught to care for our own hair properly and have always (since the invention of the hot comb and perm) been expected to straighten it.
uglyblackjohn said...
I can't wait for the day to come when people can wear their own hair.
There is little worse than having to clean all of that shedded weave out of one's vaccum, drains, car and sheets.
Why wait for that to happen, uglyjohn?! Just make an appointment with your stylist to have yours removed. You'll probably experience a feeling of freedom once it's gone.
i actually think that natural hair has been mainstream for awhile. whenever i see commercials with black women in them, their hair is almost always natural. it's something that really makes me wonder since natural hair isn't that common among black girls/women that i know.
i also agree that, for me at least, the type of hair you have doesn't really matter as long as people stop working under the misconception that straight/permed/long hair is the only "good hair" and that anything less than that is something to be ashamed of. healthy hair is good hair.
I've always thought Tyra to be a total hypocrite. I remember seeing a few shows of hers where she's telling women to embrace their own natural beauty, meanwhile Tyra is standing there in a 50 pound weave. So I guess someone pointed out how crazy all of that was?
I think Solo looks amazing! I hope she sticks with it and doesn't let all the nasty comments run her back to weaveland.
I've always thought that weaves are the jheri curl of the new century. It seems there is always some new way to alter our natural hair. It's too bad that most of the money being made in the weave business is not being made by Black women.
Anyway I hope that more Black women decide to embrace their natural hair. Not only will it save them untold amounts of money (and time) but it will send a great message to Black girls that they don't have to alter themselves to be accepted.
good luck to Tyra, but like you said, it's not like she said she's losing the perm as well. i want to see her do that! i do hope there'll be a new natural hair movement sweeping black Hollywood tho.
Hmm...I'm not so sure that natural hair is mainstreaming so much as it's (very gradually) becoming more accepted. I think if it was mainstreaming we wouldn't have seen so many negative responses to Solange cutting her hair off (by the way, I think the short, natural 'do looks fantastic on her). And if it were mainstreaming, we would have more black hairstylist who actually know how to work with natural hair. I still haven't found an affordable one and the ones I've checked out (only a handful in Atlanta) are expensive, since they provide what is seen as a specialised service.
Siditty, you mentioned that when you first went natural folks asked you when you were going to "get your hair done." Heck, I still have family members ask me that and it's 2009...and I've been naturaly for awhile now.
Yes, black women are embracing their natural hair. We do still have a long way to go. For a couple of years, I've been toying with the idea of shaving my hair off completely. But, I don't know if such a style would fit my face. It would be a drastic change for me since my hair is long. Right now, my hair is in kinky twists using fake hair since I can't seem to acheive the kinky look of most women.
With this haircut, Solange looks prettier than her sister for once.
Her face is suited for short hair because her features are striking.
I like beyonce best with that big fro.
Tyra...in general, lacefront wigs look ridiculous to me so it's not just her.
Puerto Rican here, but I love my black and brown women.
I think the state of ones inner self isn't necessarily reflected on whether women choose to look one way or another.
shit, don't white women do perms so that their hair will look curly? Don't white people go to the beach and risk skin damage and cancer in order to look brown?
I'm rambling... I am a man, I have no business on this thread. I did, however, want to point out a great essay on black hair by a woman lawyer (who writes for The Nation) and now I have forgotten her name and the title of the essay. LOL
::runs::
The natural hair fascist are the same ones who complain about the "nothing but a black man" crew. Truth is, it's nobodies business what someone does with their hair. Just like it's no one's business who you are married to (even though it's not a black man, which isn't natural according to MOST AA women.)
I wear my hair natural--- in all of its enormous, curly glory. I don't fight with it, I don't spend obscene amounts of money on it, and I'm happier than I ever was when I was attempting to force it to be something it isn't.
My hair is beautiful. I get lots of comments on it, but the ones I get most often--- and it pains me--- go something like this:
"Is that your hair? I didn't know Black women had pretty/curly/soft hair. You must be mixed?"
I realize people don't mean to be rude/asinine. Most people simply DON'T know, because the majority of Black females in this country don't wear their natural hair (a lot don't have any idea what their hair even looks like in its natural state). I'm always patient with people who make silly comments about Black women and their hair, and I try to enlighten their minds. And yes, I even permit them to touch my hair.
Afterall, if we don't address the negative stereotypes associated with All Things Black, who will?
I would like to see more Black women wearing their natural hair. Only because I think it's a good way to inject a bit of Black beauty into the global conscious. Perhaps when we stop trying to emulate the mainstream, our innate features will become attractive in their own right.
I think one of the reasons Black traits are undervalued/vilified (especially in America) is because so many Black women appear very ashamed of them.
(disclaimer: to those women who stick by their perms/weaves/wigs, please do not take any of the above as commentary on you as an individual. It isn't mean to be. It is not my intention to ridicule, lecture, or verbally assault you.)
"With this haircut, Solange looks prettier than her sister for once"
So true and she looks so whole and in control with this hair. I think she has come out of Beyonce's shadow. She should stick to natural that way she maintains her identity and freedom from comparison.
"I was so happy to see Solange's new do. She looks way better than before.
You see BW look good with short hair. Especially if your features aren't keen. Straight hair on broad dark features looks so ridiculous, I wish those women would just get it. Curly yes, but straight, no. Its just simple rules of proportions.
As for Tyra she looks amazing with the cornrows and would look just as good with short hair.
I know we have flooged this dead horse but it time BW accepted their natural selves."
Grata, I had to laugh when you mentioned Tyra's hair and dead horses, lol.
I was watching a music video from The Noisettes, and I think the lead singer's hair it natural. It was nice to see how she had it styled in a variety of ways.
I don't care what people do with their hair, just as long as it's healthy and looks healthy...and it doesn't look like a plastic helmet
No where in this post did I say all women with weaves and wigs look like hot ass and have self hatred. I never said that, but time and time again, anytime I mention weave or natural hair, the people come in here running. I asked is natural hair mainstreaming, because unlike straight hair, wigs, and weaves, it has not always been accepted. No one is talking about dividing the community.
The natural hair fascist are the same ones who complain about the "nothing but a black man" crew. Truth is, it's nobodies business what someone does with their hair. Just like it's no one's business who you are married to (even though it's not a black man, which isn't natural according to MOST AA women.)
You must be under the impression I give a damn what anyone thinks of my marriage or I give a damn if women wear weave. I asked was natural hair mainstreaming and becoming more accepted, because I know it hasn't always been the case. Tell me of a time when it was considered unacceptable to wear weave, perm, or wigs for black women?
I have been wearing wigs and weaves for about a good year now. My own hair has grown alot. I keep trying to decide when I will just go natural without any weaves are anything synthetic. I haven't had a perm in about 4 or 5 years. I used to wear my hair short and got lots and lots of compliments on it. People have been asking me when I will go back. I just don't know. Maybe once I start travel nursing again I will.
SIMONE
El Nuyorican I think Puerto Rican men are some of the finest specimen on the planet.
Its funny how a conversation NOT about perms, weaves, and wigs turns into a conversation ABOUT perms, weaves, and wigs. It seems as though some black women feel threatened when someone speaks positively about our natural hair. The topic did NOT attack anyone about their choices. And, it is true that even in 2009, quite a few black women DO NOT feel secure about their hair's natural, unprocessed texture. Now, if you are totally secure in your choice, maybe you should ask yourself why you may be offended by this post. Why do you feel the need to make sure everyone knows that you are proud of your perm? Isn't that what society dictates you should be anyway?
Im not sure if its mainstream yet or if it will ever be but I do long for the day when those of us who lack the skill or desire to do our own natural hair can go get our hair done without leaving the state or traveling hours on end to find a salon that is knowledgeable and willing to do natural hair. Not have to have to spend a half a years salary to get hair braided or loc'd...that will be enough mainstream for me.
I'm confused. Some of the comments have mentioned that it's hard to find a salon to do natural hair.
Why do you need a salon to take care of or do natural hair? My hair has been natural all of my life and I've never once set foot in a salon.
Would someone explain please?
You know what MrsRony? It is so ridiculous to have to pay seven or eight hundred dollars to get loc'd. I want my hair done that way but I think that's too expensive. Then you have to do the maintenance with the beautician . I love locs but the money is a bit much.
SIMONE
@ Monie - I was one of the people that referred to a lack of salons to do natural hair. What I was referring to was more for if I want to do something fancier/more complicated than my regular natural styles, it's very difficult to find a stylist who knows how to handle natural hair or even known natural sytles without straightening the hair. Trust me, not all of us are blessed with the patience or know how to do natural hair, which can intimidate some women who are thinking about going natural and turn them away from it. I think if there were more stylist who knew how to handle natural hair it would help some folks ease into the transition. Not everyone is comfortable chopping off all their hair (which is what I did) or know how to take care of natural hair...it's definitely a learning process if you're not used to it...one that's helped (I think) by a hair care professional.
@American Black Chick in London
Thanks. I suppose you are right about the more complex styles. I guess since I don't really get into that I didn't get it at first. For me it's just wash n go. Lol
Simone,
I have sisterlocks (expensive), but Locs don’t have to be expensive. Look here http://www.curlyhairsalon.com/bradelocz.html
Also loc maintenance can be done yourself. I have always done my own maintenance. I use a crochet needle from Joann.com instead of the latch hook, I could never get the hang of the latch hook, it would snag the hair. I have been natural for 16 yrs and locked for 4yrs. I love it. This was the best decision I ever made. I can workout in the am, shower, shampoo and out the door to work. My hair doesn’t need a lot of product. I don’t spend hrs in the salon. I can wear my locs without a lot of styling or set with water on http://www.softspikecurlers.com/
If you really want locs you can have them without a lot of expense. Don’t be discouraged if it’s what you really want.
Also there are books (amazon.com) with styling options for locs for those of you having trouble finding stylists specializing in natural hair.
Lips
T anoinymous who stated that PR are FOINE?
THANK YOu!!
LOL
The woman I was referring to was Patricia J. Williams. she's done some magnificent pieces on the socio-cultural aspects of black women's hair. she notes, for example, that they chose to give M.O. a 'fro ("An Angela Favis fro") for the controversial Vanity Fair cover. she attributes this to the fact that black women have always had to somehow find a way to fit in to white norms or otherwise be considered "subversive."
I find Williams' writing in general to be exemplary, but she really hits her stride when it comes to her hair.
"Grata, I had to laugh when you mentioned Tyra's hair and dead horses, lol."
No pan was intended but how about dead people? Yeah I heard that some of this natural hair comes from dead people.
You know how poor Indians can be, why waste hair on the dead.
Monie I can put my hair in a puff ponytail and a fro and thats it. I cant braid or twist my hair into all the neat dos I see alot of sistas wear. I would love to walk into a salon and say do this or that without them looking at me like there are snakes in my head. Do they even teach how to deal with natural hair? Not to mention that just because I have natural hair does not mean I want to take care of it. Im not going to spend hours twisting my hair even if I magically learned how to part straight and do it. Id like to go get it done, Id like to pay to have it done, Id rather not need a 2nd job just to have it done.
You are welcome El Nuyorican. So far I have not ran into an ugly PR man. Either you are fine are not bad looking. I'm gonna get me one.
Thanks for the information about Patricia Williams. I am going to have to forward it to my ladies group.
One of the issues is that most of the women I see with natural hair, aren't very stylish. Meaning, they are content to wear Old Navy t-shirts and baggy khakis and tevas. They are usually natural to the bone, no makeup, no nail polish and if they have a natural hair style it looks unkempt. Not all, just some of the ones I see. Also those women tend to be older and have a much different set of priorities than I.
If I'm going to model myself after someone, I want them to be a fashion beacon. I think if I were natural I would have some of the most modern styles (i.e. Noisettes) matched with beautiful clothes to boot. People would probably think I was a celebrity, LOL.
On another note, if you still put extensions in your hair, are you still considered natural? My friend thinks that if you have no chemicals, that means natural so what if you press your hair with a hot comb? Is that still natural? What if you wear extensions that are braided in but the rest is left out like Beyonce did in the Bills, Bills, Bills, album cover. Is that still natural?
also, one of the reasons cited that BW should go natural is to save money but if you're spending $75 and up monthly to get your locks twisted then what's the point? I don't understand. My sister has locks now and they look great but she has a "loctitian" that she goes to who is not cheap. So a hair style that I'm sure she thought was going to be low maintenance has costs higher than what I pay.
When I think natural I think wash and go. If I can get to that stage on my own without help from a natural hair specialist, then it will be all gravy. I'm not into locks. One would have more versatility with a fro.
Ahnivah, I agree with you. Natural women can't feel proud without somebody catching feelings and projecting their issues onto us and making broad generalizations.
If you want to wear weaves and relaxers then hey, it's your choice and you are entitled to it.
It's a damn shame that so many Black women finance the hair care industry, but have jacksh*t to show for it economically. Meanwhile the asians are laughing themselves all the way to the bank.
I've had locs for 8 years and have been doing it myself... locs are not expensive unless you want to have sisterlocs.
Also, ifu got to the hair salon for normal locs.. it'll only put u back like $60... that's wash, steam and condition, retwist and style.
www.locs4life.co.uk
I don't care what people do with their hair, just as long as it's healthy and looks healthy...and it doesn't look like a plastic helmet
I always think of the crusty fingerwaves of the 1990s when I think of plastic helmet.
---------
Im not sure if its mainstream yet or if it will ever be but I do long for the day when those of us who lack the skill or desire to do our own natural hair can go get our hair done without leaving the state or traveling hours on end to find a salon that is knowledgeable and willing to do natural hair. Not have to have to spend a half a years salary to get hair braided or loc'd...that will be enough mainstream for me.
I understand, I will say that when I went completely natural, getting rid of the flat iron, I became a huge product junkie, it got costly, but now I mostly make my own stuff for my hair. I will say this, there are some wonderful sites that offer support and have some great tutorials. Motown Girl, Nappturality, Curly Nikki, Naturally Curly
------------
I have sisterlocks (expensive), but Locs don’t have to be expensive. Look here http://www.curlyhairsalon.com/bradelocz.html Also loc maintenance can be done yourself.
Lots of people do their own locs, some folks show you how to do them and maintain them on youtube. Some people start their own locs by putting their hair in several small braids and then maintaining them by palm rolling them.
------------
The woman I was referring to was Patricia J. Williams. she's done some magnificent pieces on the socio-cultural aspects of black women's hair.
I just googled her, and this article about Michelle Obama is awesome. I need to check her out. Thanks for exposing me to her :)
-------------
Do they even teach how to deal with natural hair?
No, I know of a woman here in Dallas who does natural hair, she was required to get a license to do so, but the training involved to get a license doesn't even touch on natural hair.
One of the issues is that most of the women I see with natural hair, aren't very stylish. Meaning, they are content to wear Old Navy t-shirts and baggy khakis and tevas. They are usually natural to the bone, no makeup, no nail polish and if they have a natural hair style it looks unkempt. Not all, just some of the ones I see. Also those women tend to be older and have a much different set of priorities than I.
That isn't all women with natural hair. I'm in my 30s and of the women I know who are natural, they might rock jeans or khakis at times, but they don't go out on the town in their old navy clothes. But I might not be stylish to you, because I wear old navy and converses around the house and to go to the grocery store all the time. But I am also a make up freak. We are not all frumpy and fashion victims. Part of the reason I think so many of us natural heads are militant because people walk around making assumptions about us not caring about how we look and that we don't look like "fashion beacons", which is kind of condescending and bit insulting, turning to the people with natural hair "are ugly" diatribes. Then when you don't look ugly, they use you as the excuse as to why they can't go natural."It looks good on you, but I couldn't pull it off" or "you have 'good hair', so it is ok for you to go natural", it is like a bunch of back handed compliments
In terms of being a "fashion beacon", I can't dress like a Noisette at work and I am in my 30s, I don't want to be the old heffa at the club or at the restaurant looking crazy. Nor is my husband cool with me wearing dresses and skirts that go just below my booty in public.
On another note, if you still put extensions in your hair, are you still considered natural? My friend thinks that if you have no chemicals, that means natural so what if you press your hair with a hot comb? Is that still natural? What if you wear extensions that are braided in but the rest is left out like Beyonce did in the Bills, Bills, Bills, album cover. Is that still natural?
Depends on who you talk to, I have no problem with someone flat ironing their hair, but I am not a big weave person, but again it is because I have never worn weave.
When I think natural I think wash and go. If I can get to that stage on my own without help from a natural hair specialist, then it will be all gravy. I'm not into locks. One would have more versatility with a fro.
You might not have a fro. I wash n go all the time, and I can't do a fro to save my life. No matter how much I tease or shape, it can't fro up. Depends on your natural texture.I've never had to get my hair professionally done. I just did it at home. Of course when I did relaxer, I was doing that at home too.
I'm starting to hear some grumblings that the episode Tyra is taping or has already taped she is not really "wigless/weaveless" at all. Seems she is going to try to pass a lace-front off as her real hair. So I will surely be tuning in on that episode.
I wish some one smarter or more eloquent than I would look into the Biblical meanings here.
Esau, some say is the forefather of USA and Western Europe. Way back when, he lived and "dominated" the mountain of Seir.
Seir is closely related to se'ar which means hair in Hebrew. Did Esau capture and dominate via se'ars/hairs?
Don't know, but there's definitely some kind of relationship there.
I'm thinking of finally chopping my natural hair and possibly straightening it in the very near future (as soon as I make the necessary purchases-no chemicals though)so its not like I'm against straightening hair. But I do read high praises for the dark curly hairs in kabbalistic writings.
Hey Siditty what kind of products do you make for your hair. I think I am going to go ahead and wear my own natural hair for a couple of weeks and see how I do. No wigs, not weave. Just my hair in it's natural form. I want it to stay soft. I have curly hair in the back, the front and sides are corse. So I would like to twist it, take it down and run my fingers throughout without taking away the wave. I don't want it dry looking either.
SIMONE
Post a Comment