African American hair

[Tom Earp]

Thank you one and all almost smart and snide peope!

Do your rears get cold from hanging out?

I am and many others are impressed with your education.

[macallan25]

Tom, a down syndromed, epileptic monkey would beat you in a spelling and logical sentence writing contest.

......pipe down on the education talk.

[thecraziest8]

Many sistahs spend $1000.00s even millions of dollars a year to keep their hair in a "fashion" acceptable to them.

I just had to respond to this statement, AKA_Monet. I am an AA woman and I get my hair professionally done every week for $43. I get my hair pressed with a flat iron, because I do not have a relaxer. Every few weeks I get my ends trimmed for an additional $10, not to even mention if I get highlights sometimes. I have so many hair styling products, ranging from if I want to wear my hair straight, or naturally wavy.

So 43x52 is $2236, plus about $90 for trims, $150 for color and a five dollar tip every week (sometimes more if my hair is absolutely outstanding) $260, and about another $350 for my styling products I use at home.

You are then looking at $3086 approximately.

A sista needs a budget just for her hair!!!


Also in regards to the original post, I have never worn a weave, wig, or had braids. My hair, which is right past shoulder length now has always been thick and healthy.

I do not press my hair, to fit a "standard of beauty", but because it looks good on me and is easier to style than some of the natural hairdos. I just do not like fake hair, thats all.

Please do not take that post from that website as the truth.
In the entertainment business, many women of all races wear hairpieces, weaves, or wigs. If I had to have my hair blow dried, styled, and with curling irons everyday, I think I might too.

AA hair is not hard to keep at model appearance, because my hair looks gorgeous everyday.

In my opinion, there are no cultural standards as far as AA hair goes. While many choose straighten their hair others don't. I don't think hairstyle has any relevance as far as crossover appeal. Look at Alicia Keys.

And frankly, if you are going to buy someone's record, watch their television show, go to their movie, or support them if their hair was straight rather than natural then that really says an awful lot.

[RedMusiq4U]

From a male standpoint I think natural styles are more healthy and more managable than processed hair. I have locks and it's the best style I've ever had.......I've had it all.....Fades, Afros, Texturizers, Flattop, no Jerry Curl though...lol....But I feel that people have a misconception of natural hair......it's a not bad at all.......people need to get educated and learn that going natural isn't gonna kill them.

[Kimmie1913]

In the entertainment world MANY, MANY celebrities (Black, White and everything else) were wigs and weaves. In fact, just this weekend ET or Access Hollywood did a story about the absolute proliferation on waves and hair pieces in Hollywood. Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears as well as Beyonce, Naomi and Star Jones ALL rock wigs and weaves. They are a common way to protect your hair when you are in a business that requires so much over styling and are an easy way to improve the look of your hair. I promise you, 75% of all the celebs you see of all races use or are wearing hair pieces of some kind.

[christiangirl]

I definitely think a lot of it has to do with keeping hair healthy. For instance, my mother wears wigs, just because it'd take a lot to straighten her her or even just to keep it healthy with all the heat it'd take to make it manageable (as busy as she is, she doesn't have the time to keep up "natural" hair). My hair is straightened and the heat styling I do damages it a lot, but I choose really good products to reverse that damage, so it all works out. I do think society has a "silky is beautiful, kinky is ugly" attitude, but that's only half of it. Not every black person will conform to that. So, you'd have to look at individual reasons, not just apply one to the whole.

[ladygreek]

Here's another take on it. I wear locs. If I was in a position that my locs prevented me from getting a much desired job, I would throw on a wig in a minute.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Here's another take on it. I wear locs. If I was in a position that my locs prevented me from getting a much desired job, I would throw on a wig in a minute.

Interesting. Most people who have locs are so pro-locs/natural styles that they would not dare "change" their hair (style) for a job.

Question: If you were offered the position (with the wig), at some point, would you discontinue use of the wig and let your locs hang? Is it, I have the job now, what can you do about it attitude?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by AKA2D '91

Interesting. Most people who have locs are so pro-locs/natural styles that they would not dare "change" their hair (style) for a job.

Question: If you were offered the position (with the wig), at some point, would you discontinue use of the wig and let your locs hang? Is it, I have the job now, what can you do about it attitude?

Dang, I forgot about posting that--I was unemployed at the time - LOL.

To answer your question, yes, as long as it wasn't written in the personnel policies.

But I now have a desired job for which I interviewed locs and all.

[Lady of Pearl]

I think most models and entertainers wear wigs and weaves and it is not just unique to African Americans. There are just as many White entertainers and models who wear them as well. Unfortunately there is a standard in this country which believes that straight hair is somehow more acceptable than natural or curly hair be it worn on a Black person or White person. I have freed myself from chemicals which break the hair off and refuse to pay over 50 dollars to a stylist who is only interested in doing heads to make money. Therefore I afford myself the versatility of wearing my hair natural or straightened. I do it myself-- for I know my hair better than some stylist who isn't a personal friend of mine; only schedules appointments when its convenient for them, and who only wants to make a quick buck off of me.

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally Posted by Lady of Pearl

I think most models and entertainers wear wigs and weaves and it is not just unique to African Americans. There are just as many White entertainers and models who wear them as well. .

So true. This weekend I was watching QVC and they were selling the Jessica Simpson line of extentions. They were going like hotcakes at a $100 a pop.