Natural Hair Case Study

The researcher interview with African American women with natural hair and examination of social media. The researchers explain that in the natural hair community a curl texture is more attractive than kinky hair texture and lengthier hair more desirable than short hair; also having manageable hair is dynamic to African American women’s effective performances of Black femininity. This research expands the discourse in African American Studies that theorizes the experiences of African American women with natural hair compared to those of African American women with relaxed hair such as perms (Howard, 2015, p.

Since the early 1900s, Black women have had a fascination with their hair. More explicitly, they have had a fascination with straightening their hair. The need to be accepted by the majority class has caused them to do so. Though the image of straight hair as being better than coarse hair still hasn’t left the Black community, there has been a surge of non straight hairstyles since the nineteen sixties. Wearing more natural hairstyles, which ironically enough include ‘weaves’ and ‘hair extensions’ has been considered to be more empowered and more enlightened. However, this image comes with a price, and though it appears the ‘natural’ hairstyle movement has advanced Black women, it has actually set

Many African American women have finally embraced their natural hair and are no longer perming, straightening or altering their hair. However, it has become difficult to obtain the necessary hair care products and learn the ins and outs about caring for their hair, but with the help of social media, they are obtainable. Ever since African American woman decided that they are going to embrace their natural hair, perm sales have decreased. More than 26% of perm sales have decreased since 2008 (Opie & Phillis, 2015), while perms are declining, natural hair care products are increasing. While natural hair care products are increasing, it is no thinks to big brand stores or beauty salons in near hometown. It has to do with buying

On the bathroom counter lays a glossy magazine with a woman wearing a helmet of dark, large, voluptuous curls. The strands of her hair mimic the architecture of a spiral staircase. The woman smiles, smiles, and laughs, and smiles as she settles her dark hand elegantly in her sleek, black mane. Long fingers embrace curls; curls enmesh in long fingers. Reaching up a finger, you lightly stroke a dry, straight lock, feeling brittle ends collide clumsily into one other as they separate like ugly tree branches. You begin to strip, and feel your heart race faster as each article of clothing glides to the cold, tile floor soundlessly. You can do this; you will do this. You reach the shower slowly, laying a shaky hand on the knob. You can do this and you will do this. Your chest is heaving and your heart is pounding and your hand is shaking but you can do this. And you will do this. Your fingers drum along the knob. The tapping is a loud thunder that matches the storm in your chest. Twisting the knob, the shower head begins to rain. Closing your eyes, you step in.

Good Hair is a film that focuses on the issue of how African American women see their hair and style it. The film explores various messages that African Americans have received about how they should wear their hair and goes into how much money spent for them to get their hair done. Good Hair shows how African American hair is represented on the media and how natural hair is accepted and rejected in society. Throughout the film there are many themes about the ways African Americans style their hair.

This research aims to discover the motives of black women and their hair/hairstyles they choose. In an attempt to answer this question, I observed a salon that dealt with a predominantly black female clientele. While there, I noted the dynamics between the hairdressers and the clients: whether the stylist have an input/impact on what hairstyles are chosen, what are the intentions or goals of the women when they choose a style?, and what the style the majority of them gravitate towards? It was a very friendly atmosphere so I was able to interact with both the customers and the clients and obtain more information beyond the physical/visual aspect of the environment.

As an African American hair plays a vital role in our society. The ideal of Black hair is one that allows you to explore your inner feelings, attitudes and sense of style through the facet of hair. However, this freedom of expression becomes questioned as you try to pursue a professional career. As an African American woman pursuing a career in the field of broadcast journalism, your freedom of expression through hair is often limited by corporate policy. By pursuing a career in this field and attaining my first internship in a top 10 market. I have already faced some challenges. Due to the fact that I was only an intern, I did not receive pressure from corporate level to change my look. However, I placed internal pressure on myself to assimilate to white culture standard of “professionalism” by straightening my hair for an intern newscast. I decided to elongate my naturally, kinky curly hair in order to fit the bill of a typical news anchor. Who declared black hair of any style to be unprofessional?

author of the article A History of Black Hair in America, she feels that because African

There has been a notable amount of conversation on the internet on the rebirth of the natural hair movement. Cherise Luter (2014) states that despite afros and the natural hair movement not being a new concept (i.e. the Black Power Movement), it has gone under what she calls a “refreshing change”. Furthermore, what used to be “I’m black and I’m proud”, has been replaced with “I’m me and I’m proud” (Luter 2016). So, what is the natural hair movement? It is defined as a movement where black women decide to not conform to the social norms of chemically altering their hair and wearing it in its natural, kinky, or curled state (Joignot 2015). The movement could also be considered as an outlet for black women to display their racial and cultural pride or to articulate their “political position (Brown 2014:297). However, simply the terminology “movement” is something that should be shocking to many. There is a great amount of historical context behind the continuous influence Eurocentric beauty ideals have had on black women for centuries. According to Nadia Brown (2014), Black natural hair throughout history has proven to be recognized as “either unintended or intended personal and political statements” (298). the beauty standard in Western society which praises European hair textures, has influenced many black women to be critical of other black women who choose to chemically straighten their hair, accusing them of being subservient to the dominant and pervasive racist

This is the wrong thing to do because the right thing is to alleviate the situation not make it worse. Additionally, if one ignores the situation this will also be wrong because the couple is being dehumanized and their human dignity is being disrespected. Furthermore, if I choose to shift the hairdressers focus to something else and protect the couple from this unjust situation, I can protect their dignity and their rights. This is the best way to handle the situation because considering we are all children of God we must love each other as God loves us, and ensure that everyone is treated equally. As Martin Luther King states “unconditional love will have the final say in reality.” This ethical dilemma relates to the philosophy course content because as we grow older we begin to think for ourselves and depend less on our parents. Philosophy allows us to set aside our beliefs, traditions, and culture to focus on whether good or harm is experienced by the people involved and whether individuals are being treated the way they are entitled to be treated. (HZT4U Questions and

Hair is a basic element of most of our lives, so to many, hair is a trivial thing. However, the fact that we live in a social climate that routinely rejects aspects of communities of color, hair has come to be an increasingly symbolic piece of our racial identities. This is especially true for the black community in the United States. After generations of countering Eurocentric ideologies surrounding acceptability, members of the black community are beginning to embrace the acceptance of their own images despite cultural messages that continue to promote the opposite. In an article written by Khalea Underwood of Refinery29, she chronicles her experiences with having her hair touched by a white woman at a Lady Gaga concert and the impact that experience had on her. As with any opinion piece, there was a vast range of comments that reflect the racialized context that we live in today. Amongst the comments, there was an overwhelming expression of color-blind ideologies and a couple instances of racial clear-sightedness found throughout the responses.

On December 22, 2013 I decided to cut off all of my hair. In the natural hair world, it 's called “the big chop” when you cut off all of your unhealthy hair due to either flat ironing or perming, so that new healthy hair comes in the way it was meant to grow out of your head. I followed through on December 28th, barely telling anyone what I was going to do. I had just went natural so I had a huge afro, but it was unhealthy. Little did I realize, how much cutting off my hair was going to change my life. On America’s Next Top Model, they always cut off “the pretty girl with the long hair” hair! So that is what I wanted to do, something I felt like I needed to do. But after, I was rushed with what seemed like a whole new life, People’s reaction’s, feeling like I needed to wear a hijab in order to feel okay, the whole nine. I went into a complete culture shock. But one thing I do remember, is one of my old classmates commentary on my hair after someone had just tried to crack a joke on it. She was wearing a headcovering, and silently she understood why I did what I did, she didn’t need to ask me why because she just knew. It took me a long time to understand what cutting my hair truly did to me as a black woman. Reclaiming my natural hair texture was an amazing thing. For years black women were told that their natural hair was not good enough, so what did they do? They created inventions in order to alter their hair. Made complete new things that now ALL races

Later the same day, she mentions to her niece, Ifemelu, that “‘I have to take my braids out for my interviews… if you have braids, they will think you are unprofessional’” (146). African women tend to have frizzier, curlier, and thus more chaotic hair than “professional” American women, meaning their hair fits in less with most women and look unprofessional. To try to look more appropriate for her interview, Aunty Uju trades her natural hair with the more “professional” straightened hair. By complying with this standard, Aunty Uju is not in her natural state, but is in a state of what Americans perceive as a professional women’s hair. As a result of straightening her hair, though, she is more likely to get the job she applies for because it looks more professional. In addition, she says “have to” in reference to taking out her braids, implying she considers it necessary to take her braids out for her interview. Since she considers it necessary, if she wants the job, she has no choice but to change her hair. Aunty Uju has no choice but to conform with American standards of professional hair to have a better chance at a job, or a chance to earn a

It is apparent from the black female actresses that Chris Rock interviewed, like Nia Long, that black women are not aware of what Asian women go through in order to provide black women with straight hair. During this scene, it is revealed that many Indian women often give up their hair for religious purposes. However, this is not always the case. Some Indian women are often subjected to having their hair cut off and stolen. This is how black women in the United States are getting their hair, and it is unfortunate that some Indian women are being victimized in order to help black women assimilate to Western ideologies. Therefore, black women are appropriating the Asian culture whether they know it or not. They are trying to obtain this straight hair that society has deemed as good hair. Thus, they are not considering what Asian women or Asian workers are going through in order to get them this hair. However, I cannot completely blame black women for victimizing and appropriating Asians. This appropriation is the result of society convincing black women that their hair is not good enough. Hence, societal notions of what good hair looks like causes black women to lose self-confidence in their natural

A person’s hair style should never prevent them of an employment opportunity, but unfortunately for Chastity Jones, that is exactly what happened. In 2010, Ms. Jones, an African-American woman, completed the online application process for a customer service position at CMS (Catastrophe Management Solutions) and was selected to have an in-person interview. After she was informed that she was hired, Chastity had to discuss a scheduling conflict with CMS’ human resources manager Jeannie Wilson, and at this point is when the subject of Chastity’s hair was first brought up. Chastity Jones was informed at this point for the first time that she would have to cut her dreadlocks if she wanted the job because “they tend to get messy”. Ms. Jones then said she would not cut her hair and did not get the job as a result. CMS claims to have a race-neutral grooming policy which can be read here: “All personnel are expected to be dressed and groomed in a manner