Politics of Black Hair.... The Kink Rules Supreme
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Politics of Black Hair...Kinky... The Other "N" Word...Nappy
Negro Francie - 1967....Kelly & Brandy - 2010...Change: Undetectable
The top photo is of Negro Francie Barbie Doll from 1967.
The bottom photo is of Kelly Rowland & Brandy
from 2010....not much change in hairstyles in over 40 years.
We're still imitating another culture and suppressing our own.
Singer Chrisette Michele -- Natural Beauty
Can you see the natural beauty in us when we wear our hair
naturally, as exemplified by singer Chrisette Michele?
Damn - Black Memorabilia
Here are 2 rather insulting names for real products that were really
sold back in the day. There's nothing to say...look and just shake your
head...What a damn Shame!!!!
The Power of Black Women's Hair -- a preliminary to a documentary
Here's a preliminary to the documentary The Power of
Black Women's Hair by Akilah Chopfied.
Meet Asha Mandela, The Guinnes World Record Holder for the Longest Locs
This is Asha Mandela, the Guinnes World Record Holder for the Longest Locs:
19 feet, 6 inches.
Asha calls her hair her baby. She believes her locs are the center for her energy,
wisdom, understanding and strength. She feels that her locs are a spiritual entity.
She is overprotective of her hair and cares for it herself; using 4 to 6 big
bottles of shampoo at one time!
Check out her video below, where she demonstrates how she washes her many
feet of hair.
A Brother & His Afro
Back in the day -- 60's and 70's -- a brother took a lot of
pride in his afro. He preened in a mirror more than
a sister. A fine afro, even made him stand taller....walk
taller. He'd pic his afro, just getting the right evenness
all around. You see, an afro and sagging pants just wouldn't
mix. Perhaps brothers should start wearing afros again.
Maybe that's a way to get them to pull up their pants.
To Serial Weavers & Lace-Fronters: See what happens!
Supermodel Naomi Campbell needs to rethink her weaves
and lace-front wigs. Girl has no edges!!! There's GONE!
Are you listening Beyonce?
Bon Bon Has Arrived!
Check out Bon Bon -- high fashion in motion!
She's the creation of Jason Wu for Madame Alexander.
You may remember Mr. Wu as the designer of Michelle
Obama's white inaugural ball gown.
Mr. Wu has created a new line of Cissy Dolls. Bon Bon
is his African-American doll. Not only is she looking
fab, she is sporting naturally cropped hair beneath her
houndstooth-hand hat. She retails for $159.95.
1939 Vintage Poster
Here is a 1939 poster from the Negro Industrial Fair in New York City.
The models' hair is pressed and curled more than likely using a
marcel curling iron (above) and pressing combs (below)
And you can see the heavy pressing oil and
hair pomade that was used. Similar to
the Lucky Brown Pressing Oil and La Jean Full Dress
Hair Pomade (above). All this to alter our natural hair to
look like this:
8-Year Old Removed from Class Because of Olive Oil Smell in Her Hair
What is the real reason for the Seattle-based
child's removal from her elementary honors class?
Do you smell hidden racism? An 8-year-old biracial
girl (white mom) was kicked out of her honors class
because the teacher complained of the smell of the
young girl's hair.
The Organic Root Stimulator hair product contains
olive oil. The teacher complained the olive oil scent
was making her sick. The young girl was the only Black
student in the honors class. She was switched to a lower
academic achieving class where there were other Black
students. Her dad has taken his daughter out of school
and will not let her return until the teacher can prove
with medical evidence that the olive oil hair product is
to blame for her nausea. And the NAACP has gotten
involved.
This is just HAIR Ridiculous!
Some Black women have just lost their mind! A wallet in your hairstyle
is not brilliance; rather it's pure foolishness.
Super Bulk Hair -- Super Stupid
How long are we going to continue buying hair at the store?
When are we going to begin worshiping our own hair?
Back In The Day Afro
For those of us that can remember, this Duke Afro Hairspray Ad
makes you want to bring back the day of the Afro...and the unity.
Ms. Jackson goes natural...kind of....
Ms. Jackson has dropped the hairpiece, wig, weave; and she's sporting her own short do.
It's still permed, but she's dropped the fakeness.
OMG!!! Can You Believe IT? -- A Pill to Make Your Hair Straight!
It's hard to believe, but some Australian scientists are doctoring the
gene that makes hair curly. One day you will be able to pop a pill
and straight hair will begin growing from the scalp of your once
kinky hair. Read more on thecoilreview.com. You know, Black
folks will be lining around the corner and down the street for this
pill.
Will this child have any hair by the time she is four?
(courtesy of happynappyhead.com)
What is this child's mother thinking putting fake braids in her toddler's hair?
Instantaneously the message to the young one is that your hair is not good enough.
And more importantly the tension of the braids is ruining the little girl's tender
scalp....Shame...Shame...Shame.
The "I'm Mad As Hell...& I Can't Take It Anymore" Award of the Moment Goes To...
The beautiful actress, Gabrielle Union for Hell-to-the
No in Fake Hair!
Teacher Chops Off 1st Grader's Braid
Can you believe it? Back in mid-December,
a Milwaukee teacher cut off the front braid of
first grader Lamya Cammon. The teacher
claimed Lamya was making too much noise
playing with her beaded braids.
The malicious teacher calls her up to her desk,
tricks her in to asking if she wants candy;
and then takes a scissors and chops off
half Lamya's braid and throws it in the wastepaper
basket.
The class laughs and embarrassed Lamya
goes back to her desk and cries.
The teacher was fined $175 for disorderly
conduct and currently the Milwaukee Public
School District is going through a disciplinary
process with the teacher.
Somebody should cut one side of the teacher's
hair -- and show her what it feels like.
Lamya is now in another teacher's class.
Sisterlocks - Wash 'n Go Hair
(courtesy of Sisterlocks.com)
With Sisterlocks, we can finally have that wash 'n go
hair. And we no longer have to go to bed with
the Harriet Tubman/Slave headscarf. We can be
free and just lay our head down on the pillow...pleasant
dreams.
Sisterlocks in the Motherland
Here are 2 girls from the Nyangatom People from
Southwest Ethiopia and Southeast Sudan. This is a
likeness to the trademarked Sisterlocks created by
Dr. JoAnne Cornwell (below) in 1993.
(courtesy of Sisterlocks.com)
Healing Hair - Sisterlocks
(photo courtesy - Boston Globe/Evan Richman)
The Sisterlock movement is alive! Sisterlocks
originated in 1993, by Dr. JoAnne Cornwell,
professor at San Diego State University.
Here's an article from January 6, 2008 Boston Globe
by Meghan Irons.
Sisterloctician Martine Bernard, explained that,
"It's healing hair....We are healing some of the
ingrained feelings about our hair....God does not
make mistakes."
Best Hair Photo of 2009
The little man wanted to see if President Obama's hair
felt like his.
Royal Crown Hair Dressing - 1960
(courtesy of vieilles annonces)
This Royal Crown ad said to "press it...dress it...forget it"
and get the Royal Crown look of pride!
Hair Strate Perm Ad - 1960
(courtesy of vieilles annonces)
Indianapolis-based Summit Laboratories came out with a hair permanent. Not only was if for women it said, "it's for girls,
boys and daddies too." In 1960, Summit was trying to get everybody on the bandwagon.
Posner's Genuine Bergamot Hair Conditioner Ad
(courtesy of vieilles annonces)
This Posner Bergamot Hair Conditioner ad from Ebony magazine,
December 1959 professes to be water repellent (yeah, right).
Remember Sulfur-8? Here's a 1960 Ad
(courtesy of vieilles annonces)
This Sulfur-8 ad for conditioner and shampoo claimed you would
have longer, healthier, & richer looking hair. The ad also asked
if your hair is too short and measly (misspelled in the ad)-looking.
Dixie Peach Hair Dressing Pomade Ad - Ebony, June 1960
(courtesy of vieilles annonces)
Here's a Dixie Peach Hair Dressing Pomade ad from June, 1960
Ebony magazine. The ad underscores using Dixie Peach will
make your hair soft, smooth, & lustrous.
"Greaseless" Duke Ad from Ebony 1960s
(courtesy of vieilles annonces)
Here's an Ebony magazine ad for
Duke hair pomade for men. The ad
is emphasizing the grease is greaseless.
The model, Hal DeWindt looks like he
doesn't have the typical kinky texture of
hair.
Mel B - Shame on You - Perming Your Daughter's Hair
Mel B, what were you thinking perming your little girl's?
What are you doing to her baby brain cells?
Black Barbie Locked
(courtesty of feministing.com)
This Barbie Beauty is by Loanne Hizo Ostlie
who sells Black Barbies on ebay.
She re-roots the hair.
Tyra's Real Hair
Ms. Banks threw off the fake hair
to show the world her
relaxed hair underneath.
Yes,that was a brave move. It's a step
in a positive direction to show sisters.
The big leap would be wearing her hair
the way it naturally grows out of her scalp.
But she gets major credit for the first step.
Braid Extensions Give False Hope
Braid Extensions are good to give your hair a rest...But it also gives a
Sister false hope. It's make-believe long hair . One step up from
a weave or wig because it's more Africentric? But it's still imitation.
And some Sisters go way past the expiration-time-to-take-out date.
The Kink Rules and it's not going to let any synthetic hair stop it's growth.
That $6.00 pack of synthetic hair gets disarmed by the Kink after a couple
of months.
Fall in Love with YOUR NATURAL Hair!!!
Natural Hair Is Beautiful Part 2 by Naturalnana
Another video education by Naturalnana:
Natural Hair Is Beautiful - Part 2
Naturally Speaking - Linda Jones on Recovering Permies
For Recovering Permies Seeking Support
September, 2009
|
This column is dedicated to permaholics who are in recovery. Also known as recovering permies, these women are addicted to chemical relaxers but are ready to kick the habit. First, let me congratulate you for your decision to make the transition to a more natural lifestyle for your hair. You have taken a major step toward setting your follicles free.
While I hope your transition will be a smooth one, you will likely face challenges along the way. Brace yourself for criticism from those who will question your sanity and don't be surprised if there are times when you second-guess yourself. Post-Perm Guilt is common among recovering permies. You blame yourself for taking your hair off drugs. You need to be reminded that those feelings of guilt are only 'natural.' You have done nothing wrong.
As recovering permies, you should not take this journey alone. I strongly urge you to find a support group-particularly one that hold regular "hairepy" sessions where you can get help managing your chemical relaxer addiction. I also encourage you to build a network of supportive, nappy-headed friends who you can call on whenever you feel a relapse coming on.
For those of you who need spiritual support, I offer my 12-Strand Program for Permaholics. Please note that any similarity to other recovery programs is purely parody.
The 12 Strand
1. We admitted we were powerless over perms and that our lives had become un-mane-geable.
2. Came to believe that a Hair Power greater than ourselves could restore us to nappiness.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our follicles over to the care of a Higher Hair Power as we understood Her.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of our follicles.
5. Admitted to a Higher Hair Power, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our follicle failures.6. Were entirely ready to have our Higher Hair Power remove all these defects of character.7. Humbly asked our Higher Hair Power to remove our short-combings.8. Made a list of all nappy-headed people we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.9. Made direct amends to nappy-headed people wherever possible.10. Continued to take personal hair inventory, and when we snuck out to get a touch-up, promptly admitted it.11. Sought through meditation to improve our conscious contact with nappiness as we understand it to be, meditating only for more knowledge of that state of being and the power to maintain it.12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to permaholics and to practice these principles in all our hair affairs.
It is my sincere hope, dear permies, that these guiding principles will help you stay the 'coarse' and take your recovery one nap at a time.
Linda is author of Nappyisms: Affirmations for Nappy-Headed People and Wannabes!
Malia Gets Criticized by the Right
Below is an excerpt from The New York Times article,
Black Hair, Still Tangled in Politics, by
Catherine Saint Louis on August 26, 2009
re: ignorant bloggers on Free Republic about Malia's twists:
Anyone who thought such preconceptions were outdated would
have been reminded otherwise by some negative reactions to the
president’s 11-year-old daughter, Malia Obama, who wore her hair
in twists while in Rome this summer. Commenters on the
conservative blog Free Republic attacked her as
unfit to represent America for stepping out unstraightened.
We Need Some More Hair In Here by Jason Lewis
...Too Many Weaves...enjoy!
New Look for Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles has put the weaves & wigs
in the draw for the time being.
She's wearing her natural look. Some hip-hop
celebs & regular ignorant folks have been
brutal with her new look.
The look is crying for a better shape up,
but I know her hair is saying thank you
for some free sun & oxygen.
The 60's Ronnettes with the Beehive Look
Here's the 60's Ronnettes with the Beehive style.
Hairstyles From Waaay Back In The Day
These vintage sisters are profiling...all trying
to let their hair lay down like the dominant
culture...Natural Black hair reaches toward
the sun.
Look for Chris Rock's "Good Hair"
Look for Chris Rock's Sundance
Award-winning Good Hair film by HBO
Films coming out this fall.
..I'm sure he's going to expose
the ridiculous obsession black woman
have about our Un-natural hairstyles.
Vintage Hair Pomade
It's Sensational, Joe Louis Hair Pomade" -
around in the 1940s. Joe Louis was
World Heavyweight Champion from
1937-1952.
"THE I'M MAD AS HELL...& I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE" AWARD of the MOMENT Goes To....
The wonderful actress, Kerry Washington -
overflowing in a mass of fabricated fake-ness.
The Real Halle
Then
Now!
Halle's rockin' her REAL hair, again....Amen!
