- Why is it that in my area in Brooklyn, there are at least three to five hairdressers per block? Every step I take walks me past yet another salon, where weaves proliferate. I don't even see regular relaxed hair that much anymore. Dayum. I guess living in a predominantly black area has opened my eyes to how prevalent the weave ideology is.
- I would call out natural hair if it looked unhealthy, let me just say that. Natural does not always equate healthy. But I must add that since I've moved to NYC, comparing both natural and relaxed heads that I've scoped, natural wins on the healthy front. I honestly don't see that many relaxed heads where the hair looks like it's not parched, breaking, or just deader than dead. It's understandable though, when I think of how much harder it must be to keep your hair healthy when it's under constant chemical warfare, I wonder how I managed it before I went natural. I thought of this cos I was admiring some girl's relaxed hair on the train the other day- it actually looked bright, shiny, soft, moisturized and not plastic.
- Which brings me to plastic hair. I cannot for the life of me understand why some people go for weaves that are obviously synthetic plastic-looking things. I mean, woudn't you want it to at least look like real hair? And then they add the highlights/colored bangs/whatever. Yeah, purple rubber looks banging on your head. Don't even get me started on the hairlines.
- I think natural hair likes to sabotage other types. I obviously look at folk's hair too much, but please tell me you've noticed this too. Someone's gone to the effort of relaxed and ironing the living shit out of their hair, going for that straight straight bone straight look. It looks, well, straight. Then you get to the edges or nape of neck, and there are those sneaky naps!! Sabotaging their non-kinky look! Those pieces that were too short to get at with the iron, or those bits that just missed the relaxer application. It cracks me up, cos I imagine the natural hair being like "Oh, you trying to be all straight, huh? Well, all a body's gotta do is see me at your edges, and they'll realize that this straight thing is just a front!" It's like a fissure in the image. Yes, my mind really goes down these paths. Don't blame me, I ride the subway a lot, and I hair-watch.
- Curly weaves. Lobster and I walked past a girl with a curly weave on, and he turns to me and says "Weave, right?" I was like "Mm-hmm". He turns back and says "This is a fun game". Lol! Weave Identification 101, for your entertainment.
- I will always be curious as to people's reasons for straightening their hair. I always have a sneaking suspicion that majority of women just do it because it's what's done. I would love to be proven wrong.
- I should really watch Good Hair.
- Bet you I'm going to get lambasted and accused of hating weaves/relaxed hair, as usual. I still get furious comments on my post "Why Relaxed Hair/Weave Saddens Me"
- Bet you I won't care.
That's all, folks! Share you recent hair thoughts in the comments :)
11 comments:
I think you hit the nail on the head with this post mam. I've never understood why we will cut all of our natural hair (whether you perm it up or not)off or damage our hair to turn around and stick a bunch of fake in it. I believe you need to do you, for I've gotten weave twice now...but this was during transitioning AND it was a natural as I could get it.
Changing it up every once in awhile is fine, but a way of life....a new defining moment for black women in our culture now.....I don't agree. Its hard because all images (around the neighborhood and in the media) is all about weave and how glamorous it is. What are we teaching our young women is my question.
Great post!
I grew up in a family where the women hid their hair either under scarves or weaves/extensions. Idk why to be honest, even though they have natural hair. And I've noticed in "urban" communities with a sizeable black/hispanic population, you will find hair and nail salons everywhere, more often then a supermarket. Esp. in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Harlem.
I need to lol at the part where you said the kinks sneak up on the bone straight hair. I think about that too. Ironically I just flat ironed my hair (but not bone straight) because I wanted to change it up and I saw once again that it's not really me (sigh) so I've taken advantage of the opportunity and have trimmed my ends and put pin curls in my hair to give it "character."
And this may sound mean but I often play the weave game with my guy too. We do it with the stars on TV and random ppl we see. It's not that I'm downing them, I just notice it (it has something to do with being accused of being weaved-up when I was a kid when it was actually all mine)
ok done.
Hmm,I am natural, but I just choose not to care what others do to their hair, cause it isn't on my head. I live in a mostly White/Hispanic city so I see about 1 or 2 black people, a week if that,other than the handful of Somalians. Anyways I think it is cool to wear braid extensions once in awhile to mix things up... I believe we as women need to stop judging others and worry about ourselves and what we are doing, all this hating is doing nothing but hurting others feelings/confidence and making people question their self worth. If you don't like it well who cares cause it's not your hair/body, worry about what you see in the mirror.
Sorry for the rant I enjoy this site a lot but I don't think it is very nice to be hating, people already have to go through their families talking smack about their hair choices and such and kinda sucks to have to get hated on on the internet to. To each his own I guess...
@Ms. SIlky Coils, thanks :) Using weaves as styling is totally normal (case in point: Undead), I just wonder how it progresses to being a crutch, you know.
@Curly Film Chick, I flat ironed my hair once to check the length, but then I just felt bad going out in public with my sister, cos she still rocked her fro. Lol, it so wasn't me, all those wasted hours in the salon, sigh. At least I got a good trim out of it. And I'm sure a helluva lot more ppl play the weave game than will admit to it.
@putyohandsonme, honey, I don't give a shit what other people do with their hair. I do have a right to laugh at it/wonder about it/notice it on the subway. If you don't like me writing my opinion, or if you don't care about my opinion, then feel free to stop reading my opinion. If you want to assume that I'm judging people, that's your issue, not mine.
Also, if you're rocking around with a shitty weave and destroying your hair line in the process, maybe you should be questioning shit and how you feel about yourself and what's motivating you.
Don't get mad because I got honest. *shrug*
Ha ha, I lovee playing the "weave game". No shade to those who wear weaves because I have and prolly will wear again. But bad weaves annoy the hell outta me!!!!
Can't wait until the natural hair gathering!!
wow!! how accurate. I too was on the tube the other day ( in London) and the whole diferent colour hiar thing seems to be all the rage in the UK ( To be fair at least the hair matched the bag and the shoes)
We have to sort out our issues!!
Naturally Uk
"I think natural hair likes to sabotage other types."-this was soo funny I LITERALLY laughed out loud>>>its actually true..I've often thought it about my OWN hair when I wore weaves etc..like "DAMN YOU FRO HAIR!"
...but seriously, I agree it is kind of sad that at times we (just women in general) are soo hung up on the "in look" that we don't even care that its not healthy, or its unbecoming...
I actually don't think theres anything wrong with changing it up if thats what you like (to each his own) but when you are walking around with a CLEARLY damaged head of hair..it just seems you missed the point...
Great post..(and I agree, I think a LOT of people play the weave game! Its just tooo hard to resist LOL)
This post is so on POINT. I live in Brooklyn myself and I think us naturals have affected even the weave crew. What makes me laugh are the hairstyles that LOOK like natural hair. I was at a party the other day sitting next to a friend that had a weave in that looked like a TWISTOUT. I, of course, was rocking the real thing, and someone actually asked ME where I bought my hair. LMAO!
Lol. It's so entertaining people watchin in Ny right? I can't get enough of it, especially on the train. Haha. I agree that a lot of people relax and don't even know why. For many, it's seen as at a certain age, you just get one.
Hi Zara!
I just discovered your blog and after reading this post, I can tell that I will become a frequent follower. LOL.
I do a lot of hair watch/people watch as well...I just love it. People just fascinate me. And it also kills me to see how many women still wear "bad-looking" weaves that "old- haven't brushed it in a while-Barbie" hair! Pure synthetic mess on their head :p
I have got nothing against weaves though. When they are properly maintained, I think they can be a great alternative protective style for natural ladies as well. I, personally have never had one cuz Im sure it'll be too itchy for me to keep it on for more than a week.
As for the ladies who still perm their hair...it's obvisouly a personal choice that I cannot judge.
I'll just say that when it looks dead, broken, mistreated, dry, brittle...and all of that, it just saddens me (as you mentionned). I just wish that for those ladies, natural hair was an option in their mind.
Anyways, "to each his own". Whatever works for you as long as you keep it healthy :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Z. :)
Nappattitude
I personally have never had a weave as I think it takes some doing to find a weave that looks natural and suit 'black features'. I did, however, use braid extensions and twist extensions whilst transitioning from relaxed hair. I have been rocking my natural hair without extensions for the last 3 years and can honestly say nothing I have ever done with my hair feels as good as having a full head of free, natural, healthy hair. I have encouraged all my friends and relatives to go natural.
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