Chris Rock’s “Good Hair”

In a move that is bound to raise some eyebrows, Chris Rock is preparing to release his comedic documentary “Good Hair,” set to tell the tale of black women and their relationship with their hair. I’m actually looking forward to it, even though I’m sure something about it will probably offend me, but it wouldn’t be good satire if it didn’t do that.

More after the jump.

My own personal story with my hair has already been documented on this blog, but for the record, I am in recovery of being unnaturally and unhealthily obsessed with my hair. I was told I had “good hair” growing up because it was just wavy enough to be easily straightened and it was very long and thick. My mother worked hard to combat the good hair/bad hair stereotypes while at the same time endorsing straight hair as the best look for me. (I know … screwy. Love your hair! Now fix it!) This created a paranoia that all my looks were tied to my hair and at 23 I chopped it all off and went natural. Since then my hair is once again long, but it is not chemically straightened.

All the Snob sisters have naturals. Baby Snob once even had dreds before they got too heavy and started to break off. I can’t commit to a hairstyle so I wear it all kinds of ways, but I’m still kind of obsessed with my hair. Mostly now of going bald. Fortunately I’m not alone in hair hysteria, as this film and life has proven to me. For every black woman who is perfectly content and is all zen about it (“It’s just hair!”), there are about 20 of us fretting over every strand like neurotic beauty shop addicts. Will this film help us with our addiction? Or will we just be doing a lot of eye rolling?

daniellebelton

58 responses to “Chris Rock’s “Good Hair””

  1. Court Avatar
    Court

    My main concern is how Chris Rock will approach this topic. His issues with black women, well displayed in his stand-ups and his specials, make me very wary. He’s never really been above disrespecting us for one reason or another, but he’s a comedian and if you’re offended well then you just can’t get a joke…Growing up I really didn’t have a big complex about my hair, but I was always self aware that I could never be beautiful on my own without a perm. Now that I’m natural (and expecting) I know which mistakes my mother made that I won’t be repeating with regard to shaping the way my daughter views her hair and sense of self. At the same time I don’t think that every woman who straightens her hair is self-hating. My thing is this, it’s your hair, do whatever you want to do, but for the sake of mental health take a look at the reasons why you do what you do.

    Reply
  2. bostonsnoblova Avatar
    bostonsnoblova

    I may not understand because I’ve never had a weave, and I dont perm – but even still I dont see the mass hysteria over a few dead particles. My mom has hers cropped to her head, and my pops has his down his back. They seem to have it figured out, doesn’t really matter does it. And Court is right. Chris has some black women issues. Its going to be very interesting to see how this plays out. BTW has anyone seen the new commericial for 542542. Now, if that doesn’t say that this isn’t a good idea I dont know what will.

    Reply
  3. sarah Avatar
    sarah

    I have to see what this is all about, but wouldn’t he tell his wife to get the weave out of her head first before he made a movie directed towards everybody else. I’m just saying.

    Reply
  4. Luna Avatar
    Luna

    I totally agree with the first comment. I am wary seeing as though Chris Rock doesn’t have the best approach when it comes to issues regarding black women. Instead of poking innocent fun, it comes out all the wrong way. But it should be interesting to see, of that I’m sure. Natural revolution….here we go.

    Reply
  5. mothsmoke Avatar
    mothsmoke

    I recall watching an interview Chris Rock conducted along with Nelson George and a woman (can’t recall her name) about this movie. Chris rock said that the impetus for the documentary came from his daughter asking if she had good hair. My first thought was that his problem is at home and that he and his wife should discuss how her weave habit is affecting their daughters. It will be interesting to see if his wife’s choices are explored in the film.

    Reply
  6. polticallyincorrect Avatar
    polticallyincorrect

    Why are black men always using the black woman as their subject matter, why don’t they turn the cameras on themselves. And I was about to say the same thing about his wife, she got just as much weave hair as Beyonce on her head

    Reply
  7. dkan71 Avatar
    dkan71

    Speaking of hair…Am i wrong for wondering why the hell Angelina Jolie has her child walking around with her hair looking a hot mess? Doesn’t she know any black people who can help her out with Z’s hair? The latest pictures from today are just tragic. zaharaIs it me? Do I suffer from self-hatred or a colonized mind for just wanting her to bring that child’s head near a nice boar’s bristle brush?

    Reply
  8. Lisa J Avatar
    Lisa J

    @dkan71 no, you aren’t bad. They obviously aren’t doing ANYTHING to care for her hair at all. That is bad. There was an article on Jack and Jill about 2 weeks ago or so about a white college prof who adopted a little girl from Africa and he does her hair most of the time and does an excellent job of it, and folks on the comment section pointed out that this dude should contact Angelina about doing little Z’s hair. Here is a link to the article post http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/07/daddys-little-girl/ I even heard Angelina’s hairstyyle is black so either she told him/her to not touch the child’s hair or s/he is afraid to say, "Look hollywood, our hair ain’t like yours, let me do something with that baby’s hair" I mean at the very least they could put it up or make it neat. It doesn’t look like it has grown much at all since they’ve had her. Looking forward to Chris’ documedy.

    Reply
  9. polticallyincorrect Avatar
    polticallyincorrect

    Shilohs hair is jack up too. Why can’t a black girl at least live the first 5 years of her life w/o worrying about hair?

    Reply
  10. Lisa J Avatar
    Lisa J

    meant to say her hairstylist is black, no idea what a hairstyyle is 🙂

    Reply
  11. Daughter Avatar
    Daughter

    Given that he made this film out of concern for his daughter, I’ll give Chris Rock the benefit of the doubt for now. I’ve seen some of the most misogynistic men become much more sensitive about issues when they relate to their daughters.

    Reply
  12. mothsmoke Avatar
    mothsmoke

    @ dkan71Come now, Zahara’s hair is just fine. When we first saw her she had four strands of hair. Now it looks as though she has a head full of thick beautiful, undamaged hair. I think many African Americans subconciously equate what we consider well kept hair with a well cared for child – a reflection on the home in general. Hence, the Saturday night before church hot comb torture er … ritual many AA women endured growing up. Surely you know the tongue wagging/lashing a mother endures simply becasue her child’s hair is not on point. That embarrassment/guilt is unfortunately passed on from one generation to the next.Thankfully, Zahara will be spared this. She is being raised in a family where children seemed to be able to express their individuality – societal norms be damned. Let’s not forget little Maddox’s mohawk with the blue tips. Can’t tell you how many little black boys I’ve seen this summer with a variation of that cut. Must be nice to grow up and allowed just to "be."

    Reply
  13. brownstocking Avatar
    brownstocking

    I, like others, am not expecting much of Rock. I am one of the "Zen," I guess, I just stopped caring right when I took my locs out. I figure, God willing, I can switch it up whenever I want to. I don’t believe in self-hate if folks are on the creamy crack, unless they look down on others’ hair choices. Do you, I do me. I think men are far more caught up women’s hair than the need to be, and that can drive some of the disdain for different hairstyles, as well as women’s competition with their hair. Why do men care so much? Why don’t they worry about their hair? My brother is the same way, obsessed with his daughter’s hair, and never letting her cut it beyond a trim. It is so hard to work with, but he doesn’t care, as long as she keeps her long, wavy tresses above all. Sad.I’ve tried everything, literally, except braiding in weave, and as long as I don’t look a hot mess, who cares?As far as Zahara, I guess Brad isn’t doing her hair anymore. They need to graduate past Carol’s Daughter, because the quality has gone down as business has gone up.

    Reply
  14. fly girl Avatar
    fly girl

    I’ve actually read serveral interviews about Chris Rock’s inspiration for this film. He doesn’t want his daughter to grow up with the serious hair issues that a lot of black women have. weave or not, his wife malaak shouldn’t be defined by what’s on her head and neither should anyone else. I never had the black girl hair hysteria but my mother does and I have to educate her and other everyday about the silliness of equating a woman’s self worth with hair. I have locs and so does my daughter. I get a lot of positive attention about them but my daughter is stuggling through puberty and being the only girl with locs in her school. Wheather the response is positive or negative, your hair should be about pleasing you and nobody else.

    Reply
  15. Court Avatar
    Court

    I agree @ mothsmoke. It looks healthy and strong, and as for seeing growth, I see plenty. Her hair doesn’t fall down her back due to how kinky it is, but I bet if you were to pull on a strand it would pass her shoulders. As for it being neat, I guess it’s all in the eye of the beholder but I’ll tell you what, way too many black mothers stress so-called neatness over health and by the time their daughters are 6 they have no visible hair line to speak of and hair so broken it can barely make a pony. I’ll take health, thank you very much.

    Reply
  16. Marquetta Avatar
    Marquetta

    I never thought I had "good hair" until it was pointed out to me my freshman year of college. I knew my hair was fine but never thoought it was "good". I had just washed my hair when one of my roommates asked me how often I get a relaxer and I told her every 3-4 months she said "see you have good hair. You probably don’t even need a relaxer." Then she paraded me around showing everyone my hair, pointing out the wet ringlets. Every since then, I’ve always been self-conscious of my hair. I’ve been purposely cutting my hair when it gets past shoulder length because I don’t want people to think I think I have good hair. I know, sounds crazy. But in the black community, hair is a sore topic just like skin-tone. And I’ve experienced backlash for both. My husband hates it when I cut my hair. And he hates it when I sport the wet and dry look. He wants it long and straight. My dad is the same way. I don’t understand black men’s obsession with women’s hair. I’m hoping Chris Rock’s documentary will shed some light.

    Reply
  17. Brandi Avatar
    Brandi

    I’m pretty curious about the movie and will probably see it. I read an article a few months ago about this and I like that the documentry won’t (so they say) favor one choice of style over another. No one wanted to be preached to. I grew up in a family with straight hair and to a mother who’s obsessed with her hair – not good for a little girl without straight hair. Needless to say, there was always a production when it came to combing my hair. Honestly, I don’t know how I recovered from the comments made about my hair. It did take many years to build a healthy hair self esteem. There’s no way to deny that the black community has deep seeded issues with hair. Looking at these issues in a humorous way is a great way start dealing with these issues.

    Reply
  18. thelady Avatar
    thelady

    Zahara’s hair looks fine, like a well moisturized wash n go style.

    Reply
  19. thelady Avatar
    thelady

    @ MarquettaWhen I had long relaxed hair I mostly wore it in buns to avoid the fuss people made over it when it was down. When I had it in a pony tail people would debate if it was weave. I hated the extra attention from both men and women.

    Reply
  20. Azariah Avatar
    Azariah

    Why is everyone so afraid to just tell the damn truth?? We’ve been brainwashed into thinking that the caucasian standard of beauty is the only one. We’ve been trained to hate our black selves. From our natural noses (chopped up sisters like Patti Labelle, Tyra Banks, Halle Berry, on and on and on), our full lips, our natural full curves, our black skin. But it is our hair, especially, that is most affected by this brainwashing. Whether we want to face it or not — when we straighten our hair, we’re sending a message loud and clear: "I’m not good enough as I am!" "God made a mistake!" "I’ll do anything to look like you!" "Please accept me!" What’s worse, black people are completely locked out of the hair selling business. Korean people have totally monopolized this industry, and sell tons of hair to salons around the country — laughing all the way to the bank. Wake the hell up, people. Stop being grotesque parodies of white women!

    Reply
  21. Lisa J Avatar
    Lisa J

    Ok, so I don’t have kids, so maybe I’m wrong, I just thought her hair should be a little more full at 4 based on the last pictures I saw of her ( I didn’t click onto the pic dkan71 linked until after I initially wrote).. But couldn’t they at least do something with it? They don’t have to straighten it, but couldn’t they put some barettes in it, or a few plaits or something cute. The little white daughter in the pic, though she has a few wisps hanging out, has her hair neatly pulled back in a ponytail. And how often do you see little, little girls like that with their hair out like that all wash and go?

    Reply
  22. Regina Avatar
    Regina

    I like Zahara’s hair

    Reply
  23. Dane Avatar
    Dane

    I think she looks adorable. Why does the natural state of our hair have to be seen even by us as somehow unkempt or messy? Her hair is just being itself. One day maybe we can all do the same.

    Reply
  24. mothsmoke Avatar
    mothsmoke

    @ Lisa JI think your questions perfectly encapsulate the pathology many AA women have about black hair. Why couldn’t they do something (like plaits or barrets) to make her look "cute?" When’s the last time anyone saw a little girl with wash and go hair? Implicit in your questioning is that she’s not complete (cute enough) without braids, plaits, and barrets. That since the Jolie-Pitts adopted an African child, they need to conform to AA standards of "cuteness" for their daughter. They do not. Clearly for them — and hopefully her– notions of beauty (cuteness) are not tied up in her hair.The question that really needs to be asked is why do you (the community) feel like the Jolie-Pitts must do these things? Unburdened by these twisted notions of beauty, the Jolie-Pitts are free to let their 4yr old be a wash and go kind of kid. What I (with no kids) think all kids should be. Instead of chiding the Jolie-Pitts, maybe we can learn a thing or two from their little tribe.

    Reply
  25. JJ Avatar
    JJ

    I think Zahara and her hair are beautiful. It looks like Angelina and Brad are trying to raise her to be proud of her hair by letting her wear it out. I think it’s wonderful. Nothing wrong with being nappy.

    Reply
  26. NLSmith Avatar
    NLSmith

    I tend to agree somewhat with Azariah. Black people in general have jacked up self-image. But when questioned about having a weave or a nose job, most deflect by saying that’s it’s just a style it’s just hair, when obviously there’s so much more behind black women’s hair decisions. Going back to slavery a black person’s status in society has been directly linked to the tone of their skin and the texture of their hair, thus the terms house ni&&er and field ni&&er that stays with us to this day. After slavery, those blacks that could "pass" for white often chose to divest from the black community to make better lives for themselves and their families. And when not totally "passing" into white culture, lighter skinned blacks still gained more acceptance by whites and thus more opportunities, and in wanting better lives for future generations they often formed closed societies (where passing the paper bag test was a requirement for entry) and encouraged socializing and marrying within these groups. Again membership and access to these groups was not available to darker skinned blacks with kinkier hair thus the color and hair issues within the black communities deepened.And how long ago was it that the clinical experiment done with those black children choosing white dolls as "good" and "better" over the black dolls? Not very long ago at all. Why do we pretend that this conditioning that has gone on ever since blacks have been in America has no affect on how we view ourselves today? Or why do we refuse to see the link? On the whole there’s nothing wrong with a long hair "style", even if it’s achieved with a weave, but first we gotta get a handle on the why? And also teach our children to love themselves exactly how God made them first. And that all hair is "good" hair as long as it’s clean and healthy.

    Reply
  27. dkan71 Avatar
    dkan71

    @mothsmoke, azariah…and the other women who I knew would be praying for my eternal black soul. I speak as a woman who had dreads for over 10 years and am currently rocking a natural puff. I’m not jacked up about natural Black hair. Really. I have never ever worn a weave, nor did I spend my childhood getting my hair hot-combed to death every week wishing it were straight and/or blonde. My mother has had a natural since forevah, in fact. I’m purely speaking from an aesthetic standpoint. It seems like a person can’t make an aesthetic critique of anything or anyone black without having their mental state called into question. Consider you might be the one with the issue and not me. Sure we could all "go back to nature" and all just "wash and go". But even people with "wash and go" styles spend time and money on products, and even some work fingering hairs into place to give it that "wash and go" look. You and I both know that if that child rolled up at any black family function with her hair looking like that, someone would sit the child’s mother down and have a loving talk with her. In the meantime, I’m going to hope Ms. Jolie talks to her stylist and maybe learns about two strand twists, partial cornrows, and my personal childhood favorite, the big doo doo braid.

    Reply
  28. Nona Avatar
    Nona

    I generally side step all discussions about skin colour and hair texture because … well … I’ve never had a issue with mine or any person of African descent’s skin colour or hair texture and I get a lot tired of the circular light vs dark, straight vs kinky/curly discussions. However, I just wanted to say here that I think Zahara Jolie Pitt a lucky little girl because she has a mummy that respects and celebrates difference and understands that her hair is beautiful as it is. Should this be a reflection of Angelina’s mother skills in other areas, Zahara can look forward to growing into a emotionally stable young woman who loves her body and soul just as they are. Now that’s the greatest gift a mother can give a child.

    Reply
  29. Se*francophone* Avatar
    Se*francophone*

    Zahara’s hair rocks !!!Internalized racism is soooooooooooo not funny. Nope!

    Reply
  30. Penny Avatar
    Penny

    Like Azariah, I never knew I had "good hair" until someone outside my family told me. I used to have a relaxer (like you in college) and stop doing that 20+ years ago. My hair is purposely cut to a little above shoulder length-however, I consider myself one of the "Zen" women about my hair (with the exception of my gray hair, that is.) While I do think many of us obsess way too much about our hair, I must admit that it bothers me that so many Black women now have weaves. Now, I reserve the right for any woman to wear as she sees fit-weave, natural, locks, braids, etc. it is strange to see so many of these women that I know have their own beautiful hair (no matter the length, texture, thickness, etc) covered up by something that almost always looks false. I see so many young girls (teenagers and early 20’s) with this fake looking hair. They have bought into the notion that even a cheap, bad weave looks better than their own hair. What a shame.

    Reply
  31. Jaddadalos Avatar
    Jaddadalos

    So, this film was at the Sundance Festival, I believe, and I desired to see it then. To hear that it will be in "main stream" theaters this fall gives me pause and I’m trying to examine why…I get really…what’s the word… defensive (?) when important, complex, and sensitive topics like this get thrown out into the public. It’s not an "airing dirty laundry" bent either. It’s predominantly a feeling of, "I don’t trust this nation to deal with this responsibly". My deep passion for this general topic (loving thyself, i guess you could call it) in relation to the state of Black women and girls forces me to anticipate the nonsense and fascination and consequences. That said, I am glad he explored this subject (esp. with his daughters in mind) and perhaps he will demonstrate that his approach is appropriate and his point will spur more intelligent conversations on Black beauty, Black diversity and the effects of white supremacy on the Black psyche (too much? yea… we can’t even have an intelligent convo on racial profiling, and there are concrete studies from respected academics on this topic…dammit, United Statesians!).I consider all this in relation to this great quote from the site The Angry Black Woman:"I care about what racism is doing to little girls with Afro puffs sitting at the mirror and wishing for straight hair… In these discussions about race and representation? It’s not about the dominant culture finding us worthwhile. It’s about making sure that our children can find themselves worthwhile. It’s about being able to see our reality instead of the ugly lies that pass as the stereotype of the week" – ABW

    Reply
  32. vulcangirl Avatar
    vulcangirl

    I think Zahara’s hair looks fine. I’ve been known to wear my hair out like that. team-jolie.com has a bunch of pictures from the same day, and the girls just look like kids who have been playing rough all day and then went out somewhere. Shiloh’s hair is coming down and she’s wearing some shoes that look 4 sizes too big and a winter scarf around her waist. I like that those kids look like kids and their parents take them out looking like kids, and not some dressed up dolls who have to change clothes and look "presentable" all the time.

    Reply
  33. Urban Rootz Avatar
    Urban Rootz

    Oh Lord, do we really want white folks knowing stuff like this about us? I was interning at a hospital some months back and had a white lady ask my how I clean my hair (locks). I just laughed it off and said "with shampoo" but so many white folks are so insanely curious about our hair, you know they’re the one’s who’ll be watching Good Hair and it won’t be long before O’reilly, or Glen Beck or Sean Hannity says something stupid and they madness and mea culpas will start all over again. I don’t know. I love Chris Rock’s comedy but this may be exposing outsiders to more info than is necessary.

    Reply
  34. SupernoVa Avatar
    SupernoVa

    I think it gets right down to how we feel deep down about being "Black". Also, I too wear a relaxer, however, I’ am very, very proud of being Black. I keep my hair relaxed and frankly wouldn’t be caught without one. Not because I have a dislike for my textured hair but because my hair without a controlled substance (LOL) (a relaxer) is extremely hard to manage, thus my reasons for wearing one. I love my textured hair when it is healthy and shiny. I wish that all sista’s felt the way that I feel about being Black. As I continue to watch other women who aren’t Black go through all of the surgeries and so forth just to possess what we Black women possess. I’ am further convinced that I should in no way feel anything less about my blackness or my culture than (forgive me for saying) progressively superior. Why should I be concerned about the fact that I may wear a weave this week, a pony tail the next, or simply rock what I got at anytime, when it is a mere matter of style? The fact that I have these options is more than great to me. As I for one love to make a change, strike out with a new do anytime I choose and if I recall these other women who fit outside of our ebony circle are also, now sporting weaves as well. If we pay close attention every trend that we have set has been more than absorbed by our opposites whatever the race. People love our sass, they love our strength, they love our music, they love our full lips, hips, and voluptuous booties! Oh! And let us not forget that they luuuuv our black men. So although my hair may be kinky, I love it simply because what was once taboo is now a trend. I know you have all, at least once seen someone who wasn’t black sporting locks or cornrows. Why would I want to emulate something that already wants to be me? This is a question that every Black woman who doesn’t love herself should ask. All over the world there is something about our personalities and our swagger that cannot be denied. For these and so many other reasons if I died tomorrow and were given the choice to choose what race I could be before returning, I would come back Black and beautiful every time. I would just come back with more money. Stay BLACK!

    Reply
  35. Hersheys_Kiss Avatar
    Hersheys_Kiss

    I am curious as to how Chris Rock will approach this topic, given his history with representing women. But he may just shock us all

    Reply
  36. bdsista Avatar
    bdsista

    I had to have a press and curl before they had relaxers, it was the hard press, meaning once to get wavy, twice to get straight and you didn’t wash it for 3 months. I grew up with that thru the 60s. By the 70s they had relaxers and I tried a fro (big ones were in) and it took braiding, picking, shaping only to be missahapen by the end of the day. I left the big fros to the bros after that. Because I took ballet classes, my hair was always straight in a bun. In college it varied, by was relaxed. it still is. I did braids with extensions, crochet extensions and now when I want to swim I have my own hair and add insta weaves or pony tails and when I’m not, I’m weavin it or wiggin it. Wjy? I like the variety. I like having streaks one day and some other style the next. I am extremely allergic to permanent hair color, and when I maniipulate my hair too much whether natural or not I get breakage. Basically if my hair is cornrowed down to my head, it grows undisturbed and healthy which is why some women weave to give your hair a break.I also am a bellydancer so the wigs and weaves suit the image my clients want along with false eyelashes and glitter and sparkly costumes. But am I pro Black? Hell yeah. Its what in my head, not ON my head that matters.I do admit I don’t like the fake multicolred Barbie hair on the young people. I don’t think my little pony was supposed to be a role model for that.

    Reply
  37. alcorngirl Avatar
    alcorngirl

    Miss Zahara is a little girl. It really doesn’t matter at this point…plus she will have a weave in a few years.

    Reply
  38. NAGROM Avatar
    NAGROM

    Zahara’s hair is pretty, what is up with all of this talking bout her hair? She’s just a little baby. Please. Angelina is her mother and she can style her hair however she so chooses fits.

    Reply
  39. NAGROM Avatar
    NAGROM

    Angelina’s hairstylist is Ted Gibson, a black man.

    Reply
  40. NAGROM Avatar
    NAGROM

    A Ted Gibson ad, featuring model Cassie Lewis:)http://www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/brand/5873/5873_hero.jpg

    Reply
  41. Gwen Avatar
    Gwen

    "Oh Lord, do we really want white folks knowing stuff like this about us?"Who are White people to be worrying about but some regular people like you and me? Black people need to quit dreading over what White people think or will think of them; Whites aren’t the be all to end all. White people already know more about our hair than you think and certainly more than they let on when in our presence. Hell, they invented our hair issues!

    Reply
  42. NLSmith Avatar
    NLSmith

    Didn’t mean to imply that all black women who wear perms and/or weaves are self hating, because I know that’s not true. In actuality I think black men have more issues with black women’s hair than black women…maybe it’s cuz they can’t run their hands thru it ;-). But seriously, I think it’s moreso the reaction to natural hair that concerns me more than anything else…especially by older black people. Like my mom’s reaction for example, when I went natural…it was almost visceral! She had the nerve to say…you aint come out of my belly with that nappy hair! SMH. I had to say to her…well I certainly didn’t come out of your belly with a perm! But anyway, it certainly doesn’t stop with her and her generation, I’ve known plenty of people in my own generation (mostly men really, but females too) who have children outside of their race just so their children could have "good hair". Not to take anything away from mixed children cause they are beautiful too, but to date and copulate outside of your race specifically for those reasons shows some real self-hatred issues that need to be addressed…because the devaluation of black beauty does not stop there and manifests itself in various other aspects of black culture, IMO.And finally, I believe that since American pop culture seems to do all it can to understate the beauty of black women, I think we should make it a point to teach (our children really) that they don’t have to look like Beyonce or the like, to be beautiful.

    Reply
  43. SMH Avatar
    SMH

    Why does everyone and their brother seem to think they have the right to critique comment on and or control what a woman chooses to do with her hair? This has never made a bit of sense. Hair is hair.It is not good or bad it just is. Hopefully healthy as a reflection of the health of the owner. It can be straight or curly, short or long a person can cut it, curl it, color it simply because they want to do it or out of curiosity i.e. wonder what it would look like if ..or oh I like how that looks let me try that.. How hard is that to get. Clearly folks have issues about hair – just let it be – do what you want with it – it belongs to you – it is not who you are – be healthy be happy. The Jolie Pitt children and most children – who seem to if left to their own devices seem to take the let it be – just because it is what it is approach to hair – have the right idea to simply just be.

    Reply
  44. Brandi Avatar
    Brandi

    I think Zahara’s hair is cute. I agree with the person who said she looks like a kid who’s been playing hard all day (or something like that). Why saddle this child with the hair burden many of us carry? She’ll have enough problems growing up in Hollywood. She doesn’t need extra hair adornments to make her any cuter. Some black folk need to step away from the color-coordinated barrettes and ribbons anyway. I am natural and am so proud that I was able to make hair a non-issue in my life. It grows out of my head and does its own thing. I’m not a natural hair crusader trying to convert the masses, but there is a certain level freedom when you let go of the hair issue. There is a certain level of freedom for weave and wig wearers too. They can change their look in an instant and are bold enough to rock a bob one day and a Beyonce do the next. There can be insecurities on both sides of the fence. I never realized my hair meant so much to others until I chopped it off. And by others, I mean strangers. I work in a large hospital and probably pass 100s of people a day. When I cut my hair to go natural, I overheard 2 black women talking about my hair! One said to the other "I can’t believe she cut her hair." The tone wasn’t really negative or positive – it was a rather bland statement. This was so surreal. Two people I’d never seen before had obviously seen me and paid attention to my hair. I wanted to turn around and say "I can hear you!" I now have long spiral curls (who knew my hair would do this?). I still hear comments about my hair. White folks love to ask questions about it, lol. Some Black women (not all) give me that once over glance and decide that I’m not worthy for their cordial hello and keep moving. Others compliment me and explain why they can’t go natural, lol. Personally, I prefer to pretend that my hair is invisible.

    Reply
  45. T Avatar
    T

    it is not about chemicals or baretts it is about having healthy hair. Her hair is dry and is breaking off due to lack of proper care. there are all kinds of healthy natural options that they could look into–fro, locks, braids. It needs some conditioner at the very least.

    Reply
  46. David Wise Avatar
    David Wise

    The trailer wasn’t too cringe-inducing. I’ll have to wait for the release before critiquing.

    Reply
  47. Lisa J Avatar
    Lisa J

    @mothsmoke, I never said the child wasn’t cute so please don’t put words in my mouth. You usually don’t see little white girls of 4 or of most "races" running around with their hair down and out and wash and go. To me it doesn’t look like they even combed her hair that day, especially when you see another picture which I was linked to from J&J Politics, and it is sticking up on the side straight up. I would also argue that women of all colors, and hair textures do much to alter the nature of their hair and I have met many a white girl who gets a relaxer or spends hours daily straightening their hair, so I slightly resent the notion that black woman are pathological somehow if they wear a perm. I even thought about getting locks at one point and starting from scratch but once I found out I’d still have to go to the hairdresser to get the new growth relocked just as often as I get a perm, I figured it wasn’t worth it (and no I couldn’t have done it myself b/c I am horrible with things like that). I also know a number of people with natural hair who spend lots of time and money getting twists, spirals, braids (which I get myself), and other forms of altering it to make a wash and go look that they like, so it isn’t like having a relaxer is the only way of spending time being obsessed with their hair. African women have been doing many things to their hair for centuries to change and alter it and style it long before Europeans came, and though straightening is newer, it doesnt’ seem fair to single that out alone. Perhaps there I have a a bit of lack of comfort about my natural hair or reestablishing my natural texture, I don’t really know, what I do know is how I was raised and how I looked as a child of that age and it wasn’t like that and I haven’t seen to many little black girls anywhere, with their hair like tha, that looks uncomed and unstyledt. Also, I attempted at one point in my life as a teen to just let my hair go and tried to do wash and go or very little effort, though it wasn’t natural (I’d have never gotten away with that inmy Mom’s house) and I lived in a mostly white area and guess what? I got teased and made fun of mercilessly mostly by white kids and by the handful of black and other races of kids. So please don’t assume that just b/c Pitt-Jolie let her go around with her hair sticking all over the place that she won’t ever have shame in her hair b/c I am sure the little whtie kids she will undoubtedly go to school with won’t make fun of her for it. They will make fun of her no matter what, but that will be one of many things. You don’t even want to know how they treated the two little African girls in our school who had very neat, well kept TWAs.

    Reply
  48. MrsT Avatar
    MrsT

    Okay ladies, let’s keep it real here. We all know that wash n’go is not the way “we” do with little black girls. If you were raised in the 70’s, 80’s or even 90’s even if you didn’t get the Saturday night press n’ curl or PCJ (if your Mama got tired of burning herself), you did not have a wash n’go (at least not out in public). It may work for little white girls but it’s just not what we do. Is that the way it should be, maybe not, but that’s the way it is. For the longest the Jolie-Pitts were quoted on Carol’s Daughter’s website as using those products on Z’s hair, but apparently that is no longer the case. She doesn’t need to have 25 barrettes and bows in her hair, but it looks like they didn’t even bother to take a brush to it. Hair style and hair care are not the same thing.I agree that it is very easy for a little black girl to have over-styled hair. There is no need for a 3 month old to have tight little ponies all over her tiny head and no need for a 3 year old to have a head full of crocheted micro braids, but sadly I’ve seen both recently. As a child I had very long pressed and then PCJ’d hair and I spent a lot of adult years trying to get that hair back. Now I just want my hair to be healthy, I do relax my hair, but refuse to buy into the “idea” that preferring to style my hair straight some how affects my blackness. No matter how I wear my hair, I am and always will be black.That said I am looking forward to Chris Rock’s movie, it will be interesting to see his point of view and the reactions from all sides that will come from it.

    Reply
  49. divaliscious11 Avatar
    divaliscious11

    Zahara’s hair in that pic looks strikingly like my hair today…….. And I ‘care’ for my hair on a regular basis….. That said, when I take a comb and/or brush to it, its only once week….. and I work in a corporate environment, in a management position, not the incense shop….

    Reply
  50. Jaddadalos Avatar
    Jaddadalos

    Is this really about hair style choices?Me thinks not.I submit that all the chatter about what one can do to one’s hair, and how that is not an indication about one’s Blackness, and how Black women have options in their styles are missing the bigger issue.Whether you relax, straighten, wash ‘n go, twist, itty bitty fro-it, or what have you, I believe that the underlying issue is about standards of beauty – ’cause there is one. We can all just dismiss this and say, "DO YOU" and whatnot, but that does not address that fact that whatever you decide is "YOU" is not represented, appreciated, or overall KNOWN or considered part of what we deem "beautiful" in a nation that Black people have inhabited since its inception. Now, I’m not saying start movements trying to force a specific worldview and "beauty outlook" on others (because that is what those with power are doing to us now), but I do think that we, as Black women, should be equipped with the knowledge about the Eurocentric standard of beauty and, in whatever form of hair versatility we individually choose, be able to articulate the history of this imposed standard, name it in context, and be aware and strong enough to affirm Black beauty when those around us are dismissive and content enough to just give in to the "standard" Furthermore, I think it is important for those of use who are grown and have a choice to be aware of how we speak about those choices to young girls who are being led by word and example on how to operate in this world right now. Many who have posted speak very casually about how straight hair and relaxers were given to them like the most natural thing in the world. We remember the feelings and value attached to hair and skin tone (for another example). So if we do, why wouldn’t the girls growing up now remember? If we talk about natural or straight hair simply in terms of preference, we deny those feelings and just leave that inextricable weight up for interpretation… which usually just leads to that "go with the standard" attitude. If we don’t learn about and affirm ourselves, in all our myriad choices, who will?(last thing)For young girls, this is more than just the typical, "You’re gonna get made fun of for SOMETHING, hair is fair game…" I could see for one hair style (like that FIRST time my daddy did my hair… yo…). But it’s another animal when there are little Black girls running around who don’t know what their natural hair FEELS like because they’ve been permed up since the age of 3. Until we see that as a problem, until we stop regarding everything that implicates us as part of the African Diaspora as "bad" and something to hide or chop up, then there will always be such a thing as "good" hair.Again, not for public display, but just for ourselves, so we can be okay. (that rhymed!)

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Live Your Best Life.