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May 13, 2009

What is Good Hair?



How long have we as a people been playing with this question? How many of you cringe at that question, or when someone quips, "So-and-so got some good hair?" How many of you like me have heard, "Why on earth would you wear dreadlocs if you have good hair?" What the hell is good hair? Well, society has taught us, as well as some of our own parents, families, and friends that good hair is anything but, kinky, coarse, short, and difficult to work with hair. But in reality anything that isn't taken care of meticulously is "difficult" to work with.

Yesterday, on the Tyra Banks show, she had an episode on "What is Good Hair," and as usual she had women on the panel who are ignorant to facts, and so confused that it would just want to make you cry.

Ladies, if you have seen this particular episode give me your thoughts in the comment section. How are you dealing with the "good hair" dilemma? And is it even a dilemma in your lives? It isn't in mine.

Lets go.....

9 comments:

new2locs said...

I tried to watch this on you tube but for some reason it's not playing correctly. Let me just say from what I've seen & from previous experiences in dealing with people since I've been natural(2005)! Some of our people are just ignorant! Point blank period! Some of our people just really don't have a clue about natural hair. They don't even know what their hair is like because as soon as they see a wave they're pulling out the creamy crack! That used to be me until traction alopecia left me with a nice thin area in the very top of my head! Hopefully with the exposure from the show & the hundred's of blogs out here in cyberspace we can bring more awareness to what our hair is really like. And the fact that our hair is beautiful and manageable be it a loose nappy or loc'd head.

Toshia "Writing Addict" Shaw said...

Exactly right, new2locs...and isn't a shame, that the young lady who wants to go natural is so AFRAID of how other will perceive her...so she is basing her opinion of herself on what others think? This is never good. We must do for ourselves and only for us...not based on what others think...Lawd help these poor women!

BlueNaturalMikey said...

I watched this episode yesterday, and needless to say I was shocked and dismayed that African-American women still feel as though natural hair is "bad" hair. I suppose I shouldn't have been so shocked due to the vanity that is within our culture. My thing is, if you would like to relax your hair, then do so. If you want to have natural or locked hair, then do so. Who cares what anyone else thinks! I choose to have natural hair and I'm extremely excited about beginning my lock journey. Do I worry about what others think? No! Do you! I do however, hope that these women will soon see the error of their ways and get educated.

Camille said...

I didn't watch this when it aired because I felt that it would be exactly as I feared- a representation of the identity struggle that we continue to face in our community. Many of us would rather damage the beauty that God gave us naturally for an un-natural attainment of someone else's standard. I understand the origins of this standard but am hoping that one day we will be past it for our children's sake.

Naturigurl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Naturigurl said...

I'm sorry but I am dissapointed in the direction that this show topic went. To many women are misinformed about what good hair is. If I were Tyra I would do a follow up show of women who embrace their natural selves. This is exactly why women can not go to work or walk out in the streets without negative comments sending them right back in to the creamy crack and heat wands. I really thought she was about empowering women regardless of height weight and looks. I really hopes she reads her blog and responds to this Faux pas IMO Black women heck all women should learn to love themselves for themselves and no one else.

Toshia "Writing Addict" Shaw said...

I know thats right...Im sorry but for me Tyra just showcases mess that never even had a chance to clear. She was wrong for leaving these black women hanging...she was wrong for only having 1 loc'd sister on the panel and no other differently styled sistahs..Lastly she was damn wrong for rocking them cornrows cuz she know as soon as the show was over she threw that damn lacefront wig back on!

Enchantress said...

I couldn't agree with you more about Tyra CONVENIENTLY cornrowing her hair! OMG, that pisses me off. The lady contemplating going natural allows others to define her and she is scared of seeing who she truly is. SAD SAD SAD!

Toshia "Writing Addict" Shaw said...

enchantress, i dont know what she expected to happen out of that show, but she ought to be ashamed for exploiting them women..smh..I really aint got no words