Tyra's real hair
I spent my final year of undergrad doing my best to analyze some of the reasons why black women chemically straighten their hair and the difficulty associated with breaking the habit. In my thesis I essentially defined natural as hair that is not chemically straightened. Fast forward over a decade and I am baffled to find that “natural” hair is hair that is not weaved. Tyra Banks sometime ago had a big reveal where she unveiled her “real” hair. For Tyra this was a huge moment as she spent a majority of her adult life wearing some other hair rather than her own. While I commend Tyra on her bravery in taking this bold step I wonder about the state of the Black woman’s psyche when we claim to be “real” or “natural” sporting hair that has been chemically straightened. I stand by original claim made over ten years ago that natural hair is the hair that has not been chemically or heat trained to remain straight. It is the hair that sits on top of your head immediately after it has been washed and totally void of chemical straightening agents. I know in this day and age very few things are truly natural. And for all intents and purposes if we wanted have truly natural we probably would not even comb or style our hair. However I must question: has our collective consciousness shifted so far toward a straight hair ideal that we somehow believe a relaxer is an integral part of our beauty ritual, similar to a comb or oil, or shampoo? Has our sense of what is real or true become so hazy and contrived that we willfully subject ourselves to the notion that chemically processed hair is natural?
As I attempt to reengage in the conversation on Black women’s hair and encourage dialogue I think it’s important to state that relaxed hair without a weave is simply that: relaxed hair. It sits on one end of the spectrum of hair textures while the curls, coils, waves and kinks of truly natural hair sits on the other. Chemically and artificially straightened by definition is not naturally straight. When we compare it to hair that you can buy at a store and attach to your head yes it is real, but if we compared relaxed hair to the hair that grows out of your scalp to my mind it is not only unnatural it is fake or false. Now if deciding to shed the weave if only for a moment is cause for celebration and adulation, I wonder what a conscious effort to end the addiction to the creamy crack (chemical relaxer) would bring about?
W. Reid
6 comments
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October 26, 2009 at 10:18
Mekalia
I was thinking the same thing!!!
October 27, 2009 at 10:18
Sha
Sounds like in addition to reflecting on this topic you have seen Chris Rock’s “Good Hair” where one of the subjects in the movie refers to relaxer as ‘hair crack’. Interesting post nonetheless.
October 28, 2009 at 10:18
W. Reid
I like the term “hair crack” or “creamy crack” because it speaks to the addictive nature of this process as well as the pychological trauma one must endure when you make a decision first to consistently engage in the act and then to free yourself from this habit.
October 28, 2009 at 10:18
Michael Richie
Is there a problem with adding chemicals to your hair if you understand that you are beautiful with or without it, but simply are looking to revamp your look? Much like someone who gets a make over or who never really used make-up but decides to look a switch-it-up a bit and throw some eye shadow, lipstick, and blush. Or does the issue only lie with those who are oblivious and in a trance-like habituated trend?
October 28, 2009 at 10:18
W. Reid
There is nothing wrong with straight hair. What I find problematic is the way a MAJORITY of Black Women habitually relax their hair and feel completely dependent upon chemical relaxers in order for their hair to be considered “beautiful” or “well-groomed”. Additionally Tyra’s unveiling to the world was to demonstrate the “real” her. Most black women I know do not have natural wet hair that lays on the on their shoulders; it usually puffs up like a cotton ball. Her picture was a deliberate and contrived effort to show her “long straight hair” which to my mind reinforces one stereotypical notion of beautiful hair. Ultimately that’s not her “real” hair. The real hair is the hair before the application of the creamy crack.
November 8, 2009 at 10:18
Mocha Dad
What a coincidence. I just wrote a post about doing my daughter’s hair.