What Do Men Want?

On two sites, one called Afro Spear and the other called bright lights date city, talked about the topic if black men were attracted to natural or straight hair. In the first article I read on Afro Spear a black female blogger made a comment on how males notice her more when her hair is straighten than when it was natural. Men felt like when her hair was natural she came off as not down to earth and grandmotherly. As soon as she straighten her hair though, comments were made and men were attracted to her more. The female commenter basically compromised who she was just so she could get male attention. The other article I found on a blog called bright lights date city which brought up the discussion real vs. fake and natural vs. relaxed hair. In this article the female author talked about her story and experience with relationships and her hair, and she found the same results as the other article, that men were attracted to longer straighten real hair. This article went into depth of how men are basically confused and unsure of what they want and how often they contradict themselves in wanting something that is different from what they respond to.
I found that both articles address very good points. In the first, in regards to hair, you should never compromise because if the man cannot accept your hair for what it is then he obviously is not meant for you. It is sad that even though she looked the same in the face, the fact that her hair was not straighten made her less appealing. Being in relationship you should not compromise who you are and your hair is included. I love what the author of the article said which was, “I think afro hair is beautiful because to me, it is blackness personified before manipulation”. This meaning, we are our hair. Our hair is what makes us who me are as an African race and we should be proud and appreciate that. I liked the other article for the simple fact that it calls men out on how they contradict themselves on what they want and what they react to. This article helps explain some of men’s obsession with hair. The author talks about how men like the fact that you are fully black with long hair but at the same time want it to be yours. She says, “Men always preach about how they hate fake hair, and they’re tired of women with wigs and weaves, but contradict themselves because ultimately that’s what they respond to”. Men say they like real hair but, is natural hair not real? If as a society, natural hair can gain popularity then men’s perceptions and views on hair may change as well.

Self Assessment

For my blog in particular, I am blogging in regards to my social problem and incorporating new media in relation to my problem. The social problem I decided was natural hair because it is a topic that relates to me and many others. I think I am helping my social problem gain more coverage and also inform people who aren’t as aware. For the most part I provide sites in my blogs that focuses on natural hair and I talk about the controversy over the issue. Natural hair is just now getting more attention and is discussed more in relation to corporate America and the media. Women who wear their hair natural are receiving more acceptances and are wearing it with courage and beauty. New media had helped address the topic and make it more known, but it has also led to the controversy of the topic. For the most part new media is great for this social problem because many women today are starting to transition from straight or premed hair to natural. I offer many sites that give advice as to how to begin the process and how to maintain your hair. Something I can improve on in my blogs is offering and giving my audience pictures and ideas of how to wear their hair and different styles. At first I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this, but it is actually very fun. Along with this being an educational experience for my audience it has also been one for me. I feel I have done a great job in connecting my problem to new media and educating my audience on natural hair but I think next I can connect my social problem to the environment to make my blog more environmentally friendly. I will do this by introducing more natural hair care products and discussing the effects of perms and other chemicals we put into our hair.

Tightly Coiled Hair Sistas!

Here is a cool site that is mainly for empowering black women to embrace their natural hair. It’s called Nappturality. On their home page they define what nappturality is and what their site is about. Nappturality is “about embracing your NAPPtural, natural hair”. This is a great website if you’re transitioning from perm or straight hair to going natural. This site offers many tips on how to do your hair, pictures, and a few encouraging words. This website triggers a specific audience and that’s women of color who are transitioning. I love this site so much because it is encouraging and helpful and specifically for black women with tightly coiled hair texture. There aren’t that many sites that really focus on women with my type of hair. Most of the time when you are searching for natural hair styles or hair care products; you get a site with a biracial black female who wears her hair natural. It can be frustrating because women with tightly coiled hair are taking advice from the wrong sites and are expecting the same results. But they won’t get it because they have a different texture. That is what sites like these are for, because this type of hair is not as accepted and it is most feared. Nappturality along with inspiring women work to change the perceptions that the media has made about this type of natural hair. Sites like these make me proud of my hair and I wish I had this site when I was going natural. Nappturality is a supportive site that gets you started with the process of going natural. But you have to remember that going natural doesn’t happen overnight. It is a process that takes courage, strength and acceptance. Acceptance is vital in loving your hair and who you are. Once you have accepted your hair and that it is unique and beautiful, then you take it day by day. Check out the site and maybe you’ll change your mind.
http://www.nappturality.com/

Natural Hair In Corporate America

No doubt having natural hair and wearing is a controversial topic. I personally do not see why, seeing as how this is the hair that God gave us so why wouldn’t we wear it? A controversial topic about natural hair is natural hair in corporate America. Some say that it is not acceptable to wear natural or locked hair to a business job. Others say that it is because natural hair is gaining more acceptance in society that it is gaining more acceptance in the business force. My thing is, why should we need acceptance of our hair just to get ahead in the business field? Why is it that straight hair is more accepted than a fro. Why is this even a controversial topic? It is partly because of the media and how they portray people in corporate America. Sometimes media is good but it also has its defects. If Americans didn’t live their lives so much by what the media says then women of color and the acceptance of their hair wouldn’t even be a topic of concern.
An article in Examiner.com gave a story of a black female in corporate America who had locks but hide them with a wig that seemed more socially accepted. She was afraid to show her true self in fear of losing her job even though she was highly qualified for it. I think it is sad that some of the most qualified females and males get picked over for jobs because of their hair or the color of their skin. It frustrates me even more to read articles like this where a white man, Luke Visconti says, “[But] I think America is ready for the Black women (and men, but this mostly a women’s issue) in our lives to be more natural with their hair”. Why should we as black women or women of color wait for the approval of society about our hair? This is how we came here and this is who we are. That is where the positive side comes in on new media, the internet has so many sites that promote natural hair and empower women to be proud of their natural hair. Be bold ladies and rock that fro!
http://www.examiner.com/natural-hair-in-columbus/is-corporate-america-ready-for-ethnic-hair

Oh NO! It's WINTER!

Have you ever felt helpless when winter came and your hair just wouldn’t cooperate with you? Are you out of ideas as to what and how to do your hair in winter? Well I came across a site, Curl Prep, which had a page on how to deal with your natural hair in winter. They called it “winterizing” your hair. In winter your hair is more prone to breakage but the site advices you to simply switch up your “hair routine” and this can prevent seasonal damage. Fist, when it’s cold outside you say, “I have to have a hat on my head!” So you go grab your favorite wool or cotton hat because it’s warmer. But wait, wool and cotton fibers actually dry and take your hair out. Curl Prep suggests that you “line your hats by buying a yard of silk or satin and some fabric glue”. If you’re not up for arts and crafts then you can just avoid woolly hats and go for hats made from natural fibers.
Then they move on to tips on moisturizing which is important in the winter. First when the heat is on in your home, hair is more prone to breakage. Wow! That’s something I didn’t know, but to prevent breakage you should keep your scalp and hair more moisturized than usual. Curl Prep advices that one can keep their hair nourished by “getting a moisturizing shampoo (without sodium lauryl sulfate)”. Also, coconut oil and olive oil should do the trick. Just add a tablespoon of either for every 8 oz. of shampoo and conditioner and this should give you extra moisture. One last tip, at night, give the ends of your hair a little water it will help keep your ends intact and healthy! Here the site for more info, http://www.curlprep.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3:winterize-your-hair&catid=4:home-page

Method Man and Natural Hair Controversy

A woman transitioning from straight hair to natural hair is a somewhat difficult process. One has to be ready to take criticizing comments and have patience with their hair. Natural hair is a trend that is becoming more socially accepted but there is still controversy over the topic. I recently watched a video of Method Man, a well- known rapper, say to a reporter that he did not like natural. He said something along the lines that a female needs to go to the shop and get her hair done. Statements like these made by popular artists can cause a lot of controversy especially when talking about black women and their hair. Addressing a black women’s hair in general is a touchy subject. Women going natural are most sensitive to such comments and may cause them to back down from the challenge that going natural presents. Later on he was called on Big Tigers radio show to clarify his statement. Even though he refuted his statement and clarified his support of black women, he still said it and it’s available for many to hear on the internet. New media is a positive and negative thing for advocating natural hair. It makes it easier to promote natural hair care websites but it also makes such comments about natural hair easily accessible causing such offensive comments to spread and lower women’s self- esteem about their hair. Women going natural have to be ready to face these comments and stand up to them and to continue to rock their beautiful God given hair. To hear Method Man’s comments visit this site http://realtalkny.uproxx.com/2011/02/topic/topic/news/method-man-speaks-on-natural-hair-comment-controversy-goes-off-on-new-media/.

My Curls

I just recently came across a website called naturallymemedia.com and what they do on this website is promote and advertise natural hair and hair care products. On their site I came across a new natural hair care product called My Curls from the UK. In the Business Spotlight section of their website the company and the creators’ goal for the product are highlighted. She hopes to make it more international known but also to introduce it to more Europeans where natural hair is still on the rise. Natural hair is becoming more accepted not only in the US but also overseas. Even though it’s taking a slower process than in the US, thanks to new media and the internet, the company can advertise their product and make it more internationally known along without the company shipping internationally as well. In the UK, there aren’t many hair care products for women of color and the ones that were for women of color contained “unnatural, harmful chemicals”. The creator of this product was driven to produce her own hair care line for natural women. To read more about her experience and where you can buy the product visit the website http://naturallymemedia.com/2010/11/04/business-spotlight-my-curls/

Natural Women in the Spotlight

Here is a website by Essence dedicated to women with natural hair and celebs who have undergone the natural look. The site provides tips on hair maintenance and great hair care products just for natural hair. They have a section called Hair Story part of the "Natural Hair Journeys" written by Patrice Grell Yursik where she reports women who have went natural and their experience. Having access to Internet allows your work to be view by a broader audience. Now you don't have to pay for a magazine to look for hair tips. They're just a click away. Here's the link to check out some of the ladies stories.
http://www.essence.com/hair/