I would say also say just be you…but the reality is self hatred has gotten worse. Celebrities pictured on this cite have straight weaves and have had their noses thinned.

The straight hair industry love it when Black women relax…not perm their hair because of the high maintenance this style requires.

When a sister wears a ton of other folks hair, or dogs out nappy hair, or uses terms that indicate nappy hair is bad or talks about good hair….that person has a case of self hatred plain and simple.

How can anyone say what GOD gave them naturally is bad, ugly, or unmanageable. Or you critiquing his ability to know what traits look best on Black people.

PS White folks wear weaves, but they only wear kinky ones during Halloween!

Just about every Black female celebrity within the last week except for Goapele is wearing some sort of mop on her head. The weaves look so artificial and fake!

Why must a black woman wear her hair natural to love themselves? White women are not questioned about not loving their white pale skin when they are going to the tanning bed, buying suntan lotions, etc. If a Black woman wants to get a weave, relaxer, or wear an afro, so what? Black people judge each other and hate on one another so much, when we should be uplifting each other. Why is hair such an issue for us?

the asians own big houses and vehicles, while many of us are busting our asses to make ends meet. Why?

Because silly black women go to their shops to glue on fake nails, buy animal/human hair to put on their heads, and by products full of mineral oil and a bunch of other chemicals.

Then people sit and wonder why the black community cannot progress like the other races. smh very sad indeed.

what do asians know about black hair care?
what do dominicans know about black hair care?

you all really cant think of anything better to do with your money???

how sad is that when your man cant even fully enjoy making love to because you are worried about your weave getting messed up. lmao

do you all know that little girls in india, russia, poland, etc. cry every day because their parents take them to get their hair chopped off so they can get money to feed their families???? and how much do you think they are paid for their long hair??? almost nothing!!!!
i hope when you all are rocking ur weaves you keep in mind there is a little girl somewhere walking around BALD, just so you can look good.

I have to see this movie. I hope he takes the subject seriously altho I’m sure he will.

White women are criticized for a variety of things. It not attractive for white women to have curly /frizzy hair, big lips and butts were looked down upon until recently, and tanned skin was considered working class attributes.

White American women were not slaves so black physical characteristics were looked down upon. What a change in such a short time.

#129

You’re right; both black and white women wear weaves, especially celebrities. It’s just that when people see a black woman wearing a weave or wig, they think it’s because she can’t grow her own hair. I’ve seen pictures of Tyra Banks and Beyonce when they were little and they had a head full of hair. I wouldn’t be surprised if Meagan Good and Lauren London could grow their hair long too. The fact is, they are celebrities and need their hair done at all times for the camera. However, all that dying, frying, and blow drying can cause great damage to their real hair, so they use weaves and wigs to prevent some of the damage from occurring. The same goes for white celebrity women. Just the other day, I saw the white woman from the Real Housewives talking about buying a wig b/c her hair was falling out. This is also why I laugh when people talk bad about Michelle Obama letting Sasha and Maliah go out in public with their hair braided or pulled up or not permed. It’s because of that they still have long, thick, and healthy hair. Unless, everybody wants to see two bald headed children running around on the White House lawn!

13. nameless

I feel you, Lola. I despise my mother for marrying a black man because my hair is like a bush and my brother’s hair is like carpet. Our nappy asses will probably never find mates.

————–

Yea! So go back to your white kkkkkkracker$ community and to ugly white boys, and stop call yourself BLACK!

hahahahahahaha what a typical biracia/mixing bitche$$$!

Only stupid black people marry a white people! Ugh!

hopefullyy iit b sumiin funnyy..

I’m glad this was brought up! It’s not nesscecarily an issue because in the black community there are much bigger things to worry about but it still needs to be addressed. I sopose we are always going fault the industries as reprehensible for this matter.

The problem goes back to the insecurities and pressures on not just black women but women in general. We tend to aspire to the very unrealistic images portrayed in the magazines and on advertisments so it almost seems very normal to us. I mean, when recently have you seen the beyonces or the Nia Longs rock natural or nappy hair. Even these celebritties feel the sense of pressure because aesthetically, natural isn’t approved of in the industry. As much as we try to encourage and embrace natural beauty, unfortunately,it just isn’t considered beautiful as silicone, weaves and make-up. We’re in a very harsh industry. Before some artists started out, they were told to change their hair or other features. For example, after Estelle was signed, her record company insisted that she straightened her teeth as apart of the very the very perfect image, they were trying to create . Estelle said they were a huge part of her image and orignality but no sooner, her record company had them straightened. Aesthetics has become a huge part of artists cause if you ain’t got the look, then it’s difficult to have a future in the industry and essentially make the money. I’m glad India Arie is still keeping it real

I’m glad a comedian has addressed our hair as they tend to perpetuate a stereotype of black hair and weave’s etc

it’s so interesting to read this board. black people are as ignorant about black hair as white people are and that’s sad

1.i recommend the site CURLY NIKKI. she has seriously gorgeous hair and features other women with beautiful hair. and if you think you have to relax your hair to be pretty, you’re probably not very cute anyway. sorry, just being real
2. nappy or kinky does not equal rough. idk what type of hair you have but mine is soft. i have people touching my hair everyday, complimenting me on how beautiful it is. any black woman can have soft hair. the thing is that our hair is naturally dryer than other races- their hair produces oil but ours doesn’t and people need to stop using grease- grease is not moisturizing
3.if you take care of your hair, it’ll be manageable. don’t give the whole “my hair is so thick” excuse b/c PLENTY of natural haired women have thick hair too and still make it work
4. you can press your hair if you want it to be straight. heat isn’t good but it’s better than chemicals. i’m personally not one for a fro so i keep my hair curly or in braids. if i want it straight, i press it. all u need is a hair straightener

Cant wait to see this movie, i hope it adresses the issue well. I’ve been a natural for 6 months. but i havent had a relaxer in 2 years and my hair is almost back to its regular length which was mid back now its arm pit length. and healthy as ever, havent seen a split end since i did my Big Chop in Feb. and Natural hair is not hard to manage nor comb its so0o easy I can just wash my hair and go. Detangle when its wet with some conditioner. I’ve received so many compliments and people ask me if its my real hair. but i hate when other black females tell me they thought about going natural but their hair isnt good like mine. i never knew i had such beautiful curly hair under the perm. how will you know if you never find out? i think every black female should go natural once in their life its very liberating.

Perming the young girls hair is a bit much!!! Yuck!!

But wait a minute…Hispanic and White women often get perms, weave and dyes as well. And noone makes a fuss about white or hispanic women. Why can’t it be a women in general get these enhancements done to their hair? If we say natural is okay…say away from nail polish and make up. How about pierce ears or cosmetic surgery? We weren’t born with tattoos or pierced ears. I’m not buying it. I say whatever subtle enhancements makes us happy, is great. This is just another opportunity to pick on just black women. I tried buying from a black owned hair store. My choices were limited and the prices were outrageous. People buy what they want and is good for them. I have yet to find a black owned hair store in my community that offers me the variety that the Korean stores do. I’m not going to buy something that I do not want or need just to fill someone else’s pocket in the community. Give me what I want and I’ll buy it. The truth is that black hair stores tend to buy from Koreans or Indians (the middleman) because they do not have the access to buy hair such products directly. Therefore, the higher cost is passed on to us consumers.

I am really TIRRRRED of comments like #34’s. Worry about your damn self and things related to you. The good/bad hair is still an issue w/in the black community TODAY so why not speak on it? Plus maybe no other ethnicity has done that because NO ONE CARES LIKE HIM enough to shed light on it. Chris’ motivation is his daughter. So get off your high-horse and respect his steps towards changing ignorant ideals. He’s trying to bring knowledge to his ppl and probably the rest of the world; what the hell are you doing?

This looks crazy!! I’m seeing this, good job Chris

This is a must see!

YES! I HOPE THIS MOVIE WILL WAKE UP SOME BLACK WOMENS EYES!!!!!

Well I am bi-racial (black & spanish). My husband is not mixed and our daughter has a better grade of hair than me!
How u like them apples. LOL
This question is definitely a matter of opinion.
Peace.

@ # 67. I dont think its right to be comparing white women’s collegen lips and tanning to black women and relaxers mainly because of the type of metatilty that goes along with it. White ppl have more sense not to take their 7 yr old to the tanning salon for health reasons but the same cannot be said for black parents. Relaxers are chemicals and bad for your health period. But for some reason its ok in the black community to relax a child’s hair, not only is it’s damaging to that child’s hair and health but also to that child’s self-esteem. And there really is no arguing that!

I went natural 9yrs ago, I LEARNED how to manage my hair where its not a problem and I spend like $5 a month on hair products….Not to mention I dont have to be worry about relaxing my hair when I’m 75yrs old all cuz I’m worried about what other ppl deem is appropiate or cuz Im too stupid/lazy to ever learn how to properly take care of my own hair.

oh and HIspanics suffer from the same self-hating mentatilty too. They have the same issues as well, both the whites ones and the blacks, and they do they same thing. The only difference is that more Hispanics think its ok to wanna be/look white, it’s encouraged in their community, but as u can see it this type of issue causes a riot amoung us blacks.

oh,also when white women get weaves it usually to enhance their own natural hair, not to dramatially change their appearance, I mean I dont see white women getting weaves of afro texture onto their striaght hair,

Dont get me wrong, If a black woman wants to relax her hair then thats cool, as long as she’s doing it for the right reasons..(styling, managability, cuz she likes striaght styles). But nothing screams SELF-HATE more than a black woman with damaged broken off relaxed hair (esp. when the hairline is missing, yuck) or a poorly done terrible looking weave. I mean whats the point? Its kinda like those plastic surgeon addicts who looks terrible but keep going under the knife or a white women who has skin caner but keeps tanning. And all of us on this site know damn well Im right. Get it together black ppl lol!!!

I think people may be offended but maybe he can expose the serious side of how stupid this good hair bad hair is!!! And maybe it will make more black women wear their own hair when they see they aint foolin nobody in the first place!!! Im getting locked up myself

My daughter is 8 months old…and she has a head of beautiful, kinky, curly hair..and a whooole lot of it!!! But i admit, when she reaches 6th or 7th grade, ill probably perm it just so my mornings can be easier and so she can do her own hair..lol. That’s the only reason my mom let me get a perm at age 12 because she was sick of slapping me upside the head with a comb every time she would comb it.

Not everyone perms hair because they are ashamed or want silky hair. One thing I love about my relaxed, healthy hair is that it is very versatile– I can let it air dry and rock the kinky look, to the point where it looks like my hair is natural and has been pressed; or I can switch it up with my Chi flat iron and have a manageable straight look.

I give props to all the sistas with natural hair…you deserve accolades for keep it up!!

And i want to admit…I tried going natural when i got pregnant last year (my OB was against relaxers during pregnancy) but when i hit 7 months i got a “texturizer”. Then i went back to getting perms after my daughter was born. Shit, I had a summer pregnancy and my kinky fro that was growing was making me hot…lol!!! And braids were too damn expensive!! Natural sistas pay just as much money as relaxed sistas to keep their hair up.

If relaxers do, in fact, cause health problems.. then i will stop immediately.

this looks really enlightening!!!!!!

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!

if yu choose to perm yur hair cuz yu cant put up with brushing thru it - power to ya!
if yu choose to keep it natural cuz yu dont want no chems in yur hair - power to ya!
Hair is Hair!

Lets jus remember where we came from and so we know where we going!

why is this being touted as a comedy? Nothing funny about this… I guess just the presence of Chris Rock validates as a comedy? Lookslike it will make for some serious discussion with the girlfriends

I DON’T KNOW WHY SOME OF U WANT TO SEE IT, BECAUSE IT WAS SOME OF U THAT SAID NEGATIVE SHYT LIKE THAT ABOUT HIS GIRLS. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT CHRIS ROCK GIRLS WERE AND ARE GORGEOUS. IT’S NOT THE WHITE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS TO OUR OWN KIDS, IT’S SOME OF THE IGNORANT PEEPS IN OUR RACE. JUST LIKE I SEE ALL THESE BIRACIAL KIDS THESE DAYS WITH NAPPY AZZ HAIR AND THE MOTHERS DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME TIL SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED IT. DOESN’T IT SEEMS LIKE THESE BIRACIAL KIDS ARE GETTING DARKER AND DARKER WITH NAPPY HAIR? JUST LIKE SOME OF U SWEAR NAHLA LOOKS LIKE GABE, WHY? BECAUSE SHE HAVE LIGHT EYES? DOESN’T MONICA BOYS HAVE THE SAME EYES AND THE BABY SAME COMPLEXION? LOOK AT NAHLA’S HAIR, THAT GIRL HAIR IS TO CURLY TO BE BORN TO BIRACIAL MOM AND WHITE DAD. SHE DAYUM SURE DOESN’T HAVE GABE’S LONG AZZ NOSE,LOL. DAYUM SHAME A BLACK MAN HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO HIS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER SUMTHIN THAT MORE THAN LIKELY CAME OUT OF ANOTHER BLACK PERSON’S MOUTH.

Just a note to inform you that I have placed my entire documentary film BLACK HAIR for free at youtube. 6 parts including an update from London, England.

It explores the Korean Take-over of the Black Beauty Supply and Hair biz..can it be taken back?

Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96aaTSdrAE

why do people keep saying that they will only stop relaxing their hair if there are health risks involved?????

relaxer is an acid!!!! look at the ingredients, can you even pronounce any of those words???? do your research and im sure you will think differently.

everything is not for everybody….there are certain hairstyles that just were not meant for our hair. chemically altering your hair to wear hairstyles not meant for you will get you know where.

black women are at high risk for damn near everything aids, breast cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure,…… and the list goes on.

why put yourself in even more danger by putting chemicals on your head? did you all forget that your BRAIN is in there? do you honestly think those chemicals dont seep into your scalp everytime you go get a touch up?

if relaxer touches your skin it slow burns it off so stop putting it in your damn hair! if you dont know how to comb the natural hair that grows from your own scalp then something is really wrong with you. african women have been maintaining their hair for centuries before relaxer was invented. if they did it im sure you can too.

My hair is really long, about 4 inches above my butt and I’m BLACK!! Not immediately mixed. We are all mixed with something. But my hair is real and I don’t have a relaxer…I never knew men really shouldn’t touch womens hair that have a weave…No wonder the guys I date always touch it curiously, but hesitantly…then when they find out it’s real, they are more comfortable and like to play in it. LOL.

I really like Chris Tucker. I dont’ think Chris would like to ashame black woman he just want to show the reality. Why we should ashame of what we do? Maybe because we don’t proud of being no natural…

Oh goodness, here we go w/the permed vs. natural hair arguments. This movie seems like it will be very informing and I hope to see it soon. & Wow..I didn’t know some women didn’t let men touch their hair, that explains some of the hesistation on mines. ROTFL.

SISTAS WE NEED TO STOP LYING TO OURSELF. I VE BEEN NATURAL FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW AND IHAVE TO SAY IT WAS THE BEST DECISION IVE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE. I WAS WEARING WEAVES FOR YEARS AND I NEVER THOUGHT MY HAIR COULD ACTUALLY GROW. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. THEY ARE SO MANY WAYS TO WEAR YOUR HAIR STRAIGHT WITHOUT HAVING A RELAXER! I MEAN ITS 2009 SISTAS WHE NEED TO START LOVING OURSELFS GOT DAMNIT !!!!

Just a few facts;

As you ladies age the abuse from the relaxers really becomes evident.

Relaxers are a base…not an acid…but still very caustic.

We know a lot Black men like long hair and relaxed length does not come anywhere close to loc-ked length or loose natural hair .

Black people in general spend a greater percentage of their income on hair care/styling than any other ethnic group.

I can’t wait to see it. Something informative and funny.

GUESS THAT’S ANOTHER REASON FOR BLACK MEN DATING/MARRYNG OUTSIDE OF THEIR RACE, THEY LIKE LONG HAIR,LMAO. GUESS THEY MUST HATE THEIR MOTHERS,SISTERS,COUSINS,NIECES,AUNTS,GRANDMOTHER,FRIENDS AND BLACK WOMEN IN GENERAL. ANYWAY, I AGREE WITH SO MANY OF U, I HAVE SEEN SO MANY WOMEN BALD AROUND THE EDGES FROM WEARING WEAVE. THE THING IS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO WEAR IT ANYWAY. I HAVE SEEN JUST AS MANY LATINOS BALD FROM PULLING THEIR HAIR BACK IN THOSE TIGHT AZZ PONYTAILS OR BUNS. IT STILL AMAZES ME TO SEE BLACK/LATINO FEMALES HAIR BALDING AWAY AND THEY STILL DO THE SAME THING TO IT. LUV URSELF BLACK WOMEN, WE ARE BEAUTIFUL AND MUCH DESIRED, ESPECIALLY IN PARIS,LOL.

I am so-o-o happy that Chris Rock was inspired enough to film a documentary about the good hair vs. bad hair trend in Black America. What’s crazy is that is his wife still rocks a weave faithfully (lol). Whatever you choose to do with your hair, be it permed or natural, do it for you and not for what society wants you to believe is acceptable.
God Bless.

I think I am good on seeing this. I hear enough about this topic as it is What is next…good skin…good feet…good breath…good WEAVE??? Chris rock is funny though so if I did see it it would be because of him. Paul Mooney is fuuny too! Lay-A-Way wigs HAS to be the most “country” thing I have ever heard! Weave (although some need it) are the worse things ever invented. A good one looks decent a bad one looks HORRIBLE. If you insist on wearing them PLEASE make sure it is the same texture as you OWN hair..jeez I am tired of seeing these 2 and 3 texture hair styles ha-ha. Another thing: PLEASE quit showing up with 2 inch hair one day and 14i nches the next…TOO drastic. If you chose not to wear weave or a perm at least put a comb, heat and shampoo (tired of running into these musty-headed girls) to that head (Solange—haha) no need in looking like your head hasnt EVER met a brush! That’s TOO natural!

Nappy hair is not hard to comb if you learn how to comb it properly. I used to think the same thing but after trying different products and watching you tube videos from natural sisters and their styling methods I would never put a perm in my hair but I don’t knock some one that does. I have managed to save a lot of money going natural and go swimming almost 4 times a week with no worries. If your reason behind getting a perm is because it is easier to manage then cool. Just don’t make dumb ass comments to me about my natural hair. It’s just funny to me that I get hit on by more white dudes and brothers since I started rockin my fro.

LOVE IT! I can’t wait to see it. This issue has been kept behind closed doors for TOO LONG! I’m hoping to see changes in the way women of color deal with their hair and insecurities, myself included, after seeing this.

I’m also excited to see people of color jumping on the “Mockumentary” train, ie: Borat & Bruno. It’s the best way to reach people, comedy with a purpose.

wow some of these comments are very disheartening. I am a LIGHTSKIN woman with NATURAL hair and yes it is KINKY not nappy, nappy is such a negative term can we please stop using that word? and secondly there is nothing unmanageable about it you folks just don’t know how to take care of it simply because you are used to taking care of a texture that’s not even your own. I mean seriously, the only reason why alot of black women don’t have long hair is because they keep slapping weaves and lacefronts on. how do you expect he sh*t to grow if you aren’t taking good care of it? All my sisters and mom including I ALL have natural hair and its LONG ….it grows just as fast as anyone else’s. So what’s the problem? Do your research and it will grow to the lengths you want it to. And my boyfriend can run his hands through my hair anyday !

Oh my,… have got to see it, I know this will be interesting!!!

LMFAOOO I GOTTA SEE THIS

Wanna see this. It is sad. I am 16 years old and is saving to buy Virgin Indian Remi Hair that cost $318, terrible? It is what it is..

I wish people would realize that natural hair is more than just a fro.
There are plenty of curls, too.

I agree #153, any other race of women (or men) can alter their appearance without being questioned by darkening their skins with tanning beds, getting breast/butt implants, lip fillers, extensions/hair plugs, losing weight etc. You know why they get away with this? Because only in the black community do we have so many people, even strangers, who take such a invasive, judgemental interest in what every other black person is doing or wearing in the spirit of the old crabs-in-a-barrel theory. I have never heard white girls saying to each other in public “oh are those your real boobs/lips? They look so real!” but strangers will come up to me and ask if I am wearing my real hair because we are both black people and its “okay”. We live in a free-choice society, I choose to relax my hair for the same reasons that white women choose to get injected/lose weight/change hair color–because we can. The natural nazis can say whatever they want, life is too short and people shouldn’t have to change for them. Just another movie attacking black women, don’t think we forgot about your anti-black women comments Chris; besides, i’ve already had my fill of attack movies for the month after watching “A Diary of a Tired Black Man” or whatever its called.

ummm did you copyright the article?? The Sundance.org has the beginning as yours and I would believe the Sundance one. You are my fav. blog but I thought you are original?

“I think non blacks do laugh at blacks. My Korean friend’s family own a black hair shop you should hear the things they say about black women in their language. They don’t even like blacks they just want your money and you give it to them, because you want to look like them. LOL!!!!!!”

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Who the hell wants to look like a Korean? You can’t be serious. I’m embarrassed for you. Why are you even friends with these people? Please take your ignorance elsewhere.

On a postitive note,I have noticed that a lot of black women are going natural lately.

“Just the other day, I saw the white woman from the Real Housewives talking about buying a wig b/c her hair was falling out.”
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Britney,Paris and Fergie are practically bald.

“White ppl have more sense not to take their 7 yr old to the tanning salon for health reasons but the same cannot be said for black parents.’
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FYI, there are just as many if not more black women who don’t perm their daughters hair. I was one of them. I’m not going to speak on white women mainly because I really don’t have white friends since high school, so what they do is of no concern to me. Didn’t have a perm till I was 18 yrs. My mother is natural and so was my grandmother. Matter of fact, I don’t do my nails although they are very long and strong. A black woman refused to put tips on my nails. She said I would regret it. I don’t wear make-up either. Something else my mother tried to discourage. Anyway, back to the hair. I go back and forth. I wear braids, natural or whatever I feel like depending on the occasion. Hair IMO is like an accessory. I have fun with it. It isn’t that serious.

“Dont get me wrong, If a black woman wants to relax her hair then thats cool, as long as she’s doing it for the right reasons..(styling, managability, cuz she likes striaght styles). But nothing screams SELF-HATE more than a black woman with damaged broken off relaxed hair (esp. when the hairline is missing, yuck) or a poorly done terrible looking weave.”

*******************************************
I really think you are making it a bigger deal that it is. What does self-hate have to do with a bad hairstyle? Can we just call it what it is? It isn’t that deep.

after many years of “relaxing” my hair, i finally decided to wear my hair natural, and proud. I cannot wait to watch this movie, hopefully i will start seeing more black women wearing their hair natural!

I am a proud black natural hair wearing sista for more than 20 years now and I give the credit to my direct influence: my mother who was ahead of her time by wearing African headdreses and who always emphasized the beauty of our African culture while she raised me and my siblings in an all white town. But I emphathize with my sistas still in bondage with the perm hair. The majority of us sistas have gone through the hair slavery period by perming our natural roots and I was a victim of that and suffered the consequences. I bugged my mother to perm my hair when I was young girl because the white girls at my school had the straight flip look and since I wouldn’t leave her alone about it, she gave in warning me about the consequences. The result was damage so bad to the back of my head, it was bald for several years. I learned an extremely valuable lesson that day - love your natural self. However, it took several years before I finally went complelely natural with locs, then with my own natural afro. Ironically, as a woman trying to be attractive to the other sex, I received most of my compliments and dates when I was natural and ladies, the men loved running their fingers through my locs and my afro because it’s real and natural not fake! I say to all, keep it real! Don’t confuse natural by depriving yourself of your beautiful assets. You can wear natural makeup and dress sexy and still be naturally beautiful. Try it! You will instantly see the results and attract the kind of man you are supposed to be with.