Not sure what to think...
Ok, let me first say that I am not passing judgment, simply sharing my opinion. I know that each person is different, but this is just odd to me. I don't think there are nearly enough African American celebs that are women that have locks these days. Those that I loved have slowly began to cut off their locks. Most have maintained a natural style, but others are going to the polar opposite look, hence my confusion. Vanessa Williams, not the Miss America, but the actress from Melrose Place & Soul Food the series (pictured above) had some pretty locks. And even when she was on Melrose Place, her hair was natural. She has since cut her locks and now has that permed weave look. Again, I'm not passing judgment and not saying that once you go natural, you must stay that way, but it would be nice IMHO.
I guess I feel passionate about it because I have a 4yr old niece that doesn't understand the beauty of her hair and I try to reinforce it, but when she watches television, most of the black women she sees, have permed hair with extensions, so she feels if her hair doesn't look like that, it's not cute. She knows she's beautiful, but I don't want her to feel like there's anything wrong with her hair because although while she's a child, we won't perm her hair, but when she's old enough to make that decision for herself, I'd like for her to value the beauty of her gorgeous texture of hair. She loves my locks and always wants her hair braided, so it looks like mine. If I had my way, I'd lock her hair, but it's not my decision alone to make (womp, womp, wooooomp).
Anyway, here's a recent photo of Vanessa from an event with her new look. I'm just not feeling it personally, but again, to each his own. Just sharing my humble opinion.
What do you think?
posted by Natacha at 10:33 AM
7 Comments:
She definitely looks beautiful as always but I would prefer she kept her locks. I remember watching Melrose Place and Soul Food saying I LOVE her locks!!!
It is hard to explain to a child and other races why locks or natural styles are preferred. When the majority of black actresses perm their hair or the ones who start out natural get perms it becomes even more discouraging. There is one other black female who works in my office, she is fairly new, and she wears a weave and light brown colored contacts. Since I've been working with this company I have tried to let everyone know being natural is healthier and more natural (of course), then she comes in messing everything up.
It's just hard...sigh... Just keep being a good role model to your neice, more than likely she will stay natural like her auntie. I've been seeing a lot more teens with natural styles then ever before...WOOHOO!!!! I don't know if it's a trend or what but hopefully it stays that way.
Sorry to ramble....
Wow MM, looks like you took a page outta my book! (LWC)
I agree Natacha, there are NOT enough locked and natural actresses out there! And I am always sorry to see someone go back to the chemicals and weave.
I can't say that there won't EVER come a time when I will long for loose hair and cut off my locks...I hope to live a very long life and people and preferences change over time, but I do know - KNOW - I could never EVER go back to chemicals and/or weave!
I have a theory. I looked her up and saw that she is getting older - not old, mind you - but older. In Hollywood's youth-obsessed culture 35+ is long in the tooth. (Again, I emphasize that this is not my personal belief!)She is 44.
It's harder for African-American actresses to get work ANYway, we ALL know that. I suspect there might have been subtle pressure from agents and others for her to change her hairstyle into one that is perceived as more mainstream.
Give the people what they want. (or what we tell them they're supposed to want..., but that's another story!)
I think the pressure to be relaxed and woven is probably like the pressure to be extraordinarily thin. It was probably implied quietly and for years that she needed to change her look, and maybe now that she is older (although I think she is beautiful and ageless) she thought she should listen to make herself more competitive.
Perhaps she sees it as a practical and necessary career move if she wants to keep working...Just a thought.
You never see locked women as leading ladies in studio films, and rarely in indie flicks. I think a lot of locked actresses are told to change their hair or they won't get work.
Locked sisters are always the funny friend or the wise-cracking secretary...or the junkie...They are typecast.
I was surprised she took her locks down too. But it's really hard to go against the grain and get work.
I helped an actress with locks get ready for a shoot and it was really difficult to get her locks under a wig. She speculated that soon she would have to consider cutting them to compete for parts.
It's difficult because if more actresses stood their ground and locked they could perhaps form a critical mass.
As for your co-worker...I really think those colored lenses look weird. They aren't fooling anybody. That alone probably makes people go hmmm. As for the weave...you got to live and let live. When she sees your hair getting more beautiful everyday, she might rethink her whole program.
If you really want to make your point, organize some water sport at the next company picnic. When she has to bow out everybody will think she's a spoil sport for not joining in the fun...lol.
Hey Girly,
Ok I had to chime in on this subject because I am an actress. It is really hard to get work as an Afican American woman let alone a natural AA woman but I think we have to stand our ground. How else are we going to bring about change? I am persoanlly never getting a relaxer again in this lifetime because I believe it is unhealthy physically as well as emotionally. Now Vanessa just looks like everyone else limiting the positive media reinfocement that young girls need.
What makes me upset is look at the new Tyler Perry movie everyone in there has straight cascading weaves. We have an opportunity to do it for ourselves but once again we feed into other standards on beauty. We can't expect other people to do it for us. If that was the way we would still be riding in the back of the bus.
Whoppi Goldberg has been working for years as what mainstream media would like to call an unconventional actress but none the less she has been working. We have to think that we are good enough just the way we are and demand to be accepted as we are.
Since I graduated form conservatory and became a professional actress I have filmed a commercial for American Express, worked as an extra and appeared on stage all with my natural hair. If she was getting pressure I can't see that as a reasonable excuse as she was getting work. We have to have confidence in ourselves and not let anyone tell us no. I frankly believe by this time in America AA's should own a major movie studio and produce our own movies, tv shows, if that's what it takes we need to do it.Once again I go to Tyler Perry for this,on his TV show even the little girls have perms.
While women with locks do get typecast we need to band together and stand up for our heritage, because frankly all we become is a darker version of the Julia Roberts when we should be characterized as just being good actress. Look at S. Epatha Merkerson she has been on Law and order sonce 1991, she's a natural woman, she just wears a wig for the show. It's called acting and sometimes that requires some help from makeup and wardrobe. I personally would want to wear my natural hair but alot of styling and manipulaton goes on on a set so it seems safer for your hair if you opt for a wig but to me that doesn't explain a perm.Hello chemicals people,right?
Sorry this was so long winded but I was going to blog about this and it just gets to me sometimes.
Hey I love your blog about this particular subject. It baffles me that women do this. I seriously would prefer her with the locs and thats not b/c I'm one with. That just what I think looks better. I think anything natural brings out ones beauty.
I have been wondering the same thing about Ms Williams hair style change. I was disappointed by it. I imagine she's met a lot of opposition to her hair and maybe it became one less thing for her to "worry" about.
I just wish that she would go for a more natural looking weave if she's going to go that route.
I am also tired of seeing the sistas in Tyler Perry's movies with the long-straigt hair. Even Jill Scott who usually sports some type of fierce natural style was unbeweavable in the movie.
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