Twist-outs, flat twists, locks and ‘fros: In the last few years, what many considered a fringe phenomenon has now become a full-fledged revolution. African-American women are eschewing chemical straighteners to embrace their natural hair. According to marketing research company Mintel, sales of hair relaxers (the lye-based chemical products that temporarily flattens the coils) have steadily… Continue reading 7 Years Of Nappiology, The De Johnson DMN/Briefing Interview
Tag: African-American hair
Rings, Rants, Shallowness & Stupidity: A Cool Goodbye To Hot Mess in 2013
Many years ago, one of my all-time favorite comedians, the late George Carlin, released his best-selling book Brain Droppings. Anyone who’s witnessed his classic routines knows that Mr. Carlin had a twisted and acerbic sense of humor, but he never failed to crack you up and make you think. Toward the middle of the book… Continue reading Rings, Rants, Shallowness & Stupidity: A Cool Goodbye To Hot Mess in 2013
Black Hair, Why Care? Battling Prejudice Against Africanized Tresses
The die was probably cast from the moment I was born. According to Mama, one of the first things she noticed, after counting the fingers and toes of course, was my hair. “You had the thickest, glossiest curls I’d ever seen. I would just brush it, braid it, put you in little dresses and take… Continue reading Black Hair, Why Care? Battling Prejudice Against Africanized Tresses
No Hilarity In Self-Hatred: An Open Letter To Sheryl Underwood
Dear Cheryl Underwood, Before you were added to the five woman panel of CBS’ daytime show “The Talk,” your rise as a professional comedian was a sure and steady one. You had regular appearances on HBO’S Def Comedy Jam, hosting duties on BET’s Comic View, a Sirius satellite radio slot and film cameos. So given… Continue reading No Hilarity In Self-Hatred: An Open Letter To Sheryl Underwood
Rock The Natural, NOT Relaxers: ‘Attractive’ Isn’t ‘Assimilated’
Ladies, I get it: there has been centuries of Eurocentric influence and pressure from within and without to conform to the mainstream ‘standard of beauty’ at any cost. Some of us have made it a family tradition to relax one another’s hair and to tame the presence of the kink to get easier hairstyling and… Continue reading Rock The Natural, NOT Relaxers: ‘Attractive’ Isn’t ‘Assimilated’