Do not chase me off your time lines and blog feeds yet. I know you are tired of reading about this, I know you find these stories laughable with a tinge of disgust and slight bitterness.
Allure magazine thought it would be interesting to do a tutorial in their current issue of the magazine for white women who want to have afro’s. The tutorial was cute at best but showed their lack of diversity as an organization.
Not to mention the fact that they did not even bother to have a five minute consultation with an actual black person with an afro before publishing the piece.
They didn’t bother to give any historical perspective, or even use one black model, but why would they, this tutorial is not about you or me, it has nothing to do with being black.
It is a #costume #trend #style a #newway of doing things, something the average white girl can apply to her beauty regimen without the burden of the style being political, fists up.
Above would be the instructions for said afro sans, the necessary genes. When you read it, it seems quite easy to do all you need is a cotton t-shirt and some mousse. Who knew!
Hate to break it to ya, but the result will not be an afro at all, it wont even be Afro’s cousin but don’t tell em I said so, magazines must sell at whatever cost.
As you can imagine the fire storm on social media was pretty epic, sometimes I wonder if we will ever get tired of fighting these battles:
“Everybody wanna be black but nobody wants to be black ! #allure #Afro #naturalHair #mediaTakeout”
“I knew this would happen but I’m surprised at how fast it happened. We are really the trendsetters. They admire us but we never get credit. #afro #kinkycurly #naturalhair #naturalbeaty #kinky* #allure”
Don’t worry Allure responded to Buzz Feed when they first carried this story, here is what they had to say:
“The Afro has a rich cultural and aesthetic history. In this story, we show women using different hairstyles as an individual expressions [sic] of style. Using beauty and hair as a form of self-expression is a mirror of what’s happening in our country today. The creativity is limitless—and pretty wonderful.”
Oh how charming of you! SMH
Debbie Yvonne Mckenzie says
Don’t see the problem with this?? We relax and straightened black hair don’t we?
Nicole Hartley says
Thank you! I’m getting tired of this crap..
Nessie Belle says
The difference is I straighten my hair to get/keep a job. Not the same
Sarah Theodore says
Facts???
Barbara Davis Ford says
when you go to cosmetology school WE are taught to do HAIR….this is deeper than the surface
Nicole Hartley says
Seriously rolling my eyes right now…
Chevy Red says
There is a difference. It goes deeper than that.
Hazel Verge says
The difference is when we do something within our own culture it is considered undesirable however when Society as in white people aka culture vultures decide to copy it it becomes desirable or the next big thing. The biggest difference of all is, what derogatory remarks do you truly hear black women going around saying about others
outside of defending ourselves. For the most part we know we have it going on so hating on others is a non- factor
JoyShayla LeeDell White says
The get/keep a job comment us throwing me for a loop! Yo if you can’t get a job based on your credentials that is the employers problem.
Janell Walker says
That is true but it depends on what region of the country that you are in…I’ve heard many times in the natural hair groups that women have been told to make their hair more presentable/tamed and all that had was a TWA…real talk.
Markisha Tingle says
What she said?????????????
Nicole Hartley says
How about everyone gets over it and stop trying to start a race war with white people over every little thing you see on the Internet. It makes black look way more racist than whites.. Why get mad over every little thing that is “black culture”??? Its seems ridiculous, after all we’re all human and all like to try out new styles.. I swear 2015s trend is calling racism to everything White.. Never in my life have I seen such foolishness. Why can’t we just stop this bulls**t and get along?? Hair is hair, fashion is fashion, dancing is dancing; it belongs to no race or culture, it just is!!!! Good Lord just jump of the race bandwagon already
Janell Walker says
Just a question Nicole…if a group of people told you that you cannot exist…and managed to make that happen for decades-just made you into basically nothing…then when you finally were free to figure yourself out and be who only you could be…and that group decided to copy what you did and say they made it up…or even if they didn’t take ownership of it, they acted like it was now all the rage to be you…but started out telling you all of that time that you were nothing…you’re telling me that they wouldn’t get a strong side eye from you?
I don’t think there’s a race bandwagon, I think that it is what it is and we deal with it or ignore it. We can definitely “all get along” as long as there’s a mutual respect…and I think that’s what’s missing. Giving credit is part of that respect. If you are not respected, how are you supposed to co-exist? Again, just my thoughts. I understand your “it’s not that serious” viewpoint, I’m just wondering when it will be?…
Tracey Howard says
I agree Janell Walker. If the playing field was even, I don’t think this would be an issue. But as long as our image is constantly unrepresented and erased, and then replaced, I can see why many of us would be up in arms about this.
Nena Elizabeth says
Of course u dont Debbie Yvonne Mckenzie. Refer back to Janell Walker’s first comment. I love white people but some jus dont get it. smh
Nena Elizabeth says
Janell u can explain til ur blue in the face but they jus dont get it. Im not saying “whites will never understand” because of ignorance or anything like that. Im saying that because ur white. It is what it is. I like the comment “stop trying to start a race war”. I think a war started when we were ripped from our homes, brutally beaten into submission and forced into slavery. I think the ‘race problems’ calmed down for awhile but with recent actions racism is becoming prevalent again. I dont ever think ill c in my lifetime a true end to the race war. Im hoping I do
Hazel Verge says
Who are you to tell another how they should feel or what they should get over? You may be white Nicole Hartley if you’re first response to a black person that disagrees with this ongoing hypocrisy is for “everyone” to get over it…. Why did you equate the view points being expressed as trying to start a race war.. no one has said anything ignorant to that effect, if this post is taking you there, you may wan to stop reading, if you are as sick of this crap as you say….. SOME can have a diffidence of opinion without wanting to go out and destroy an entire race. In your mind it makes black people look more racist, than whites however I don’t think that is everyone’s view point.
Jamila Kelly says
The only difference is that some people have to much time on their hands to worry about hair.
Smh.
Smdh. And that’s the truth.
Yani Gallagher says
Except black women wear other races hair every day.
Irène Descieux says
Not every black woman have kinky or curly hair.Black people hairs are very various
Nessie Belle says
Yea so we can get/keep a job
Porsia Nelson says
And people actually agreed with that comment. I’m over like…..HUH???
Yani Gallagher says
Right?! I work in a doctors office & wear dreadlocks. Like I don’t wanna hear all that ‘it’s to be professional’ bs. Lol
Porsia Nelson says
There are black ladies at my sons school that are teachers and they wear their afros and locks. I’ve seen nurses with big beautiful afros…..That’s an excuse.
Yani Gallagher says
I’ll be waiting for a good explanation as to how ?. it’s a fact. You’re a prime example & you know it so for you to really get your panties in a bunch is pretty ironic.
Yani Gallagher says
So which one are you doing then then? With a head full of Brazilian? Again, I’ll wait.
Yani Gallagher says
You STILL never answered a single one of my questions or gave me an explanation though sooooo if that was really the case beating around the bush wouldn’t be necessary…… Oh & If it was just a protective style they come in natural textures. Just sayin. The thing is I never said a bad word about anyone wearing weaves. I stated an unbiased fact but you’re little emotions got the best of you & you can’t even give a good argument without sounding ignorant. All I was getting at is there’s a hypocrisy in today’s society that you’re proving is true right now. good day 🙂
Irène Descieux says
Like every black woman are wearing weaves or other culture hairs. If you ever travel to other lands, you will see that black people are not lile the ones in USA
Stella Johnson says
Umm I wear my own hair. I dont do tracks. I dont dye my hair blonde or none of that other stuff. I see what both sides are saying. But my thing with some white women is you talk about our kinky nappy bush and make fun of our hair, but now you want to wear the style? But if that is what they want to do then let them.
Hazel Verge says
White Women wear just as much weave as sisters, the only difference is they are able to interchange the hair within their culture and that may be another appropriation of the “black” who knows…
Yani Gallagher says
It’s the fact that black women see no problem with wearing other nationalities hair but once a white person does the same with theirs it’s unacceptable. It’s a double standard. I don’t care who wears weave & who doesn’t, it’s the fact that women who ARE are really getting mad over what they’re already doing when there’s no difference besides the fact that MOST black women have had it engraved into their brains from a young age that they need to do it to fit in. So how are white people taking away what black people spend money & time covering up & altering? White people wear weaves. But they wear weaves that match their hair texture or close to it. You can’t say that about 95% of black women who wear weaves/wigs. I’ve heard more of us talk down about our own natural kinky hair than white women by far; so the second a white person wears kinky hair all hell breaks loose but most of us don’t even wanna claim our own. So if we just accept our own hair this wouldn’t be an issue at all
RL Rogers says
I don’t see an issue with the article
Sarah Theodore says
Of course you dont???
RL Rogers says
Haha, I love when people make assumptions about me! It’s not that serious, just an article. Pretty sure there are much more important things to get upset about or see a problem with….
Hazel Verge says
Of course YOU don’t and that’s okay.
Hazel Verge says
RL I might mention that you are also commenting on this less important subject same as we. My only view point in regards to you is that if you are not a black women you wouldn’t understand our view point whether we see as an issue or other wise in regards to this article, I an not saying this is out of apathy, there is just no way you would understand on the outside looking into our culture. No disrespect intended, it is just reality.
RL Rogers says
Laughable….
Dana London says
Many white ppl have hair like that….. What’s the big deal!! As it is natural to them.
Tiffany Nicole Roberts says
So, what’s wrong with that ? We relax and wear weaves in our hair ,so let them wear curly afros in their hair
Barbara Davis Ford says
the problem is we as a people dont have a culture…everything we have ever had or everything that we ever did gets taken….as a child we are brought up to think our natural textures are wrong…our hair was relaxed and straighten…our own people look at our hair and call it nappy…for so many years our natural hair was looked upon as being nappy, dirty etc…nobody was embracing it…now that people see that we are rocking our natural and really not caring what people think, now every body want to have kinky hair..smh…not every body wants to be accepted or want to blend in…we would like to have SOMETHING that we call our own…something that will just stay with black people…thats all
Shanna Michelle Greenawalt says
Like I said before; hair styles goes beyond culture. Stop being so sensitive about the subject.
Shanna Michelle Greenawalt says
I’m entitled to my opinion, and I’m not going to argue with you lady. They’re more important subject to argue about than hair.
Hazel Verge says
No one has the right to tell another how to feel, or what their opinions should be and you are absolutely right,there is no need for an argument.
Hazel Verge says
Truthfully, I was looking at it from both view points. We all have the right to express our feelings, I feel it helps us grow as long as we keep an open mind to others opinions not necessarily adapting their viewpoints however being fair and respectful and You are welcome Madam.
Markisha Tingle says
Not everyone relaxes or wears weaves js speak for yourself
Dr-Shahila Darraine says
Don’t see anyone complaining when black women wear blonde hair or put in blue contacts. Just stop creating an issue where there’s none!
Aaisha Bilal says
I see allot of people complaining about it. I hear black men say s**t about it all the time. I hear black women saying black women need to take those contacts out. Or thatcolor don’t much their skin. People always talking about black women.
Anna Ogonji Smith says
Actually everyone black and white always laughed at black women wear blonde hair and called them ghetto. Not all white ppl hair naturally blonde hair either so anyone should be able to dye their hair. When you’re told that you can’t wear your hair how it grows, but another group can emulate it I think you’d have a different opinion.
Theresa Marie Bryant says
Any black woman doing this is clearly suffering from systematic and internalized rascism which taught her to hate herself And any white person trying to appropriate black cultural and getting away with it is benefiting from systematic rascism and white privilege which tells them they can hate us and still have whatever we have
Hazel Verge says
You obviously aren’t around the right people, that is not normal. Maybe you don’t see because it doesn’t make national headlines.
Angel Scott says
Lord! People are so concerned with lions and hair when we have bigger fish to fry!!! Smh
I think it’s pretty!!!
Jean Smith says
Amen!
Janell Walker says
First I need to say that white women are as entitled to wear their hair however they want to just as we are HOWEVER…the reason that this is so disturbing is because we’ve forgotten that the whole reason we started straightening and manipulating our hair in the first place was to fit into the Caucasian standard…so that they would accept us and we could be presentable for employment and such so with that in mind it is a huge slap in the face that we’ve taken our hair back and now they want to join ’em since they can’t beat ’em. Same with tanning…if our melanin is such a problem, why would you want to emulate it? My thoughts.
Markisha Tingle says
???????
Sarah Theodore says
Thank you.???
Stephanie R Parrish says
Well said
Markisha Dunham says
Rite
Markisha Tingle says
???
Marjorie Brown says
Because we are beautiful!
Shaneda Simpson says
Black women have been looked down and told we are unattractive for having are coco skin,full lips,afros,big backsides,and curves.Others races,tan, buy and implant the same attributes are seen as Beautiful..I dont get it..I say forget the media..Too me all black women are beautiful.and I make it a point to tell everyone I know!!
Hazel Verge says
Ms. Janelle, Those are great thoughts.
Onylde Agostinho says
@Janell Walker I agree with you 100%. ????????
Nena Elizabeth says
Well said Janell Walker. I love whn people say things that i cant put into words.
Marcel Barnwell says
Well said. We have women who are still trying to look like them, skinny with straight hair, so now they are doing the same. Reversed…. What’s next? We’re beautiful, and should never forget that.
Ricketta Savage says
well said!!! I never understood the purpose of tanning if you dislike color?
Denise Freeman says
Why an article when they could just ask Rachel?
Sarah Theodore says
?????
Shantel Tweet Ivey says
I feel flattered by allure’s article. But I think the point that’s trying to be made is that people of other cultures/ethnicities are seeing natural black hair as a trend. They are looking at black women and thinking oh she is rocking the latest trend. Instead of oh her hair in its natural state is awesome. Its another way to push aside black beauty.
Vivian N. Larsen says
That quote about coping being the highest form of appreciation… – I tired and it’s late here in Denmark, but I hope you get my point 😉 its a compliment – stop trying to make it something negative! – good night wherever you are 🙂
Susan Cartwright says
Why
Cb Sampson says
WE WALK AROUND LOOKING LIKE THEM IN WEAVES SO WHY YOU UPSET NOW BLEACHIN YOUR SKIN TO LOOK WHITE WHEN YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
Mishiidbhudyjgrd Gpthjueguik says
?
Valerie Johnson says
When sales fall flat be controversial…preferably by involving African Americans if you can…works well for magazine covers and most mainstream media ?moving on, nothing new to see here…
JND1 says
Yep. I know this post is old but it’s now 2018 and Onision on YouTube did exactly that by making a plethora of videos on him kind of insulting kinky/coily hair. Many natural hair YouTubers and viewers watched, reacted, commented and made videos on a hair routine he recommend. Meanwhile, his views went up regardless of dislikes. He’s profiting off of the nine videos he made because people just had to watch instead of leaving him alone like Naptural85, for example, said. What a genius he is because he knows people love to put in their two cents especially when it comes to kinky/curly hair.
Lonique Renee Brooklyn Ryan says
A WOMAN can wear her hair however she likes, nothing to do with race, yall needa stfu
Sybil Willis says
Nothing wrong with this. We wear weaves, relax hair etc. if someone wants an Afro let them wear it.
Sarah Theodore says
Uumm sweetie, not that simple. Remember we used to be made fun of and MOCKED, and put down for our black features. We still are today if you pay attention. All that is what lead to women of color to chemically alter their hair, and hair extentions. But now all of a sudden when white women do it, it’s considered cute, and “new style” when we’re the ones that always had it from the beginning. That’s why it’s important to know your history b4 you criticize. They need need to shut that s**t up.
Vivian N. Larsen says
It’s as STUPID as when #NickiMinaj tweeted that people of color aren’t awarded when LOADS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN AWARDED TREMENDOUSLY when deserved and slso people of color INCLUDING BEYONCE was nominated in the category she was bitching/ranting about.. oh domr people shouldn’t have Internet access! (Facepalm)
Aaisha Bilal says
Nikki was talking the truth and “loads” of black people haven’t been rewarded. Now I’m not making it seem like nikki some role model or something. But come on we are discriminated against. And Beyonce is a major star.
Hazel Verge says
She was speaking of MTV Shade.
Asha Jamia says
Don’t even care no more. Bigger issues than hair.
Hazel Verge says
Actually, the underlying topic that is driving this discussion is a bigger issue than Hair however I do understand what you mean.
Joyce Smith says
Who really cares it’s not important
Markisha Dunham says
All I’m going to say is we be damned if we do we be damned if we don’t for my lovely beautiful black queens …. We can’t be duplicated I don’t care what they do we are the original
Tish S Griffin says
Say that. Often imitated never duplicated.
Denise Teague says
Y’all edomites know y’all are funny always trying out do the true queens.And y’all so called black women always taking up for these thieves you just will not put them in their place and we wonder why thing’s are the way they are. Sad
Joyce Delifus says
That’s not an Afro.
Ãshley Únderwood says
Love it..
Kimberly Copeland says
That’s not an Afro.
Vedejah Scroggins says
So what if Indian girls or Asian girls started saying “don’t cash crop on my hair”. lol do we not realize how bad this makes us look? as black women to have the nerve to talk noise about a white girl manipulating her hair into an Afro but who really cares though? Obviously not us because we’ll weave up in a minuet and dare somebody to say something about our weaves. well yalls I don’t wear weave. then we have the nerve to perm our hair to get it straight and have the nerve to say it’s so “it’s more manageable”. no my hair is completely natural and I do less than what I did with a perm and its growing faster. I think as black women we need to leave other races alone. Who care if white girls want Afros. Y’all want wavy straight hair but ain’t grown none of it. So what do you do you style it that what. Get over it
Aaisha Bilal says
I get everything you are saying. People should be able to wear their hair however they want to. It just seems that everything “white” people use to say made us ugly. They now want or are trying to do. It just seems that they want every damn thing. Always trying to take or water down something. Yes black women west weave perms. But why do you think that is??.
Vedejah Scroggins says
I think we live in a time in history where does it really matter how we look now? We do just as much as these white women about our appearances. So why is it such a problem why would we had black women even care what another race of women looks like. Are we jealous? I don’t know sounds like it.
Janell Walker says
My 2 cents, I don’t think jealous describes it because as you said we can make our hair do whatever we want it to just like they can. I agree with the above post that the point of the matter is that “didn’t you just tell me that I wasn’t good enough? Wasn’t my hair ugly in its natural form? Wasn’t my skin too dark?”…but now you want to be me? After I spent so much time trying to conform to what you wanted me to be…now that I’ve worked my way up to knowing who I am…now you want to share…?
It’s strong side eye material in my opinion. If we were so awful for so long…why should we be so happy now that they’re enjoying what we had to struggle/fight to obtain/regain?
Funny thing is that, again, I think if they want to wear it then rock out but I can’t say I don’t understand the disgust behind it going down.
Vedejah Scroggins says
So as black women we need their approval to know our own beauty? I’ve been called stupid but stupid doesn’t earn bachelors degrees. I’ve been called fat and ugly but yet married, old, single, crazy educated,young, all men of every race and nationality has come on to me. I’ve been called selfish but yet I’m broke giving my last to someone who needs it more. Who cares what anyone said back then or even what they said ten minuets ago if it’s not true why even bother. Why as black women even change ourselves for the approval of whites. I say this all the time why do we not feel free? Is it because the white man/woman hasn’t said that we are free? Or is it because we have placed them so high that we only see darkness? We are in the shadows move and you’ll see the sun. Accept yourself for who and what you are you don’t need their approval to know what and who you are. What was said in the past is over and done with it can’t be taken back or altered. So again who cares now? Just move on
Hazel Verge says
It seems to me the majority of these posts are simply pointing out the one sided hypocrisy of how society tries to tear down black women and adapt our culture and features all at the same time. I don’t think most of us care about others style at all but don’t try to demean us while copying everything that we do..everything that we are, in truth I really don’t care who wears what but leave Black Women alone. If there is something that we are doing that you like just give the compliment (or not ) and keep it moving don’t try to make us feel less than we are when you are wanting to be who we are and in some cases that is reverse however as I’ve said before when do your truly hear black women talking negative about others unless we are defending ourselves, Our culture or are very existence.. Jealous? Hardly I think that shoe may fit some other feet and they aren’t black.
Vedejah Scroggins says
y’all are obviously missing the point I’m making so ill try to reexplain it one more time. what can you do about what others thing about black women? nothing so why get mad about what they think of black women? is it true what they think or say? if not why care? are we that sensitive still as of 2015? can we not see our own beauty? do we need someone to tell us? i dont understand our problem? we talk noise all while doing the exact same things. other minorities are oppressed in different ways but black people hollar the loudest. yeah were discriminated against but should that stop us? we act like it should. so again what the hell is the problem for a white woman wanting an afro. is it because most of us are to afraid to wear one? someone needs to explain this to me because i obviously am missing the point of why its wrong?
Barbara Davis Ford says
i saw a documentry last night about white collar jobs…ALL the black women had bone straight hair..it has been made very clear to us that, this is what is required in order to climb the ladder of success…we dont like it, but its there…when you tell a race that how the are made by God t is wrong, or ugly…”look more like us and you stand a chance.”..when from the time you sat between your mothers legs to get your natural hair combed you hear from HER ” ooooo, this hair is nappy”…”oooo i cant waite to perm this stuff”…when you get old enough, your mother put this stuff on your head…when you go to school ( in my days ) and people that look like YOU make fun, calling you names that only white people called you, what do you think she will do…if all she has to do is perm it, hot comb it, weave it to get along with her OWN people…she will do it…see, thats why i said earlier that its deeper than this article….we as a people are conditioned to get along…anything that white people do, its a compliment…when all im saying is, this is one more thing that is being ripped from us…we dont have a culture….we dont have unity…because if we were the way we were in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, we wouldnt even care about this article…we dont even help each other…all we do is fight…we dont even help our OWN brothers, then get mad when they go to another race….THINK DEEPER INTO THIS….they are…thats why they published it
Leticia 'Choc' Joshua says
I love it……afros are beautiful on any hair type
Tish S Griffin says
The hate us because they ain’t us.
Chantese Shaw says
Be happy they admiring us. Our beauty needs to be on the front page.
Hazel Verge says
I will not be Happy they are admiring Our Beauty, I’ve always admired Our Beauty. The only thing they have proven is that Our Beauty is undeniable. “They’ admiring Our Beauty means absolutely nothing to me. We do not need their validation of Our Beauty now that they want to adapt our Beauty.
Tish S Griffin says
So if a sista wear a agro to work she’ll loose her job. But if a white woman wear it It’s a fashion statement???? ✌✌✌✌✌??????????????????
Sofia Cabell says
I think it looks pretty.
Washington Lillian says
Yup, saw this earlier today….. Good ole’ #whitesupremacy
Pat Mushid says
Like, I can’t even. This is so sad. We’re nothing but a trend, a new fad.
Washington Lillian says
To quote an intelligent person: “There is no white culture without black culture”
Pat Mushid says
Have you seen the movie “Dear White People”? It touches on that.
Natasha Brown Idahor says
We have no right to be mad. Many of us, relaxed our hair, and stayed weaved up before going natural.
Alexandria Shaughnessy says
This is great✊???
Paul Bayley says
Does anyone really think this situation is so petty as hair….. Really ?!
Jen Diane says
there is nothing left for them to take from us and make their own, lest they literally start stealing our own babies from our wombs ( I wouldn’t be surprised tho, smh)
Anna Ogonji Smith says
I can see all sides of this. I’m leaning more to the side that it’s a slap in the face that they can be accepted with wild hair or all the other negative comments we’d get for wearing a fro. We were forced to change or hairstyles and cover our hair to their liking even today, but it’s okay for them to copy. Even though they were starter locs and kept clean, my husband had to cut his. I’ve been told at a volunteer position about the new dress code that includes no distracting styles like afros. Oh well.
They do have the right to wear their hair like they please.
Theresa Marie Bryant says
And its not flattering. It’s a sickness to hate a people and want our positive s**t too. They don’t want us feeling special in anyway.
Regina Saunders says
do we not remember the curly perm..? white ppl been wearing fros for years. its a fad for them. it comes and goes like bell bottoms and the beatles. its cute and trendy. to her, the white woman. this is a way of life for the black woman that so chooses the natural life stlye. so let the white woman have it. let her be cute and go out with her friends and rock her lil fro. thats fine. ill go home and do my flat twists for when i go out too. ?
Natalie Wright Njotu says
Nice article.
Theresa Marie Bryant says
Cultural appropriation and white privilege at its finest. They hate us and try to make us hate ourselves but whenever we try to take back some of our power by turning our oppression into something positive and “cool” they start to feel excluded and uncomfortable because this white supremace society pushes that everything should be about them and their white privilege allows them to make it about them. And by the way black women wearing straight hair is NOT the same thing. Straight hair has never been seen as negative
Dana London says
Not true many white ppl have extremely curly hair just not the same texture. Treated basically the same. One should know hair b4 jumping to conclusions as long as it’s her hair who cares.
Theresa Marie Bryant says
You’re deflecting. A white person with “extremely” curly hair still will never be discriminated against in schools (white controlled) the military (white controlled) or even their workplaces ( white controlled) because their hair is too “distracting”. Which has happened to many black people. A white person with “extremely” curly hair will more than likely never have it called nappy and ugly and told to relax/straighten it with chemicals so it can be “pretty” (like white hair) because this is most black women’s experience from a very young age. The point is that for a black woman to embrace her natural beauty is a big deal so when we finally do it would be nice if the people who hated my hair to begin with and always eluded to the fact that it wasn’t good or pretty enough would not try to steal my style.
Theresa Marie Bryant says
Maybe u should learn more about the black experience in America before jumping on a post about black hair and cultural appropriation
Princess Taylor says
First off thats not an afro. Black Women was not giving any credit for wearing this style since “adam” .. thats whats wrong with it to me … and this is Allure mag .. Second time posting an article like this .. it was in the 1970s they called it loose curls … smh http://www.buzzfeed.com/essencegant/this-magazine-used-a-white-woman-in-an-afro-hairstyle-tutori#.xcbKBLY93
Sofia Heard says
I think if a black white or Mexican and Asians want to wear their hair anyway is awesome to me. Let them embrace what we sometimes don’t!
Jules Davis says
These people tho. Copy cats… Sigh…. I had my hair in a afro style wear it to work I was told it looked too wild. Gotten a lot of negative comments from females with permed and naturally straight hair I felt uncomfortable. Like an outcast but when I look at my afro I saw me in my most natural state. It disgust me cause I was thought to hate my hair because of its character. If I had never followed the society that white supremacy dominated my hair would have been taller and healthier today. Its disgusting that they want to copy our hair texture too. A nation with no culture…smh…even our black men have been brainwashed to love straight hair and let’s face it. That’s the main reason why some of us wear weaves and get perms to look attractive to men.
Charisse English says
When I went natural I felt so free and it felt so right and I don’t care what anyone says about it some days I have a great hair day and some days I don’t get it quite right but I love my natural hair and u should to and don’t worry about what those haters think you look good in it.
Lavon M F Hairston says
I went through the same thing. I went natural 2000. I caught hell at work and by different family members. I felt ugly and resorted to relaxers braids weaves and wigs. I thought I was only attractive with my wigs. I got to the point where I started to feel fake and I took my disguise off and now I feel like im really living life.
Theresa Marie Bryant says
And black women who wear blonde hair and colored contacts are more than likely suffering from systematic and internalized rasicm that teaches u to hate yourself and then u start to think and act like your oppressor. It’s a sickness. Cultural appropriation is also a sickness because you are benefiting from systematic rasicism which tells white people that they can oppress and take from black people and people of color with no consequences
Hazel Verge says
Why can’t this been seen as the same issue when white women tan their skins and inject their lips and buy booty implants ,etc.. this is the one sided hypocrisy that I feel is an on going standard in society.
Gail Cargill says
That’s not a fro…
Rashawn Williams says
I don’t care….
Lindsay A. Hackney says
Right. The point is that they see it as a trend and we see it as accepting our hair! Finally we see that our hair is beautiful and that it needs TLC! I get the compliment “I wish my hair would do that” often. We straighten our hair to conform to their standard of beauty. They choose to try our styles because they “wish their hair did that”. Allure did a horrible job writing this article. Calling whatever this hair style (that I’m positive will not work) an Afro is crazy. Poor choice of words and “suggestions”. Your hair will fall girl! And you will look stupid!
Victoria Tillman says
I don’t find it offensive one bit. I don’t see how black people can claim the Afro when we aren’t the only people who naturally have Afros. A white kid i used to hang with when I was a lot younger was white girl with a red frizzy fro that looked very very similar to mine. Both her parents were white, her dad had a fro too.
Prue Mulenga Chomba says
I don’t see the problem, people should be allowed to embrace all hair styles regardless of race.
Nena Elizabeth says
All I can say is wow
Alice Caldwell says
I like it. Just means they are saying we’re trendy!
Hazel Verge says
We are not trendy, we are a Beauty standard, they are not just willing to admit it.
Tish S Griffin says
The point is THEY TRY SO HARD TO BE BLACK. FROM SURGICAL PROCEDURES TO SKIN COLORS. FAKE LIPS, ASS, TITS. BUT TURN AROUND AND CALL US UGLY. YOU HATE US BECAUSE YOU AIN’T US. KEEP TRYING. BECAUSE WHEN ALL THAT STUFF COME OFF. YOU STILL WHITE.
Tish S Griffin says
Often imitated never duplicated. Why do y’all think William Lynch wrote the letter???? To divide our culture. It’s still working.
Esther Appiah says
If you don’t see the problem with this you’re part of the problem. Point blank period.
Mistress of the Mid-Afternoon says
I’m gonna take the contradictory position and say that she looks cute. I know I know, everyone wanna look black but no wants to be black. I know the fro has it’s history and the natural movement is about reclaiming our own fros, why should we let whities in on that when they were the reason we had to reclaim. But really this article is just about how to get the afro look to people who are interested but don’t have afro-hair.
If they call some white celebrity sporting a fro an new trendy style icon I would have some real problems. OR when white people with locs are care free and cute while Blacks are dirty. Or when whites with cornrows are sporty and blacks are criminals. But the natural hair movement has come so far that we’ve got white people co-washing and now they want our hair. And who can blame them it’s beautiful.
In the end, Black people have always been trendsetters, other people won’t stop copying, us and really, why should we stop them? They like our hair
Charisse English says
Cute
Charisse English says
Every since I started wearing my hair natural I always get compliments and mostly from white women.
Billiely Laos says
I really don’t see a problem with this as long as it is not done in a derogatory way. Girls like to change their hairstyles, right?
Shannon Johnson says
But yet we have no problem with black women on YouTube doing hair tutorials on how to relax hair, put her hair extensions, or how to blend our texture of hair with a straight weave…smh, it’s hair ppl.
Gina Payne says
First of all, it should go without saying that the problem behind white woman emulating our hair is rooted in blatant unacceptance of our natural black features. These features have now become popular culture but still not on us. I am entering into the professional world now and I have been met with soooooo much animosity because of my hair. It’s gone so far as a white attorney telling me my hair is too wild and I need to tame it! It’s a bitter pill to swallow that our natural features are met with such disdain while it widely accepted on white woman. Everybody want to preach equality, but that extends to blacks as well. Magazines will accept afros on white women but not black women. That’s the problem
Kandis Richardson says
Is this an afro???^^ ija looks like a possible twist out…maybe
Melissa M. Seville says
I find this flattering but, why should it take a white person for people of color to be ok with wearing their afro and it be acceptable in society. Are some of us looking for approval from them? I say anyone can wear any style but dont condemn black women for our natural afro. Then put it on a white woman and suddenly it’s acceptable. It’s a huge slip in the face. Its like saying as long as a white person does it, its ok. This is were I have a problem with it.
Lavon M F Hairston says
They cant get caught in the rain or go swimming because if they do the curls will be gone. Im sure that style on white people hair takes a long time. I say go for it.
Evelyn Lattimore says
This is no shock , all they know to do is imitate, oh well hope u can keep up with us we have a variety of ideas and hairstyles, because we change often our originality allows us to be unique :-):-) Its alright , snd thsnk you for ghe complement , see ya down the road :-):-)beca
Tynisa Napier says
I think most of y’all missing the point, but I’ma let you wrap your brand around this one…
Zita Vigier says
I was told when I wore my hair like that to go comb it. Why is it okay now.
Dee-Lila Sharp says
Please I’m mixed with Asian and Afro American …. and I find this a joke. White people are so entitled. Give me a break!!!!! Please!