Learn More About Natural Hair
"Our Hair Story" by Chime Edwards
Type in Hair Styles into Google Images.
Now that you have google searched, what did you see?
Odds are you saw a lack of diverse representation of hair. In America we focus on white culture. For this reason many people do not know about other cultures because they are not represented. This lack of diverse representation in the media is also true in the hair market.
Now that you have google searched, what did you see?
Odds are you saw a lack of diverse representation of hair. In America we focus on white culture. For this reason many people do not know about other cultures because they are not represented. This lack of diverse representation in the media is also true in the hair market.
Representation Matters!
In the year 2014, the U.S. Military added a new regulation making it very difficult/impossible for women of color to wear their hair naturally. The regulation banned twists, locs, and large cornrows. The Military says they added these new restrictions in order to make everyone look more uniform. The hairstyles that the Military allowed for women of color included getting a weave, permanently straightening hair, wearing a wig, and getting micro braids. All of these hairstyles mimic the hairstyles of primarily white people's hair texture. What kind of messages does that send? Is a woman of color's natural hair un-professional? Is white hair the professional standard for hair? This is one example of discrimination against women of color and their natural hair.
More on this:
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/p3pawq/operation-black-hair
http://www.diversityinc.com/news/female-soldiers-protest-new-racially-biased-army-grooming-regulation/
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/p3pawq/operation-black-hair
http://www.diversityinc.com/news/female-soldiers-protest-new-racially-biased-army-grooming-regulation/
To relax or not to relax is the question. The answer is, it is your choice. Either way, straight or curly, you'll be beautiful. Yet, it is important that you make an informed choice. Below is a video about why relaxing hair (getting hair permanently straightened) can be unhealthy.
There are some wonderful people trying to create a more inclusive society, with more representation. Below are links to some great movements and projects, that other people are doing regarding natural hair.
Check out more background information about natural hair on the RAM blog
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