Is Natural Hair the End of Black Beauty Culture?
In a blog for Huffington Post, author Cassandra Jackson accomplished something that I never thought possible:
She made me feel nostalgic about straightening my hair.
Not because I necessarily liked having my older sister get a new-fangled contraption called a curling brush tangled in my hair when I was 10-years-old; not even that I have fond memories of pressing combs, flat irons and first day relaxers when my hair was too flat to be much good to anyone.
I became nostalgic as she recalled elements of “beauty shop” culture that may become extinct as natural hair proves to be more than a trend.
While many, including me, celebrate the natural hair movement’s emphasis on self-discovery, I cannot help but wonder if something has also been lost with this cultural shift. For all the horrible things about hair straightening, the experiences associated with it have created a powerful thread that connects the vast majority of black women. Even if you have kinky hair now, you probably have memories of time spent with family and friends in kitchens getting your hair done by someone who loved you and who you trusted enough to wield a sizzling hot straightening comb next to your ear. You probably remember that first trip to the beauty shop where black women talked about grown folks’ business, and nearly every sentence began with the endearment, “girl.” It does not matter if your mother was a teacher or housekeeper, or if you were in New York or Alabama because these experiences crossed class and region. Hair straightening was a rite of passage, an entry into the world of black women.
My experience with salons and natural hair is vastly different from the beauty shop culture. I go to the salon no more than twice a year. Recently, I crossed one of the most powerful color lines in America: I let a white girl do my hair. She gave me a good cut, and I was back on the street in 20 minutes. In comparison, my mother whose hair is chemically straightened goes to the beauty shop every two weeks for a couple of hours. She comes home smelling of oil sheen spray and full of news. She knows everything, from the platform of candidates for the school board, to the proposed sight for the new grocery store, to who was admitted to the hospital last night. She is not just informed; she is engaged, full of laughter, concern, and outrage.
I honestly can not remember the last time I’ve seen the inside of a hair salon. It’s been even longer since I had one to call home, with a favorite chair, favorite dryer and everybody knows your name. And I just realized that I miss that.
Does it mean I’m going to start straightening my hair again to get that good thing back? Absolutely not. But it made me think ladies, outside of the “beauty shop,” where else could sistas meet weekly just to check in, pamper ourselves and refresh for the struggles of the world around us?
Meh, I don’t go to the salon but i find there are more than enough places to go to gossip the day away. Church is one. Half them heathens go for the gossip.
There will always be enough women who indulge in weave, relaxers and whatever else they do in the salon to go there and gossip. I am not longing for the few times when someone beat my hair to death with a comb ignited by the sun. I left the salon feeling scared and scarred. Someone write about that, about girls who never wanted to go to the salon and who thought they were being punished. All it means is our gossiping spots have grown beyond the salon.
I’m going to second your “Meh.” Black women finally getting away from putting harmful chemicals on their head is a great thing, period. To take a good, healthy thing and find the negative – I don’t understand us sometimes.There are always opportunities and places to gossip. And, as you said, there are enough women still relaxing and whatnot to go to salons and gossip.
Well, I can still have the salon experience, even with natural hair. Or I can get my hair twisted by my mom and still feel some love. Black women will always find ways to connect, even with no pressing combs or relaxers around.
I was never much a fan of salons- the smells, wait time, paying someone to do something I could do myself and certainly not the loud talk and much ado about nothing. I really didn’t go to salons much after high school other than for the occasional trim. Better ways to spend ones time.
Or, here’s a novel idea: How about hairdressers LEARN HOW TO DO NATURAL HAIR?! All of this—the fellowship, the gossip, the socialization, the sisterhood—could continue easily if we women with natural hair actual had beauty shops with professionals who know how to tend to our hair in the way it grows out of our heads. It’s a damn shame that as more of us embrace our natural locks, the very people charged with tending to it are clueless about what to do with it. Stylists: you want to keep your businesses open? You want to retain clients? You want to maintain that state of nirvana in which sisters can kick back, gossip, enjoy each other’s company and leave your salon cute AND socially fulfilled? Get your skills up.
I agree with that, a lot of beauticians are complaining about losing business to something that they think is a fad, I feel like beauticians adapt to and learn any other hair trend but this is one they kinda refuse to get down with for some reason.
I agree with you 100%, It amazes me how beauticians can adapt and learn any new hair technique, but when it comes to learning how to do natural hair they won’t budge.
I have a standing weekly appointment & I’ve had the same hair stylist for 10 years. I rarely chit chat with the other ladies in the salon. I use my salon time to listen to my iPod & read mags on my Nook. My stylist is quick so I’m not there longer than 90 minutes max. If I want to bond & hang out with my friends, we go shopping, get our nails done, meet for dinner, etc… There are lots of ways & places for black women to bond.
Yup! Much rather hang out and use my day being active rather than plan my whole day around a “visit” to a salon.