Solange Knowles On Leaving Carol’s Daughter and Addressing Her Natural Hair Critics
Solange Knowles has been clear that she doesn’t want to be viewed as a representative for natural hair. The singer first spoke out when critics slammed her hair type and styling, saying she’s “not like other 4C’s” and “needs a twistout.” The backlash prompted Solange to respond on Twitter: “I never painted myself as the team natural vice president.”
Immediately, folks pointed out that Solange’s statement is at odds with her role as a spokesperson for hair and beauty brand, Carol’s Daughter. And even that position had its detractors as people believed the company couldn’t champion diversity while employing three lighter-skinned women in its campaign.
Now, Solange has stepped away from it all. She tells Lurve Magazine she is no longer working with Carol’s Daughter, and it’s because they couldn’t see eye-to-eye on messaging: “I was constantly fighting for the right message to be heard. The message that the way we wear our hair is a personal choice, there’s no right or wrong way.”
Interesting.
She also admits that she did not know a lot about hair typing: “I really, truly was not even aware that there was a natural hair system in place to measure the texture of your hair. At that point I thought to myself, ‘This is really crazy. That these people know more about my hair than the human that even carries it!’ I went to my Twitter and sort of impulsively expressed that. I don’t regret it one bit, but sometimes trying to put how you feel in an one-hundred forty character structure is not really successful. [...] I’m actually really trying to navigate my feelings on the entire hair issue and it’s tough doing that publicly.”
There are many naturals, and companies for that matter, that believe there’s a right way to wear natural hair. Looser curl patterns are put on a pedestal and products and style techniques are offered to achieve the look.
I think it’s brave that Solange doesn’t subscribe to that way of thinking, even if people don’t love the way she styles her hair. Afterall, like she says, it’s a personal choice.
Keep the cotton out and keep it fresh and healthy. What other rules should their be?
No one should bully anyone about their OWN hair choices..you are not MORE black or LESS black because of how you wear your hair…however, ignorance knows no hair texture…I am natural but if I want to throw a weave in my hair, I will, if I want to rock my fro I will..If I want to cut it off and dye it pink, I will.
Yassssss! #Agreed
Yes Gawd!
why does anyone care about what a person who’s biggist clame to fame is being Beyonce’s sister has to say about anyones hair?
There’s actually a discussion about this? wow! The way a woman choses to wear her hair is entirely up to her. Natural or not! Do we talk about what tampons a woman should use? no! cuz it’s entirely up to her. I had an afro, permed hair, flat ironed hair, twists, braids, a weave-on, i may very well chop it to skin. my hair, my choice!
I’m getting pretty tired of this whole natural vs. whatever else debate. It’s annoying, pointless, and just another silly form to bring separation (once again) between Black women. It needs to stop. Like Solange greatly states: The way you wear your hair is a personal choice. You shouldn’t let someone police you into telling you otherwise on what is ‘proper’ or ‘best’ way to wear and keep your hair. That is the beauty of choice and the ‘best’ hair is healthy and CLEAN hair. People need to also realize that not every Black person’s hair is the same grade. In honesty, Carol’s Daughter products do nothing for my hair (I really dislike their shampoo the most) but them trying to police Solange on her hair choice by doing some ‘system’ is even worse. Glad she stepped away from that.
Didn’t we all love and watch the Sesame Street video ‘I Love My Hair’? Have we forgotten to embrace its message of loving your hair no matter what it looks like? We need to all watch that video again and stop the hair wars.