Is it rude for an adult to ask someone for a different race how often they shampoo their hair?

Question

African Americans know what i'm talking about.

I personally believe that if a child under 10 or the person is elderly (over 70) asks, it 's excusable. If a teenager or adults asks, they deserve the gas face or worse.

Answer 1

I think its rude,how possibly can this information help them.I would reply,about as often as you shampoo yours

Answer 2

It probably was rude. However, aren't we all unintentionally racist (some are intentional) to some extent? Our minds work by catergorizing things, and grouping people is a natural extention.

Sometimes the best way to get past our differences is to let the 'isms' slide, and respond by treating it as an innocent harmless question with no ill will intended. Then, when you answer the obvious, they will probably realize how stupid their question was and a little bit of the basis for their racism will vanish from them.

Answer 3

It can be rude depending on how they ask. Honestly some people don't realize that someone that has different hair texture than them could possibly have different ways of cleaning there hair.
If they never ask then how would they know.
Should they have asked before they were 10 or wait till after they are 70?

Answer 4

I'm extremely open and I tend to ask anything that isn't potentially embarrassing -- BUT I always precede my question with "I know I ask personal questions and you have the right to tell me to ____ off, but . . . . ."

If someone doesn't like your question, or doesn't want to answer it, they won't.

Ever heard: "There are no stupid questions?"

How else will you learn what you want to know if you don't ask. I've gotten some weird looks from my husband when I ask some questions, but I ALWAYS get an answer!

Make sure the way you pose the question is cool. Don't ask a person with filthy hair how often they wash their hair, unless you want to get an earful!

Be polite when asking rude questions :)!

Answer 5

You're right - it is an obnoxiously racist question.

It's another form of that old racist myth that Black people supposedly smell bad - basically, the person is saying that Black people's hair stinks - it's really offensive!

You should curse out any idiot who asks that question (including kids under 10 and old people over 70)!!!

Age is no excuse for stupidity - or racism!

Answer 6

As a multi-racial woman I get this question from EVERYONE!

I tend to take the question in the spirit in which it is asked. If someone is asking with an attitude or in a manner that is derogatory, I'll be offended. However if someone is asking as a general information, or honest curiosity, than I won't be upset. I look at it as an opportunity to educate people.

Answer 7

while i realize that it is technically rude, maybe the person doesnt mean to be rude, they are just curious. whites and african americans have very different hair types, and take care of it differently, so you could give them the benefit of the doubt and satisfy their curiosity, and then of course you can ask them how often they wash theirs

Answer 8

It depends on the situation.
In general, a person's hygiene is not necessarily an acceptable small-talk topic.
I could only see this as okay if you happened to be talking about personal habits already.

Answer 9

Well... if someones hair is greasy, it is a reasonable question. If you don't want to be asked such questions, perhaps you should wash your hair more often.

And, BTW, many people of other "cultures" aren't sure about how say, blacks, care for their hair. We whiteys are only sure that it is different than ours and requires more care... we have no idea what kind of care that is!!! It isn't always a "rude" question, only one of curiousity.

Answer 10

It depends. Is someone admiring your hair? Did they say something like "You have beautiful hair, I wish mine was as thick, do you use a certain shampoo?" I don't think that's rude.

But if someone referenced your race and said something about your hair and it's cleanliness, that's a different story.

Answer 11

i think you are overreacting. if someone is unfamilar with the hygiene habits of another race and they want to learn more, who better to ask then someone of that other race. maybe they should have been taught when they were younger, but not everyone is so privelaged as to have a good family and formal education. and what does it matter if it is someone from another race or someone of the same race? maybe the person just wants to know how often you wash your hair? i think maybe people just take things too personally, or too racially.