Why do almost 100% of black women straighten their hair if they can? Or cover it with wigs?

Question

No other ethnic group goes to such extremes - in such high proportions - to hide and change their natural appearance to fit in with the stereotypes of other ethnic groups. Women say things like 'too hard to manage' 'looks better', 'men prefer it', etc., But isn't the idea that straight hair is better than natural hair, the most successful act of self-delusion ever perpetrated by black women and men, on an almost universal scale? Can we not love ourselves in our natural state the way God/Nature created us? Can anything beat the crowning glory, or turn as many heads, as a proud black woman with locs, Afro, crew cut, plaits or any other natural style you can imagine? Are we so lost?

'Brillo pads'? 'nappy headed ho's'?, 'frizzy mess'?, all negative descriptions of a postive and beautiful thing. "Why would I?" is a good question; I can think of many reasons; pride, identity, dignity, self esteem, acknowledging that our nappy hair is as GOOD a thing as our darker skin, that we love ourselves, as is, without chemicals, etc etc. Read the question properly. There is a contrast between the slight changes (with a few exceptions) made by other races to their appearance using makup and dye and the fundamental change to identity attempted by black women. As for experience, I was born in the early sixties so I have lived through everything from black power to jerry curls. This is not a fashion or a fad. The fact that Malcolm wrote about this a few decades ago doesn't change the fact that the generations alive today are disconnected from their roots and eachother and that we all have a responsibility to debate the issue with the intelligence used by the great man

Will the Americans in the audience please acknowledge the rest of the world. I am not, nor are most people on this planet, American. Fitting in is no justification for losing ones identity, not even in America.

My true respect to Dangerdanger.

see some other answers to this question:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aix2RM6ZKmj_gh2mlfDcvuogBgx.?qid=20070419135819AAJ19YJ

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Avz.V8RPG7vj86TPeR3531cgBgx.?qid=20070419135653AAvDd4P

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070419135514AARX3Oc&r=w

This topic is now being debated at the Black Britain website: http://www.colourfulnetwork.com

Answer 1

You must be young. 20 years ago every white woman in the country was getting a very curly perm or braiding their hair in corn-rows.

It is called fashion.

Answer 2

I can't speak as a black woman, obviously. But it's about style too. For instance, back about 25 years ago I don't think I knew a white girl that didn't perm her straight hair so she could look like Stevie Nicks. Straight hair is in right now, so I think SOME of it goes to the fashion police. But I do get your point in general and agree with it.

Answer 3

With all the other ethical situations that are abounding our society this is all you can come up with. You have got to be kidding me. It opens the doors for the type of ignorance that has been displayed in some of the responses, ie. the devils response. I really cant imagine how much of a loser you would have to be to even post that type of low minded brillo pad crap. it must be absolutely foul to live like he or she does.

Answer 4

Rubbish!! So white women do not buy hair straightners??? I cant stand stupid questions like this where you claim you already know the answer! And from your pic you dont look like a black women so how on earth would you know why we do what we do to our hair? Im black and yes I relax my hair but that is MY personal choice I dont care if people think I have done it to impress a man cos believe you me I did it for ME and ME only. And dont white women have extensions?? use botox?? Go to tanning booths?? And please get your figures right because it certainly aint 100% of black women who use wigs...I see a lot of natural black women.

Answer 5

First of all, black men and woman are not the only people who have changed their appearances throughout the course of history.

It's all about being comfortable with yourself in today's society. Things are different today, then they were years ago.

I think it's time we get over the "proud" blacks. Almost everyone is AMERICAN, and we all have the same opportunities in this country. Times have changed. It's time to move on and grow up as a society. Time to realize that we are all the same, no matter the color of our skin. We are all Americans now, and that's all that matters.

Answer 6

I use to straighten my hair but haven't for many many years now. I quite like it natural. It was easier to manage when it was straightened, but I've found I can do more with it in its natural state. Also, just in case you don't know, (well I found this to be fact with me), straightening actually helped my hair grow. What I've found now though is, where it burned my hair, it's thinner. I think the hairstyles black women have now is amazing and if straightening is the only way to achieve this, good luck to them.

Answer 7

let me start by saying hello, my name is sharonda j and my reason for my hair and my wigs; this is the way I like to look i can't speak for no one else.but you know what i like myself if i haven't had a perm in 5 months,or before i ever onwed a wig,even when i haven't brushed my teeth are washed my a*s i love myself still. you know if everyone even YOU was just like God/Nature created us,or the way we came out of or mothers YOU would not have even posted this question because YOU would have no room to talk. it even goes back to Adam &Eve;not leaving things the way God wanted. SO NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR AS BLACK PEOPLE YOUR SINK IS STILL BLACK.so i think that makes me proud(now MICHEAL JACKSON on the other hand now he does not want to be black) thank you for reading my answer and don't forget we are all GOD's children now you have a Blessed DAY 4/19/07

Answer 8

Perhaps not every black woman wants to look just like all the others.

Every single black man I ever see either has his hair buzzed, an afro, a smaller afro, or...bald.

Women probably don't want to be confined to Afro and smaller afro. I absolutely love how different black women have their hair- nobody's is ever the same. It's pretty.

Answer 9

The same reason that those not of color get botox, and do all the other stuff like tannig to be what they are not. I cant stand a fake woman be who you are

Answer 10

i had natural hair up until the age of about 20. i got NO attention from black men until i straightened it, then suddenly i was hip enough and trendy enough. i have only worn a weave once in my life and i hated the experience - will never do it again.

Many younger black men prefer straightened hair although they wont admit it.

Having said that i returned to natural hair in 2002 - i havent looked back since.

Answer 11

Hey Cog,

Gotta question, Why is it UN natural for a woman to Strighten her hair if she just prefers it? Women get perms all the time, use lotion to soften their skin, and make up aswell.

Why can't we just love fat women, why do women with pimples use acne creams.

Why do we go to college?

Why do we use cars instead of just walking.

I feel like, if some one wants to go Natural, so be it.
If you don't cool too.

Its just about prefrences,

I would hate for someone to limit themselves.

Just me.

Meg

Oh an before I forget, Most, of the black women I know Have Braids. OR Extensions.

Braids are Cultural. -

PS Grew up in NY