A reader sent me a message saying she was disappointed about the underrepresentation of natural-haired black women in the main stream magazines and asked my thoughts on the matter.
What do you think, please leave your thoughts in the comments.
I actually feel the opposite of this. I am very pleased with the amount of naturals that I have seen on T.V. as of lately. I also think that in time we will see more of this.
I have seen a growing number of natural haired women in the media! I can't turn on the TV or pick up a magazine without seeing some curls and coils, and I love it! Hopefully, this number will continue to grow.
I am writing this comment as an anonymous respinder, because it refers to the company that I work for. Nordstrom advises their employees to make sure that our clients are always aware of the new trends. Even for our clients that are not the trendy shopper, it is our job to insure that they know the looks for the season and work whatever looks they can into their wardrobe. These looks vary from shoes and hosiery to hair and make-up. The hair and make-up looks for spring 2010 were recently provided to all personal shoppers. All of the hair looks consisted of white/asian women wearing braids to resemble headbands (very cute may I add) and fly away wash and go styles. Some looks for shorter hair were slicked back with flowers and floral headbands. Even the new jeweled feather headbands that I love so dearly. Of over 60 women that were described to have been on the runways for the 2010 fashion shows, only 3 were black/hispanic (a number that I know did not represent our actual presence). One sister whose hair was straightened with extensions and another who had beautiful 3a/3b hair. But after looking at 4 pages (with 60 or more ladies per page) all described to be showing the easy and free looks for Spring in 2010, I was disappointed not to see any that looked like me. Recently, Vogue Italia launched the web magazine Vogue Black and Vogue Curvy. I am sure that after our support of seeing ourselves in magazines and on runways. Sooner or later this trend of being invisible to mainstream will disappear. This is one of the reasons I love your site so much. You always find the women that I never saw growing up. And I even show them to my 5 year old daugher to let her know that she is beautiful just the way God made her. All I can say is, THANKS!
I've actually been noticing more naturals on tv and advertisements. There's always at least one black woman and she's usually rocking a fro or sometimes dreads. I'm seeing less relaxed hair.
I think it's very unfortunate. I was at a business event the other day and one woman discussed how she was apparently told that she should straighten her hair to look more professional and so customers can take her more seriously. Her hair looks fab...she's adorable with her hair that grazes her shoulder, and when I look at her, that is her look. To me I see it as professional, but unfortunately the mainstream has not adjusted their idea of what is "mainstream" or "professional", etc
Wow, really? I think the exact opposite. It seems like when I see ads these days or commercials, the women have highly textured hair. Unless you're looking in "our" magazines like sophisticated black hair care, hype hair, etc. But when it comes to more diverse publications, all I see is kurly women of color. Interesting how people's observations differ.
I don't understand her rant. People don't talk about hair everyday in magazines. Queen Latifiah, Corinne Bailey rae, Sophie Okonedo.Solange Knowles just to name a few. As much as I love hair there is more to talk about then just hair. I'm just happy to see people of color out there working and representing us in a positive light. We will not be remembered for our hair but for what we do as a person working in the industry. In the day to day life of real people, Naturals are out there more then ever before and we are learning from each other. I love it. We got wonderful places to get all info we need from places like you lovely site. It's all good.
I actually think that there has been a trend shift towards more natural/curly looks in the media. The (very few) black women used in ad campaigns that I've seen have either had big curly or loc'd hair. I've seen it in commercials, in magazines, and on the runway... That is everything except beauty ads. Go figure.
I was inspired to write a blog post regarding this issue a few days ago...please take a moment to read it! Although I didn't specifically mention natural-haired women, I was referring to all people who don't fit the socially accepted standard Euro-centric of beauty. :)
Ironically, my friend and I thought differently. In alot of the magazines we see, curls have been blooming everyway. we do feel that it is a phase adn fashion trend ppl are jus tryint to pick up on...not aware of what it truly means to be natural
I think it's coming. A lot of celebrities and average women are sporting straight flowing styles hence the media is following the norm.
Maybe it's just me but I'm starting to see more naturals trickling into national ads with women and kids of color. Today I saw two commercials with twist outs on tv, the kaiser hospital where I volunteer has multiple screen savers with a woman/patient wearing twists. Yesterday, looked at a pottery barn catalog where all curly hair kids from 4a-3c were sporting natural dos. There's also at least 3 black women on tv wearing their hair natural(i.e 'Men of a Certain age''The New Adventures of Old Christine' etc). When they see more women proudly wearing their hair natural and not trying to fit in with straight styles...they will follow. They have no choice as long as they're selling something to us.
I can tell you how many times I go into the bookstore looking for a black hair care magazine that's devoted to natural hair...and then feel discouraged. In November Essence did a spread on natural hair which I enjoyed reading but they really haven't been the same since the original editor left. Then there's Sophisticate's Black hair...Everything i read it I get the feeling that they're trying to push into the direction of natural hair without pushing the envelope...it seems they're still trying to be mainstream. I didn't think there's a great appreciation for hair in its natural state...
There are a lot of women in the mainstream media who are wearing their natural hair, you may not see them because most of what most magazines are featuring are the more popular celebrities.
Certain magazines that are aimed at certain audiences feature advertisents with women and children with their natural hair all the time.
Since we live in a society that ignores the older woman there are hundreds of prominent women who are wearing their hair natural.
If an individual is waiting on their favorite celebrity to validate them and encourage them to wear their hair natural, wait on it.
There are several who do but they're often ignored because they're no longer popular per se and aren't receiving the attention from either the urban or mainstream media.
I actually feel the opposite of this. I am very pleased with the amount of naturals that I have seen on T.V. as of lately. I also think that in time we will see more of this.
ReplyDeleteI have seen a growing number of natural haired women in the media! I can't turn on the TV or pick up a magazine without seeing some curls and coils, and I love it! Hopefully, this number will continue to grow.
ReplyDeleteI am writing this comment as an anonymous respinder, because it refers to the company that I work for.
ReplyDeleteNordstrom advises their employees to make sure that our clients are always aware of the new trends. Even for our clients that are not the trendy shopper, it is our job to insure that they know the looks for the season and work whatever looks they can into their wardrobe. These looks vary from shoes and hosiery to hair and make-up.
The hair and make-up looks for spring 2010 were recently provided to all personal shoppers. All of the hair looks consisted of white/asian women wearing braids to resemble headbands (very cute may I add) and fly away wash and go styles. Some looks for shorter hair were slicked back with flowers and floral headbands. Even the new jeweled feather headbands that I love so dearly.
Of over 60 women that were described to have been on the runways for the 2010 fashion shows, only 3 were black/hispanic (a number that I know did not represent our actual presence). One sister whose hair was straightened with extensions and another who had beautiful 3a/3b hair. But after looking at 4 pages (with 60 or more ladies per page) all described to be showing the easy and free looks for Spring in 2010, I was disappointed not to see any that looked like me.
Recently, Vogue Italia launched the web magazine Vogue Black and Vogue Curvy. I am sure that after our support of seeing ourselves in magazines and on runways. Sooner or later this trend of being invisible to mainstream will disappear.
This is one of the reasons I love your site so much. You always find the women that I never saw growing up. And I even show them to my 5 year old daugher to let her know that she is beautiful just the way God made her. All I can say is, THANKS!
I've actually been noticing more naturals on tv and advertisements. There's always at least one black woman and she's usually rocking a fro or sometimes dreads. I'm seeing less relaxed hair.
ReplyDeleteEx/ gap, j. crew, pepsi, etc.
I think it's very unfortunate. I was at a business event the other day and one woman discussed how she was apparently told that she should straighten her hair to look more professional and so customers can take her more seriously. Her hair looks fab...she's adorable with her hair that grazes her shoulder, and when I look at her, that is her look. To me I see it as professional, but unfortunately the mainstream has not adjusted their idea of what is "mainstream" or "professional", etc
ReplyDeleteWow, really? I think the exact opposite. It seems like when I see ads these days or commercials, the women have highly textured hair. Unless you're looking in "our" magazines like sophisticated black hair care, hype hair, etc. But when it comes to more diverse publications, all I see is kurly women of color. Interesting how people's observations differ.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand her rant. People don't talk about hair everyday in magazines. Queen Latifiah, Corinne Bailey rae, Sophie Okonedo.Solange Knowles just to name a few. As much as I love hair there is more to talk about then just hair. I'm just happy to see people of color out there working and representing us in a positive light. We will not be remembered for our hair but for what we do as a person working in the industry. In the day to day life of real people, Naturals are out there more then ever before and we are learning from each other. I love it. We got wonderful places to get all info we need from places like you lovely site. It's all good.
ReplyDeleteI actually think that there has been a trend shift towards more natural/curly looks in the media. The (very few) black women used in ad campaigns that I've seen have either had big curly or loc'd hair. I've seen it in commercials, in magazines, and on the runway... That is everything except beauty ads. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteI was inspired to write a blog post regarding this issue a few days ago...please take a moment to read it! Although I didn't specifically mention natural-haired women, I was referring to all people who don't fit the socially accepted standard Euro-centric of beauty. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://cococosmopolitan.blogspot.com/2010/02/colour-divide.html
Ironically, my friend and I thought differently. In alot of the magazines we see, curls have been blooming everyway. we do feel that it is a phase adn fashion trend ppl are jus tryint to pick up on...not aware of what it truly means to be natural
ReplyDeleteI think it's coming. A lot of celebrities and average women are sporting straight flowing styles hence the media is following the norm.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just me but I'm starting to see more naturals trickling into national ads with women and kids of color. Today I saw two commercials with twist outs on tv, the kaiser hospital where I volunteer has multiple screen savers with a woman/patient wearing twists. Yesterday, looked at a pottery barn catalog where all curly hair kids from 4a-3c were sporting natural dos. There's also at least 3 black women on tv wearing their hair natural(i.e 'Men of a Certain age''The New Adventures of Old Christine' etc). When they see more women proudly wearing their hair natural and not trying to fit in with straight styles...they will follow. They have no choice as long as they're selling something to us.
I can tell you how many times I go into the bookstore looking for a black hair care magazine that's devoted to natural hair...and then feel discouraged. In November Essence did a spread on natural hair which I enjoyed reading but they really haven't been the same since the original editor left. Then there's Sophisticate's Black hair...Everything i read it I get the feeling that they're trying to push into the direction of natural hair without pushing the envelope...it seems they're still trying to be mainstream. I didn't think there's a great appreciation for hair in its natural state...
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of women in the mainstream media who are wearing their natural hair, you may not see them because most of what most magazines are featuring are the more popular celebrities.
ReplyDeleteCertain magazines that are aimed at certain audiences feature advertisents with women and children with their natural hair all the time.
Since we live in a society that ignores the older woman there are hundreds of prominent women who are wearing their hair natural.
If an individual is waiting on their favorite celebrity to validate them and encourage them to wear their hair natural, wait on it.
There are several who do but they're often ignored because they're no longer popular per se and aren't receiving the attention from either the urban or mainstream media.