Locks of Love

I love the makeover show "What Not to Wear"! Not only is it filmed in NYC, but I randomly saw one of the fashion experts, Clinton, in the village one evening. The fashion experts offer great styling advice for all types of body shapes and the hair and make-up transformations are applicable to everyday situations and lifestyles. Unfortunately, after agreeing to accept the makeover challenge some contestants' reluctances emerge.

The most disappointing part of an episode is when a contestant's shallowness becomes exposed
once in the presence of hairstylist, Nick Arrojo. They beg, plead, and cry for him not to cut their shoulder length or longer hair. On the last episode I watched, the complaining contestant told Nick that he could do anything to her hair, except cut it. Another contestant asked what he was thinking and when he said that he wanted to cut her snarly, shoulder length hair to her collar bone she told him that it would be too short and that she would not be able to deal with the difference. After honoring her request he politely reminded her that hair is not a permanent staple and can grow back. Go Nick!

The attachment that women have to their hair is not a new phenomena. Women spend large amounts of money and time on their hair grooming practices. Women of all races and ethnicities seem to strive for the European perception of beautiful hair: straight and long. Some women have been able to break out of those confines and appreciate their natural hair pattern of wavy, curly, or kinky. However, they are still subjected to society's perceptions of hair that is not straight and long.

There are children, men, and women that suffer from long-term medical hair loss due to medical conditions such as alopecia areata and cancer. Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children suffering from medical hair loss. This service restores their self-esteem and confidence while enabling them to face their hopes and dreams.

Next time, a "What Not to Wear" dysfunctional style victim whines about cutting their hair, Nick Arrojo should inform them of other's who are not so fortunate and the opportunity to help a worthy cause.

Natural Beauty

I love my hair! This new found love was not acquired until Fall of 2004, when I was finished transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair. Once I cut the final remnants of relaxed hair I felt connected to the real me. Over the years, this love has grown as I have come to understand how unique my hair is and just how versatile it is. I love running my fingers close to my scalp and feeling the tiny curls that spring from it!

Last month I got my hair braided and I've been surprised at the new attention I receive from the opposite sex. My cousin once told me that males love the fantasy of long hair. She said, "It's 85% of what they look for." Now, as much as I honor the advice of someone older than me, I did have to consider her perspective, an entertainer. Lately, I've been pondering our conversation. Would I get the same recognition from these males if I wore my hair in an afro, twists, or locs? Some of my colleagues have even commented on the difference in appearance that I now have with my braids.

I sometimes find it difficult to believe in the true definition my individual beauty in a society that values the generic, euro centric type. It's even more difficult to do this when brothas feed into the latter. Now, I realize that my hair, relaxed, braided or natural, attracts certain type guy, but shouldn't my personality be the determining factor as opposed to my hair?

That's That: Perception of Beauty

It was early Saturday afternoon when I decided to catch up on some music videos as I folded my laundry. I figure, I need to know what dances and song lyrics to watch out for in my classroom. R. Kelly & Snoop Dog's "That's That" comes on and I think, "Oh, this is that song I've been hearing on the radio." It's been growing on me, so I decide to watch it. As I see video chick after video chick I notice a pattern.

They're all light complexion Black women, Latinas, or white women!

I try to give R. Kelly the benefit of the doubt when I see a chick with a brown/dark complexion. But no, they put her under high beam light giving her more of a light complexion.

What are these types of images doing to the self-esteem of young Black girls who idolize these "video vixens"?

Are young girls measuring their worth based on their curvaceous curves or how much they've learned?

It has taken me many years to become comfortable with my complexion and body. As a young woman, I am still battling against society's perception of beauty that values European features as opposed to womanly curves. I'm also battling a culture that values the measurements of my bust, waist, hips, and booty as opposed to my ACT/SAT test scores or college degree!

Young Black females have the feat of going against a lot of opposition from the womb. As I begin my sixth month of teaching a second grade class of twenty boys and five girls, I take it as my personal duty to help the young ladies in my class decide how they want to measure their worth: booty or brains.

Enjoy the film!