[mafree]

Personally, I think that a close-cropped afro looks great on women, but I've heard that a close-cropped afro on little girls is an absolute no-no. Can you explain why?

Unfortunately, too many Blacks are hung up on having long, straight hair, and too many are insensitive enough to make critical comments or tease those who have short naturals. That kind of nonsense is harder on a small child than it is on a teen or adult who freely chooses short or natural hairstyles. Some don't care and so you will see short natural styles on some Black children, but most have problems with it.

The sad truth is, Blacks have had and internalized a lot of negative programming about hair from the larger society. We've been told that our natural hair is not presentable without chemicals and too many buy into that. While it's made and continues to make a lot of Blacks rich, it's also damaged the psyches of too many Blacks to count.

[AnnaZ]

(Call me "Happy to be Nappy")

I've never heard that before. LOL. Too cute.

 

BTW, as a mother of a still-bald baby girl (only 12 weeks old) I can understand why moms wouldn't want their little girls to have close-cropped hair. You have to over-compensate with lots of pink and pretty. I love pigtails on little girls no matter what color their skin is. They're all instantly adorable.

[cyborg]

Women period have issues with hair... it seems as if women's issues are because of what men think about them

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

You nailed it... and may I suggest: "The sad truth is, [FILL IN BLANK] have had and internalized a lot of negative programming about [fill in blank with particular aspect of personal appearance] from the larger society. We've been told that our [fill in blank]is not presentable without [fill in blank] and too many buy into that. While it's made and continues to make a lot of [fill in blank] rich, it's also damaged the psyches of too many [fill in blank] to count.

[Artist]

Many thanks to you both for your very interesting posts. I've always wondered about this subject and it's nice to know a bit more about it.

I worked with a couple of black women in college and the topic of hair came up one day. It became clear to them that I didn't have a clue about what they had to go through with their hair. They started laughing (in a nice way, because they were really nice) and said that that was so funny because they knew everything there was to know about caucasian hair....because of commercials, etc. The whole exchange made me realize, as a college kid, how "white" society can be.