After watching the videos from Clutch Magazine's Perceptions of Natural Hair: The Black Male Perspective, I have to ask:How do the Black men in your life feel about your hair?
I ask this because personally I've gotten many compliments from the Black men in my life, but I had two insults that just made me wonder... why would they say that?
The two insults came from two Black men at my place of employment. One calls me "Zimbabwe" while the other says I might as well wear tribal clothing and move to the jungle. Both men date women who wear weaves, synthetic at that, and told me if their women ever went natural, they would leave them.
I want to hear from you! Let me know how the Black men in your life feel about your hair. Good or bad.
Product Name: Oyin Handmade Greg Juice
18 comments
September 11, 2009 at 8:38 AM
I wouldn't pay attention to those ignorant blk men. At the end of the day they are the ones "suffering"
I've had positive comments from the blk men in my life. uncles, cousins friends... The question I get the most, are you going to loc your hair? i've heard, wow curly hair- I want to take you to my hair dresser to get your hair loced.. you will look good with locs... you should loc... etc...
September 11, 2009 at 10:12 AM
My town has hardly any black people other than a few Somalians, but from the white guys I work with they called me Whoopi when I had kinky twist and then kept calling Oprah. Lol I tell them thanks and take it has a compliment. Forget those jerks, if they can't enjoy you in your natural beautiful state than you don't need those kind of men or people in your life,
September 11, 2009 at 10:40 AM
I've gotten some admiring stares and some actually followed with dialogue, "I really like your hair", "Your hair is beautiful", "Your hair is very sexy". My hair is big, and sometimes "wild". Some men like that.
I've also been called a "Nappy headed b*&%h", by a few of the more ignorant ones.
I really don't care what "Black men" think about my hair, but I know that many sistas do. We all want to be considered attractive, and I understand that, but I don't expect every Black man to like my hair, nor am I willing to do what I don't wanna do, to be attractive to a particular type of man. It is what it is.
I've been natural for more than a minute, so any man who steps up now knows what he's getting. No trickery. If my hair is a dealbreaker, then the deal will remain...broke. Somebody lost out, and it really doesn't matter who. I'm 46 years old, so maybe my age has something to do with it.
My dad has grown to like my hair...which blows my mind. He's very "conservative", and can be very outspoken about...whatever. My male relatives don't say a whole lot, they just grin. Don't know if that's good or bad. LOL!
September 11, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Ladies, we have to remember that black men are victims of the same conditioning that we are concerning beauty standards. They are responding from their level of self acceptance, really. When a real natural woman struts her natural stuff, men MUST respond! It's up to us natural ladies to invade the consciousness of our black men and rewire their understanding of what black beauty is. Be strong and beautiful, because our men are depending on you, as usual! ;-)
September 11, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Thank you ladies for responding!
Anna Renee, I completely agree with you. The reason some Black men have negative connotations about natural hair is the same reason why I used to. I used to believe my hair was "bad" because that was what I was raised to believe. It's up to us to change those things and help our future generations understand that our hair is beautiful!
September 11, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Some boys that I've been around either hates it, and always have some dumb comments/jokes to make, but i I just blow them off because its not worth telling them off or explaining to them why I went natural...and then there are some that love my hair and compliments the styles that I do, which I really appreciate!!! But overall I don't think I've had a really bad experience. i enjoy being natural, and embracing it! =)
September 11, 2009 at 10:14 PM
I have been fortunate to be around some very supportive black men they don't have a problem with natural hair. They don't like sisters that wear weaves or wigs. And those men at your job are so brainwash by these magazines and videos of women having long straight hair.
September 12, 2009 at 10:55 AM
I'm transitioning, but my boyfriend was actually the one who encouraged me to go natural. I used to get my hair done or get weave when I went to visit him so I would look nice. But in actuality, he hates weaves and I do too.
September 13, 2009 at 12:09 AM
My brother said it's about time, keep your money in your pockets and quit being fake.
My husband LOVES it (he's not black but I figured I'd throw it in because those jokers said they'd leave their women). He was my bf at the time and he encouraged me to go natural.
September 13, 2009 at 11:06 AM
actually, i have gotten sooooo many amazing compliments from every type: black, white, spanish, middle eastern, etc!!! i actually get more compliments with my hair in its natural than when straigtened. i have gotten one adverse comments from an African American guy. just keep doing you, dear!!!
September 14, 2009 at 5:00 PM
When I moved to NYC, I knew that I was going to go natural simply because I didn't trust anyone aside from my hair dresser to put a perm in my head. My boyfriend was not happy with this! I think he was more pissed that I wanted to lock my hair than he was at the fact that I was moving away for college. Like at one point he actually said, "If your hair is still like that, don't call me." I was like, "ok." I get mixed reviews all of the time whether it be that they like the fro better than the dreads or the dreads better than the cornrows. It doesn't really matter to me what they think 'cause I didn't do it for them.
September 14, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Ahh the naysayers...I went natural at the age of 16(now 28).I'm famous for saying "I wake up looking this good" I haven't ever had a negative comment about my hair from a man-guess they know to keep it to themselves. But when I do get compliments they are grand.In college dudes used to always ask to touch my hair(never really got that one Philly). My last boyfriend hated when I would get blow outs-didn't really matter much,versitility is the key to the game! He actually had 3 fave styles and I loved getting him to describe them lol(Muuuah Chad)
September 16, 2009 at 4:55 PM
I have gotten many complements from Black men in my life. They love it. One of my cousins stop in church and told me that my hair was so becoming. There are even some black me that have stopped me to say they love my natural hair. (I have a baby Afro and it is light brown)
September 21, 2009 at 12:18 AM
My first time here... I was freaking out just yesterday about my naps so I asked my hubby if I shd put a curl in it(a la texturizer) and he said "no I actually love your hair this way!"... oh my God! I was so ecstatic!
October 16, 2009 at 2:43 PM
So far, nothing but positive response from my brothers! Natural is best!
October 24, 2009 at 1:07 AM
My black male friends like my hair. They think it's wild and natural; even if some from my church have judged my locks to be some sign of backsliding (not only the men though).
I wanted to let you know: Zimbabwe is beautiful, and tribal clothing is good. Those men are ignorant to somehow think that Zimbabwe and tribal clothes are a bad thing- and you should know that and not even think twice about their comments.
June 8, 2010 at 1:51 PM
June 8, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Those guys are idiots. There insults did not make any sense. African clothes are awesome and so is Zimbabwe. I have been called worse, They could of said you looked like buckwheat sister(from the little rascals), Shaynene(martin lawrence's skit from his show), The predator(that monster from the arnold swartznegger movie) or whoopi goldberg as an insult like they always say to me. the kicker is when I wear those straight wigs or something then black guys say hello or talk. when im wearing my hair natural, im invisible. It sucks.
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