The world of social media can be a harsh environment, especially when it comes to discussions around natural hair. A particular controversy has arisen on TikTok, where Black women who don’t have any chemical treatments in their hair and wear it in a straightened or stretched state are being called out for not being “actually natural.” These criticisms have sparked heated debates and led to a deeper exploration of the intersection of hair texture, racism, and the beauty industry. Black women are often subjected to texturism, or the way their hair is perceived and judged based on its texture. This can lead to feelings of pressure and self-consciousness, particularly when it comes to significant life events like weddings, job interviews, and graduations. A 2023 Workplace Research Study by CROWN, in partnership with Dove and LinkedIn, found that 60% of Black women alter their hair for job interviews, and 41% of those women straighten their hair. The study highlights the systemic nature of racism in the workplace, where Black women are less likely to get job interviews than White women or Black women with straightened hair. This is not just a matter of personal preference, but a result of years of discrimination and unequal opportunities. The fact that 60% of Black women alter their hair for job interviews suggests that the pressure to conform to societal beauty standards is deeply ingrained in our culture. The straight hair movement, popularized online, has also sparked controversy within the natural hair community. Some Black women argue that straight hair is easier to manage and maintain, while others claim that it is not inherently more manageable than curly hair. Brandy Welch, a pharmacist and TikTok influencer with over 1 million likes and 42,000 followers, notes that the idea that straight hair is easier to deal with is misleading. “You can’t work out, you can’t sweat, you can’t take a steamy shower, you can’t get caught in the rain. So, to say that something is easier to maintain or more manageable when you have to think about all of those outside elements is misleading,” she says. Welch also notes that the preference for straight hair is often rooted in anti-Black beauty ideals. “It would be ignorant of me not to acknowledge that we still live in a time where all 50 states don’t acknowledge the Crown Act. So I do think there’s absolutely still implications of wearing your natural hair in certain settings,” she says. The Crown Act is a law that prohibits employment discrimination based on hair texture. Dalaise Hickey, a psychologist with over 15 years of experience, notes that the constant pressure to fit into Eurocentric beauty standards can have a significant impact on self-confidence and self-worth. “This constant pressure to fit into a society that isn’t accepting of you in your natural state can definitely impact self-confidence and self-worth,” she says. The debate surrounding straight hair is not just about hair texture, but about the way Black women are perceived and policed by society. Hickey notes that the assumption that every Black woman who straightens her hair is doing so to assimilate to whiteness eliminates aspects of our agency. “These conversations emphasize how much Black women’s hair is tied to their identity and that within the Black community, there is still a perception that wearing natural hair unstraightened is the gold standard of “accepting” your Blackness,” she says. Welch emphasizes that self-acceptance is a unique and deeply personal experience that cannot be reduced to simple slogans or comments. “I don’t think any Black woman should receive any negative comments about their hair. I think we can all acknowledge that we all have a very complex relationship with our hair And I think that should be able to be respected,” she says.
| Key Points | Summary |
|---|---|
| Systemic racism in the workplace | Black women are less likely to get job interviews than White women or Black women with straightened hair |
| Beauty standards and societal pressure | The preference for straight hair is often rooted in anti-Black beauty ideals |
| Impact on self-confidence | The constant pressure to fit into Eurocentric beauty standards can have a significant impact on self-confidence and self-worth |
In conclusion, the debate surrounding straight hair is a complex issue that involves racism, beauty standards, and self-acceptance. While some Black women may prefer straight hair, others argue that it is not inherently more manageable than curly hair. The key takeaway is that self-acceptance is a deeply personal experience that cannot be reduced to simple comments or slogans. By acknowledging the complexity of this issue, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting environment for Black women and their hair.
References
* CROWN, Dove, and LinkedIn. (2023). Workplace Research Study. * Hickey, D. (2020). The impact of societal beauty standards on Black women’s self-confidence and self-worth. * Welch, B. (Personal Communication). * Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science. The impact of natural hairstyles on job interviews.
