Category Hair

J Crew can’t style natural hair

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These pictures have caused uproar this week.

   

One Twitter user commenting:

‘Sooo there was not one comb or brush the entire building?  No edge control?  Couldn’t even give her some weave for that newborn ponytail? Smh’

Others have jumped to the defence of the brand who they say often feature undone hair (cue pictures of white models with the messy bun look).

Eventually J Crew dragged out a non-apology:

J Crew strives to represent every race, gender and background.  We sincerely apologise for the styling of this model and the offense (sic) that was caused.  We assure you that we are taking steps to address it, and to prevent this from happening again.

But I’m not convinced they really understood what the issue was.

For me it wasn’t the point made by those saying that she should have brushed her hair and laid her edges.  I don’t use combs, brushes, eco styler gel or guerilla snot either, I’m accustomed to some frizzy, fuzzy edges.

For me the point was that hair looked dry and under strain to get into a bun. Any hair stylist that is going to declare that dry hair ready to photo needs a lesson or two.  Any hair syslist that is going to manipulate dry afro hair into a high bun needs a lesson or two.

The model didn’t have an issue with the photo (I imagine she wants to work again).  So I get that my opinion doesn’t matter to her but when that photo is part of the pictography that describes and visualises afro hair, well then, not only do I care but it’s my right to have an opinion.

Is my hair texture keeping me single?

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Emma Dabiri is writing a book about black hair. It’s called A History of Hair and will be published by penguin in 2018.

I know this because I saw her speak on a panel a couple of weeks ago.

The panel was an Afroclicks event and the topic was

One of the discussion points was: is your hair texture keeping you single. The meta message clear; some hair is seen as more desirable than others. Her quick google search before the panel would appear to suggest this too. Of the 20 first pictures that come up in an image search of ‘natural hair’ 17 showed women with loose curls; an erasure of the hair texture that the represents perhaps the majority of women with afro hair.

She invited people to offer their personal testimony about this issue by answering the questions below. She hopes to include these stories in her book which promises to be ‘an inspiring personal and critical account of the history of Afro hair’.

•
In no more than 5 words describe your hair?
Afro, dense but thin strands

• In no more than 5 words describe beautiful hair
Moisturised, even ends, Afro
• What is your ideal hair texture?
My own, which is 4b/4c. I love its versatility although I wish it took on moisture more easily.
• Have you ever wanted to have a different hair texture to the one you were born with?
Not fundamentally different. I wish my hair didn’t break as easily and I wish the hair on my crown stayed as tangle free as some other areas on my head.
• Do men respond differently to you based on how you wear your hair?
Yep. My big afro plenty of attention the granny plaits not so much.
• Do you feel under any form of pressure to make your hair look a certain way?
No. I barely do my hair and often go about my business with 5 chunky plaits on my head.
• Do you think men have a preference when it comes to what type of hair they desire in a partner?
I’d really hope not. That would be fairly superficial criteria upon which to choose a partner.
• If yes, where does that preference come from?

Sewing School

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I’m going to mend my slapdash sewing ways. I can’t be spending 5 hours making a Morsbag. I’ve enrolled on a half-day Saturday course at this North London sewing shop.

It’s three hours of learning various techniques – such as zip insertion, pleats, pockets and button holes. All things that I’ve managed to freestyle on projects but it’ll be good to see the difference that a solid technique has on both time and finesse.

The 5 min head scarf

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There is no greater afro hair pleasure than tying a headscarf that you are satisfied with first time.

I was up against it this morning.  9.50am and with a 20 minutes journey to reach a 10.30am meeting.  Not covering was not an option.  I’d washed my hair the day before and it was still damp.  I was not going to let the winter cold take away my moisture.

I bunned my hair covered it with a silk scarf and then put this scarf upon my head.  It’s actually a rectangle but I triangled it off before folding and adjusting.  I even did Hatha Yoga with this and it largely stayed in place.