By Daphne Esdaille
The Film Festival came to Toronto and I was very excited about the documentary by Chris Rock "Good Hair", as well as the feature produced by Oprah "Valuable. However due to my work schedule both were sold out to my dismay. Oprah's I understood, however was Chris Rock sold out because of who he is? I love him; he's sexy, funny and smart. He's famous. He's always sold out. Or perhaps was it the subject, black hair??
I was one of the guest speakers at Harbour Front Centre: addressing the topic of black hair called Black to my Roots- the Politics of black hair. Natural verses Relaxing or perhaps Perming and again the place was packed. There is a series called "da Kink in My Hair" on Global, showcasing, the black salon, its ethnicity, electricity and creativity as well as once again it's a hit in our community. You need to see "da Kink" to understand this description. Trey and Ngozi and the great team; have produced a series that shows hair in versatility of colors, shapes and styles beyond imagination using extensions and wigs. They additionally very comically, show the times whenever these styles tend to be worn.
Recently during, my regular Oprah sitting, when I ought to be working styling hair, the show I thirsted to see, Chris Rock's documentary "Good Hair" was being featured by my girl Oprah on CTV.
The whole salon went on hold, excited to see the fascination of the audience, showcasing Black Hair in all its glory, weaves, its foundation and where the hair comes from. The show featured Caucasian ladies and black women experiencing the flexibility of the weaves as well as colors. It also cleared the air about "that's definitely not Oprah's hair". Chris Rock ran his hand through her hair, clarifying that myth that all black ladies wear weaves thus Oprah have to have one.
Why the excitement? Precisely why the uproar? It was said "Hair is highly individual matter. It is certainly not only part of the human body; it is additionally a part of the human character part of one s identity."
Our hair is as diverse as our complexions. Black comes in all different shapes and pigmentations and our hair is just as assorted. The 3 hair types are directly, wavy and curly. Curly can be extended to curlier, super curly, kinky and beautiful black.
All through history going as far back as the 1700's through the cold war, African women had little access to combs or perhaps grooming products therefore tying their hair with rags or perhaps scarves. Many resorted to cutting their hair with crude implements such as farm shears. Their hair was very difficult to comb.
Thanks to Mme. C.J. Walker for popularizing the hot (straight) comb as well as Mm. Turnbull Malone for the Great Hair Grower and scalp treatments, the 1800's through 1920s had been a little less stressing for black women. They can now comb through the tight painful curl pattern that appeared tangled from birth. The hair was curled thus beautiful and tight that natural oil can not travel up the hair shaft that way of the women with directly hair. They can now showcase the braided natural designs of her African ancestors, for in her Africa natural products had been available to address their hair.
However there had been limitations to the styling trends of the time. Pressing with hot combs meant no swimming; no hot showers as well as avoiding rainy weather or the hair would definitely revert to its natural state.
In 1954 Johnson as well as Johnson extended the dimensions in black hair care by the revolutionary way of straightening black hair with the introduction of straightening lotions and products to address various designs of the time. The black woman could now press'n curl as well as finger wave, there had been no limitations to the styling techniques of the time black hair had arrived. She too can be flexible.
By the late sixties the revolution of the natural showcased the birth and the enjoyment of Afro black hair in its natural form showing every form possible, barber and hairstylists and the community enjoyed the hair acceptance. Society was now awakened to the real beauty of this hair which was hidden for hundreds of years. A greater dimension in black hair took flare with the afro, and was explored to its fullest showing there is no limit to the uniqueness of this hair texture.
By the 1970's with the improvement of chemical hairstyling, different wash-n-wear looks allowed once again a greater versatility for black hair in both guys and women alike. However there were drawbacks, these designs had been definitely not without having side effects. The relaxers caused considerable burning if the individuals were not based considerably perfectly or if they had sensitive scalps.
Nevertheless we are addressing the uproar, with the improvements of products as well as better accessories stylist have created many braided styled, hair additions, weaving, as well as "fantasy".
Black hair "surgeons" have discovered a variety of extensions methods to showcase not just black hair, but hair in general. They experimented to discover methods to make black hairstyles easier, more affordable as well as longer lasting for their clients. A longer lasting coif is less work. All aspects considered, the uproar is the arrival from the journey, the journey of the hair hidden under a scarf and now showcasing styles like braiding, weaving and other designs so imaginative all other hair textures can now join in.
In reflecting on all these contributions addressing the topic of black hair, I believe the one thing missing are more individual reflections as well as excitement too passions of black ladies as well as their hair. In forth coming submissions, we are going to relive first hand real stories of black ladies and their hair journey.
These are called Hair Reflections of Black Women.
