What is the hair situation in your city?

[brucebettye]

In the bay area in Caifornia I see alot of naturals with sisterlocks, regular locks, afros, and puffs, and twists. I still see the bad weaves and braids, but I think natural hair styles are started to take over. Also there are alot of people with healthy permed hair, wigs, and weaves.

 

[PJaye]

Hello America. I’m here to issue a report from the Busted Wigs and Weaves capitol of the United States, where the state motto is “Let Your Tracks and Glue Shine” and the local anthem is entitled “Who Needs a Hat When You Got a Drawer Full of Hair.”

For some reason, the vast majority of the area’s Black female population wears wigs and/or weaves, and every single one of the weaves seem to come to a Bert from Sesame Street pinnacle at the top of their heads. All of the wigs are extra, extra shiny and bouffant, making the owners appear as if they’ve contracted to sing back up for Berry Gordy.

A large percentage of the Black male population aged 12-30 sport shaggy, imitation dreadlocked braids that resembles an old school mop, with another large portion wearing large, dented Tito Jackson afros. There is a very small number of short-haired and authentic dreadlocked heads in the area. Almost all of the older Black males lean towards short afros; shape-ups among all male age groups is a rarity in these parts.

There is a very noticeable trend, however, among the gay Black male population in the area – they heavily favor either a slicked down, gelled hairdo, or a Missy Elliot finger wave reproduction – which blends so well with their Elvis Presley tight pants, off-the-shoulder Flashdance tops and large, shiny Wonder Woman-esque belts.

The older Black female residents primarily wear wigs or weaves, too; although the area has more than a sprinkling of Jheri Curlers and curly-afro-via-pink-foam-rollers wearers.

All of the non-weave/wig wearers have straight, ear to shoulder length hair. The small number of non-weave/wig wearers that have nice, well-maintained hairstyles have the unshaved Rhianna haircut.

So, America, if you are looking for a visual adventure, come on down to central North Carolina and catch an eye-full of wonderment.

 

[Hairlosophy]

That always cracks me up!

Anywho, in Wisconsin I see a little variety of styles.....where I'm from (back home) around Pittsburgh it's awful. Lots of slicked back ONY tails....ponytails so small the P won't fit with missing edges.

I'm from Pittsburgh too (and still live there) and yes, it is awful. So many girls with no edges and extremely dry hair. So many jacked up, stringy weaves and ill-fitting lacefronts... . I remember I saw a girl around 7 or 8 years old and her edges were completely gone . I felt so sorry for her. There are alot of relaxed and weaved up folks here too, no alot of naturals.

 

[NaturalPath]

Reporting from Charlotte, NC

I am starting to see alot more naturals and even those who have recently done the BC. I am also seeing alot more women wearing sister-locs.

I believe the ratio is still Relaxed >> Natural

I still see the occasional messed up weave and just the other day saw a trashy looking girl with kinky twists (red, blue and black extensions).

 

[BostonMaria]

Reporting from Massachusetts!

I see many AA ladies with natural hair. I see some relaxed heads with pretty hair. Of course I see the occassion chewed up hair, whether relaxed or natural.

On the Black Latina women I see natural hair, but mostly rollerset.

 

[cocoaluv]

NOrth Jersey (Newark to be specific) checking in:

There are a lot of loc'd heads here -- mostly men. 7 out of 10 men seem to be loc'd.
There are also a lot of HORRIBLE WEAVES and POORLY done Lace Fronts walking around.
There are SOOOO many relaxed heads here. 4 out of 10 look bad.
Lastly in comparison to the loc'd and weaved heads, there are not that many loose nappy heads here...but we're around.

What I am noticing is that fewer and fewer women are rocking cornrows, micros and kinky twists.

Yup...but we are out here ( loose nappy heads ).

Its sad to say that the men of the area (Essex county) have better hair than the women. Because at least they keep their hair done and moisturized...if I were a man I'd never want a woman whose hair looks worse than mine.

Tons of wigs/weaves and sadly lacefronts. Where I live now (Orange) there are tons of weaves (bald edges galore ) and lacefronts. I get lots of stares and offers for "hair braiding/weave" services but hell no I see what the heck they have going on on their head

 

[LovelyNaps26]

Cambridge, MA. There is a solid representation of naturals. I'm actually in some groups where there are way more naturals than relaxed heads. The city is also an intellectual hub so I don't know if the liberalism affiliated with youth and the city has something to do with hair styles.

 

[Scorpimini14720]

Representing Miami....

In the hood, out of the hood, on the beach, at the store, Weaves and Lacefronts!!!

The weaves are... creative? Mostly Seaborn like. The weaves that look nice are all Kim Kardashian styled, long 20 something inches with barrel curls but not just worn by just AA women. The lacefronts... Lets just say that with it being so hot here, I expect that their forehead has to be 2-3 shades lighter than the rest of their face.

Not many natural heads that I see and if they are not wearing weave their hair is usually short and overprocessed.

The men, my bad, goons have a birds nest of locks on their head that looks unkempt and scary.

 

[teacherjess]

Well it depends on what side of the city you are on.

There is a lace front side, where every woman looks like a half moon around the hairline.
Then you have the " I paid money for this weave, I'm never letting it go."
Then you have stringy wet hair with no style
Then you just have the plain old puck it section. They put a bonnet on the head and call it a day. These individuals always see crime happen and are given the opportunity to tell us about it on the evening news.

Seeing several women in one day with pretty moisturized, shiny, bouncy hair is like finding a leprechaun throwing gold coins in the Mississippi River.

I am from Memphis and I find this


Reporting from the eastern portion of the state (Knoxville) where I live now, I see all kinds here: relaxed, braids, weaves, naturals (not as many obvious naturals). Also not a lot of super healthy looking heads walking around here. Hardly anyone has that natural swang, shine, growth/retention, and health. A lot of "I've been this length my whole life" heads. I'm praying that I can break the mold.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

well i see a lot of glued in weaves when i go out also some really short haired relaxed chicks that look short by breakage, not short by choice. i see like 2 naturals every week when i go out, that are very cute AND type 4 like me! thats exciting, but i'm not gonna go up to them to talk about hair in a club lmao. ♥

 

[ronalisa]

Here in Miami, FL it is a rarity to see a woman wearing her natural hair. In fact when I do, I usually give a friendly nod or smile as a silent kudos for those going against the grain. It's all about the deep wavy weave, the longer the better here. Lots of lacefront, mohawks and styles petrified in spritz... they don't even bother to make it even look like real hair. I went to a club on South Beach last week, my first time at a club with short natural kinks and I got NO love from the dudes. It's all about the "exotic" latin look here. I used to sport the deep wavy weave but grew tired of stressing my hair and accepting compliments mostly about my hair, the one thing that didn't belong to me. I decided to value the health of my hair over ignorant people who think kinks are ugly.

 

[Ms Kain]

Reporting from Charlotte, NC

I am starting to see alot more naturals and even those who have recently done the BC. I am also seeing alot more women wearing sister-locs.

I believe the ratio is still Relaxed >> Natural

I still see the occasional messed up weave and just the other day saw a trashy looking girl with kinky twists (red, blue and black extensions).

Red, blue and black? For real? Good lawd if I saw her I'd have to sue her for spraining my eyeballs!!!!

 

[Ms Kain]

Well it depends on what side of the city you are on.

There is a lace front side, where every woman looks like a half moon around the hairline.
Then you have the " I paid money for this weave, I'm never letting it go."
Then you have stringy wet hair with no style
Then you just have the plain old puck it section. They put a bonnet on the head and call it a day. These individuals always see crime happen and are given the opportunity to tell us about it on the evening news.

Seeing several women in one day with pretty moisturized, shiny, bouncy hair is like finding a leprechaun throwing gold coins in the Mississippi River.

Oh for the love of all things holy! I almost swallowed my gum!!!!

 

[I Am So Blessed]

weaved up from the neck up

but im about to be weaved up too, getting some braid extensions SON!!

 

[I Am So Blessed]

im still looking for niko's cousin.......... im the only WL black girl around it seems.

wigs, waves, braid extensions, short relaxed hair pulled back into tight lil 1inch long ponys. when i see a big haired natural i get all excited untill i find out its a weave, (i go up to them and ask them if its a weave, yess i do that).

 

[UrbainChic]

Reporting from Berlin, Germany!

Lots of big natural hair all over the place, along with a few sightings of some relatively well done weaves and braids. Relaxed hair and straight weaves are hard to come by in this city, but I think its because it just doesn't go with the overall ideal aesthetic here. Berlin is all about looking relaxed, free, and is a super liberal city, so free flowing fros are the way to go.

Locs can be found on people of color here and there, but most locs can be found on white europeans here. Short hair is EXTREMELY stylish here on many of the women, particularly the white europeans who also seem to suffer from a lot of stiffness, dullness and ragged ends from bleaching and hair coloring.

 

[Honeytips]

Reporting from Brisbane Australia - lots of braids and weaves. Hardly any naturals. I feel quite like the individual with my natural hair

 

[I Am So Blessed]

Reporting from Berlin, Germany!

Lots of big natural hair all over the place, along with a few sightings of some relatively well done weaves and braids. Relaxed hair and straight weaves are hard to come by in this city, but I think its because it just doesn't go with the overall ideal aesthetic here. Berlin is all about looking relaxed, free, and is a super liberal city, so free flowing fros are the way to go.

Locs can be found on people of color here and there, but most locs can be found on white europeans here. Short hair is EXTREMELY stylish here on many of the women, particularly the white europeans who also seem to suffer from a lot of stiffness, dullness and ragged ends from bleaching and hair coloring.

what!!!!! I want to live where you live!!!!

 

[Aviah]

London England. Many weaves many bad ones that is. Few decent ones. Braids left in too long (till the scalp isn't visible anymore). Many natutals (usually teens or older women) still not really taken care of, and jacked looking, dry relaxed. Very very few healthy looking from what I can see- regardless :natural or relaxed....

 

[lalla]

From Paris (again):
I paid more attention this week end and I saw quite a few naturals with gorgeous hair. Long and thick. The styles were not so original ( fro ans twists) but nice looking. I think I saw the biggest fro ever yesterday.

 

[UrbainChic]

what!!!!! I want to live where you live!!!!

Its great here. I will always be a NY girl at heart, but I can't seem to stop getting visa extensions . Berlin is the 2nd best city in the world

 

[lalla]

I'd say that African women wear more bad weaves while Caribbean women are more going natural. Overall, the situation is still bad to mediocre.

I've also been spotting weaves on non-black women quite a bit over the past 2-3 years. N. Africans tend to get whole head weaves (obvious tracks and all) while Europeans add hair for thickness and length (slight differences in shine & color are usually the giveaway there).

I hadn't noticed the difference between Caribbean and African women. I have seen however that the women with a "natural " lifestyle tend to be natural.

I was really surprised when I met this Arab girl who asked me what I did to my hair, then showed me her tracks then pictures of her half blonde half jet black head.

It does seem that for non Blacks, there is a positive correlation between social status and hair health.

 

[NikStarrr]

Reporting from ATL. There is a lot of everything--perms, weaves, locs, natural, etc. Whatever style you choose, you wouldn't feel out of place or alone. One of the reasons why F.I.L.A. (forever I love Atlanta).

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

The Hair forecast for the MD/DC/VA area:

There's a mixed chance of healthy and damaged hair in the area with some highs and lows. Some lows are due to bad weaves, bad relaxers, or just plain BAD hair care regimens. The results will be: edges completely gone, chewed up, or scraggly ends, and dry, dull hair. On the other side of the hair forecast however, brighter days do exist in the area. For example, one can expect to see long thick healthy relaxed heads in the region, as well as the natural trend sweeping the area. I predict more and MORE women wearing their own natural hair in upcoming forcasts.

 

[Carrie A]

The Hair forecast for the MD/DC/VA area:

There's a mixed chance of healthy and damaged hair in the area with some highs and lows. Some lows are due to bad weaves, bad relaxers, or just plain BAD hair care regimens. The results will be: edges completely gone, chewed up, or scraggly ends, and dry, dull hair. On the other side of the hair forecast however, brighter days do exist in the area. For example, one can expect to see long thick healthy relaxed heads in the region, as well as the natural trend sweeping the area. I predict more and MORE women wearing their own natural hair in upcoming forcasts.

This is a very accurate forcast Just to add you do see a lot of nice short relaxed cuts. Precision styles. Not everybody needs to have hair down their back.

 

[Miss*Tress]

From Paris (again):
I paid more attention this week end and I saw quite a few naturals with gorgeous hair. Long and thick. The styles were not so original ( fro ans twists) but nice looking. I think I saw the biggest fro ever yesterday.

I have seen some nice fros and puffs, especially at the Carnaval antillais a couple of weeks ago.

 

[xcuzememiss]

Reporting from NYC . In brooklyn a good mixture of relaxed and naturals no complaints. Except for the greasy Wraps!! Lmao. Same for Queens. As far as the Latinas I see heat damaged straightened hair. And as usual thin ends and tracks for the white ladies especially in Long Island!!

 

[hairdrama:{]

Representing Miami....

In the hood, out of the hood, on the beach, at the store, Weaves and Lacefronts!!!

The weaves are... creative? Mostly Seaborn like. The weaves that look nice are all Kim Kardashian styled, long 20 something inches with barrel curls but not just worn by just AA women. The lacefronts... Lets just say that with it being so hot here, I expect that their forehead has to be 2-3 shades lighter than the rest of their face.

Not many natural heads that I see and if they are not wearing weave their hair is usually short and overprocessed.

The men, my bad, goons have a birds nest of locks on their head that looks unkempt and scary.

Ditto!!!!!!!!

 

[Ms.Christ3n]

Tallahassee

I usually stay close by my campus ( FSU)
But it seems the same for all 3 campuses ( FSU, FAMU, & TCC):

Good weaves, bad weaves, troll hairlined lacefronts, lots of braids and twists
and I've seen a good amount of healthy hair but so far only 2 girls with hair at MBL (and I've been up here for 3 years!!!!)

And...lot's of Big Chops! Yaay natural heads!

Men on campuses either have a low cut or dreads...
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Some of the locals make me wanna cry when I look at their hair...it's like why?why?why?

The men have their dreads going straight up (yes straight up) in a bundle...it looks nasty

 

[hairdrama:{]

Here in Miami, FL it is a rarity to see a woman wearing her natural hair. In fact when I do, I usually give a friendly nod or smile as a silent kudos for those going against the grain. It's all about the deep wavy weave, the longer the better here. Lots of lacefront, mohawks and styles petrified in spritz... they don't even bother to make it even look like real hair. I went to a club on South Beach last week, my first time at a club with short natural kinks and I got NO love from the dudes. It's all about the "exotic" latin look here. I used to sport the deep wavy weave but grew tired of stressing my hair and accepting compliments mostly about my hair, the one thing that didn't belong to me. I decided to value the health of my hair over ignorant people who think kinks are ugly.

Yep! That's the sad reality here in the MIA...........