MEDIATAKEOUT.....nuff said

[Miss*Tress]

An undeniable, major improvement. I had no idea she was 28 with that wretched weave. But when I saw the 'fro, I swore she was a teen.
More young Black girls/women need to see that this is real beauty; there are more than enough weaved up heads in Hollywood.

This shape & style are much better. I prefer this to a perfect sphere look.

 

[Miss*Tress]

I am sure if some of those stupid people took out their tired weaved and Lace fronts some of them would not have enough hair to roll on a Q-tip.

 

[MummysGirl]

Wow... she is 28??? I don't know what she looked like with the weaves but she looks sooooo young with her natural hair!

 

[TCatt86]

Ok, about the shape comments...her hair really reminds me of mine when I comb out the curl and wear it in a fro. It is very hard to shape your hair into a round fro if you have severely different textures in the front and back, even if you comb it and try to shape it. Picking it out sure as heck hurts. I think the only way to shape it is to cut the looser sections (and I dont know about her, but no way I would do that). I don't see anything wrong with the shape, but maybe I am biased since my hair does that.

The moisture comments...it looks moisturized to me. But I'm not expecting it to have bling, I guess, based on my own hair (which is moisturized but probably doesn't look it to most )

When I first went natural my hair did the same thing, since the front is looser is would stand up, I used to pick it out, now when I wear fros I wear a chunky twistout fro, so the front flops but its curly. I like the texture of her hair, but I think she may have been transitioning and since she's been wigged up and weaved up for so long, she doesn't know how to style her hair yet, It would be really cool if she rocked some two strand twists. I wish more Hollywood actresses would rock their real hair during there off time.

 

[shenitab]

I think she looks nice and I support anyone who has the hootzpah to go against the status quo, especially those in hollywood. Come on now ladies. So what if you it's not the perfect shape, height of moisturization, if we want to see more people on tv and in movies that look like us and don't have the same cookie cutter look, let's get behind those that are stepping out of the "hollywood norm".

 

[Spongie Bloom]

I think her hair is glorious! I dont like perfectly manicured sphere afros I prefer the chunky edgy fros so i aint mad at her. I would have put a headband on cause I love headbands. But my own preference doesnt take away from the fact that her hair is gorgeous!!

 

[Makenzie]

This is when I was natural. I think she have had it chunk like this

My hair lookde dry here too, but actually it was really moisturized. Maybe she should have put like a sheen hair to give it that moisturized look.

You are such a cutie!

 

[Makenzie]

I hate to burst anyone's bubble but while I have one of the kinkiest textures on the forum, I have to admit I can totally see why people may not like that do, and it has nothing to do with the texture. It has more to do with the Don King-ish effect.

If it were me, I'd have had the 'fro looking more like this:

and again, that's just my personal taste. I prefer the appearance of combed hair and always have.

When I tried my first WNG puff, I got this:

While I was pleased that my hair had grown so much longer that my puff could be worn further back, I think it looked like sh** but I didn't realize just how ugly it looked until I took that pic at the end of the day after wearing that mess all day And I never wore it like that again because it's not a look I find appealing.

Now when I wore the puff combed out, no one could tell me I wasn't FIYAH.

In fact, I felt so hawt that day that I wore my "Are You Nikos Cousin?" T-shirt for the first time and went out to town just for the heck of it.

This reminds me of a discussion I missed the other day where people got their knickers in a bunch over our hair being called "unkempt". I know for those of us who are comfortable with chunky 'fros, this can seem like such an unfair statement. But for those of us who are not used seeing people walk out the house with hair that looks like it has never seen a comb, "unkempt" comes to mind with quickness and it has nothing to do with texture.

For instance, I grew up in Kenya and natural 4B hair was more common than other textures, yet I cannot recall anyone ever coming to school with hair looking like this and being allowed to keep it that way. My folks would not allow my brothers to leave the house to go to school with hair looking like this:

And actually the only time my brothers wore hair like that was when they were being rebellious teens but only behind my folks' back...and when not going anywhere in particular.

And we didn't even know about CWing or using water-based moisturizers to soften hair and make it easy to comb. What folks would use is a wooden brush with wooden short bristles ("kikwalusi" is what we call it in my mother-tongue) and you'd rake it through your usually damp hair till you had it looking decent. Otherwise you used a "pick" and combed it then patted it, if it was long till it looked like this (same dude to the right):

But since combing our hair can be painful if not done properly, majority of the boys in my school (and the girls who were not trying to grow long hair), and especially my brothers, just wore their hair cut short as this was easier to keep looking neat:

So I think there are two issues at hand: There are those who will never like natural hair regardless of how healthy it is or how beautiful it is worn; and there are those who can appreciate natural hair but only when it is worn in a do that looks good in their eyes.

The only reason, I personally, would give that hair on MTO kudos is because I know its potential and love the length, and so can see beyond the do to its health and beauty; I can even give it the benefit of the doubt that it looks like that coz it's much later in the day since she combed out the 'fro. Coz anyone that's ever worn an afro knows, especially with long hair, if the 'fro isn't patted all the way down to form a compact microphone shape, it will probably not maintain the dome shape all day. That's a lot easier to do with short hair. And for that, I can give her a pass.

Other examples of hair (my mom's) that I'd not particularly call cute and didn't care for:

And then the same head (mom's) sporting the same hair in a better state that I just can't stop singing praises of:

Well said, Nonie.

 

[anon123]

Out of curiosity, what shape would you all like? I like her shape. This is the shape you'd naturally get if you got it cut while straight into a bob, where the crown would be the longest and the sides would be the shortest. I actually wish I had this shape! Instead of the heavily layered shape I have now.

 

[BrooklynSouth]

I have to shake my head at the comments made about her hair on the MTO site. I look at the photos connected with the comments and wonder what is going through their little heads-they think they look better? The woman's hair is beautiful.

 

[anon123]

Other examples of hair (my mom's) that I'd not particularly call cute and didn't care for:

And then the same head (mom's) sporting the same hair in a better state that I just can't stop singing praises of:

Yeah, I know Nonie loves the pat down look. That used to be me, too. And unless I got my afro perfectly round without a hair out of place, I would cover it up because I thought it not presentable.

But you have to admit this is quite an unfair standard for 4b hair. Do you know how hard, not to mention painful, it is to get a perfectly round afro? Especially one on tightly coiled hair, especially if it's long and not blow dried to loosen up the kinks a bit? NO ONE of ANY other texture has to go through such lengths to make their hair "presentable". It's hard enough so that I've never actually done it because I can't! (except for one trip to a salon.)

Besides, the 70s Jackson 5 afro is kind of outdated. Same thing for guys' hair, the Steve Harvey, while acceptable, is very old-fashioned. A more modern style is the chunky afro, and I prefer it. But I don't think either style is unpresentable.

 

[yellow08]

I personally think her hair is fine just the way it is....(and the comments on MTO were off the hook).

I'm just a bit confused because I don't understand why we on LHCF are talking about her hair looks dry, it needs to have better shape, it needs a headband, it needs braids in the front, etc...when we "praise" member fro's that look exactly the same or darn I say "worst"-which is ALL relative?!?! It is because she is a celebrity that we find it okay to pick her apart? One minute people are making threads about how much AA women are HollyWEAVED up and how they would love to see their "natural" (relaxed or natural) and the moment a young AA celebrity rocks her "natural" hair in a fro, "we" from like 2-3 pics can determine that she picked her hair dry, it's needs to be DC'ed, it needs to be accessorized with headbands, it needs to be shaped better, etc...

 

[TCatt86]

I personally think her hair is fine just the way it is....(and the comments on MTO were off the hook).

I'm just a bit confused because I don't understand why we on LHCF are talking about her hair looks dry, it needs to have better shape, it needs a headband, it needs braids in the front, etc...when we "praise" member fro's that look exactly the same or darn I say "worst"-which is ALL relative?!?! It is because she is a celebrity that we find it okay to pick her apart? One minute people are making threads about how much AA women are HollyWEAVED up and how they would love to see their "natural" (relaxed or natural) and the moment a young AA celebrity rocks her "natural" hair in a fro, "we" from like 2-3 pics can determine that she picked her hair dry, it's needs to be DC'ed, it needs to be accessorize with headbands, it needs to be shaped better, etc...

I don't think I saw anyone say her hair was dry in this thread. Excuse me if I'm wrong about that. Everyone has their preference to what they like as far as afros. I think her hair is beautiful but I don't like the shape of the fro in the first picture, does that mean she should go weave it up? NO. Does that mean I think her hair is ugly? NO. I love that she is showing off her natural hair especially because it's not what's considered the preferred curly 3b/3c hair. I wish more black women would rock their cottony hair. I don't get how saying we don't like the shape translates into her getting a weave or her hair is dry?

 

[Lovelylife]

I think there comes a time when naturals should realize that not everyone is going to like their hair. You can't demand from everyone acceptance, yes there will be rejection. It doesn't make you less beautiful because their opinion of you is separate from you.
I think it's ego centric and silly to shake your fist at people that don't like everything you do.
I do understand the historical implications of us being upset though.

 

[MrJohnsonsRib]

She has pretty hair. It really makes her look so much more mature, like she is comfortable with her own God given body/hair...it's really nice. It says "Yes, I'm Miss Coleman and I feel absolutely relaxed and unmoved by all this HYPE that's around me". Wish more celebs would do this. I know I'll just be wishing....

 

[Kay.Dee]

I have no problem with people not liking the style/shape. Fros take some getting used to and they aren't see all that often.

But several people did say that it looks dry and needs/could benefit deep conditioning. Highly textured, coarse hair does not have the same capabilities as other hair types when it comes to shine/sheen. At least in IMO, you can't say someone's hair isn't moisturized just by glancing at it, or just because it doesn't look like someone else's. Her hair could feel like the softest cotton in the world, but you wouldn't know just by looking at a picture.

Trust me, if someone's natural hair isn't moisturized it will let them know , it's hard to manipulate and will break.

And Lovelylife, that's true/ a really good point. No one really has to like certain hair types/styles, but as long as they are respectful about it (Mediatakeout, not necessarily here).

 

[Nita81]

some people said nice things......

I saw quite a few comments calling posters on their brainwashed bs. However the majority were ignorant.

 

[hairsothick]

I have always thought that she was facially challenged, but her hair looks so soft. I don't like the shape either, but it looks so soft and fluffy.

 

[Junebug D]

Looks good to me.

I can't even be bothered to read what they say on some place like MediaTakeOut because 99% of it is coming from a place of supreme ignorance. Heck, it's bad enough reading the comments of 'enlightened' sistas on a black hair board. perplexed

 

[Nonie]

Yeah, I know Nonie loves the pat down look. That used to be me, too. And unless I got my afro perfectly round without a hair out of place, I would cover it up because I thought it not presentable.

But you have to admit this is quite an unfair standard for 4b hair. Do you know how hard, not to mention painful, it is to get a perfectly round afro? Especially one on tightly coiled hair, especially if it's long and not blow dried to loosen up the kinks a bit? NO ONE of ANY other texture has to go through such lengths to make their hair "presentable". It's hard enough so that I've never actually done it because I can't! (except for one trip to a salon.) And I think it comes from the idea that while other textures are fine as-is, ours has to be fixed somehow. Anyone can think like this, including our African sisters.

Besides, the 70s Jackson 5 afro is kind of outdated. Same thing for guys' hair, the Steve Harvey, while acceptable, is very old-fashioned. A more modern style is the chunky afro, and I prefer it. But I don't think either style is unpresentable.

Right there (the bold) might be the issue, and not so much about the difficulty of achieving the style. And because I've never been a slave to fashion, but have always done/worn what felt and looked good to me, maybe that's why I don't get the do. I know it has nothing to do with difficulty in styling because when I look at old photos, everyone including JayZ had hair that looked combed whether it formed a perfect globe or not. And texture hasn't changed so much over the years such that all of a sudden we cannot achieve the do.

The truth is, we're either trying to get that chunky look because we like it or are trend followers and just wanna get with the program; or as some have said, we just can't create the perfect 'fro due to different textures (but that would not take away from the "looking combed" effect); or we just haven't quite mastered our texture and how to style it, eg create a perfect afro and/or are using the wrong tools . For instance, you can't get an afro like Bernie Mac's easily if using a comb like this. Chances are you'd end up with bumps betraying every point where you inserted the comb. You need one with long teef so you can insert in various parts around the perimeter and get a good lift of the woolly mass, hence the reason picks work so well. Also as others stated, combing dry 4B hair does give a Don Kingish look but a spritz with some watery product on those hairs sticking up can help get them to curl down a bit, then you pat them into place. And while it may not look like a perfect halo, still no one would think you just rolled out of bed and plucked your hair with your fingers before walking out the door.

ETA: Incidentally, I find blow dried hair is harder to get to a perfect fro than curly or slightly stretched hair. Either it's too limp or too pointy that I end up with a Don King effect. My best afros are on shrunken hair. Better yet, damp hair with something like S Curl applied to provide slip.

 

[Spongie Bloom]

^^^ I dont think a preference over the sphere manicured look and the edgier chunky fro is an issue (as stated in your first sentence)

 

[MA2010]

I agree as well. Looks sorta dry.

She does look so much better with her natural hair. I would add some twists to the sides for a funkier look.

I did state that her hair looked dry in reference to these pics.

Another poster then stated that just because her hair "looks" dry does not mean it is. I completely agree and understand.

My relaxed/texlaxed hair looks dry right now but is really soft to touch so I totally get it.

 

[Freespirit02]

Did yall notice that all the black women who said she looked ***** had some unrealistic barbie doll weave in their head..too funny. Anyway I think she looks nice..especially if she puts a headband on it..shoootttt

 

[sonce]

I think it's lovely that she's wearing her natural hair, but I can see why the style, or lack thereof, and shape would strike some as unattractive. A quick trim of the top of her fro, to give it a rounder, more symmetrical, less Don King-ish shape, would take it from blah to amazing. I love a chunky fro, but hers isn't chunky; it has different textures that are creating different lengths and appearances, and I can see how that would strike some as less aesthetically pleasing than a uniform fro.

Of course, the dunces at MTO are probably not commenting on her shape/style but rather the fact that her hair is tightly curled. Out of respect for the integrity of my brain cells, I have not read the comments.

 

[GV-NA-GI-TLV-GE-I]

I just wanted to share something that stirred my spirit just now.....some young actress decided to "take out her weave" and wear her natural hair.....and some of the comments people left were so damn ignorant...like "not everyone can pull off the natural look", "we're the hot comb" ??????erplexed if that's the way it grows out of her head how can she not pull it off.....lmao....so ignorant
http://www.mediatakeout.com/2009/33..._is_now_rocking_her_naturally_curly_hair.html

Proof that, aside from absolute and unadulterated idiocy, a Black person's worst enemy is.....himself. But then again, I'm not into worshipping celebrities like those posters are. And she's chunky like a linebacker? LOLOL. Whatever.

 

[myxdchiick]

I just wanted to share something that stirred my spirit just now.....some young actress decided to "take out her weave" and wear her natural hair.....and some of the comments people left were so damn ignorant...like "not everyone can pull off the natural look", "we're the hot comb" ??????erplexed if that's the way it grows out of her head how can she not pull it off.....lmao....so ignorant
http://www.mediatakeout.com/2009/33..._is_now_rocking_her_naturally_curly_hair.html

People CONSTANTLY say this in school when I talk about my transition and some of my fellow classmates that are natural...... It irks me when people say this....

 

[MD_Lady]

Her hair looks thick, healthy, and oh so soft!! As for the comments on MTO... all I can say is consider the source.

 

[Rain20]

I agree some of the comments were ridiculous.

But there are relaxed and natural hairstyles that are not atrractive to me. It does not mean that if I happen not like a particular natural style that I hate all natural hair, myself as Black person or want to be white. I think it's okay not to like a certain style. That is just personal preference.

 

[fashion87]

People CONSTANTLY say this in school when I talk about my transition and some of my fellow classmates that are natural...... It irks me when people say this....

when i was transitioning last year no one said sugar honey ice tea to me cuz half the people i go to school with wear weaves and when they take it out.......nuff said

 

[Brownie518]

I have never seen her before, nor have I heard of her so I googled some pics with the weave. She looks MUCH better here!!! I don't necessarily think it's styled as nicely as it could be but it's definitely a step in the right direction for her. She could use some shaping and moisture. That's it.