uh...i think she just meant when you get spots on your face that are significantly darker than the rest of your complexion...its related to sun exposure and acne. I don't think she's making a commentary on how wrong it is to be darkskinned, just emphasizing that it is better to have clear skin, no matter what shade of brown you are.
)
So long as the myths persist in our community, blacks with healthy hair will be in the minority. 
I just finished reading this thread and I'm a bit surprised at some the comments and misconceptions and I feel the need to address some of them.
First of all, yes black women's hair has different NEEDS. But then again all naturally curly hair types have different needs than naturally straight hair, regardless of race. Just because those needs are different, doesn't make them any more time consuming than the needs of others. For example, a hispanic friend of mine has naturally straight hair the same length as mine and spends twice as much time as I do detangling. Why? Because her hair is so fine that it tangles up if she even looks at it wrong, even when it's braided, so for her it's an everyday chore. I can get away with detangling once or twice a week. Individual routines will vary based on individual needs. Think about it, just because some else has the same hair type as you, doesn't mean their routine will work for you. Different is not neither good, nor bad. It is just different.
Second, unusually long hair has different needs. Period. Nobody of any race gets super long and HEALTHY hair past their butt without proper hair care. Not even Indians.
Third, contrary to popular belief, all white women do not grow hair effortlessly. There are plenty of white women who have weaves (it's just harder to tell because they tend to have better texture match up), or who can not grow their hair past shoulder length, or who have dry hair (not all of them have movable sebum), or who have hair so fine that it continually breaks, or who have super stringy/oily hair, or who have slow growth, etc. We just tend to notice and focus on the ones who have nicer, thick, long hair. Of course you're going to see more white women (or women of other races for that matter) with nicer hair because of the simple fact that there are more of them than there are of us (we are a minority after all in most places, unless of course you live on the African continent or in the Caribbean).
Fourth, all women have hair issues. Take a look around at the women you know- there's limp hair, oily hair, dry hair, thin hair, balding hair, big hair, overprocessed hair, etc.
Fifth, because of the widespread misinformation regarding black hair care, there is a disproportionately large number of us(men and women alike) who don't have healthy hair and or scalps. And an equally large number of who refuse to change their ways. So you're not going to see a ton of black women with long hair, outside of this forum, walking around. Think of the black women you know who have asked for hair advice, you told them, and then they turn around and tell you that you've always had that good hair!
Sixth, everyone wants something they don't have. Girls with straight hair want curls, so they get perms; girls with curly hair want straight hair so they relax/straighten. There's a reason why the Japanese invented thermal reconditioning/japanese straightening technique (because a lot of them have wavy hair) and a reason why whites came up with perms. It is the reason why the haircare industry is a Multi-billion dollar industry.
Last, growth and retention are two different things. For example, a lot of people will look at me and say "Your hair just grows faster than mine" when in reality I've been growing my hair for YEARS, I just know how to retain my length. My hair grows at an average rate, but because it's usually months between times I wear it down it only looks like it's grown a ton, when in actuality it hasn't grown any faster than anyone elses. I don't know why so many people attribute length to growth rate, when actuality it length=time, but oh well.
At the end of the day we should all is just be happy that we are even blessed have hair on our heads, be it straight, wavy, curly, kinky, coily, nappy, or just a hot mess, because there are plenty of men, women and children who love to have our hair "issues". Don't believe me? Just ask a man who's going bald, a woman undergoing chemo, or a child with Alopecia areata totalis.
). I try to explain to her that,"Well honey, if you get it cut aren't you cutting the length you just got?" Right over her head. She can't grasp the if you don't have split ends you don't NEED to cut it argument. Maybe I'll try using cutting grass as a visual aid
Bottom line is ask these girls with the never growing hair what their doing. I guarantee the explanation is simple: too much heat, overprocessed hair, crappy products and tools and lack of proper information for proper haircare and maintenance. It all equals dry damaged brittle hair which breaks from the ends, not stunted at the roots. I bet they'll all tell you that they get new growth which equals hair that is growing. And ask the white girls too. You'll be surprised with the answers. They're not happy either. Like I said before. White women especially in Europe are the main consumers of hair extensions. Why? Because they've have the exact same issues as women of all races who try to change their hair from it's original state or to just maintain what they have: heat damage, overprocessed hair, crappy hair products and tools and misinformation and improper maintence. AND peoples hair grow at different rates. Some people.....Oh forget it!!!!!I just finished reading this thread and I'm a bit surprised at some the comments and misconceptions and I feel the need to address some of them.
First of all, yes black women's hair has different NEEDS. But then again all naturally curly hair types have different needs than naturally straight hair, regardless of race. Just because those needs are different, doesn't make them any more time consuming than the needs of others. For example, a hispanic friend of mine has naturally straight hair the same length as mine and spends twice as much time as I do detangling. Why? Because her hair is so fine that it tangles up if she even looks at it wrong, even when it's braided, so for her it's an everyday chore. I can get away with detangling once or twice a week. Individual routines will vary based on individual needs. Think about it, just because some else has the same hair type as you, doesn't mean their routine will work for you. Different is not neither good, nor bad. It is just different.
Second, unusually long hair has different needs. Period. Nobody of any race gets super long and HEALTHY hair past their butt without proper hair care. Not even Indians.
Third, contrary to popular belief, all white women do not grow hair effortlessly. There are plenty of white women who have weaves (it's just harder to tell because they tend to have better texture match up), or who can not grow their hair past shoulder length, or who have dry hair (not all of them have movable sebum), or who have hair so fine that it continually breaks, or who have super stringy/oily hair, or who have slow growth, etc. We just tend to notice and focus on the ones who have nicer, thick, long hair. Of course you're going to see more white women (or women of other races for that matter) with nicer hair because of the simple fact that there are more of them than there are of us (we are a minority after all in most places, unless of course you live on the African continent or in the Caribbean).
Fourth, all women have hair issues. Take a look around at the women you know- there's limp hair, oily hair, dry hair, thin hair, balding hair, big hair, overprocessed hair, etc.
Fifth, because of the widespread misinformation regarding black hair care, there is a disproportionately large number of us(men and women alike) who don't have healthy hair and or scalps. And an equally large number of who refuse to change their ways. So you're not going to see a ton of black women with long hair, outside of this forum, walking around. Think of the black women you know who have asked for hair advice, you told them, and then they turn around and tell you that you've always had that good hair!
Sixth, everyone wants something they don't have. Girls with straight hair want curls, so they get perms; girls with curly hair want straight hair so they relax/straighten. There's a reason why the Japanese invented thermal reconditioning/japanese straightening technique (because a lot of them have wavy hair) and a reason why whites came up with perms. It is the reason why the haircare industry is a Multi-billion dollar industry.
Last, growth and retention are two different things. For example, a lot of people will look at me and say "Your hair just grows faster than mine" when in reality I've been growing my hair for YEARS, I just know how to retain my length. My hair grows at an average rate, but because it's usually months between times I wear it down it only looks like it's grown a ton, when in actuality it hasn't grown any faster than anyone elses. I don't know why so many people attribute length to growth rate, when actuality it length=time, but oh well.
At the end of the day we should all is just be happy that we are even blessed have hair on our heads, be it straight, wavy, curly, kinky, coily, nappy, or just a hot mess, because there are plenty of men, women and children who love to have our hair "issues". Don't believe me? Just ask a man who's going bald, a woman undergoing chemo, or a child with Alopecia areata totalis.
I just finished reading this thread and I'm a bit surprised at some the comments and misconceptions and I feel the need to address some of them.
First of all, yes black women's hair has different NEEDS. But then again all naturally curly hair types have different needs than naturally straight hair, regardless of race. Just because those needs are different, doesn't make them any more time consuming than the needs of others. For example, a hispanic friend of mine has naturally straight hair the same length as mine and spends twice as much time as I do detangling. Why? Because her hair is so fine that it tangles up if she even looks at it wrong, even when it's braided, so for her it's an everyday chore. I can get away with detangling once or twice a week. Individual routines will vary based on individual needs. Think about it, just because some else has the same hair type as you, doesn't mean their routine will work for you. Different is not neither good, nor bad. It is just different.
Second, unusually long hair has different needs. Period. Nobody of any race gets super long and HEALTHY hair past their butt without proper hair care. Not even Indians.
Third, contrary to popular belief, all white women do not grow hair effortlessly. There are plenty of white women who have weaves (it's just harder to tell because they tend to have better texture match up), or who can not grow their hair past shoulder length, or who have dry hair (not all of them have movable sebum), or who have hair so fine that it continually breaks, or who have super stringy/oily hair, or who have slow growth, etc. We just tend to notice and focus on the ones who have nicer, thick, long hair. Of course you're going to see more white women (or women of other races for that matter) with nicer hair because of the simple fact that there are more of them than there are of us (we are a minority after all in most places, unless of course you live on the African continent or in the Caribbean).
Fourth, all women have hair issues. Take a look around at the women you know- there's limp hair, oily hair, dry hair, thin hair, balding hair, big hair, overprocessed hair, etc.
Fifth, because of the widespread misinformation regarding black hair care, there is a disproportionately large number of us(men and women alike) who don't have healthy hair and or scalps. And an equally large number of who refuse to change their ways. So you're not going to see a ton of black women with long hair, outside of this forum, walking around. Think of the black women you know who have asked for hair advice, you told them, and then they turn around and tell you that you've always had that good hair!
Sixth, everyone wants something they don't have. Girls with straight hair want curls, so they get perms; girls with curly hair want straight hair so they relax/straighten. There's a reason why the Japanese invented thermal reconditioning/japanese straightening technique (because a lot of them have wavy hair) and a reason why whites came up with perms. It is the reason why the haircare industry is a Multi-billion dollar industry.
Last, growth and retention are two different things. For example, a lot of people will look at me and say "Your hair just grows faster than mine" when in reality I've been growing my hair for YEARS, I just know how to retain my length. My hair grows at an average rate, but because it's usually months between times I wear it down it only looks like it's grown a ton, when in actuality it hasn't grown any faster than anyone elses. I don't know why so many people attribute length to growth rate, when actuality it length=time, but oh well.
At the end of the day we should all is just be happy that we are even blessed have hair on our heads, be it straight, wavy, curly, kinky, coily, nappy, or just a hot mess, because there are plenty of men, women and children who love to have our hair "issues". Don't believe me? Just ask a man who's going bald, a woman undergoing chemo, or a child with Alopecia areata totalis.
I just finished reading this thread and I'm a bit surprised at some the comments and misconceptions and I feel the need to address some of them.
First of all, yes black women's hair has different NEEDS. But then again all naturally curly hair types have different needs than naturally straight hair, regardless of race. Just because those needs are different, doesn't make them any more time consuming than the needs of others. For example, a hispanic friend of mine has naturally straight hair the same length as mine and spends twice as much time as I do detangling. Why? Because her hair is so fine that it tangles up if she even looks at it wrong, even when it's braided, so for her it's an everyday chore. I can get away with detangling once or twice a week. Individual routines will vary based on individual needs. Think about it, just because some else has the same hair type as you, doesn't mean their routine will work for you. Different is not neither good, nor bad. It is just different.
Second, unusually long hair has different needs. Period. Nobody of any race gets super long and HEALTHY hair past their butt without proper hair care. Not even Indians.
Third, contrary to popular belief, all white women do not grow hair effortlessly. There are plenty of white women who have weaves (it's just harder to tell because they tend to have better texture match up), or who can not grow their hair past shoulder length, or who have dry hair (not all of them have movable sebum), or who have hair so fine that it continually breaks, or who have super stringy/oily hair, or who have slow growth, etc. We just tend to notice and focus on the ones who have nicer, thick, long hair. Of course you're going to see more white women (or women of other races for that matter) with nicer hair because of the simple fact that there are more of them than there are of us (we are a minority after all in most places, unless of course you live on the African continent or in the Caribbean).
Fourth, all women have hair issues. Take a look around at the women you know- there's limp hair, oily hair, dry hair, thin hair, balding hair, big hair, overprocessed hair, etc.
Fifth, because of the widespread misinformation regarding black hair care, there is a disproportionately large number of us(men and women alike) who don't have healthy hair and or scalps. And an equally large number of who refuse to change their ways. So you're not going to see a ton of black women with long hair, outside of this forum, walking around. Think of the black women you know who have asked for hair advice, you told them, and then they turn around and tell you that you've always had that good hair!
Sixth, everyone wants something they don't have. Girls with straight hair want curls, so they get perms; girls with curly hair want straight hair so they relax/straighten. There's a reason why the Japanese invented thermal reconditioning/japanese straightening technique (because a lot of them have wavy hair) and a reason why whites came up with perms. It is the reason why the haircare industry is a Multi-billion dollar industry.
Last, growth and retention are two different things. For example, a lot of people will look at me and say "Your hair just grows faster than mine" when in reality I've been growing my hair for YEARS, I just know how to retain my length. My hair grows at an average rate, but because it's usually months between times I wear it down it only looks like it's grown a ton, when in actuality it hasn't grown any faster than anyone elses. I don't know why so many people attribute length to growth rate, when actuality it length=time, but oh well.
At the end of the day we should all is just be happy that we are even blessed have hair on our heads, be it straight, wavy, curly, kinky, coily, nappy, or just a hot mess, because there are plenty of men, women and children who love to have our hair "issues". Don't believe me? Just ask a man who's going bald, a woman undergoing chemo, or a child with Alopecia areata totalis.
You're so right. i do believe our hair is beautiful and unique. Perhaps it's just the " grass is greener on the other side' that had me trippin for a while. I do remember being in jamaica and all of the white tourist had cornrolls!!!
So I'll get off the pity pot and realize that i am blessed with what i have.
I love my hair, with a passion
(Sorry, I don't have the pics to "prove it" yet, I'm still saving for a digital camera). 
To me, that means you really dont have that many options...
i like your responseOur hair is totally a blessing...I think "not having to do much to your hair" is actually a curse
Plus, my mom always told me that the difference between a man and a woman is personal grooming. Doing my hair, doing my nails, experimenting with fashion and makeup makes me love being a woman. So, even when I dread it, I love soaking in a tub with my bubble bath and rose petals, sipping a glass of wine with a face mask and deep conditioner in my hair. And my SO knows to leave me alone
- My hair takes hours to condition, style and dry but...
- At least I can wear it straight, create curls, keep cornrows in for more than a few days.
- It doesn't get greasy or weighed down after a few hours. White women are more ensalved to their hair than we are...they dont have a choice not to wash or style it every day.
- I dont have to wash my hair everyday- making my morning routine 5 mins or less.
- In extreme heat, my "napps" protect my scalp from the sun and prevent sunburn.
- I have a diverse community of women to share my hair experiences with and get excited about new products and styling methods
- At least I can "go natural"
And gosh darnit, most of the people who ask me for hair advice are WHITE. And according to a recent Dove survey, 8 out of 10 women have damaged hair. Period. So, just because they are not on a forum spending hours on their hair, doesnt mean they shouldnt be
Yes, I have days where I dont "feel" like doing my hair or become frustrated when Im trying to detangle 12 weeks post relaxer... but then I think of women who are undergoing chemo or women suffering from hair and scalp disorders and try to be grateful for even having hair to fight with.....
mmmmmmmmmmmkay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Our hair is totally a blessing...I think "not having to do much to your hair" is actually a curse
Plus, my mom always told me that the difference between a man and a woman is personal grooming. Doing my hair, doing my nails, experimenting with fashion and makeup makes me love being a woman. So, even when I dread it, I love soaking in a tub with my bubble bath and rose petals, sipping a glass of wine with a face mask and deep conditioner in my hair. And my SO knows to leave me alone
- My hair takes hours to condition, style and dry but...
- At least I can wear it straight, create curls, keep cornrows in for more than a few days.
- It doesn't get greasy or weighed down after a few hours. White women are more ensalved to their hair than we are...they dont have a choice not to wash or style it every day.
- I dont have to wash my hair everyday- making my morning routine 5 mins or less.
- In extreme heat, my "napps" protect my scalp from the sun and prevent sunburn.
- I have a diverse community of women to share my hair experiences with and get excited about new products and styling methods
- At least I can "go natural"
And gosh darnit, most of the people who ask me for hair advice are WHITE. And according to a recent Dove survey, 8 out of 10 women have damaged hair. Period. So, just because they are not on a forum spending hours on their hair, doesnt mean they shouldnt be
Yes, I have days where I dont "feel" like doing my hair or become frustrated when Im trying to detangle 12 weeks post relaxer... but then I think of women who are undergoing chemo or women suffering from hair and scalp disorders and try to be grateful for even having hair to fight with.....
I feel chatty tonight and wanted to share this
I know how you feel I have hair frustration too. I wish relaxed black hair care never envolved chemical burn, underprocessing and breakage, reversion, etc...
And I wish I knew more about my natural texture. And was born into a society were more black women wore their natural hair and achieved long lengths with it. Dang it!!!
As a black woman I feel Hyperpigmentation has been a curse for me more than anytihng else. Personally I have spent more money on skin care then hair care in my life.
Lilamae I forgot to say something...... the white women you saw that day might of been registered with the Extension101 Forum. It is a hair care forum teaching white women how to put in extensions, with tutorials, and different techniques helping them achieve long length in seconds. http://hairextensions101.com/forum
I learned allot from this forum on how to attach weave hair.
Pics of some members from the site and weave installation pics http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d188/saralee26/waginstall1.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d188/saralee26/waginstall1.jpg
