<![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too - Jezebel Comments]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too - Jezebel Comments]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I'd never get rid of my wavy/curly hair! God, girls with straight hair could kill to have gorgeous hair like ours! -- Joana Margarida Rodrigues http://egoandi.blogspot.com

EzraKeppanin

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Hair is beautfitul Because God gave us the hair "he" believe looks Good on us.

And thats what we should go by not what men think of our hair. I personally prefer culry hair over str8 hair because first off its sooo typical(evrybody wants it bcuz most arent as confident enought to be themselves), secondly I was born with curly kinky hair that i believe fits me to a "t"....im wild on a positive note ;) im free.....expressive..im strong...and like my hair im FEARLESS. It shapes and spirals out like the sun and I can walk in the rain with no worries...and I can wake up without havin to worry about pluggin up some curling irons or puttin chemicals in my hair because of what "others" negative views on my "GOD GIVEN HAIR" feel it should look like. Most ppl in this world are lost and unhealhty minded when it comes to real and true beauty....physically and mentally...I wish all BLK women rocked their natural God given hair...because I know and most ppl whom love and know God knows he doesnt make any mistakes...God knew exactly what he was doin when he had given us our natural curly or kinky hair....I rock my culry kinky hair everyday with a big smile on my face and a condfidence in my strut...cant nobody tell me im not 100% beautiful because im not a "follower" and if I have to be what u want me to be and not myself then I dont care to be execpeted by you or anybody esle whom have a problem with the way God made me. Im accpeted and I was made by the greatest of them all, God.. so who are you again? My sisters be modestly prideful in the way God made you...dont choose to take the easy route and chemicalize your hair to please foolish ppl or to "fit in" or because u feel your hair is too hard to take care of, nobody said life was easy u have to work hard because in the end its all worth it. Be wise and God Given Naturally beautiful ppl.

Too many ppl complain about simple things...that God himself has given us to appreciate and love unconditionally, but when u start tryin to please men ur aim isnt to please God anymore and u become someone your not....to please God takes little to no effort but to just simply love him and the way he made you.

Dont ever aim to be what the "world " feels you should look like...thats the wrong route to take in life.

Cadillac1stLady

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I'm naturally curly myself; rockin' a righteous jewfro as we speak.
Dodai, I'd never seen that picture of you. You are gorgeous!

Cthulhah Bankhead

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> This hairdresser kept telling me he was 'dying' to give me some $500 chemical straightening treatment. And then he looked in my eyes (in the mirror) with deep sympathy and said, 'your hair is so... thick. i understand jewish hair. i've worked with jewish hair.'

um... jewish hair is not a type of cancer.

allisonporchnik

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @crackbabyjesus: Agreed. The pictures of Mariah Carey, Nicole Kidman, and JLo were all from the 80's/90's when women with straight hair were subjecting themselves to the evils of spiral perms (I mean that in terms of the pain/chemicals involved/sometimes disastrous results, not the look) in order to get "untamed" curly hair. I personally would love to have any sort wave or curl to my hair, but short of a scalp transplant that isn't going to happen. Grass is greener, we want what we can't have, etc., etc.

novasole

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I already poured out my heart about my hair and lack therof issues a couple of weeks ago.

I will say that even though I am currently chemical straightener free and just got braid extensions, I got real hair that matches my natural color and texture. I love my frizzy, wavy, wild, sexy hair-it just took losing a lot of it to make me appreciate it. I also like when it is flat-ironed/pressed; I am not trying to approximate some white standard of beauty. If anything it represents some strange black standard of beauty that nearly deifies a biracial look.

foodandshoes is back to la vie quotidienne

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I have curly hair and I hate it. It makes me look around 14 years old if I wear it curly (I'm 23 and short) and just looks like crap. I prefer to straighten it because it makes me feel like I actually look good. I hate it when people find out that I have curly hair and tell me to wear it curly because they've always wanted curls, nothing pisses me off more.

snappleaddict

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I go back and forth. Often I hate my curly hair because I constantly obsess over whether or not it's frizzy (or "poofy"). Other times I like it because it makes me unique or something. Though straight hair is MUCH easier to manage. When I've blown mine out, I've been amazed that all I have to do is COMB it and it looks good.

demetria23

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @MyJeneration: Be Curly is the product that finally made me feel comfortable about putting my iron aside. Truly a miracle product. Which reminds me, I'm low and must purchase more this weekend.

TrixieBelden

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> My sister-in-law used to always offer to straighten my hair "for something different." I started to notice that she most often did this when we were going to see her parents or meet some of her friends. Finally I realized, she's kind of a bitch and she probably hates me. So now I say, "No, thanks...I have my dad's curly hair and I love it. In fact, hey, maybe your kids will inherit it as well!" That usually shuts her up...and makes her look slightly ill.

prairieprincess

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Issa: You need to hang out on Okayplayer...they're Badu crazy over there. She's doing big things this year: launching her record label, a magazine and three albums. One of which just came out 'bout a month ago. Yep, loves me some Badu. I was telling my mother the other day how much it affected me to have artists like E. Badu, Jill Scott, and Lauryn Hill be popular when I was in my more formative years (ages 16-18). They helped me to embrace the concept of being a black girl and being natural. I totally appreciate them for that. Now, it's like everyone's a Beyonce wannabe; she's created this mold that every black female artist must fit into in order to reach a wider audience. It's sad.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @ferociacoutura: No, no. Curly redheads are the best!

redheadedstepchild

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I like to straighten my hair, but in the summertime there is no point in trying to fight the curl. No amount of relaxer, flat iron, product can combat heat and humidity.

niaray

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> i am white, and i still feel the "white ideal" pressure at my job...people respect my ideas and pay more attention to me professionally when i straighten my naturally very curly hair.

virginiabelle

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @pantaloons: Ahahahahaha I know, and she also said that as a redhead, men think I'm "not exactly the freshest produce on the market." And I'm curly to boot... I must be fucked.

ferociacoutura

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> As a girl with naturally bone straight blond hair I would have done anything (and still try everything short of a perm because I'm too cheap to get a pro to do it and know the DIY ones don't turn out good at all!) to have beautiful curly (preferably dark) hair.

I don't understand. Everyone else buys straighteners and I buy hot rollers and curlers.

filthygorgeous

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Yes!

Neodymium

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @roodles: Disagree. You just have to have a skilled stylist do yours. Normally, they cost more, but not if you catch them on the way up.

I haven't had a weave in months, but I'm proof positive, and have photos to back it up.

Issa

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @ineffable.me: Where is Badu? Just came out with another album (which has been well-received, from what I've seen), and is consistently not giving a crap what people think.

I love her for that, personally, so she's got a least one fan in me. Mainstream success is not always the best success.

As far as Oprah and B's curly weaves, them shits are wigs! Lace wigs, to be exact. Which I am totally in favor of.

I'm naturally kinky, and I rock that on occasion. I also wear straight hair and giant spiral curls and everything in between. My hair changes with my mood. I've been known to yield to external influences (don't wanna scare the potential boss man with my giant out of control afro), but once I get the position?

I let it all hang out, baby. And it's never bitten me in the butt. I am who I am.

Issa

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> The whole anti-curly hair thing pisses me off to no end. Obviously, people can do whatever they want to their hair, but they shouldn't feel pressured to straighten their hair because the alternative means being penalized ("unprofessional" or "political" ugh) by stupid societal standards. Especially when the methods used to straighten hair can be so labor-intensive and damaging to the hair itself.

Another more recent example of this in film is in Enchanted, when Amy Adams goes from her curly princess hair to stick-straight in her little make-over moment. That was one of the few problems I had with what was otherwise a great movie (I also hated how boring her post-makeover dress was compared to the gowns she made).

In a perhaps more off-topic note, does anyone find curly hair on guys as insanely hot as I do? Especially if it's dark brown or black. Think Ioan Gruffudd and Clive Owen in King Arthur:

[outnow.ch]
[outnow.ch]

Jinxfere

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I'm dealing with the curly isn't professional thing too. UGH. I think all may hair problems would disappear if the Physique line came back. They had the perfect curl cream and it really did last almost 24hrs. My hair misses it. =(. So now, it's bun city.

femmesavante

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I've always had curly hair, and I've always thought people that harbored those types of pseudo-racialist objections to kinks and curls were more than a little off. There's nothing wrong with the way my hair grows out of my head, it doesn't need any kind of explanation, it's just hair. I do not heat-style, blowdry, flat-iron, or relax my hair. Those things destroy your hair and make it fall out. Why would I want to do that? I love my curls, and eventhough I spent a big part of my adolescence getting a weekly blowout at the salon at my mother's urging, I spend most of my time now with curly hair. I'm surprised at how many people hate their hair or are ashamed of their curls, and have internalized all these mainstream ideas that curls are bad and straight hair is good. Sad, really.

Jezebabe

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I've had natural hair for about 11 years now. In sum, I've had natural hair far longer than I've ever had straightened hair. Which is to say that I'm far more used to it being in it's natural state, however, I have to blow it out and straighten it when I need to get a trim. So, I rock it straight from time to time. And I've noticed that the male attention I get varies dramatically depending on the texture. When it's out and wild, I still get male attention, but they always think that they have to come at me with some Black Queen-Sista-Peace-Incense-Weed-Political... bullshit. This shit is annoying. It's like having natural hair makes me a granola-eating, black power-wanting, coffee shop chick...which for the record, I sort of am, but still...a simple "girl, you look good" would suffice. I hate that my hair causes people to make certain assumptions about me. I don't think having natural hair means that you're "down for the cause" anymore than having straight hair means you're "down for the fall". It's JUST hair. I feel that we place far to much stock in something that is essentially inconsequential.

Ulookinatmyjunk!?!

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @PeachesDelux: That happened to me when I was an office drone. I wear the curls natural most days, and when I flat ironed for fun or variety or whatever, it was oohs and ahs all over the place. The boss would say things like "My, you look polished today" as if on other days I was a walking disaster.

Now that I am a teacher I rock the curls everyday, and the Asian students actually come up and touch my hair sometimes.

h_bee

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I think either curly hair or straight hair is better than the annoying in-between hair that I have; unless I curl it or blow it out, it just looks ratty.

I prefer it curled, actually, although I've had it called both "unprofessional" and "poor" (as in, "curly hair makes you look like a poor person" -- although, to be fair, this wasn't by an American).

Omelas

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> No thanks to the Millionaire Matchmaker. According to her (and her silk pants) my curly hair is turning off suitable bachelors left and right.

pantaloons

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Part of me wishes that curly hair would come back in style, because all this straight, straight, straight hair is so damn boring.

Another part of me remembers 80's poodle perms and shrinks into a fetal position.

ahwannabe

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> my hair is crazy curly, and no matter what i did, it would buck every straightening attempt i made on it. finally, i just learned to embrace it.
it's funny though, how people get perms and stuff when they have straight hair and curly haired people straighten... is there an inborn desire in women to destroy their hair??

astralgravy

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> i'm gonna be one of the naturally curly-headed who is ecstatic to have straight hair now. i'm a white girl with severely thick, curly hair, which is uneven in curliness on one side and in the back. some parts are all spirally, and some look like a a brillo pad. i've had it relaxed with soft and beautiful extra strength (none of that weak white people shit) every 8 weeks since i was 18 and it's been a godsend. not only to my morning routine, but to my psyche.

in it's natural state it's impossible to brush or comb most of the time, and dreads itself at the nape of my neck. water parks as a teenager? i had to slick that shit down with murray's pomade and look like a robert palmer girl. i was teased and tortured growing up in the land of blond blue-eyed LA girls. i tried all the different hairstyles, special haircutting by a curly-hair "experts", and countless styling products. and you know what? none of it worked. it looked like shit on me and always will.

with it relaxed, i put a bit of silicone stuff or coconut oil in it when it's wet and let it air dry, which makes it slightly wavy and frizz-free. it's not stick straight even after relaxing and retains plenty of body. sometimes i use a flat iron if i want it really straight and as long as i go slow and do small sections, it becomes the hair of my dreams. i wash it at most every 3 days and condition it like crazy. and it looks right with my face! i will likely never go back to curly hair because of the confidence i feel having hair that i know will remain largely the same throughout the day.

nothing angers me more than people telling me i should grow it out, how i just don't know how to style it, etc. seriously, fuck off. that shit doesn't work for everyone, and trying to "educate" me like i don't know how to style the hair i've lived with for 30 years is insulting.

if you love your curly hair, good for you. but don't assume people who like their hair straight are just not doing it right or succumbing to fashion.

drjack

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Jerseylicious:

and others having intense curl issues:
Stop brushing it! As a kid, my hair was always a mess because my mum would brush it out, separating the curls and creating a whole bunch of frizz.
My current system is to:
ONLY brush hair immediately before showering, shampoo and condition, Comb (not brush) while still wet. After some minimal towel-drying, smear a small dollop of pomade throughout hair . (sorry for the plug but Aveda's Humectant pomade in the blue jar is amazing) And then-- go to sleep with your hair wet.
Somehow it all works out. the Night-Shower is key.

yousername

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> My hair, when straightened, is just gorgeous. I wear it curly most of the time, but when it's straight, you can actually see the highlights, the shine, and it's sleek without frizzing all over the place. Curly...it's okay. I wear it that way most of the time because a) it's cute enough, b) I'm lazy, and c) I don't want to wreck essentially healthy hair. But I haven't had a seriously good curly hair cut since I was 17, and that cost $100. Not happening again anytime soon.

coodlebump

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Curl power!!!!

I'm sorry, that was agonizingly cheesy.

BunnyLebowski

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I have fantastic curly hair. I have perfectly-sized spirals. It bounces. It shines. Every time I straighten it, which is not often because I'm lazy and too much of a tomboy to fiddle with it, people go nuts. They touch it, they fawn, they tell me how "classy" I look. It could just be because they're used to the curls, and straightening it is the surest way to create a dramatic change (hence Oprah's use of it for a makeover show), but sometimes after I go back to curly I just feel like Roseanne Rosannadanna with a low-flow shower head. It's disconcerting.

Fistful_of_Talons

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Oprah! What the hell!

rugrat

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I would be delighted to wear my curly hair curly if it were PRETTY curly -- thick ringlets. But it's more limp waves. I spent a lot of time at naturallycurly.com last fall when I'd decided to go back to curly, trying to figure out what I needed to do. And in the end I've gone back to straight.
But I can tell that blowing it out every day is horrible for it.

Nicorette

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> The Force is with curly hair:

Link in case pic doesn't embed properly:
[smg.photobucket.com]

Mama Kinn

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @teapartys_over:
While I understand what you mean about how hair can feel after a blowout (although I haven't straightened my mega-curly hair in over 2 years), I think equating straight, shiny hair with 'instant prettiness' is rather biased. You can be pretty with curly hair too - at least I friggin' hope so, or otherwise I look like a dog.

Vulnavia

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I'd kill for either super straight or super curly hair. There are so many options for either. It's just those of us in the middle that suffer.

I've got the worst of both worlds with limp AND frizzy hair.

fornow

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I haven't read all the comments yet, but it is more than "the grass is greener". Ask yourself how many straighties got perms on that makeover show?

zero, that's right!

Makeovers are about control, and submission of self to conformity.

mynameisrio

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I suppose it could be the whole desire to be "white", but all of my white friends loved my curly hair. I love my curly hair, because I can do less with it every morning before classes.

This is disconcerting.

Why, Oprah?! Why?!

N i s t h a

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I am a curly girl gone straight. I go straight everyday. It is so hard to get my hair in a pony tail, or braid, and may hair is so poufy it itches my face. I have naturally curly hair, but I straighten it and I am not ashamed of it. If I straighten my hair I can go a few days without washing it (whihc is good for your follicles!) and be versitile. It's just hair. I don't care, as long as it's easier to manage and straight hair is- at least for me. (takes breath) ok I am done now with my defense. mmm-k bye!

Sweet Jellybum

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @rocknrollunicorn:
I thought I was alone in this! One side just kinda hangs there. I hope someone had some insight cause I haven't read further yet...

Crabby Cakes wants some Dance Biscuits.

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Can I also add to the curls = ethnic and uncontrollable thread?

1. people have said to me "but you don't look jewish!" like it is some sort of compliment.
2. I don't feel like myself (expressive, curious, loud, and determined) when my hair is straight. My curls are a part of me. Are we hitting on a more subtle message here - like how an earlier poster pointed out how some black women experience the hair debate? That being curly and being unpredictable as a woman is verboten?

theNChills

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I am feeling the Curly Girl love here today which is very much appreciated because it's hella windy here in Chicago and my hair and I are suffering.

As a fine-haired curly Jew, I was once told that I look "exotic." This came from a 100% ashkenazi dude. Apparently my 50% sephardic genes are responsible.

Might I also suggest Bumble and Bumble's curl conscious curl creme for fine/medium hair. Not every curly girl is a thick-haired beauty.

theNChills

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> While I agree with the point of the post, I have to agree with some earlier commenters about the politics of hair. I flat iron my hair because it's easy for me and I like the way it looks. It doesn't mean I want to be white or I have some type of self-hatred issues. Funny enough, since I have naturally wavy hair, it would take just as much work to make my hair curly as it takes to make it straight. In regards to hair, do what makes you happy.

JWest282

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> When I was in high school, I spent an hour a night pulling and blowdrying my long hair before bed so it would be perfectly straight. Shortly after graduation, I gave up and cut it about an inch short. When I finally did grow it out (and found a fantastic hairstylist), I discovered I had been hiding away these amazing ringlets all this time. I totally love my curly hair.

lisarae

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Can I get an AMEN??!!

I stopped fighting my very tight white girl curls at age 16. Now I love them and I would never change them. Any hairdresser who dares suggest I should straighten my hair is fired on the spot.

As much as I hated my hair when I was younger, I never stop getting compliments on my curls. I learned how to take care of them, how to use the right products to keep from looking like Roseanne Rosana-Dana and now I love my curls.

DramaClub

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @kittenfoo: Mine too! He has these perfect ringlet curls. I'm so glad he let them grow a bit.
Of course, I have the 'not-quite-curly, more-than-wavy' frizz monster on my head. So his curly hair is definitely nicer than my curly hair- and I'm totally jealous.

Crabby Cakes wants some Dance Biscuits.

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @briardahl: so would you high five me? i have dreadlocks and there's no mistaking the tightness of my kinks. and the fact that i can come into this office and not have to cover my locks with a wig was a big factor in my decision to take this job and not another. but that's because i keep forgetting that trend or not, dreadlocks are just not professional. silly me.

confusedforahotsecond, soldier of the horrible shoe war!

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I love my curly curly curly hair. Sometimes I straighten it (like once every 2 years) just bc it looks so different and feels so soft when I do, but I learned long ago never to bother burning/ironing it every day. Curls are nice. At least, I've learned to accept them.

spikenard

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> It bothers me that makeovers always feature straightening curly hair and never talk about better maintenance for curly hair. I used to babysit a little girl in college who had the most gorgeous waistlength curly hair that looked ragged because her mother had no idea how to maintain it. I have no problem with people wearing straight hair, but it breaks my heart when a child tells me their curly/kinky hair is ugly and they are only pretty when it is straight.

As for me, I haven't straightened my hair in 7 years and I will never do it again. Life is too short to spend it fighting humidity.

xay

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> April's Elle magazine told me straight hair is "dead, dead, dead".

OPRAH IS BEHIND THE TIMES.

Doriane

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> this topic touches me where only a curly-haired girl can be touched (that came out a lot more dirty than intended). I straightened my hair everyday through middle school and high school (status quo). but by college i embraced my curls (and laziness). I still straighten mine from time to time because of my pesky habit of twirling my hair constantly until i give myself a headache but wouldn't trade my wind-blown beauty for anything. not to mention i love how i stand out from all the other straight-haired blonds in wrigleyville.

@janiejones56: Aveda "Be Curly" was created for curly hair by curly hair. i've got a whole drawer full of gels and mousse and hairspray promising to tame my frizz but only Be Curly tames it without making it greasy or the dreaded crunchy (i get chills just thinking about that feeling)

MyJeneration

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Speaking of "black people have it," I was approached by my diveristy in Public Organizations prof about my hair. He is a black man with a doctorate and this was our conversation. It should be noted that I wore my hair curly on this day.

Prof: Where are you from?
Me: Texas.
Prof: No no, I mean where's your family from?
Me: Well, on my mom's side Mexico and Spain. Dad's side, French and tons others.
Prof: DO you know what mestizo means?
Me (and others in class): mixed blood, generally associated with native americans in the area.
Prof: Well I was in a part of Mexico and those guys were darker than me. You could tell the brother had been down there but they didn't admit it until after a few drinks. They said that there were actually africans who migrated and formed that town and people of "mixed blood" or mestizos were the black mexicans. You could tell who they were by the big curly hair and fuller lips.
Me: ...err.

So because I have curly hair and full lips, I'm black? There are other races/ethnicities that exhibit those traits, thanks.

dummyfakeroller

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> To many, curly = wild and uncontrolled. And you know why? Because for years, every time I walked into a salon, it was like the stylist has NEVER seen a curled hair in their life. It's really remarkable -- it's like the profession is built around ignoring an entire (very needy!) swath of their consumer base.

I've always been too lazy to try to straighten my hair, but I think I'm the exception to the rule.

Of course, now people are just jealous that I have no need for a hair dryer. HA!

SempreLibera

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> ARG!
I. am. not. my. hair! (Side note: I hate that song. She talks out of both sides of her neck: My hair doesn't make me, but I'm better because I wear it natural. Kiss my ass, IndiaPeriodAire!)

Anyway...

If you base your satisfaction with your hair on the opinions and approval of others, you will neverevernever be happy.

My (relaxed, straighted, long) hair is not a political statement. I am not "less Black" or trying to "be White" by wearing it that way. And anyone who dares criticize my choice to grow it, cut it, dye it, fry it, curl it, straighten it, lock it or rock it needs to get a fucking life.

Love yourselves ladies!

/vent

ceejeemcbeegee

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @BeckySharper: Not all Native Americans have stick straight hair. Ask my great aunts, mom, sister or some of my cousins. Heck, whites who saw Crazy Horse as a child though he was a captive partly due to the fact that he had curly hair. He was a full-blooded Sioux.

Nakisi

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> full disclosure- i have both and i curl on rainy days and straight on 'normal' days, only because to curl it nicely it takes product (which costs money) but i had to comment that this:

It's often described as "wild" and "untamed" which basically means "savage" and isn't that just a polite way of saying "black people have it" ?

seems like a stretch, even to a conspiracy theorist like me. Cause uh, a lot of my people have curly hair too... and latinos etc. I mean, i can follow the theory but i don't think it's true.

jewess

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Anyone else have an issue with one side of your head being curlier than the other? One side gets kinda curly, way frizzy. The other side gets ringlets.

Doesn't matter too much because my current haircut is such that straightening is just the better way to go anyway. But seriously, I need some help with going curly because I'm about to grow it out.

rocknrollunicorn

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I never straightened my curls, but actually shaved my head hoping my hair would grow back straight (it didn't). I now love my natural curls, but resent that it still takes real work to make them look like Debra Messing's in Will and Grace.

Also, it makes me sad that my sister (straight hair) "relaxes" (read: burns the shit out of) my mixed-race niece's gorgeous curly hair.

Crazy Broad

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> ..."black people have it"

or jewish people! (cough, cough) i can see your point here, but i have naturally curly/wavy/crazy hair that i straighten because bottom line--i like the way it looks. no amount of peer pressure/shaming from the other side can sway me on this issue. my friends in high school always gave me shit for straightening my hair and i just found it to be really offensive and borderline aggressive.

librarysmut

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> eh.. Beyonce most recently wore her hair curly... and has had many different styles throughout her career. She wore it blonde, black, brown..curly, cornrows, straight, afro, etc.

Also, Oprah isn't the one to blame for this ideal... it's good to send a letter I guess.. but how about those who help produce and influence the looks in our advertisements, television shows and so forth?

Gin*

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @layladylan: aw you sound just like my mom. =)i definitely got my fathers hair genes.. she never knew how to deal with my thick curly hair. but it was cute and i love her still. =)

it's all about hair product!! and DONT try to brush it out!!

jenalicious

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @anniehall:
Agreed! Oprah looks lovely with her curls.
My old school district had a drama festival every year, capped by a costume dance. All the girls were getting ready in the bathroom, and this girl, who was going as Scary Spice, was so uncertain about wearing her hair natural. My jaw just dropped, because she looked so gorgeous! And I told her so.
I love my curls. It's just one of the things, like my glasses and my unpierced ears, that makes me unique.

Mellalune

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> i have wavy hair and every once and a while i go and get a spiral perm because its pretty and fun and i get soooooo many compliments on it. stop straightening your hair curly people! some of us pay a lot to look that good!

Aaryn

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I straightened my hair with an iron every day in high school, i got the japanese straightening system 3x and half my hair fell out (still leaving enough for about 5 normal people) and it was only this past fall, when I was abroad and had no time/electronics when I finally decided to rock the curls. Even though I like them, most of the response now that I'm back on campus is negative. I don't look "put together," "professional," "modern," or any other kind of underhanded compliment. Oh well. I will continue to be nice to my hair, but I will definitely go back to my flat iron soon.

magiciannamedgob

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Remember Topanga from Boy Meets World??? RIP her lovely locks...

MiseAmiee

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I half remember Oprah once featuring two sisters who were mixed Japanese (or Korean?) - AfrAm, so they had a mix of afro hair with the hard straight Asian hair and they made special products and treatments for girls with mixed hair or hair that doesn't fit neatly into a category (Asian, Afro, Euro, curl).

Kali Mama

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Whenever I see current pictures of Mariah Carey, I think about how much better she looks with curly hair (in my opinion, anyway). Does it also look like she's gotten cheek implants, too? Totes unnecessary.

Same goes for Nicole Kidman. Loved her curly, darker red hair way back when.

cautionarywhale

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I love this to death. I'm trying so hard to embrace my curls (after straightening them my whole life). I get pro and anti comments.

Right now, all the hair dye is almost grown out (for the first time since I was 13) and not subjecting my hair to constant blow drying etc. I'm trying to focus on my newfound shiny healthy hair and not be self-conscious of the curl.

TrixieBelden

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @mouthalmighty: I hear ya. They used to call me "poodle" (or worse yet, "dog" and bark), or "rat's nest" when I was a kid. Those hellish bus rides still make me shiver a bit. Now, though, I love my curly hair. I can't imagine myself with straight hair.

MsMerlin

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Once Gawker made fun of me because my hair was curly, and they couldn't believe someone who ran a fashion site wasn't "fashionable" enough to straighten their hair.

Seriously. It's the only time I've ever disagreed with their comments about me :)

Imaginary Socialite

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> As a white woman, I am neither here nor there insofar as curly hair is concerned. I like it just as much as straight and don't really pay much attention to who has it and who doesn't.

However, I do have several female friends of color, and they have very strong opinions and emotions tied up in their hair. They have had straight hair, extensions, and have "rebelled" by growing an afro. I think afros are beautiful (and am kind of jealous that I couldn't have one), but obviously can't really understand their perspective because I haven't walked in their shoes.

All of this is to say, how much of this issue is tied up in race? How much is really about curly hair?

TurtleFace

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I am a curly girl as well, but my hair is not those beautiful curls you see on you, Teresa, or Mariah, or Oprah or even Nicole Kidman. Mine just looks yucky and frizzy. I need tips. But. I do not straighten. Not anymore. My straight-haired teenage daughter told me she likes my hair curly better. So yay!

chocolatecoffeebeans

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I have stick straight, fine hair. My husband has beautiful wavy/curly hair. I'm pregnant with a girl and really hoping our daughter gets his hair.

Not that I won't think she is beautiful either way, but his hair genes are much better!

layladylan

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @rantmagazine:boo hoo:
Yes, I have read the Bluest Eye. I'm not saying there isn't pressure on young girls to look a certain way. However, I also endured tons of horrible perms in my youth to try and get curly hair. What about all the white girls who inject anything and everything into their lips for the "perfect pout" and spend hours giving themselves skin cancer in order to appear a darker skin tone?

crackbabyjesus

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @briardahl: There is a lady at my work who is, I think part Hispanic, part AA, and she rocks the coolest shorn cute. It really brings out the gorgeous of her face, to tell the truth. If I didn't have a huge head and face, I would totally try that. I'm jealous of ladies who have little, round heads. And I have a total crush on her...

wednesdaywolf

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Dear Blond Diary...: Curly Girl Salon? Where is it?

HPgirl

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> so true! I am glad people are taking note of this. On America's Next Top Model Tyra Banks always makes the black girls get straight weaves all the time. Not a good message to curly-haired young women.

[i37.photobucket.com]

xiphz

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @girlscoutcookie: I think you are meant to shower, or dampen your hair, just not "use" shampoo.

But lately my hair has been looking really dark and dull, I think product build-up, so it seems a shampoo once in awhile is in order

Dear Blond Diary

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @kgibbs: HA. So fucking tru.

HPgirl

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I have curly hair and live by a daily conditioning no-shampoo routine. I don't own a blowdryer, and can't remember the last time I used a hairbrush. Thus far, I am not a social outcast and on most days my hair looks pretty nice - a lot nicer than it ever looked when I tried to straighten it daily.

takeitasred

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @brassinpocket: ooh, thanks for the tip!

Dear Blond Diary

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Alohamaid: what do you judge "better" by if not prevailing and historical beauty standards? I'm saying that what we think is beautiful isn't objective, it's informed by soceity as well.

@squeakel: um no. even when fros were a BRIEF fad back in the late 60s and 70s for black women, most people were still straightening and wearing wigs. Being natural has NEVER been in for the majority of black women ever in history. It just might seem that way because fros were popularized in pop culture imagination.

roodles

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> How someone hasn't told Oprah that her hair looks absolutely magnificent when it's curly is beyond me.

anniehall

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Conflating the bullying and curly hair articles into one- I'm somewhat mortified to announce that my nickname in middle school was "Bush." Luckily, bullied dork that I was, I didn't then understand the pubic overtones of the nickname; I thought it was just a spiteful, hateful way to make fun of my "bushy" hair. Anyway, I didn't learn to accept my white girl fro until fourteen years later, when my roommate lent me her $150 hair straightener- the only device capabe of ACTUALLY working. And I hated the way I looked with straight hair. Even though I'll never be able to get cute, trendy or avant guarde haircuts, I've kind of come to really love the curls.

mouthalmighty

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I have the curly hair, and it took me an admittedly long time to learn how to handle it. As girl who grew up in the late 80s, in the humidity-hot bed of central Florida, I couldn't rock the necessary skyhigh bangs to save my life. Christ, I used a brush in the mornings to comb out the mess. Combined with an unfortunate bad cut, and I was sporting Daily Sadness atop my head. This really is an apt description.

Thank you Jesus that my best friend introduced me to mousse. Scoff not. Mousse was awesome in 1994, and I needed it. While I never use it anymore (try Infusium - LOVE IT. Or Frederic Fekkai Curly Creme - LOVE IT.), mousse helped me love my curls. You scrunch and go? Sign me up for that.

And so now, Daily Happy atop my noggin, I'm regularly stopped by people on the street or at bars (ok - usually bars) by kind strangers that want to tell me that they wish they had my locks.

While I don't hold my self-worth in the compliments of others, I can't lie. When some suited gentleman with lovely salt-and-pepper hair stops me in the middle of the afternoon waiting to cross 16th and K and says with a grin, "Yes, I saw you tousle your hair. It's gorgeous. Eye-catching. Everyone knows this!"

Well, damn, call me simple, but that makes my day.

Melanie

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @katastic: I've heard that, about the not shampooing, and I don't understand it at all! The only time I can skip a hair wash is if I've straightened my hair, but if it's been curly and I've slept on it? It's a frizzy, tangly, greasy mess. How do you avoid this?

girlscoutcookie voted for Obama and it felt goooood.

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @shiningstar:
OMGOSH! Positively killing myself laughing re: looked like a Fraggle! And my mum says the same shit too . If I'm feeling low - she's all "why don't you get your hair done?"
9/10 times she's right.

@roodles:
Totally agree. I reckon the black women and hair issue is a whooooooooooooooole other post.

SammyBeesWax

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I once had my curly hair blown out on late in the work day (part of the hair cut I got), and I went back to work after. My boss was still at work, saw me, and said, "Don't wash your hair! Come back tomorrow with straight hair so everybody can see!"

Well, I washed it the next day. She saw me, and, in a disapproving, disappointed voice, "You washed your hair. Hm."

Yeah, sorry my curly hair offends you, harpy.

BeSarcastic

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I am a super-cracker with super-white genetics on both sides.

Yet... I have "the devil's curly hair" as Ned Flanders puts it.

CriscoDisco

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Jessi Ramsey: also, for black women it's a catch 22 because straightened hair can also look BAD. Half of the sisters I see on my way to work with relaxed hair have wispy, crispy, brittle looking tresses b/c the process is really damaging and everyone keeps trying to grow their hair out when they should be trimming it. Weaves only look good when they are fairly expensive otherwise it looks obvious and kind of trashy IMO. That being said, having straight hair was certainly easier but I feel as if my hair is a point of resistance against white beauty standards, not to be overly dramatic.

roodles

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @leMaldeTete: @pinkyBella: @Hamsterpants: @ladeedah: @femminista: Thanks! I'll check 'em out.

@Emmie of Doom: Sounds like mine might be a little curlier, because it doesn't blow dry straight. It just blow dries puffy and disgusting. If blow drying straight were an option, I'd probably consider wearing it straight more often, but I have to take a flat iron to it to get it to look nice.

ferociacoutura

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I love my curly hair. It's awesome.@WifeMotherCrip: Curly haired women SHOULDN'T wash with shampoo every day. Just conditioner when you want to shower, and shampoo once or twice a week. Trust.

katastic

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I don't know that straightening hair is about obtaining a white ideal. It's just what's supposedly fashionable right now. Twenty years ago everyone was getting a perm. NOBODY wanted long straight hair.

It seems our culture now wants a mixture of what every race has to offer: Straight hair, full lips, tan skin, etc.

It's too bad we don't have a much broader ideal.

squeakel

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Wow does this bring up a lot of memories. I started straightening my hair 5 years ago and it took a lot of agony to make that choice. I know for most people its only hair but being biracial and looking white EXCEPT for my curly hair it meant a lot. I really worried that I was giving into embracing white standards of beauty and disowning my proud African heritage. But then I realized no, I'm just very very vain and look far better with straight hair. Fin.

Alohamaid

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Hamsterpants: I love the Curl Cream too! It's the only scrunch-n-go product with which I've ever been even slightly successful. I used to use the Herbal Essences curly hair shampoo and my boyfriend did too, but then he came home for the weekend and was like, Hey, can I use your shampoo? and I seriously thought about hiding it from him. SunSilk is the greatest, and way more affordable than Bumble & Bumble or Aveda. Not that I'm bashing them; I'd use them if I had the budget, probably, but SunSilk gets the job done.

girlscoutcookie voted for Obama and it felt goooood.

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Dear Blond Diary...: tell her bring a bag full of money. Haircut and highlights run you more than $300 with a tip. I go there a few times a year, and then pray that a local stylist can copy it. Right now, I've got choppy hair thanks to a bad cut (although the color came out nicely.) If anybody knows a curly stylist around Chicago, please share on my message board.

brendastarlet is on it

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Last week I had a shower and then promptly fell asleep, pretty much destroying any chance i had of making my curly hair look like anything a sane person would have on their head, so I straightened it. I might have kept it wild but was going out for a posh supper. My dude commented on it and thought it looked really hot. My inner curly self was a little sad.

Also, Aveda's be curly line rocks. Kind of expensive but you don't need a lot so it lasts fairly well.

oesa

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @ferociacoutura: Bumble and Bumble makes a great product...I'm forgetting the name right now (possibly "be curly"), but it's divided into three categories (fine, medium, thick). It's a creme, so it doesn't make your hair sticky or hard. I love it, but it's muy expensive. Pantene pro-v makes a cheaper, stickier version, but it still works ok.

femminista

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> There's a phrase in spanish called "pelo malo". Literally, Bad Hair. Which means Black hair. Which means kinky, oily, and coarse. Curls are okay sometimes, but not all the times.

Personally, curly hair sucks sometimes because you can't play with her hair because she gets mad you're messing her do up, or your fingers get stuck and you end up pulling her hair (unintentionally when she's not looking for that ;D)

cde

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @girlscoutcookie: Isn't that stuff the absolute shit? I don't even blow dry with the diffuser anymore, I get such great volume out of the finishing products.

Hamsterpants

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Sev: It is the first link after the "Earlier:" on this post. I read all the comments and that's where someone mentioned Curly Girl. I ordered the book right away, and haven't straightened since! I think for me, it was about accepting something that I had always hated and tried to "fix", so sorry if I sound a little crazy!

GTCosita

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @SammyBeesWax: yes, when I have straight hair I feel sexier and I tend to attract different men too but I realize that it's socialization which tells us that long and straight is sexy and polished. It's a complicated issue b/c I feel like its OK to have curly hair if it's "bi-racial" in texture, then it's cute (Rachel True, Lynn from Girlfriends, Cree Summer). But if it's a tightly kinked fro then it's off-putting or exotic but only if you're Caribbean or African, not Af-American. I'm talking about media representation and perceived attractiveness.

To some of the not-black commentors on here: it's really not just about "the grass is greener". For black women, hair is a serious issue, it's about race, desirablilty and even class sometimes.

roodles

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @SammyBeesWax: All I know is that whenever I call my mom with an "I feel fat/ugly/unattractive" complaint, she always responds with "You need a relaxer, don't you?" She figured out before I did how much of my self-worth I place in my (straightened) hair. That, and people 'notice' me more when it's freshly relaxed/blown out. But for what it's worth, I rocked the 'natural' curls/waves for a while and I looked like a fraggle. I guess it's not for everyone.

shiningstar loves her president-elect!!!

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @WallSt_Rabbit: My Jewish boss thinks I'm Jewish because I have curly hair. I'm not going to break his heart and tell him the truth.

crunkjuice

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @rantmagazine:boo hoo: Beyonce without her weave:

[static.flickr.com]

[www.mediatakeout.com]

STICKSnSCONES

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I relax and straighten my hair and have been doing so since I was probably about 9 years old. I know that I am not my hair but that doesn't mean I don't feel conflicted as to why I think I look better with long, straight hair.

Jessi Ramsey

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> Eh, I think straight hair is just a trend right now. Curly hair was "in" when I was a girl in the '80s and I got more than a couple of butt-ugly perms. I don't remember anyone trying to make a big issue out of it back then.

I agree the pressure on black women to make their hair more "white" sucks, but I think that's a different argument.

louveciennes

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> The only problem I have with my curly hair is that it's harder to take care of than when it's straight...I know several people who get mad when I straighten it, but I'm a little confused about how it's bad to straighten your hair and totally acceptable to curl it.

Also I have an ex who complimented me every time my hair was straight...but not when it was curly. Note the word "ex."

peanutbutterspoon

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> i have curly hair that constantly looks like a crazy rats nest. i refuse to ever cut it. ever.

dvs

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I LOVE my curly Jewish hair. I constantly get people saying how they wish they had curls like mine. Mr.WSRabbit loves it too! :) Of course, it did take years to figure out how to use the right products to get rid of any frizz, learn not to shampoo every day (conditioner is fine though), find the right woman who knows how to cut curly hair, etc. Also, I never learned how to straighten my own hair so partially I keep it curly because I can't use a straightening iron!

WallSt_Rabbit

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I never understood why women go to such great lengths to straighten their hair. Straight hair is boring and in a lot of cases damn near lifeless.

I would kill for seriously bouncy, springy, sproingy curls (SPROIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!) but alas alas ALACK my hair is only slightly wavey...thick and defiant as a motherfucker. Why are curls looked down upon though?

Didn't mofos spend tons of money on perms, curling irons, etc.? don't they still? Though, I can't remember the last time I actually saw someone with a perm.

halakahiki82

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Hamsterpants: OH MY GOD, SunSilk is the best! I just discovered it last week and I'm obssessed. I've found that I can use the wavy-haired shampoo/conditioner and then just blow-dry upside down and my curls will do this bouncy-sexy-flippy-wavy thing that I have actually seen on actresses on television. I'm an addict.

@Dear Blond Diary...: To be honest, that Serena VDW look is the one I want more than any. Using a curling iron on my naturally curly hair produces somewhat of a similar effect, but it takes FOREVER.

girlscoutcookie voted for Obama and it felt goooood.

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Dear Blond Diary...: i went to Deborah Massey's salon for a consult. Would you believe my stylist had straight hair!! She was a beautiful Asian-American woman, but for that kind of money, I wanted to be cut by a curly girl, esp. since Massey comes off as evangelical about it. Anyway, she said my haircut was pretty good, so I'm sticking with my stylist. He knows I wear it in a range from very curly to wavy, so he gives me a flexible and forgiving layered cut that works.

Curly Girl products are OK, but expensive for what you get. I found another cleansing conditioner that I love even better, and you get more product.

www.chazdeanstudio.com

Also DHC makes an after bath emulsion that is amazing for frizz.

brassinpocket

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> My hair isn't only curly, it's red. Should we straighten it before the witch trials, or after?

I used to try and straighten it, which is to say: I used to beg my mother to iron it out on the ironing board, since any and all attempts to get it in line with a commercial straightener were futile. These were also the days when I thought my ghost-white skin would look better pale. Thank goodness I got over it.

tonightineed thinks rahm is nom

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @BlondeGoddess: Nope! I have better things to do with my time. Like read.

Curly hair, relatively intelligent, will finally look my current age (27) when I'm about 40...no wonder I can't bag anybody.

Daear

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I'm a little white girl with pin straight hair living in the Dominican mecca of Washington Heights in NYC. The other day, my husband and I were walking down the street and I was continually oo-ing and ahh-ing over the gorgeous curly hair of the women in my neighborhood. Granted, I like my hair, but if I had a big dallop of fabulous curls gracing my noggin rest assured they would stay in place.

Hair like this...
[www.afrobella.com]

Or this...
[www.thebudgetfashionista.com]

ALWAYS looks styled and fabulous. Rock on, curly cues!!!

LaComtesse

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I tried to go curly, and all I got was burns on my scalp and bald spots. I hate when curlies are forced into the ranks of straight as a pin-heads like me.

raphaela

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> In college I was asked- more than once- what my ethnicity was. "Because, I mean, you look Caucasian but your hair is so curly!" I am not making this up. The implications of that just blew my mind.

@mllej: Yes plz!

LookyLoo

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @OhhYeah: Mermaids! I am totes growing out my hair just to see if I turn into Ariel.

@ferociacoutura: The one product I reaallyyy like is After-party by Bedhead TIGI. It doesn't shape curls but it makes all of the fly-aways go away and it makes your hair shiny but not too greasy. Sometimes I can find it at Target for really cheap.

ladeedah

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @crackbabyjesus: You shut your mouth. You shut it right now.

I only say that because I was that kid rocking a poodle perm mit aqua-netted hair-wave bangs. Not a good look. That style, plus all things acid-washed, should DIE DIE DIE. But back on point, yah, I agree that on some level this is just a trend for most people.

However, I think hair straighting becomes more of an issue when you throw race in the mix. Like it's one thing if Nicole straightens her hair (tho god bless her for embracing her glowy whiteness), another seemingly touchier subject when black women do. And a bit closer to home, Paris Hilton rocking blue contacts 24/7 is one thing, but if a pacific islander sister pops in a pair, you might assume (incorrectly or not) there might be other "issues" at play.

Sorry if that went a little off-topic, but back on HEY shit at least Oprah's put down her flat-iron. I mean she's since picked up the curling iron but that's a def a step in the right direction, imho. I remember way back when she was doing her show and shooting "Beloved" she was rocking tight, natural curls and I really dug the change.

On a related note: [www.afrobella.com]
Cuz it's just a good, related site.

Yes.We.Did.Dagnabbit.

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I have hair similar to Sarah Jessica Parker and what surprises me is that women (never male) colleagues and bosses have told me to straighten it or that I should use a Chi. Um no thanks-i don't know who decided straight hair is more "professional" or desirable. I have begun to notice this phenomenon lately-on "Millionaire Matchmaker" how many times has Patty Stanger criticized curly hair?

missyprissy

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @roodles:"Good Hair" will FOREVER be our cross to bear!!!

angryblackgurl

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I have curly "natural" hair at the moment and you know what? I can't fucking stand it. Gimme back my straight weave any day.

I can honestly say that when I have sleek, straight, slick unbeweavable hair. I feel sexy. When I have curly afro hair - I feel more cute, less sexy. Even though my boyfriend loves the curly. I just can't do it for long amounts of time.

Oh and also when I have curly hair I attract a TOTALLY different type of guy than straight hair.
Anyone else?

SammyBeesWax

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @ferociacoutura: I know people will laugh at me, but i used to buy lots of expensive product at the beauty supply. Then one day I got some free samples in the mail for Sunsilk, the curly hair formula. That stuff rocks. My hair has never looked better and it is hella cheap. Shampoo, Conditioner, the leave in cream stuff, and the swirly gel to finish

Hamsterpants

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @Daear: My point exactly! 5 minutes vs 45, that's not a hard choice, is it.

BlondeGoddess

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @La_Panique: Trade you. In a second.

Seriously.

Love the curly hair on girls I'm sexin though. Easier to hold on to.

redheadedstepchild

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @ferociacoutura: I too have curly hair that's not super thick. I use aveda curl enhancer. it's a cream, but not too thick and really works well.

I always go curly because it's so much easier than straightening all the time, but i straighten it sometimes on the weekends when i go out.

pinkyBella

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @brassinpocket: LOL, I bought shampoo from the "Curly Girl salon in NYC. My friend loves that book and wants to tour the salon when she visits me next month!

Dear Blond Diary

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @ferociacoutura: I've got the same kind of hair. I usually blow dry it straight because I never learned how to make it look good curly.

Emmie of Doom

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> @GTCosita: I must have missed that discussion! My sister has tight curls (that she hates) but I think are beautiful. She says she doesn't know what to do with it.
Her birthday IS coming up, I think she'll be receiving her very own copy of "Curly Girl"!

Sev

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]> I curl my hair every day. Every. Day. I cant stand the straggly limp locks.

LaFemme

]]> <![CDATA[Dear Oprah, Mariah & Leona: Don't Forget That Curly Hair Is Beautiful Too]]>