Comments on: Good Hair Syndrome

By: LaNegra

LaNegra — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:59:21 +0000

Hey mamita,

We all have issues, from hair, to skin, to complexion, to girth of hips. If it’s not one issue, it’s one of the many others.
Some things we have control over, but I don’t believe in wasting energy on things I cannot change. For instance, I can control my weight (if that’s an issue), but I cannot control texture of my hair, nor the color of my skin.

So, I’d rather focus on other things…like what new product I can try out.

Be happy with what God gave you, before He takes it all away

By: sonia

sonia — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:46:02 +0000

One more thing. I have lots to say about this subject, but I will try to stop with this last thing. My best friend is african american. Since i’ve known her she has always had really thick, healthy looking hair. It used to be longer, but she has since cut it to a chin length bob. Everytime we are together she has something to say about my hair, its texture, and curl pattern.

She always has a compliment, and says ” I would kill to have hair like yours.” It kind of gets on my nerves because my hair isn’t all that healthy, and this is something she says almost everytime i see her. I’m glad she likes my hair and how I wear it, but she seems to think that she would have a better quality life if she had my hair. Not to mention the things she has to say about skin color.

We both have the same issues with our hair. I’m never going to have silky straight hair that I can wash and wear. She’s never going to have it either, but she feels that having my type of hair would make her life easier. I guess we both kind of have issues.

I have to admit, that I say “good hair” sometimes, i guess its just how I was raised. I think when we say “good hair” we really mean to say “hair that is easier the manage.” I would kill to not have to spend hours to straighten my hair, or be afraid to get it wet, or use harsh chemicals on it to make it more managable. I should really be lucky to have hair on my head, but we all want what we can’t have sometimes.

By: LaNegra

LaNegra — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:59:09 +0000

I hope I don’t offend anyone, but it speaks volumes when people are praised on the texture of their hair, rather than the health of the hair. It’s such a huge part of culture too. In fact (my mother would kill me if she ever read this) but my father’s family didn’t want him to marry her, because she had “bad hair.”

Our culture is entrenched in using the tightness of curl as “good hair” criterion. It’s pathetic, because I know a number of girls with straight hair who suffer from traction alopecia, due to pulling their hair so tightly. One girl is literally bald; her hair will never grow back in, because she pulled and tugged at her hair so much that there is permanent damage.

So, while some may tell you that it “it would suck to have hair like mine,” my hair is healthy and I have the option of wearing it curly, straight, frizzy, in an afro, but it’s healthy.

And do not be completely fooled into thinking that those with straight hair are always thrilled; those are the ones with perm rods in their hair, coming out of the salon looking like Michael Jackson in the days of jherri curls.

By: sonia

sonia — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:54:08 +0000

I’ve heard the term “good hair” all my life, never heard anyone say bad hair. I think its different where you grow up. I’m from Nebraska i’m bi-racial, Mexican descent and African American. I’ve mostly had contact with my African America family members and to them I had “good hair.” When i started college I started to get more into my “Mexican” side. I remember straightenening my hair in front of one of my friends that wasn’t African American and didn’t have hair like mine. She told me it would suck to have hair like mine, all she needed to do was wash and go. I never had anyone tell me that before. I had always been praised for having “good hair.” I think if I would have been around my Mexican side of the family I probably would have been told I had “bad hair.”

By: Anitra

Anitra — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:03:54 +0000

I couldn’t have said it better myself, girl! When people (sorry, but especially here down south) start that mess about me and my kids, I stop them right there and say HAVING hair is good hair!

By: LaNegra

LaNegra — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:42:43 +0000

It’s really sad that people use the tightness of their curl pattern to define the quality of their hair, but it’s something that is done.
Even Dominicanas do it and it’s sickening. There are so many other ways to measure one’s value, but hair should not be one of those methods used.

By: Curlcity

Curlcity — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:40:13 +0000

Well Said:)

My sister recently gave me this rubbish about her not having good hair. Even, after almost 2 yrs of being on the hair boards and hearing discussions on this topic so much, I was flabbergasted. Instantly speechless…because I’d never heard someone say this to me IRL. lol
Years ago, if someone told me I had “good hair” I would have took it as a compliment:/ Chalk it up to ignorance.
But, my sis was adamant about how her hair is “nappy” and how much she “needs” a perm, and how me and my other sister “got the good hair”. I tried to tell her it was all in how you care for it, but knew there was absolutely nothing I could ever say to change her mind.
Anyways….Love your site & your hair:)