Real Hair Vs. The Fakeness: Tyra Show Clip
Well, I’m sure you’ve all heard about Tyra Banks showing the world her REAL hair. I think its awesome that Tyra has encouraged so many of us to drop the weave, wig and other stuff to allow our natural hair to be seen. I think we should have a positive attitude about our hair and love ourselves no matter what type of hair that we have. But, I am also gonna be real for a minute. When I was growing up there were many girls whose hair wouldn’t grow longer than my pinkie finger and the weave gave them access to princess locks. Even though it wasn’t growing from the scalp, they felt prettier with the added on hair. There were many girls whose edges were so broken that having a weave allowed them to cover up that baldness and appear to have a full head of hair. Again, the weave gave them a sense of prettiness that they didn’t feel on their own. I think that self-esteem and hair has become so intertwined for women/girls that its hard for many of us to let get of the weave, wig, and extensions. “If long hair is in and my own hair won’t grow, I’m gonna buy me some.” That is the sentiment that many people have. I think the key is to be happy with who you are, no matter if your hair is real or fake.
I’m gonna be real some more. Attitudes about hair have a lot to do with what kind of hair that you have and if it’ll grow. I’ve been known to wear wigs and weaves, but the reality is that my hair is shoulder length and its wavy. So I can tell people to take their weave out, but the reality is: My hair is as long as a weave. But what about the people who love long hair and their own hair won’t grow. Is it realistic for us to tell them to love their short hair, when all they really want is for their hair to grow longer? I think girls/women whose own hair doesn’t grow very long have a different attitude about wearing weaves/wigs. What do you think?
Tags: beauty, hair, Tyra Banks
About the Author
Yasmin Shiraz is the President of Still Eye Rise Films, an independent production company which films educational and thought provoking documentaries that chronicle the lives, traumas and experiences of youth. Her first production, Can She Be Saved?, a documentary that examines violence among middle school girls, was an official selection of the 2009 Roxbury Film Festival and recently won a 2009 Indie Award of Merit from IndieFest.
Yasmin Shiraz is the Award winning Author of Retaliation a novel about a community’s response to youth violence. In 2009, it was selected as one of the top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association. She is the author of The Blueprint for My Girls: How To Build A Life Full of Courage, Determination & Self Love (Simon and Schuster) and five other books. Her best selling “Blueprint” empowerment series is utilized as a self esteem, motivational, and educational tool at middle and high schools, after school programs, non-profit youth centers, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country. 
3 Comments for Real Hair Vs. The Fakeness: Tyra Show Clip
September 24, 2009 at 1:18 pm
And let me be real for a minute. Tyra’s hair was not natural. It was relaxed. The girls in your neighborhood who had weave to feel beautiful, were trying to imitate a type a beauty that wasn’t their own. I mean, unless you are bi-racial, to be black with a type of hair that resembles the weaves that I see every where is not realistic. There is nothing wrong with wearing weave every now and again to have you hair longer, it’s just like make-up. There is however, something wrong with us considering that chemicals in our hair every month makes for a natural hairstyle.
It’s not… and That’s why so many women are insecure, because they are never taught to embrace what is naturally theirs. Nappiness.
September 24, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Please take a moment to check out my documentary film BLACK HAIR
It is free at youtube. 6 parts including an update from London, England.
It explores the Korean Take-over of the Black Beauty Supply and Hair biz..
The current situation makes it hard to believe that Madame C.J. Walker once ran the whole thing.
I am not a hater, I am a motivator.
Plus I am a White guy who stumbled upon this, and felt it was so wrong I had to make a film about it.
self-funded film, made from the heart.
Can it be taken back?
Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96aaTSdrAE
September 29, 2009 at 4:12 pm
i love my real hair…i want to cut it n grow dreds n keep them up with my nature! I plan to do that very soon Beauty is Skin Deep!