Tyra Banks Real Hair Dismay
bella | Sep 09, 2009 | Comments 111
In retrospect, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. I shouldn’t have come into the new season of the Tyra Banks Show with expectations.
But I did. My bad.
Tyra's real hair, ZOMG!
For some reason, when Tyra announced September 8 would be “National Real Hair Day,” I confused “real” with “natural.” I assumed we’d be seeing a supermodel first — iconic beauty Tyra Banks sporting her hair as it grows out of her head. Embracing her hair’s true texture.
Wrong.
Instead, what we got was Tyra with her hair slick straight and dripping wet, a texture clearly chemically assisted. (PLEASE prove me wrong, if you disagree). And then she proceeded to introduce her hairdresser, Oscar James, who gave her a fancy blow out and used heat to style it into curls before a rapt studio audience.
It’s comforting to know that I’m not the only one who was disappointed by this heavily hyped television event. During the show Tyra became a Twitter trending topic, and the consensus in the natural hair community seemed to be a collective meh, served with a generous dose of side eye.
I started out the episode with a heavy heart. From minute one it seemed that Tyra held some outdated hair beliefs — namely, length = beauty. I’m not clear on why her hair had to be soaking wet the moment she appeared – to the point where her back was wet too. The only thing I can think of is, to add to the appearance of length.
Every time Tyra insisted it was her responsibility to show young girls what real hair looks like, it made me cringe. And as Concrete Loop pointed out, why did she feel the need to repeatedly declare that she isn’t bald?
The potential was there for this show to educate women of color about the beauty they so often hide behind sewn in pieces and slathered on chemicals. Instead it quickly devolved into a self-aggrandizing display that (in my opinion) reinforced negative assumptions about black hair — further compounded by the other guests on the show. All of whom had their hair styled and styled and styled some more before their “big reveal.” And then it was time for the Perez Hilton interview and I swear, my hand up and flipped the channel all of its own accord.
I always try to look on the bright side… so I’ll end with this. Tyra’s “Real Hair Day” was the beginning of an important conversation. But myself and the many natural haired women I know, were left cold by the episode. Where were the women with kinky, coily, natural hair textures? Why not feature a woman with a TWA? Why not expose her hair as it truly is — unaltered texture and all? Maybe, despite the hype, Tyra wasn’t yet ready. And that I can almost respect.
Going natural shouldn’t be a fad — it takes dedication, committment, and courage. Maybe this was a baby step for Tyra. I’m gonna hold out hope that someday she’ll do an episode that truly displays a range of hair textures and explores the deep feelings associated with natural hair. If not now, then hey — there’s always the premiere of season six.
Photos are from Tyra’s Twitter page.
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When i was watching the episodes about real hair she did clarify that her is real but NOT natural. Also on follow up episodes she did show girls with all different textures of “real” hair. From natural to chemically assisted hair, and the different ways it can be styled. I think Tyra showing her real hair was a huge step for her in the business she is in. Long flowing hair is idealized and for her she has been wearing weaves a very long time to the point it became her comfort zone. Letting go of that weave was the first step of accepting her real length and might eventually lead to her accepting her natural length. I personally think she looks better with less to no weave at all.
As for her hair being slicked back dripping with water during her real hair revealing, I think it was like that to show that there were no “tracks” from weave in her hair so people wouldn’t question her it.
Over all I think what Tyra did was the first step in helping other young black women show their real length, and then eventually come accustomed to showing their natural hair.
I have been natural for 1.5 months now and I absoolutely love and enjoy my hair’s diversity.
There are a lot of rude people on this board…anyway…I feel like people get way too concerned about what other people are doing to their hair and clearly many plain just don’t listen. The woman said REAL hair…she didn’t say NATURAL hair…she didn’t say varieties of natural black women’s hair…she didn’t say squat about this show being about black women lol matter of fact. Why assume she’s going to do all of these things?? The whole point was to show that not everyone that wears a weave is necessarily bald-headed that may be why she kept repeating that she wasn’t bald hmmmm. Also, so many think Tyra’s so dumb so this so that…since you’re so much smarter surely you have the business savvy to start your own show and be the change you wish to see in the world.
I didn’t get a chance to watch the episode just a few clips. I’m surprised by your disappointment. Real hair is just that real hair. She grew it, its hers. Real and natural are different. I have been natural over seven years and I love it. It works for me. Not all sistas with a relaxer are sellouts. Relaxing is a choice just like going natural. I think its a shame that there is this divide between the natural and relaxed sistas. Tyra’s hair was wet from the shower. This only further proved that the hair was hers. She got it cut right before the show. The wet look was not to create the illusion of lenghth. She already had length to begin with. We have got to move on from this. Its getting to be as bad as the light skin/dark skin feud.
I don’t understand all of the hate/disappointment. Although I’m not a fan of Tyra and all the hype surrounding the show drove me crazy, how was she supposed to show her “natural” hair? Anyone who has ever had a perm knows it takes a long time to go back to natural (short of cutting all of your hair off and starting from square one). At the end of the day, it is our responsibility as parents/future parents, role models, etc. to teach our children that people come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, etc. And what a person chooses to do with their hair is personal and should we really question it? I wear a relaxer and sometimes I wear weaves. I’ve also had braids and natural hair. I’ve liked every style for various reasons and I’ve never felt the need to explain my choices to anyone. Let’s love ourselves and each other no matter how we choose to wear our hair. There are so many more important issues to focus on.
You people with natural hair are always so angry with the world. So what if Tyra has a perm or if I perm my hair? What’s the big deal? Whether you like it or not, you DO put chemicals in your hair. Just because your hair isnt straight doesnt mean it’s chemical free. And by the way, if you wear makeup, there’s chemicals on your FACE. If you wear clothes, there are chemicals in those too. Relax, natural folks. Your hair is kinky…so what. Don’t flatter yourselves…
To some degree, I see both sides. I am a young, NATURAL sistah now lol and while my hair looked more “desirable” while relaxed, it has reached the desirable level of health and beauty now without chemicals.Tyra’s segment did deceive a lot of women, in particular, of all races. I think we assumed her to wear a fro or something, but instead Tyra tried to promote beauty w/o fake hair. It was counterproductive, but it’s great to see her in a more natural hair color without barbie looks. She’s starting to embrace her heritage, physically.
I do commend her for the few times she wore natural hair on TOP MODEL-corn rows once or twice, and a curly, frizzy fro from the season with Eva Pigford.
While it was disappointing that she didn’t show her natural hair, you must remember that it probably wasn’t easy for her to go like that. Like many women, she’s a length-lover that feels the need to cling to fake, woven-in hair, and she’s probably comfortable doing that…almost like a security blanket. Now, I’m not saying that I don’t think she should have used her natural hair (that would have been lovely), but this was her real hair…the hair she’s insecurely hiding from the world, and she showed it to everyone. That counts for something in my book.
OMFG!!! r ppl 4real?! what makes “treated” hair any different from natuarl hair? its all REAL hair rite?! if its growing from ur head u have the rite 2 do w\ it whatever the heck it is u wanna do w\ it, & nobody has that rite 2 judge u in any negative sence regardless of whatever that chose maybe. so 4 all u ppl out there (especially if it came from the mouth of a black woman) u need 2 get off of tyra’s case just cause her hair wasn’t “natural”. maybe u should all take a second 2 stop slinging insults & go look in the mirror & learn 2 love urselves (kinky hair n all), cause CLEARLY she does.
p.s. & yes i am a YOUNG black woman & i’ve had both treated & natural hair & its given me no less or more trouble than anyone else’s hair in either state, but i love it either way regardless of what others have said, r saying & will continue 2 say because its MY hair.
p.s.s. & ALL HAIR (NO MATTER ITS STATE) IS GOOD, BEAUTIFUL HAIR!!! u just have 2 take the time 2 learn what 2 do w\ it, thats all.
Honestly, I don’t know why anyone would think Tyra would sport her natural, kinky hair. I took it as she was gonna wear her relaxed hair without any weave. Ya’ll know better to think that Tyra was gonna rock some kinks, lol.
[...] sorts out her thoughts about Tyra Bank’s National Real Hair Day episode, hot on the heels of the multiple stories [...]