Tyra Banks Real Hair Dismay
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 From minute one it seemed that Tyra held some outdated hair beliefs — namely, length = beauty.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.
Category: Famous Faces, Hair, Issues
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- Black was always Beautiful « Lifestyles of the Reckless & Famous | September 26, 2009
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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.
I’ve been a Mortician for 32 years and what I’m about to say may shock many of you who seem to have a hard time letting go of that Sodium Hydroxide Relaxer Chemical that you just want to see as just another hairstyles. Unfortunately its alot more disturbing than another choice of hairstyle. Underneath every Black Woman with relaxer scalp who I’ve examine had an excess of green slimy smelly substance underneath their scalp and all over their brains…The Black women with natural hair on the other hand did not contain that green substance. I was quite disturb by this experience that I went natural 32 years back and been natural ever since. So dont always assume a person who is natural is trying to control your choice, sometime it can be that they may know something you may not and may want to help you not put you down.
Wow , see that is what we need to be researching, the black race has so many health disparities i think that may be the missing link
Lisa
Are you available for an interview regarding the green slimy substance in perm using Black women?
Moyende
mkamali910@gmail.com
I mean you all do realize that to have her natural hair she would have had to shave her head or go through a long, stressful grow-out process? I myself have relaxed hair simply because it’s easier – for going to school on my own in a foreign country and day-to-day care. I honestly do not see what’s so wrong with it. People with naturally straight hair use methods in order to make it curly. I would cry every morning getting my hair done as a child. Honestly, I would stay natural if it was just easier to care for and deal with. Tyra has worn weave for as long as anybody can remember and she is now embracing the hair that is naturally growing out of her head, relaxed or not. So seriously, grow up and leave Tyra alone. (From a sixteen year old girl) As for you, Mortician, I’ll take you seriously when you improve the consistency of your grammar and spelling.
My thoughts are that she said real hair, and I see that her hair is not that neon orange color that she usually sports. Also? It looks more like she wears it flat ironed than permed, in which case it is natural hair, just not nappy hair. Somehow we who wear our natural hair flat-ironed have been made out to be the bald-headed stepchildren of the natural hair community. It’s a shame, really.
I don’t believe Tyra had the right to “feel responsible” to show women her “real hair”. No one cares. We all, model or not have to fake it, whether its makeup or heels, plastic surgery, contacts, lashes, weaves, wigs, bleachers, tanners, waxing, shaving, tweezing, body flattering clothes Etc. We all fake it to some level and we all know it. If she was going to go all out then she should have kept her true hair texture. I understand it may be impossible because she can’t wait till her relaxed hair grows out and “real” might mean hair that grows from scalp treated or not. But why the wet hair?? She had this planned, she has stylist. Why not dry? Well let me tell u my hair is curly but not coarse. My hair looks better wet, it looks straighter, tamed, healthier and longer. Your hair is still chemically enhanced Tyra so why make such a public announcement and not fully deliver? You cant at least go dry(unstyled)?
Personally I see that Tyra is very vain and self loathing. Everything she does, she wants the world to know it. She wants praise for everything she does. And I believe this roots from deep down insecurities. And that’s fine. But don’t feel responsible for us. Don’t use others as an excuse to self loath to the world. That’s exactly how oprah has become to. A god mentality. Its vain. She would have never stepped out naturally without saying one word about it. She’s gotta make it a grand entrance for herself. I admired her before. She’s accomplished soo much. But its hard to admire someone who tries hard to show people she’s “normal” and “humble” like kim k as well. A truly humble person doesn’t need to show it and broadcast it. You just know and for that their respected. When you have to try hard to prove then your clearly not. I’m just saying I became annoyed of her. A good talk show host let’s the interviewed have the floor. Not try and outshine them.
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.