dawnboy999 said:

I'm not saying P can't grow his hair. Prince had great hair and he styled grew and cut it many ways.I'm not sure why maybe he wanted really big eighties hair maybe they needed to start shooting the movie right away and he couldn't wait for it to grow. Regardless of the reason the texture of those strands in many scenes in that movie and during many Purple Rain concerts look totally synthetic. The question is not whether Prince can grow hair he obviously can grow it as long as he wants. That hair though is not real.

Especially at the beginning of that When Doves Cry scene, when the song is about to start and he's in traffic.

dawnboy999 said:

I'm not saying P can't grow his hair. Prince had great hair and he styled grew and cut it many ways.I'm not sure why maybe he wanted really big eighties hair maybe they needed to start shooting the movie right away and he couldn't wait for it to grow. Regardless of the reason the texture of those strands in many scenes in that movie and during many Purple Rain concerts look totally synthetic. The question is not whether Prince can grow hair he obviously can grow it as long as he wants.Thst hair though is not real.

NO the hell they do not!

You must never have seen any hair done with marcel irons. My hair looks smoother than that, his hair bounces around and looks like any old set curls done with marcel irons.

Are you even a hair stylist? Did you have black people as clients? I did... every head usualy has different textures in it... usually up to 5 different textures in any given head of hair... so how can you say this for sure?

I think you and a few other orgers here need to rephrase your statements to

"in my limited experience in dealing with people of ethnic hair textures..."

"in my personal opinion....."

Because coming form this hairdresser that has worked under people like Olive Lee Benson (google it) for YEARS, you know nothing about what your talking about.

Black people can and do have naturally shiny hair if it is conditioned well and straightened properly.... and it can be done with blowdrying/rollerset and a marcel iron. Easy peasy.

paintedlady said:

WEAVES DO NOT FRIZZ UP. Fake hair back then layed flat... wigs stayed in their place and they didn't move. With Prince jumping around all over the place he would have flipped that shit off or it would have stayed stiff as a board. Ask Tina Turner! That heffas hair stayed in ONE place.

Prince hand a professional press n curl in the 80's. They used Marcel irons on his head to make the curls (1" barrel) .... go ask Snoop Dog, he rocks the same look from time to time.

Prince's hair was a damned fizzy mess ... even in the movie when he got sweatty. THis is what happens with a press n curl when you sweat it out... if his hair was relaxed, it wouldn't of had the same "body".

He doesn't wear weaves, wigs or tracks... I did hair, ETHNIC hair and curly hair does all kinds of things.

And yes, anyone can grow their hair long with OUT a fucking weave if they know how to maintain their hair, no matter how fine it is.

WTF is wrong with you people? Stop hatin' on Prince's natural fabulous locks. We all know he a hairy little mofo. Look at his chest.... no bead-a-beads... that should help you understand that he has a looser curl/nap and not an uber tight nap.

[img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/00327897_lg.jpg[/img:$uid]

Genesia said:

[img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/00327897_lg.jpg[/img:$uid]

Arse weave!

This thread has convinced me to never buy an iPad.

AsylumUtopia said:

Genesia said:

[img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/00327897_lg.jpg[/img:$uid]

Arse weave!

This thread has convinced me to never buy an iPad.

Just came to say that I believe that people of all races can grow long hair. The reason I feel that Oprah might be working with a li'l help is because of the frequency that her hair is styled. It'd make much more sense to use a weave to prevent damaging the hair from excessive styling. I don't know if Prince has had or is having help. In the end, it doesn't matter at all. However you're going to do it, do it well.

MarquessMarq said:

And your first mistake was buying an ipad which will most likely be outdated in a few months. lol

You mean as opposed to every single other tablet which has essentially been outdated on day of release?

I'm not sold on the whole tablet form factor ...but the reality is, there is no tablet market - there's just an iPad market. Any single revision of an iPad has sold more and is better supported than anything else at this point.

Genesia said:

paintedlady said:

WEAVES DO NOT FRIZZ UP. Fake hair back then layed flat... wigs stayed in their place and they didn't move. With Prince jumping around all over the place he would have flipped that shit off or it would have stayed stiff as a board. Ask Tina Turner! That heffas hair stayed in ONE place.

Prince hand a professional press n curl in the 80's. They used Marcel irons on his head to make the curls (1" barrel) .... go ask Snoop Dog, he rocks the same look from time to time.

Prince's hair was a damned fizzy mess ... even in the movie when he got sweatty. THis is what happens with a press n curl when you sweat it out... if his hair was relaxed, it wouldn't of had the same "body".

He doesn't wear weaves, wigs or tracks... I did hair, ETHNIC hair and curly hair does all kinds of things.

And yes, anyone can grow their hair long with OUT a fucking weave if they know how to maintain their hair, no matter how fine it is.

WTF is wrong with you people? Stop hatin' on Prince's natural fabulous locks. We all know he a hairy little mofo. Look at his chest.... no bead-a-beads... that should help you understand that he has a looser curl/nap and not an uber tight nap.

[img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/00327897_lg.jpg[/img:$uid]

I knew YOU would!!! This is why I love your evil ass!!

Bitch you know we ALL have nappy asses! Your ass hairs aren't straight either! Ass hairs don't count... and don't be pulling out any of Prince's curled up monkey in a pit pics either!

Genesia made me cuss at her for showing me Princes nappy asscheeks!

phonzarelli said:

Just came to say that I believe that people of all races can grow long hair. The reason I feel that Oprah might be working with a li'l help is because of the frequency that her hair is styled. It'd make much more sense to use a weave to prevent damaging the hair from excessive styling. I don't know if Prince has had or is having help. In the end, it doesn't matter at all. However you're going to do it, do it well.

That makes no sense because many women blow dry or hot curl their hair daily. They still have hair on their heads.

Its only the super hot blow dryers that cause damage, but when you have a personal hair dresser, you can minimize damage and have less work to do because the hair is maintained properly.

So to put it plain, the more a sister does her hair, the better condition it usually is especially if she has a kick ass technician that is skilled and practices hair CARE by doing rollersets then blowing out the set to style it.

I do my hair like that everyday in the colder months when I can not wash n wear it.

paintedlady said:

Genesia said:

[img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/00327897_lg.jpg[/img:$uid]

I knew YOU would!!! This is why I love your evil ass!!

Bitch you know we ALL have nappy asses! Your ass hairs aren't straight either! Ass hairs don't count... and don't be pulling out any of Prince's curled up monkey in a pit pics either!

Genesia made me cuss at her for showing me Princes nappy asscheeks!

I waited all day for that. It was worth it.

phonzarelli said:

Just came to say that I believe that people of all races can grow long hair. The reason I feel that Oprah might be working with a li'l help is because of the frequency that her hair is styled. It'd make much more sense to use a weave to prevent damaging the hair from excessive styling. I don't know if Prince has had or is having help. In the end, it doesn't matter at all. However you're going to do it, do it well.

Not only that but also the different textures her hair seems to take on. I have always imagine that Oprah has a fierce relaxer. But then sometimes I see her hair and it almost looks like Janet Jackson's hair in the Damita Jo era (when her hair looked like red ropes).

I dunno, maybe there is a way of style her hair to make the texture look that way. Or maybe Oprah doesn't have a relaxer but instead gets a blow out and flat iron so that she can wear it in natural (textured) styles.

paintedlady said:

phonzarelli said:

Just came to say that I believe that people of all races can grow long hair. The reason I feel that Oprah might be working with a li'l help is because of the frequency that her hair is styled. It'd make much more sense to use a weave to prevent damaging the hair from excessive styling. I don't know if Prince has had or is having help. In the end, it doesn't matter at all. However you're going to do it, do it well.

That makes no sense because many women blow dry or hot curl their hair daily. They still have hair on their heads.

Its only the super hot blow dryers that cause damage, but when you have a personal hair dresser, you can minimize damage and have less work to do because the hair is maintained properly.

So to put it plain, the more a sister does her hair, the better condition it usually is especially if she has a kick ass technician that is skilled and practices hair CARE by doing rollersets then blowing out the set to style it.

I do my hair like that everyday in the colder months when I can not wash n wear it.

I had someone do that to my hair one time. Cousin who went to Cosmo school. I wondered why she did what appeared to me to be 2 processes. Why roller set if you are going to blow dry it to straight?

Princey had lush locks in the Glam Slam video, and Alphabet Street videos. He was shaking that pretty hair! That hair had volume, and lots of body.

The afro was huge from even before For You. He had flowing hair and flips in the Prince album days.

Onto the the Purple Rain look. It appeared to be combed out, or fingered Shirley Temple curls, sprayed into place.

I made it to page 2 of this thread and then I realized there were 2 more pages to go...about Prince's hair.

Unbuweavable.

johnart said:

I made it to page 2 of this thread and then I realized there were 2 more pages to go...about Prince's hair.

Unbuweavable.

I haven't heard that expression in a LONG time!

prodigalfan said:

phonzarelli said:

Just came to say that I believe that people of all races can grow long hair. The reason I feel that Oprah might be working with a li'l help is because of the frequency that her hair is styled. It'd make much more sense to use a weave to prevent damaging the hair from excessive styling. I don't know if Prince has had or is having help. In the end, it doesn't matter at all. However you're going to do it, do it well.

Not only that but also the different textures her hair seems to take on. I have always imagine that Oprah has a fierce relaxer. But then sometimes I see her hair and it almost looks like Janet Jackson's hair in the Damita Jo era (when her hair looked like red ropes).

I dunno, maybe there is a way of style her hair to make the texture look that way. Or maybe Oprah doesn't have a relaxer but instead gets a blow out and flat iron so that she can wear it in natural (textured) styles.

That depends on how she has her hair styled that it may look like it's in different textures. Orger, Paintedlady, has experience with various textures of black women/men's hair, so she knows what she's talking about. Oprah may choose to wear her hair in loose twists, which can be done several ways to make the texture of her hair appear different. People have to stop thinking that all Blacks have the same hair textures, because we don't, and it's not impossible that Black women and men grow long hair. That would be a dumbass and ignorant assumption to be quite frank.

Makes me wonder if some people who saw Chris Rock's stupid ass movie about Black women and hair, took it as written in stone about all Black women and the choices they make in how they choose to "individually" wear/handle their hair. He made that movie because his daughter questioned him about her hair texture being different from her friends of a different/racial/ethnic background. So instead of taking his daughter to his wife to answer that question and educate her on hair, in which she is apparently the female role model in her daughter's life, instead that fool decides to make a movie, by combing (no pun intended) the U.S. to question Black women about their hair choices, and to find if their hair is real. When all his ass had to do was go in the next room, and ask his wife about her hair texture and why she chooses to wear a hair weave down her ass. Just sayin'

About Oprah, well she can style her hair in many different ways that could make it appear in various textures, just like many Black women do. This is nothing new, only to those who don't know anything about the various textures of Black American's hair and the ways in which they choose to take care of it/wear it/style it. We don't all have the same grain/texture of hair.

Oprah can use curlers that can give loose waves or twists. For example;she can also braid her hair, put some type of gel in it to let it set for a loose twists or curls style, that can give the appearance of a different hair texture. She can also wave the hair, which can also make the hair a appear to have a different textured look. Black women don't need a weave or extensions to do that. It all depends on what type styles, one chooses to wear. Lawd, I swear you can look through various forums on this site through the years, and find all kinds of threads asking questions or read assumptions/misinformation about Black people, from their hair, various skin colors, to their very existence, It's getting to the point, where I'm starting to think we deserve a frigging "FAQ" section about us oin here.

[Edited 7/26/11 6:52am]

prodigalfan said:

paintedlady said:

That makes no sense because many women blow dry or hot curl their hair daily. They still have hair on their heads.

Its only the super hot blow dryers that cause damage, but when you have a personal hair dresser, you can minimize damage and have less work to do because the hair is maintained properly.

So to put it plain, the more a sister does her hair, the better condition it usually is especially if she has a kick ass technician that is skilled and practices hair CARE by doing rollersets then blowing out the set to style it.

I do my hair like that everyday in the colder months when I can not wash n wear it.

I had someone do that to my hair one time. Cousin who went to Cosmo school. I wondered why she did what appeared to me to be 2 processes. Why roller set if you are going to blow dry it to straight?

When the hair dries in rollers its more protected from breakage since the hair is at its weakest point when its wet. So its to protect your hair from breakage.

So the hair is dried in rollers, and the hair is stretched in the rollers too... killer on the scalp if you have it set properly. After the hair is dried then the hair is blown out with a blow dryer to style it and to get those ugly roller marks out of it.

Roller marks are those parts in your scalp that stay like "cow licks" and separate the hair... so you see that "brick pattern" from the set. Its that "Grandma Moses" look... so blowing it out afterwards provides a sleek appearance and smoothness, it also brings up the shine.

Also if you have fine hair... blowdrying after a roller set knocks out any frizz, but that's mostly only if you do NOT have a chemically relaxed head of hair.

PS> In most salons... ethnic hair usually goes through 3-4 processes to get that "professional" look.

Its usually, 1- relaxed or colored, 2-shampooed, 3-rollerset, 4-blow-out, 5-trimmed then 5-styled with a finishing product and ... That's the usual for any woman with curly to overly curly hair... I am willing to bet this is Prince's regime.

2elijah said:

prodigalfan said:

Not only that but also the different textures her hair seems to take on. I have always imagine that Oprah has a fierce relaxer. But then sometimes I see her hair and it almost looks like Janet Jackson's hair in the Damita Jo era (when her hair looked like red ropes).

I dunno, maybe there is a way of style her hair to make the texture look that way. Or maybe Oprah doesn't have a relaxer but instead gets a blow out and flat iron so that she can wear it in natural (textured) styles.

That depends on how she has her hair styled that it may look like it's in different textures. Orger, Paintedlady, has experience with various textures of black women/men's hair, so she knows what she's talking about. Oprah may choose to wear her hair in loose twists, which can be done several ways to make the texture of her hair appear different. People have to stop thinking that all Blacks have the same hair textures, because we don't, and it's not impossible that Black women and men grow long hair. That would be a dumbass and ignorant assumption to be quite frank.

Makes me wonder if some people who saw Chris Rock's stupid ass movie about Black women and hair, took it as written in stone about all Black women and the choices they make in how they choose to "individually" wear/handle their hair. He made that movie because his daughter questioned him about her hair texture being different from her friends of a different/racial/ethnic background. So instead of taking his daughter to his wife to answer that question and educate her on hair, in which she is apparently the female role model in her daughter's life, instead that fool decides to make a movie, by combing (no pun intended) the U.S. to question Black women about their hair choices, and to find if their hair is real. When all his ass had to do was go in the next room, and ask his wife about her hair texture and why she chooses to wear a hair weave down her ass. Just sayin'

About Oprah, well she can style her hair in many different ways that could make it appear in various textures, just like many Black women do. This is nothing new, only to those who don't know anything about the various textures of Black American's hair and the ways in which they choose to take care of it/wear it/style it. We don't all have the same grain/texture of hair.

Oprah can use curlers that can give loose waves or twists. For example;she can also braid her hair, put some type of gel in it to let it set for a loose twists or curls style, that can give the appearance of a different hair texture. She can also wave the hair, which can also make the hair a appear to have a different textured look. Black women don't need a weave or extensions to do that. It all depends on what type styles, one chooses to wear. Lawd, I swear you can look through various forums on this site through the years, and find all kinds of threads asking questions or read assumptions/misinformation about Black people, from their hair, various skin colors, to their very existence, It's getting to the point, where I'm starting to think we deserve a frigging "FAQ" section about us oin here.

[Edited 7/26/11 6:52am]

I am AA woman and well aware that we have different textures of hair. I can tell the difference between someone with a fine grade of hair wearing twist out, and someone with a coarse grade of hair wearing a twist out. My sister has a different grade of hair then myself. Her hair is heavy and her hair shaft is smooth and closed. My hair is very fine, some almost translucscent... (i'm talking about individual hair strands). My hair is more fly away, and can easily get static electricity. Oil tends to weigh it down. So you see, I DO know about Black hair.... been black all of my life. Now with that established, I am saying I have seen Oprah's hair in styles that made it appeared to me that her hair texture was different... and I am talking about the individual strands. Most of the time her hair is straight then hot curled. But there were some styles where her hair was like curly or wavy and her hair strands appeared more fine. This made me think she was wearing hair weave or hair piece. I am well aware that Oprah and black people can grow long hair. *I* had long hair (to my bra strap) until I cut it last year into the bob that I wear today.

[Edited 7/26/11 10:59am]

prodigalfan said:

2elijah said:

That depends on how she has her hair styled that it may look like it's in different textures. Orger, Paintedlady, has experience with various textures of black women/men's hair, so she knows what she's talking about. Oprah may choose to wear her hair in loose twists, which can be done several ways to make the texture of her hair appear different. People have to stop thinking that all Blacks have the same hair textures, because we don't, and it's not impossible that Black women and men grow long hair. That would be a dumbass and ignorant assumption to be quite frank.

Makes me wonder if some people who saw Chris Rock's stupid ass movie about Black women and hair, took it as written in stone about all Black women and the choices they make in how they choose to "individually" wear/handle their hair. He made that movie because his daughter questioned him about her hair texture being different from her friends of a different/racial/ethnic background. So instead of taking his daughter to his wife to answer that question and educate her on hair, in which she is apparently the female role model in her daughter's life, instead that fool decides to make a movie, by combing (no pun intended) the U.S. to question Black women about their hair choices, and to find if their hair is real. When all his ass had to do was go in the next room, and ask his wife about her hair texture and why she chooses to wear a hair weave down her ass. Just sayin'

About Oprah, well she can style her hair in many different ways that could make it appear in various textures, just like many Black women do. This is nothing new, only to those who don't know anything about the various textures of Black American's hair and the ways in which they choose to take care of it/wear it/style it. We don't all have the same grain/texture of hair.

Oprah can use curlers that can give loose waves or twists. For example;she can also braid her hair, put some type of gel in it to let it set for a loose twists or curls style, that can give the appearance of a different hair texture. She can also wave the hair, which can also make the hair a appear to have a different textured look. Black women don't need a weave or extensions to do that. It all depends on what type styles, one chooses to wear. Lawd, I swear you can look through various forums on this site through the years, and find all kinds of threads asking questions or read assumptions/misinformation about Black people, from their hair, various skin colors, to their very existence, It's getting to the point, where I'm starting to think we deserve a frigging "FAQ" section about us oin here.

[Edited 7/26/11 6:52am]

I am AA woman and well aware that we have different textures of hair. I can tell the difference between someone with a fine grade of hair wearing twist out, and someone with a coarse grade of hair wearing a twist out. My sister has a different grade of hair then myself. Her hair is heavy and her hair shaft is smooth and closed. My hair is very fine, some almost translucscent... (i'm talking about individual hair strands). My hair is more fly away, and can easily get static electricity. Oil tends to weigh it down. So you see, I DO know about Black hair.... been black all of my life. Now with that established, I am saying I have seen Oprah's hair in styles that made it appeared to me that her hair texture was different... and I am talking about the individual strands. Most of the time her hair is straight then hot curled. But there were some styles where her hair was like curly or wavy and her hair strands appeared more fine. This made me think she was wearing hair weave or hair piece. I am well aware that Oprah and black people can grow long hair. *I* had long hair (to my bra strap) until I cut it last year into the bob that I wear today.

[Edited 7/26/11 10:59am]

Wonderful. I never doubted/assumed you weren't AA, Prodigal, because I already knew that, based on previous posts of yours where you stated that. I did state "We" if you noticed, in that statement you bolded from my post. The comment wasn't meant as a jab towards you and I apologize if that is how you took it. Had I thought you weren't I would have stated "Black Americans" to be more specific to you, but I didn't see the need since I already know you are an AA. Anyway, truth be told, not all AA's (for example like, Chris Rock) can tell the difference, between natural/weave/fake hair on Black women/men as well, and I am not directing that specifically to you, but others who I experienced had that thought/suggestion.

A personal example for me, was one day my then 12 -year old niece put her own hair in braids, it was to the middle of her back. Some girls in her class didn't believe it was all her hair, and when my niece turned her back to work on the computer, those mean girls took a scissors and cut six inches off one of my niece's braids. Now how mean and crazy was that?

Anyway, as far as Oprah, I'm just not surprised that some people may think or may have thought, Oprah had a little help with her hair (weave/extensions) at various times, because of various styles she has worn. My mother (younger pic of her in my avatar and profile) went through that all her life with people being ridiculously "amazed" so-to-speak, over the texture, thickness and length of her hair, which was waist long, in her younger years and all the questioning , if her hair was hers. She is in her mid 80s now, and yes, it is still long, falling below her breast line, and some folks still act like they've never seen a black women with a certain type of texture/length of hair as though they're not supposed to have it, but I guess that happens to a lot of Black women.

[Edited 7/26/11 13:24pm]

Prince has the most beautiful head of hair. He is, or was, a pint sized Sampson.

2elijah said:

prodigalfan said:

I am AA woman and well aware that we have different textures of hair. I can tell the difference between someone with a fine grade of hair wearing twist out, and someone with a coarse grade of hair wearing a twist out. My sister has a different grade of hair then myself. Her hair is heavy and her hair shaft is smooth and closed. My hair is very fine, some almost translucscent... (i'm talking about individual hair strands). My hair is more fly away, and can easily get static electricity. Oil tends to weigh it down. So you see, I DO know about Black hair.... been black all of my life. Now with that established, I am saying I have seen Oprah's hair in styles that made it appeared to me that her hair texture was different... and I am talking about the individual strands. Most of the time her hair is straight then hot curled. But there were some styles where her hair was like curly or wavy and her hair strands appeared more fine. This made me think she was wearing hair weave or hair piece. I am well aware that Oprah and black people can grow long hair. *I* had long hair (to my bra strap) until I cut it last year into the bob that I wear today.

[Edited 7/26/11 10:59am]

Wonderful. I never doubted/assumed you weren't AA, Prodigal, because I already knew that, based on previous posts of yours where you stated that. I did state "We" if you noticed, in that statement you bolded from my post. The comment wasn't meant as a jab towards you and I apologize if that is how you took it. Had I thought you weren't I would have stated "Black Americans" to be more specific to you, but I didn't see the need since I already know you are an AA. Anyway, truth be told, not all AA's (for example like, Chris Rock) can tell the difference, between natural/weave/fake hair on Black women/men as well, and I am not directing that specifically to you, but others who I experienced had that thought/suggestion.

A personal example for me, was one day my then 12 -year old niece put her own hair in braids, it was to the middle of her back. Some girls in her class didn't believe it was all her hair, and when my niece turned her back to work on the computer, those mean girls took a scissors and cut six inches off one of my niece's braids. Now how mean and crazy was that?

Anyway, as far as Oprah, I'm just not surprised that some people may think or may have thought, Oprah had a little help with her hair (weave/extensions) at various times, because of various styles she has worn. My mother (younger pic of her in my avatar and profile) went through that all her life with people being ridiculously "amazed" so-to-speak, over the texture, thickness and length of her hair, which was waist long, in her younger years and all the questioning , if her hair was hers. She is in her mid 80s now, and yes, it is still long, falling below her breast line, and some folks still act like they've never seen a black women with a certain type of texture/length of hair as though they're not supposed to have it, but I guess that happens to a lot of Black women.

[Edited 7/26/11 13:24pm]

OldFriends4Sale said:

phonzarelli said:

Good example of what? A weave?

Hair grows about a 1/2" a month and may grow faster/slower according to season. A great hairdresser won't do much except for keep you looking good.

Naw that's her hair, a great hairdresser will help handle and treat your hair, healthy hair grows and doesn't break off

I remember an episode last year where another black woman assumed it was weave and Oprah said no it's her hair and let the woman come up and run her hands thru it from scalp to hair edges... it's real

First off - that was Chris Rock - not a woman LOL

and secondly, in that same episode, Oprah admitted to using weaves from time to time, to give her real hair a break.

Heidi said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Naw that's her hair, a great hairdresser will help handle and treat your hair, healthy hair grows and doesn't break off

I remember an episode last year where another black woman assumed it was weave and Oprah said no it's her hair and let the woman come up and run her hands thru it from scalp to hair edges... it's real

First off - that was Chris Rock - not a woman LOL

and secondly, in that same episode, Oprah admitted to using weaves from time to time, to give her real hair a break.

I think most were talking about her real hair and when many thought her real hair was fake. If Oprah got a "hard press" with a flat iron on her own hair, it can appear very silky/straight, but it would have to be done by a hairdresser who is actually skilled in doing that. A lot of black women I know go to Dominican hairdressers, who are very experienced in doing women of colors hair like that.

[Edited 7/27/11 7:42am]

prodigalfan said:

2elijah said:

Wonderful. I never doubted/assumed you weren't AA, Prodigal, because I already knew that, based on previous posts of yours where you stated that. I did state "We" if you noticed, in that statement you bolded from my post. The comment wasn't meant as a jab towards you and I apologize if that is how you took it. Had I thought you weren't I would have stated "Black Americans" to be more specific to you, but I didn't see the need since I already know you are an AA. Anyway, truth be told, not all AA's (for example like, Chris Rock) can tell the difference, between natural/weave/fake hair on Black women/men as well, and I am not directing that specifically to you, but others who I experienced had that thought/suggestion.

A personal example for me, was one day my then 12 -year old niece put her own hair in braids, it was to the middle of her back. Some girls in her class didn't believe it was all her hair, and when my niece turned her back to work on the computer, those mean girls took a scissors and cut six inches off one of my niece's braids. Now how mean and crazy was that?

Anyway, as far as Oprah, I'm just not surprised that some people may think or may have thought, Oprah had a little help with her hair (weave/extensions) at various times, because of various styles she has worn. My mother (younger pic of her in my avatar and profile) went through that all her life with people being ridiculously "amazed" so-to-speak, over the texture, thickness and length of her hair, which was waist long, in her younger years and all the questioning , if her hair was hers. She is in her mid 80s now, and yes, it is still long, falling below her breast line, and some folks still act like they've never seen a black women with a certain type of texture/length of hair as though they're not supposed to have it, but I guess that happens to a lot of Black women.

[Edited 7/26/11 13:24pm]

Oh, okay.. I did think that you thought I was not Black. That's cool and good that we got that cleared. I have to admit that although my hair was longish and my sister's hair is even longer, black women who have hair the length of your mother's... I didn't think "full" black women could grow hair that long. I met 2 women through work that set me straight on that. both of these "full " black.. (ie. not biracial) women had hair past their bra straps. Unbelievable to me. funny thing is, both women did NOT have relaxers. They had natural hair blow dry and press or something like that. It makes me wonder just how damaging relaxers are to Black hair. Which brings me back to the original post... (got to stop hijacking threads ) I do believe that Prince is wearing relaxed hair although I think in his earlier years he had blow outs and then later blow dry and curls with marcels. But now he seems like he is wearing a relaxer. I am wondering aloud, with long term use of relaxers on a man of his years, and family history of male pattern baldness (not only his father, but also his brother was partially bald), I wonder how long can Prince retain this fullness (if indeed he is not using hollywood magic )

I think it is sad when I hear a black woman or man, in this day and age, actually say they never thought or think black women can grow long hair. That is such a fallacy. Years ago (I'm specifically speaking about Black American women) prior to the very late 70s, early 80s, many Black women were sort of pushed into a system within society where the standard of beauty was straight hair, or should I say a more, preferred "European" look.

So during the days after and still during the Jim Crow/segregation civil rights era/post vietnam eras, many Black women were pretty much forced to "straighten" their natural hair in order to obtain employment, due to the racial discrimination many of them experienced from employers, when searching for employment, who felt their hair was too "ethnic" for their place of business.

There were many women during the 60s through the mid 90s, who were denied jobs because their hair were in "natural" hairstyles, considered "too ethnic" and often times that was not acceptable/desirable to many White employers, who dominated the employment market in the U.S. There were even lawsuits against employers who fired Black women for wearing "braided" hairdos.

So many Black women straightened their hair and gave in to society's so-called "standard of beauty" techniques to be "accepted". Keep in mind there really were not that many hair products on store shelves that dealt with the various textures of black women's hair or ethnic hair, if in a "permed/chemical" state. So many used chemical products that were specifically designed for hair textures outside of their own, and that caused a lot of breakage/damage to their hair, leaving many Black women with short, broken and damaged hair. I mean you had products like "Carefree" perm, that didn't always work in the textures of Black women's hair. Some were able to use it and if their hair was lightly-kinky, and not very coarse, then it may have worked for some women, but not all.

Now you did have products like Afrosheen, Pomades like Royal Crown, Dixie Peach, Dax, that were being used for natural hairdos, and those women who chose to straighten their hair with a hot comb, instead of perming or applying chemicals that would "alter" the hair textur. There were very few perms at that time, which weren't always the best that worked with various textures of Black womens' hair, due to lack of extensive research on our various, types of hair. Later there was "Ultrasheen" perm that was marketed for women of color, and as the years went by, better products, research, was done where the market started producing products that worked better with various textures of Black women and mens' hair.

Although no chemical is really good for your hair, at least, more hairdressers today are educated and trained on how to handle/style/provide the right types of products that would work with various textures of Black women/Black mens' hair, and not hinder the growth factor,. Also, today more Black women, are educated on how to take better care of their hair, and what products works best with it. We've come a long way, and today, as individuals, we can pick and choose how to wear our hair by choice, and many, are more educated on how they should take care of it. Not to mention, that today, other groups outside our cultures and employers, are more exposed to the various ways in which Blacks, as individuals, choose to wear their hair, and have accepted that as part of our cultures.

This is not to say, of course, that many, and I stress "many" outside our culture(s), still don't have a lot to learn and embrace about our (and I say that strongly) various cultures, because they certainly do.

Heidi said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Naw that's her hair, a great hairdresser will help handle and treat your hair, healthy hair grows and doesn't break off

I remember an episode last year where another black woman assumed it was weave and Oprah said no it's her hair and let the woman come up and run her hands thru it from scalp to hair edges... it's real

First off - that was Chris Rock - not a woman LOL

and secondly, in that same episode, Oprah admitted to using weaves from time to time, to give her real hair a break.

Another HAIR thread.

2elijah said:

prodigalfan said:

Oh, okay.. I did think that you thought I was not Black. That's cool and good that we got that cleared. I have to admit that although my hair was longish and my sister's hair is even longer, black women who have hair the length of your mother's... I didn't think "full" black women could grow hair that long. I met 2 women through work that set me straight on that. both of these "full " black.. (ie. not biracial) women had hair past their bra straps. Unbelievable to me. funny thing is, both women did NOT have relaxers. They had natural hair blow dry and press or something like that. It makes me wonder just how damaging relaxers are to Black hair. Which brings me back to the original post... (got to stop hijacking threads ) I do believe that Prince is wearing relaxed hair although I think in his earlier years he had blow outs and then later blow dry and curls with marcels. But now he seems like he is wearing a relaxer. I am wondering aloud, with long term use of relaxers on a man of his years, and family history of male pattern baldness (not only his father, but also his brother was partially bald), I wonder how long can Prince retain this fullness (if indeed he is not using hollywood magic )

I think it is sad when I hear a black woman or man, in this day and age, actually say they never thought or think black women can grow long hair. That is such a fallacy. Years ago (I'm specifically speaking about Black American women) prior to the very late 70s, early 80s, many Black women were sort of pushed into a system within society where the standard of beauty was straight hair, or should I say a more, preferred "European" look.

So during the days after and still during the Jim Crow/segregation civil rights era/post vietnam eras, many Black women were pretty much forced to "straighten" their natural hair in order to obtain employment, due to the racial discrimination many of them experienced from employers, when searching for employment, who felt their hair was too "ethnic" for their place of business.

There were many women during the 60s through the mid 90s, who were denied jobs because their hair were in "natural" hairstyles, considered "too ethnic" and often times that was not acceptable/desirable to many White employers, who dominated the employment market in the U.S. There were even lawsuits against employers who fired Black women for wearing "braided" hairdos.

So many Black women straightened their hair and gave in to society's so-called "standard of beauty" techniques to be "accepted". Keep in mind there really were not that many hair products on store shelves that dealt with the various textures of black women's hair or ethnic hair, if in a "permed/chemical" state. So many used chemical products that were specifically designed for hair textures outside of their own, and that caused a lot of breakage/damage to their hair, leaving many Black women with short, broken and damaged hair. I mean you had products like "Carefree" perm, that didn't always work in the textures of Black women's hair. Some were able to use it and if their hair was lightly-kinky, and not very coarse, then it may have worked for some women, but not all.

Now you did have products like Afrosheen, Pomades like Royal Crown, Dixie Peach, Dax, that were being used for natural hairdos, and those women who chose to straighten their hair with a hot comb, instead of perming or applying chemicals that would "alter" the hair textur. There were very few perms at that time, which weren't always the best that worked with various textures of Black womens' hair, due to lack of extensive research on our various, types of hair. Later there was "Ultrasheen" perm that was marketed for women of color, and as the years went by, better products, research, was done where the market started producing products that worked better with various textures of Black women and mens' hair.

Although no chemical is really good for your hair, at least, more hairdressers today are educated and trained on how to handle/style/provide the right types of products that would work with various textures of Black women/Black mens' hair, and not hinder the growth factor,. Also, today more Black women, are educated on how to take better care of their hair, and what products works best with it. We've come a long way, and today, as individuals, we can pick and choose how to wear our hair by choice, and many, are more educated on how they should take care of it. Not to mention, that today, other groups outside our cultures and employers, are more exposed to the various ways in which Blacks, as individuals, choose to wear their hair, and have accepted that as part of our cultures.

This is not to say, of course, that many, and I stress "many" outside our culture(s), still don't have a lot to learn and embrace about our (and I say that strongly) various cultures, because they certainly do.

Just being honest. Growing my sister and I had some of the longest hair of the people I was around. Which I know means a can of beans but still. Our ponytails was well below our shoulders. Most of my friends growing up in elementary school had hair that was so short that their moms would put their hair in 12 - 20 pigtails and put cute barettes on them because their hair was not long enough for one or 2 ponytails.

Then when I went to work I met 2 ladies who had hair longer than I had ever seen on black people (without weave or wigs). One was chocolate brown, the other one was honey brown. And they both had beautiful long hair.

You grew up with your mom having long hair so it is not a novelty to you. But long hair past bra straps with blacks is not impossible... but at the same time it is not common. Those playmates that had very short hair as children have always had short hair today as well. They have never had hair to reach their shoulders.

I truly believe length of hair is not only due to how well you care for your hair, but also genetics. It is not a coincidence that my sister and I both had long thick hair. And I really don't "take care" of my hair. I use relaxers maybe 3 times per year. Too cheap to go back every 6 weeks. And when the new growth gets too much, I wash and wear daily. Or use a wet brush to smooth my hair back. And you know what they say about brushing wet hair. And when I finally break down and get my hair relaxed and I have gone as long as 7 months... my hairdresser and I was AMAZED at how long my hair was. Just to get it back to the bobbed style, I had to cut my hair about 4 inches.

So this whole "taking care of your hair" thing I am not sure about. I wonder if taking care of your hair means to do nothing to it but let it rest.

prodigalfan said:

2elijah said:

I think it is sad when I hear a black woman or man, in this day and age, actually say they never thought or think black women can grow long hair. That is such a fallacy. Years ago (I'm specifically speaking about Black American women) prior to the very late 70s, early 80s, many Black women were sort of pushed into a system within society where the standard of beauty was straight hair, or should I say a more, preferred "European" look.

So during the days after and still during the Jim Crow/segregation civil rights era/post vietnam eras, many Black women were pretty much forced to "straighten" their natural hair in order to obtain employment, due to the racial discrimination many of them experienced from employers, when searching for employment, who felt their hair was too "ethnic" for their place of business.

There were many women during the 60s through the mid 90s, who were denied jobs because their hair were in "natural" hairstyles, considered "too ethnic" and often times that was not acceptable/desirable to many White employers, who dominated the employment market in the U.S. There were even lawsuits against employers who fired Black women for wearing "braided" hairdos.

So many Black women straightened their hair and gave in to society's so-called "standard of beauty" techniques to be "accepted". Keep in mind there really were not that many hair products on store shelves that dealt with the various textures of black women's hair or ethnic hair, if in a "permed/chemical" state. So many used chemical products that were specifically designed for hair textures outside of their own, and that caused a lot of breakage/damage to their hair, leaving many Black women with short, broken and damaged hair. I mean you had products like "Carefree" perm, that didn't always work in the textures of Black women's hair. Some were able to use it and if their hair was lightly-kinky, and not very coarse, then it may have worked for some women, but not all.

Now you did have products like Afrosheen, Pomades like Royal Crown, Dixie Peach, Dax, that were being used for natural hairdos, and those women who chose to straighten their hair with a hot comb, instead of perming or applying chemicals that would "alter" the hair textur. There were very few perms at that time, which weren't always the best that worked with various textures of Black womens' hair, due to lack of extensive research on our various, types of hair. Later there was "Ultrasheen" perm that was marketed for women of color, and as the years went by, better products, research, was done where the market started producing products that worked better with various textures of Black women and mens' hair.

Although no chemical is really good for your hair, at least, more hairdressers today are educated and trained on how to handle/style/provide the right types of products that would work with various textures of Black women/Black mens' hair, and not hinder the growth factor,. Also, today more Black women, are educated on how to take better care of their hair, and what products works best with it. We've come a long way, and today, as individuals, we can pick and choose how to wear our hair by choice, and many, are more educated on how they should take care of it. Not to mention, that today, other groups outside our cultures and employers, are more exposed to the various ways in which Blacks, as individuals, choose to wear their hair, and have accepted that as part of our cultures.

This is not to say, of course, that many, and I stress "many" outside our culture(s), still don't have a lot to learn and embrace about our (and I say that strongly) various cultures, because they certainly do.

Just being honest. Growing my sister and I had some of the longest hair of the people I was around. Which I know means a can of beans but still. Our ponytails was well below our shoulders. Most of my friends growing up in elementary school had hair that was so short that their moms would put their hair in 12 - 20 pigtails and put cute barettes on them because their hair was not long enough for one or 2 ponytails.

In high school, once again I had some of the longest hair among my classmates. Hair was maybe 3 inches below shoulder (in the back only because by then I was cutting the front in styles). Only 2 black girls had longer hair than me in my graduating class and they both were super light with light eyes and although not biracial, one parent was biracial.

Then when I went to work I met 2 ladies who had hair longer than I had ever seen on black people (without weave or wigs). One was chocolate brown, the other one was honey brown. And they both had beautiful long hair.

You grew up with your mom having long hair so it is not a novelty to you. But long hair past bra straps with blacks is not impossible... but at the same time it is not common. Those playmates that had very short hair as children have always had short hair today as well. They have never had hair to reach their shoulders.

I truly believe length of hair is not only due to how well you care for your hair, but also genetics. It is not a coincidence that my sister and I both had long thick hair. And I really don't "take care" of my hair. I use relaxers maybe 3 times per year. Too cheap to go back every 6 weeks. And when the new growth gets too much, I wash and wear daily. Or use a wet brush to smooth my hair back. And you know what they say about brushing wet hair. And when I finally break down and get my hair relaxed and I have gone as long as 7 months... my hairdresser and I was AMAZED at how long my hair was. Just to get it back to the bobbed style, I had to cut my hair about 4 inches.

So this whole "taking care of your hair" thing I am not sure about. I wonder if taking care of your hair means to do nothing to it but let it rest.

Just so you know it has nothing to do with skin color, and "no" I did not base any of what I said, because my mother and her sisters had long hair. All my life I've been exposed to women/men with all types of hair textures, and hair lengths, and I see more black women with longer or healthier hair, today, than back in the 70s/80, because they have better hair care products on the market today, than yesteryear, and I can tell you there's definitely a major difference, than back-in-the day. I've travelled throughout the U.S. and been in various communities, and like I said, it depends more or less on what products are accessible for Black hair care within their communities, and how they choose to take care of it. Having the money to continue the aftercare, if you choose to use a chemical in your hair, plays a major part as keeping the hair in a productive state. Long hair is not the end all be all, in defining a woman's total beauty, and that's what too many Black women get caught up in. Healthy hair is more beautiful, whether it's short, medium length or long.

So my experience with my mother having long hair has nothing to do with what I know about hair, and the various textures I've seen among black women. The texture is more or less based on genetics, that i agree with. I still think it's all about how one takes care of their hair, that will produce "healthy" hair. You can use chemicals and still keep the hair in a healthy state if it's given the proper care, and if your hair texture can handle it. Not everyone will have long hair, thick hair, but most can grow hair, unless there's some underlying medical condition or genetic disorder.

Anyway, I'm done. Take care.

[Edited 7/27/11 8:29am]

guarinigirl2000 said:

I don't care whether it was real, a wig a weave, or if they cut the hair straight of a horse's ass and put it on his head.

I know one thing, Prince looked fine and I was like when I saw Purple Rain the first time I was 12.

Now if you wanna have a debate about real or fake, pop in PR and contemplate Apollonia's "apples" for a while.

[Edited 7/21/11 19:37p]