mzspongebob said:

MadamGoodnight said:

^^^^ This. If you are not familiar with this particular hair type and/or texture, you may question the thickness of the afro. Afro = full, straightened = not as full as afro hair.

This is the same thing when people assume Prince has/had a "perm" when they see him without this afro. Hair can be straightened without the use of chemicals, but some don't know this. He was switching up his styles quite frequently before this tour. This afro look goes along with his retro rocker vibe.

[Edited 5/11/13 19:28pm]

yeah this is true. i have my hair in an afro some times and i notice "this almost looks like a wig" when the hair cover my ears but thats just how most african texture hair looks when in that style

Agree to disagree? We're not disagreeing. Or at least I'm not. I'm saying it wouldn't surprise me if it were not entirely his own hair. It could be his own natural hair, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was more to it.

Unless for some reason you think that me being open to the idea that it could be enhanced is a disgreement, I don't think we are.

MIRvmn said:

I don't care if it's his real hair or a wig, its no big deal , what's bother me is that this afro looks terrible on him it makes him look older

I've said this before:

So instead of looking like he's in his 30's, he looks like he's in his 40's, rather than looking like in the 50's (which he actually is)?

As a person who isn't terribly big on age-ism, I think it is ok for a person to "look their age" or whatever that means.

[Edited 5/12/13 10:25am]

2elijah said:

mzspongebob said:

yeah this is true. i have my hair in an afro some times and i notice "this almost looks like a wig" when the hair cover my ears but thats just how most african texture hair looks when in that style

Co-sign on both your posts. Black Americans have various, hair textures. From very tight curls, curly-kinky, soft-kinky, wavy-straight, etc. This is not unusual if you know anything or are familiar with Black American hair textures-men or woman.

The hair can be straightened with a pressing comb, when it is chemical free/without a perm. That's absolutely nothing unusual. Back in the day, the 'pressing comb' was used to straighten the hair, without chemicals, so it can easily frizz, in bad weather, i.e. rain, very humid weather, and revert to its natural state.

When chemicals are put into the hair, it changes the hair texture, and will appear thinner, flatter at times, especially when freshly done, and it is not unusual to see parts of the scalp showing, especially in the sensitive areas, (center/top part of the scalp), because the chemicals often flatten the hair, when it's freshly permed, and separate the hair strands. You can also have what they used to call a semi-fro, which is when you curl natural hair, with special rollers, and you can wear a curly/semi-fro or if your hair has a naturally, loose, curly pattern, it can be worn like that naturally.

What is questionable is why can't some fans believe it is his hair and insist he's wearing a wig, because they see a little of his scalp showing, when the stage lights shine on the top/center of his hair, when his hair is in a permed state? It's not unusal that hair parts, with relaxed hair. Also, yes, if he wears his hair in an afro, he can straighten the next day, 'without chemicals' with an electric pressing comb/or a pressing comb/flat-iron. The non-electric pressing comb, is what many Black American girls used to have done to their hair back in the day. when their mothers straightened their hair 'without chemicals'.

Now there are electric pressing combs/flat-irons that many women of various racial/ethnic groups use today. You could either wear it in it's natural state without pressing it or wear in in its natural texture in braids, twists, afro or style it without pressing. Just to note, every Black person does not have the same hair texture. They have various hair textures, as a whole. There is no, one standard shape for an afro, because they are worn in various shapes, and depends on how the individual chooses to wear it. Also, many Black Americans don't use chemicals in their hair, and are comfortable wearing it natural.


Sad though that his hair always seems to be in question for those not familiar with hair textures of Black Americans, and those of African descent, but we all don't have the same texture of hair. If it will help any, I'll post some hair equipment used to straighten the hair and some pics of various, hair textures familiar to persons of color:

Pressing comb applied on stove or heating equipment. Can be used on natural hair (hair without chemicals) to straighten.

[Edited 5/11/13 22:51pm]

Thanks for posting examples, and offering a very thorough explanation!

Also, if someone has thinner hair, that does not mean their hair will always be that way. Some people have corrected thinning hair by using topical treatments or taking certain supplements and vitamins. Relaxing also makes the hair less dense. It can make the hair appear thin, especially relaxed hair that is parted and set on rollers. Some with African American hair do a "big chop", or grow out their permed hair. Hair that is damaged from coloring, heat damaged, or chemically over processed can be cut off, and then regrown naturally. The natural hair will come in thicker than the previously chemically treated hair. It looks like Prince has been growing his hair out since W2A. His hair at the early W2A shows was short, and cut very close on the sides and back. His curly afro looks like hair that has been grown out for two plus years. It looks natural, and allows him to switch back and forth if he so chooses. I would not be surprised if he wears it straight again like Plectrum Electrum or The Grammy's.

[Edited 5/12/13 10:50am]

nahhh, i think that's P's hair