Okay...I'm posting this 1) because I'm terribly upset and 2) I need to get some input on this. Why does it seem as if many female R&B artists that get to a certain point of fame and popularity go and shave their heads? Look at Lauryn Hill, India Arie, and now...my girl Tweet! I just don't get it. Tweet was so beautiful, too. I don't want her to look like someones little brother.
[This message was edited Tue Jun 24 11:30:18 PDT 2003 by okaypimpn]
[This message was edited Tue Jun 24 11:30:41 PDT 2003 by okaypimpn]

Lauren Hill has shaved her head? Can someone post a picture please?

kisscamille said:

She's been cut off her dreads. You must not have catched her MTV Unplugged performance. Not skinned bald, but it was pretty low.

Yes, I did see her MTV special and I do remember her hair being much shorter, but when "okaypimpn" said she'd shaved her head, I almost had a stroke.

kisscamille said:

I don't want you to do that! But, since she's cut if off, I just don't think she's as attractive as she once was IMHO.

Don't forget Erika Badu. I'm glad she got rid of those Lee Press on Locks! I never believed she had real locks all up in those head wraps anyway.

Two months ago, I chopped off 7 years-worth of (dread)locks. Not to sound flippant, but my thing is, It's only hair. Besides, it was time for a change. I believe change is good.

okaypimpn said:

The reason why alot R&B female artist cuts off the hair is probably because they're trying to get rid of the dread locks or the chemically damaged relaxed hair 2 start all over again

UptownDeb said:

Yeah, but gosh: Badu was fine with that baldie. Just made her big ol' eyes that much more beautiful. Mmmph!

ThreadBare said:

Don't get me wrong. Erika really works that look!

ThreadBare said:

No hell she wasn't! She looked like one of the characters from Alien Nation.

okaypimpn said:

In my opinion it was better than that bag o'(fake) locks sitting on top of her head!

UptownDeb said:

I never liked the fake locks either. If I had to choose, I would rather see her in the braids she wore in her "Love of My Life" video or her real locks she wore in the "Other Side of The Game" video. Did you see her last night on the BET Awards? Damn!

for some cutting your locs is about change...a spiritual thing according to India and Lauryn. I don't see the big deal. Change is good.


and OMG Uptown...you cut your dreads and I'm about to start mine this summer!!

Rhondab said:

I don't either. It broke my heart with Lauryn and I tried to move on when Tweet stepped on the scene, but now she's cut hers, too!!!

Maybe they're saying, "appreciate me and like me for what I DO and what I CREATE instead of as a sex symbol?

Crazy, huh?

Seriously, though, I am tired of the superficial crap women do to get attention and fame. I think it's fucking kick ass that they are strong and confident enough to do something like that. Separates the pseudo-fans from the real ones.

okaypimpn said:

I feel you! I didn't know about Tweet. You just made me scream ... because she had beautiful hair that was really hers ... and really complemented her chocolate beauty.

I didn't care when the others cut their hair, but I will miss Tweet's "aura."

I believe some artists think short hair will help them be taken more seriously ... since the long hair tempts others to perceive their visual charms first and other talents second.

Also, some might think it's a reclamation of ethnic culture. I don't agree with the latter. IN college, I thought I was selling out by straigtening my hair, so I stopped. But then my hair was hard to manage and I got braids. But that hair was fake, so there was no cultural or personal respect in wearing fake hair for me. I'm not into false things.

Then in a convo with a friend of mine, the friend said African Americans are a subculture (of African and European) and that some trends were the natural result of the blended exposure, values, etc.

She thought relaxers was a product of that subculture. I though, hey, that's right. I'm not selling out. I'm accepting the blend ... I'm comfortable with the blend ... and I've been straigtening my hair ever since and am now growing my long hair back.

So if Tweet is doing this for ethnic reasons, I hope she rethinks that.

Ciao.

AnotherLoverToo said:

Now, if Tweet did it for the anti-sex symbol reason (which I claimed was the reason behind Celine Dion's change), then I totally agree with this perspective. Sinead kicked some ass back in the day with her short hair. I still listen to No Man's Woman ...

SynthiaRose said:

Me, too!

WHAT? Tweet did sh,,,oh hell naw

That woman had one of the most beautiful hair, she looked like a Somalian chic with that long str8 beautiful hair! hope Syleean Johnson don't lose her mind and follow the trend.

BTW okaypimpn, can u post a bigger picture cuz I can't really see this one?

ThreadBare said:

Trouble is her baldhead album was crap (except for "Mama's Gun").

zzzzz
[This message was edited Sun Jun 29 15:52:00 PDT 2003 by JohnnyTheFox]

Rhondab said:

Go for it! Whenever I see a nice head of locks I don't sweat 'em, I admire them and think "Been there, done that." I love my short 'fro. I had one before the locks so it wasn't anything new, and I have absolutely NO regrets! I'd like to cut it close like Erika, or India.arie but I don't know if I can rock that look.

UptownDeb said:

Well, I'm been rockin' the "barber cut" for five years now,and ain't no turnin' back. . .(tho I do let it grow out a wee bit ever' now and then and put a lil curl activator in it for a different look. . .)

Harlepolis said:

I tried, but the pic was already so small that when I tried to blow it up, it looked distorted.

While we're on the subject of hair, I just want to add my two cents and get some feedback on this...

I was listening to Graham Central Station's "Hair" the other day and the lyrics were very profound. I never really paid attention to them until recently (probably because I'm considering cutting off my hair that I've been growing for the past 3 years). But anyway, I just find it rather interesting how society seems to judge a book by it's cover. You want to think that we would somehow be over it by now, but the reality is that we all still have our first impressions of people that we don't know.

For instance, I'll be graduating from college in December and realize that in order for me to succeed, I may have to "play the game" and go for a more conservative look. It's a shame I know, but it kind of goes along with the territory being a young, black male. I'm pretty sure that when people look at me they don't think think "there's a college student about to make something of himself", but rather see "a black guy with cornrows" and figures he's probably a thug...let's keep it real here!

Anyway, my point in saying all of this is I can respect the decision of Erykah, Tweet, India, Lauryn, or anyone else who cuts their hair...ultimately it's all about what pleases you. I don't necessarily have to agree with it (as we all have our own preferences), but it's just strange how we're thought to think one way and the minute someone goes outside of the norm, they're either outcasted or ridiculed for being different.

Okay...that's enough for now. I've written too damn much!

okaypimpn said:

Dude, do you listen 2 yoself? I'll be damned and gone str8 2 the motherfucking hell b4 I touch my hair! thats my crown. I even had beef with grandma cuz she tried 2 cut it when I was young. OOoOooOOh WeEeEeehh,,,only the thought of it makes me trip

One a side off topic note: I really think that Chaka Khan did that song justice, actualy its the one that introduced me 2 Larry Graham nd his Graham Central Station crew most people have [blank] look whenever they hear it, but the reaction is PRICELESS when they "realize" whats the concept behind it. BTW the last intermission part(spoken words) in Chaka's version is my fave part