QuoteReplyTopic: White woman wondering about dreadlocks/African-American hair Posted: January 12 2000 at 3:24am
I have fine straight hair to the middle of my back and I occassionaly wear it in braids. I can usually keep them in for about 1 to 2 weeks. Any longer than that and they look very frayed. I love the convenince of not having to comb my long hair for a few days.Here's what I have found works for my hair type. I make the actualy braid fairly tight, but I don't start them immediately adjacent to my scalp. This makes the top look rathar messy but I have found it to be necessary, otherwise my hair breaks. I smooth the loose hair on top of my hea with hair spray. I then smooth each individual braid with extra hold styling gel. I do that, about every other day.I have also found a product called braid sheen to dramatically cut down on any itchiness on the scalp.
Rene, Paula, Jennifer and JamilaTHANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSES! Thanks for the info! I live in a small town in Nebraska. (Welcome to Nebraska, set your watch back 20 years) Yes, I've had a sheltered life, sheltered by geography!Yeah, I've seen Alanis. ... I didn't know you use beeswax for dreadlocks. Total lack of information here.I've had a few small cornrows, and they look bad after a couple days. Poo. Of course no one told me there was maintenance involved. Duh?If you get itchy/uncomfortable in such a hairstyle after a short time, I should really stay away from anything for now. I already have an itchy scalp. Eew, that would be primarily nasty.Re; Our hair is brittle and breaks off easier.I had a black girlfriend in Omaha whose eyelashes broke off all the time when I was a teen; she was constantly picking broken pieces out of her eyes, and picking out eyelashes that were curling into her eyes.So, Jamila, if magic happens, I'll trade hair with you for a week, and I'll give a friend of mine 20 extra pounds, too. (Gee, wouldn't it be neat???)
I as well found your post very amusing. I am African American and I have so called "nappy" hair. First of all, do you know Alanis Morissette? She is Caucasian and she had dreadlocks for one of her videos. I imagine the only difference is that instead of beeswax, you would use some sort of sculpting or other hard gel. Second, textured hiar is definately a blessing and a curse. I have textured hair and I still can't hold a curl in my head. Cornrows stay in my hair but after a few days they begin to get fuzzy. Another thing about textured hair is that you have to build a tolerance for long term styles such as dreadlocks and cornrows. I for one can't keep any style like that in my hair for more than a week. My scalp begins to itch terribly. Dreadlocks and braids are good for textured hair. Our hair is brittle and breaks off easier.They keep the ends from breaking off. However, as with any style, proper maintenance is needed. I have seen people with dreadlocks down to their waist, only to see it all fall out due to careless removal or maintenance. Uh, I think I answered most of your questions. I hope I didnt forget anything. As much as I love my hair, I would love to trade scalps with someone with straight hair for one day, just to see how it feels to not have to spend hours in the mirror trying to smooth my hairline. If only it were possible.( Disclaimer: By the way, for any African American woman who might not share my views on textured hair, I was speaking for myself.)
> Say, I'm wondering about something I know nothing> about and have no one to ask: Is it more of a problem> or a blessing to have hair you can (the way I> understand) put a hairdo in and keep for a week and> more at a time? Like dreadlocks or cornrows ???> I don't see any way that's possible for straight hair.> Mine is resisitant even to perms and likes it's own> slight wave and insists on no other wave/curl.> But on the subject of African-American hair/nappy> hair: Is it good for your hair? Is it real easy to> deal with? My hair is simple, but limited. there's no> week-long or weeks-long hair (except the Monster from> the Deep) look I could keep up. I've heard of> labor-intensive problems with black hair. I know there> are differences in all types of hair, but can somebody> inform me?> Signed> Hardly no blacks where I live> (Except one day, in white-town, USA, when I saw a man> from 2 blocks away who had brown dreadlocks to the> tops of his THIGHS! I drove around the block a couple> times and he had disappeared! MAN! How did a man like> that get along in that nasty whitetown I come from?> Ooowie! I wanted to compliment him on his do, but he> plumb disappeared! Beautiful!)> RunningWild> P.S. Wow, there's nowhere else I could feel> comfortable asking this. RW.
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Running Wild, you must lead a very sheltered life... Having "black" hair - hair that is very curly and/or course - is a blessing and a curse. It depends on how you look at it I guess. I am white and have your type of hair... the kind that doesn't take well to curls etc. I have had my hair braided on several occasions, both with extensions and without, and have found that after only a few days it really begins to fray, and after a couple of weeks it looks pretty bad.The friends and family members I have that have the course, curly hair do seem to have an easier time keeping up a hairstyle, but they have just as many complaints as I do... just different ones.To Paula - I love wigs... I have a couple of hair pieces already, and am getting ready to invest in a couple of full wigs. I'm a blonde, and am getting a redhead and a brunette so that I can change my look any time I want to. My husband loves it!
> Say, I'm wondering about something I know nothing> about and have no one to ask: Is it more of a problem> or a blessing to have hair you can (the way I> understand) put a hairdo in and keep for a week and> more at a time? Like dreadlocks or cornrows ???> I don't see any way that's possible for straight hair.> Mine is resisitant even to perms and likes it's own> slight wave and insists on no other wave/curl.> But on the subject of African-American hair/nappy> hair: Is it good for your hair? Is it real easy to> deal with? My hair is simple, but limited. there's no> week-long or weeks-long hair (except the Monster from> the Deep) look I could keep up. I've heard of> labor-intensive problems with black hair. I know there> are differences in all types of hair, but can somebody> inform me?> Signed> Hardly no blacks where I live> (Except one day, in white-town, USA, when I saw a man> from 2 blocks away who had brown dreadlocks to the> tops of his THIGHS! I drove around the block a couple> times and he had disappeared! MAN! How did a man like> that get along in that nasty whitetown I come from?> Ooowie! I wanted to compliment him on his do, but he> plumb disappeared! Beautiful!)> RunningWild> P.S. Wow, there's nowhere else I could feel> comfortable asking this. RW.I hope you don't mind, I found your letter very amusing. I would sure love to know what town you're writing from. I would guess your question might have to be answered by a black person that wears one of those long wearing styles of dreds, cornrows, or extensions. I would maybe corrolate those styles to sculpted nails. The initial work is costly and time consuming, but you don't have to keep polishing them everyday. Would'nt it be fun to see wigs become commonplace again? You know, just plop one on when you don't feel like doing your hair instead of wearing one because you have to? I see so many attractive wigs available but don't know anyone who wears one for the hell of it. Aint this websight da bomb?
Say, I'm wondering about something I know nothing about and have no one to ask: Is it more of a problem or a blessing to have hair you can (the way I understand) put a hairdo in and keep for a week and more at a time? Like dreadlocks or cornrows ???I don't see any way that's possible for straight hair. Mine is resisitant even to perms and likes it's own slight wave and insists on no other wave/curl.But on the subject of African-American hair/nappy hair: Is it good for your hair? Is it real easy to deal with? My hair is simple, but limited. there's no week-long or weeks-long hair (except the Monster from the Deep) look I could keep up. I've heard of labor-intensive problems with black hair. I know there are differences in all types of hair, but can somebody inform me?SignedHardly no blacks where I live(Except one day, in white-town, USA, when I saw a man from 2 blocks away who had brown dreadlocks to the tops of his THIGHS! I drove around the block a couple times and he had disappeared! MAN! How did a man like that get along in that nasty whitetown I come from? Ooowie! I wanted to compliment him on his do, but he plumb disappeared! Beautiful!)RunningWildP.S. Wow, there's nowhere else I could feel comfortable asking this. RW.
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White woman wondering about dreadlocks/African-American hair
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