Hi all,

This topic tickles me. 

I write a monthly column for 101 Celebrity Hairstyles (HairDoctor) and Short Cuts (Hair Rx) plus I write a column for Total Image Beauty (a salon only mag) and just did a special series of hair care & advice articles for Meredith (Redbook & Good Housekeeping).  I am amused at the topic because my editor from 101 and Short Cuts and I talk every day and it drives her NUTS that some of the hair magazines just recycle over and over.  And they recyle articles as well.  She thinks it gives all hair mags a bad rap.  I can tell you for a fact that 101 and Short Cuts use fresh images and articles for every issue.  Unfortunately they don't have an African American title.  I wish they did, they would do a good job.  They are very picky and make me submit fresh new topics every month (which is a lot of work - trust me).

I will tell you though that I get literally hundreds of emails both to my HB.com AskKaren column and to 101 & Short Cuts.  People have unbelievable hair problems and there really is no easy way to recommend that they fix them w/out seeing a pro but they say that they can't afford a pro or won't go to one.  So it is very frustrating for me at times.  I don't know what to tell them.   Especially when the problems are really terrible (and boy do I hear some awful hair nightmares).

Of course I don't write for the African American mags but I am currently doing a free lance piece on men's hair trends and I asked the editor if I could include African American men's cuts and styles in the piece to give it a good balance.  They said OK but now I am going nuts trying to find male celebs (it is for a celeb mag) with the different representative styles.  UGH.

So if any of you have suggestions of African American male celebs with hot hair cuts and styles...I would appreciate it very much.

Hi Karen!  Piggybacking on carameldiva I'd add, Kanye West-- he does some pretty interesting things to his hair too (intricate designs in his fades).  Also Bone Crusher (wild and free), Snoop (braided, pressed) Usher (waves), John Legend (bob), Lil Wayne (dreds) . . .

Thanks for the insight Karen.  I can see how you'd have to end up sorta recycling hair articles because topics like washing, moisturizing, and deep conditioning will always be washing, moisturizing, and deep conditioning today . . . and ten years from now.  I can understand that.  I don't know how true it is with white magazines and celebs sporting weaves and giving tips (I'm sure many do)- but it seems that most black magazines always show the celeb with cascading weaves to the floor giving up tips on how they care for their real hair.  We can't see their real hair so we don't know if its busted and damaged or what under there!  For instance, this month's issue of SBH has a feature article with Nivea wearing a tangerine orange sew in weave.  She's giving tips on caring for her real hair-- but we never see it-- we only get the orange tangerine sew in weaveThere are so many black women with gorgeous hair that is 100% theirs-- I would just like to see more articles on them and hear from them what they are doing.

I love Sophisticate's Black Hair and I agree with Sistaslick, they need to stop showing so many weaves and wigs.  I would like to see some real hairstyles that I can get some inspiration from.  I don't care how good the hair weave is, I can usually always tell.  I also read Hype Hair but they don't  have many articles, just pics.

Lol, Nivea's orange pumpkin weave was too much for me.

I'm late

I like to read the magazines, I use to collect Sophisticates until I realized that some of the pictures were the exact same over and over and over. Sometimes, they used the style years apart or sometimes they used it months apart. Recently, I saw a picture in the magazine which is also in my 1999 issue and 2003 issue.  However, I feel that they sometimes give simple advice and be informative at the same time.   I agree...I wish most of the styles included real hair of the person. Usually, they suggest to add weave, like that is the only answer out there to get long hair. Then they tell the women heat is bad in an article, yet some of the styles are called for blow dried, defuser, pressing comb, and flatiron, all at the same time...they really need to keep a consistant message.

carameldiva wrote: Karen- i always love Ludacris's hair and they tell me that Bustarhymes has a great new caesar cut, Henry simmons and Dorian Gregory have nice hair cuts too- hope this helps a little.

Hi Carameldiva,

Yes...this helps so much.  I guess the confusion is that I know about the 360 Waves look and what the Caesar is, but there are so many modified versions it is hard to figure out what is what.  According to the Hair & fashion forecastors the Afro (is that the PC term? If not I apologize in advance) is supposed to be coming back but I don't see it.  I see a lot of the very short and very neatly groomed looks.

At any rate, I am going to see if I can download some of the celebs you mentioned. 

Thank you soooooooo much.

Sistaslick wrote: Hi Karen!  Piggybacking on carameldiva I'd add, Kanye West-- he does some pretty interesting things to his hair too (intricate designs in his fades).  Also Bone Crusher (wild and free), Snoop (braided, pressed) Usher (waves), John Legend (bob), Lil Wayne (dreds) . . . Thanks for the insight Karen.  I can see how you'd have to end up sorta recycling hair articles because topics like washing, moisturizing, and deep conditioning will always be washing, moisturizing, and deep conditioning today . . . and ten years from now.  I can understand that.  I don't know how true it is with white magazines and celebs sporting weaves and giving tips (I'm sure many do)- but it seems that most black magazines always show the celeb with cascading weaves to the floor giving up tips on how they care for their real hair.  We can't see their real hair so we don't know if its busted and damaged or what under there!  For instance, this month's issue of SBH has a feature article with Nivea wearing a tangerine orange sew in weave.  She's giving tips on caring for her real hair-- but we never see it-- we only get the orange tangerine sew in weaveThere are so many black women with gorgeous hair that is 100% theirs-- I would just like to see more articles on them and hear from them what they are doing.

Hi Sistaslick,

Thank you so much for your help.  I really appreciate all the celeb names.  I am going to check all of them out and try to include as many as possible.

I agree about wanting to see hair that is not specifically weaves.  That is a problem I have with the African American hair mags from England.  I buy them to see what is going on across the pond and there does seem to be a lot of focus on weaves or lots of braids.

And yes I agree that the way ALL the hair magazines work, they don't really address real hair.  Whether white or African American.  So many people are fooled into thinking that Jessica Simpson has long blonde hair, when she is wearing extensions and that Beyonce has gorgeous long natural hair, when her hairdresser told me she wears lots of wigs, extensions and half wigs.  It is hard to know what is real and what isn't.

Even the celeb hairdressers sometimes won't tell me or won't let me write the reality.  There is one major TV star who appears to have really nice hair but her hairdresser told me that her real hair is fried and burnt off because she had it Yukoed.  But he won't let me write about it because Yuko would be upset and the celeb would be upset and then he would get fired.  And then of course none of the hairdresser would ever talk to me again.  So when they ask me to keep it "off the record" I really don't have a lot of choices.

I think that extenions are fine but consumers need to know that celebrities don't have hair that is perfect without a lot of work, add-on hair and the best hairdressers at their disposals.

Pokahontas wrote: I love Sophisticate's Black Hair and I agree with Sistaslick, they need to stop showing so many weaves and wigs.  I would like to see some real hairstyles that I can get some inspiration from.  I don't care how good the hair weave is, I can usually always tell.  I also read Hype Hair but they don't  have many articles, just pics. Lol, Nivea's orange pumpkin weave was too much for me.

Hi Pokahontas,

I think that part of the problem is that there are so many diverse hair styles for both African American women and white women.  And the magazines try to cover everything.  At least the white hair magazines break it out by short hair vs color and style vs celeb.  That is why MMI does 101 Celeb Hairstyles and a separate Short Cuts and then they do seasonal specials like magazines devoted to Prom Hair (updos) or Blondes.  Harris does the same thing.  Sophisticates doesn't have as many titles but they have the biggest African American hair title for women.

So if you try to combine all the different African American hair interests into one issue, you get weaves and wigs with cornrows and braids and some natural hair thrown in.  It gets complicated and I think no one is happy in the end.

I do know that the magazines struggle with finding the right balance.  A lot of the white hair mags get criticism from women in their 40s, 50s, 60s because the mags tend to feature younger women models.  And there is a reason for that.  It is hard to find women in their 40s-60s that are willing to be hair models.  Consumer testing also shows that certain models will sell more mags.  And afterall, that is what they are trying to do.  Sell mags.

Yes, there are a lot of politics with hair, even in the mag world.  :-)

cmesweet wrote: I'm late I like to read the magazines, I use to collect Sophisticates until I realized that some of the pictures were the exact same over and over and over. Sometimes, they used the style years apart or sometimes they used it months apart. Recently, I saw a picture in the magazine which is also in my 1999 issue and 2003 issue.  However, I feel that they sometimes give simple advice and be informative at the same time.   I agree...I wish most of the styles included real hair of the person. Usually, they suggest to add weave, like that is the only answer out there to get long hair. Then they tell the women heat is bad in an article, yet some of the styles are called for blow dried, defuser, pressing comb, and flatiron, all at the same time...they really need to keep a consistant message.

Hi Cmesweet,

Those images are very expensive.  I know because HB.com has to pay for any images that we use in our galleries.  Most mags have a production budget based on what they know an average issue will net.  So often, they don't have the budget to buy new photos and hair looks.  If they do their own photoshoots, it is even more expensive but you have to pay the photographer, the models, hire hairdressers, makeup artists.  So they hope that most people won't remember the images that clearly and they rerun them a lot because of the high costs involved.

I totally agree that it would be nice to see a lot more natural looks, which I know so many people are interested in.    And yes, sometimes there are conflicting messages.

Thanks for all your help & feedback.  I appreciate it very much.

Karen Shelton wrote: cmesweet wrote: I'm late I like to read the magazines, I use to collect Sophisticates until I realized that some of the pictures were the exact same over and over and over. Sometimes, they used the style years apart or sometimes they used it months apart. Recently, I saw a picture in the magazine which is also in my 1999 issue and 2003 issue.  However, I feel that they sometimes give simple advice and be informative at the same time.   I agree...I wish most of the styles included real hair of the person. Usually, they suggest to add weave, like that is the only answer out there to get long hair. Then they tell the women heat is bad in an article, yet some of the styles are called for blow dried, defuser, pressing comb, and flatiron, all at the same time...they really need to keep a consistant message. Hi Cmesweet, Those images are very expensive.  I know because HB.com has to pay for any images that we use in our galleries.  Most mags have a production budget based on what they know an average issue will net.  So often, they don't have the budget to buy new photos and hair looks.  If they do their own photoshoots, it is even more expensive but you have to pay the photographer, the models, hire hairdressers, makeup artists.  So they hope that most people won't remember the images that clearly and they rerun them a lot because of the high costs involved. I totally agree that it would be nice to see a lot more natural looks, which I know so many people are interested in.    And yes, sometimes there are conflicting messages. Thanks for all your help & feedback.  I appreciate it very much.

Thank you for that information. Sometimes, I go back into my magazines to get ideas of styles...that is how I know about the repeats. Other times I go back to get information on products and see if anyone has great reviews on them.

O yeah...the Afro has come back. I don't see it as much on the male celebrities Usher had one at one point. However, many women celebrities wear them in various styles. 

Celebrities with variations of the Afro- John legend, Ludacris,White Boy, Usher (at one point), Maxwell, Steve Harvey, Ben Wallace, Lenny Kravitz

Variations of Locs/twists/braids- Lil Jon, Mario, Omarion, Charles Divins, Daimon Marley, Maxwell, Eric Benet, Jamie Fox, DL Hughley, Jaheim, Lenny Kravitz, R kelly

Variations of Low/Clean cut- Usher, Tay Diggs, Mario, Shamar Moore, Kanye West, Loon, Lenny Kravitz, R Kelly

Variations of mohawk- Puff daddy/ Piff Diddy, Lenny Kravitz

If I find any  more I will let you k now...some names are repeats but they fit in all of the catorgories.

Karen Shelton wrote: Pokahontas wrote: I love Sophisticate's Black Hair and I agree with Sistaslick, they need to stop showing so many weaves and wigs.  I would like to see some real hairstyles that I can get some inspiration from.  I don't care how good the hair weave is, I can usually always tell.  I also read Hype Hair but they don't  have many articles, just pics. Lol, Nivea's orange pumpkin weave was too much for me. Hi Pokahontas, I think that part of the problem is that there are so many diverse hair styles for both African American women and white women.  And the magazines try to cover everything.  At least the white hair magazines break it out by short hair vs color and style vs celeb.  That is why MMI does 101 Celeb Hairstyles and a separate Short Cuts and then they do seasonal specials like magazines devoted to Prom Hair (updos) or Blondes.  Harris does the same thing.  Sophisticates doesn't have as many titles but they have the biggest African American hair title for women. So if you try to combine all the different African American hair interests into one issue, you get weaves and wigs with cornrows and braids and some natural hair thrown in.  It gets complicated and I think no one is happy in the end. I do know that the magazines struggle with finding the right balance.  A lot of the white hair mags get criticism from women in their 40s, 50s, 60s because the mags tend to feature younger women models.  And there is a reason for that.  It is hard to find women in their 40s-60s that are willing to be hair models.  Consumer testing also shows that certain models will sell more mags.  And afterall, that is what they are trying to do.  Sell mags. Yes, there are a lot of politics with hair, even in the mag world.  :-)

Hey Karen.  I understand what you're saying.  I don't know much about the mag world but I see that there are a lot of politics in it.  I know it's a struggle to try and make everyone happy.  In the end, I know that is probably impossible though. 

I think Sophisticate's Black Hair is doing a good job overall.  I still remain a loyal fan. 

I've been trying to think of some AA males for you but I'm having brain freeze, lol.  I did come up with D.L. Hughley, Mario, Andre 3000, Will Smith, Lenny Kravitz and Shemar Moore. HTH

cmesweet wrote: Karen Shelton wrote: cmesweet wrote: I'm late I like to read the magazines, I use to collect Sophisticates until I realized that some of the pictures were the exact same over and over and over. Sometimes, they used the style years apart or sometimes they used it months apart. Recently, I saw a picture in the magazine which is also in my 1999 issue and 2003 issue.  However, I feel that they sometimes give simple advice and be informative at the same time.   I agree...I wish most of the styles included real hair of the person. Usually, they suggest to add weave, like that is the only answer out there to get long hair. Then they tell the women heat is bad in an article, yet some of the styles are called for blow dried, defuser, pressing comb, and flatiron, all at the same time...they really need to keep a consistant message. Hi Cmesweet, Those images are very expensive.  I know because HB.com has to pay for any images that we use in our galleries.  Most mags have a production budget based on what they know an average issue will net.  So often, they don't have the budget to buy new photos and hair looks.  If they do their own photoshoots, it is even more expensive but you have to pay the photographer, the models, hire hairdressers, makeup artists.  So they hope that most people won't remember the images that clearly and they rerun them a lot because of the high costs involved. I totally agree that it would be nice to see a lot more natural looks, which I know so many people are interested in.    And yes, sometimes there are conflicting messages. Thanks for all your help & feedback.  I appreciate it very much.     Thank you for that information. Sometimes, I go back into my magazines to get ideas of styles...that is how I know about the repeats. Other times I go back to get information on products and see if anyone has great reviews on them.   O yeah...the Afro has come back. I don't see it as much on the male celebrities Usher had one at one point. However, many women celebrities wear them in various styles.  Celebrities with variations of the Afro- John legend, Ludacris,White Boy, Usher (at one point), Maxwell, Steve Harvey, Ben Wallace, Lenny Kravitz Variations of Locs/twists/braids- Lil Jon, Mario, Omarion, Charles Divins, Daimon Marley, Maxwell, Eric Benet, Jamie Fox, DL Hughley, Jaheim, Lenny Kravitz, R kelly Variations of Low/Clean cut- Usher, Tay Diggs, Mario, Shamar Moore, Kanye West, Loon, Lenny Kravitz, R Kelly   Variations of mohawk- Puff daddy/ Piff Diddy, Lenny Kravitz   If I find any  more I will let you k now...some names are repeats but they fit in all of the catorgories.

Oh my god.  You are awesome.  Thank you so much.  I was just now downloading Diddy and Lenny. 

Thank you again.  I will be downloading my little heart out today and I appreciate the help.

Karen

[/QUOTE]

Hey Karen.  I understand what you're saying.  I don't know much about the mag world but I see that there are a lot of politics in it.  I know it's a struggle to try and make everyone happy.  In the end, I know that is probably impossible though. 

I think Sophisticate's Black Hair is doing a good job overall.  I still remain a loyal fan. 

I've been trying to think of some AA males for you but I'm having brain freeze, lol.  I did come up with D.L. Hughley, Mario, Andre 3000, Will Smith, Lenny Kravitz and Shemar Moore. HTH

[/QUOTE]

Thank you Pocahantas.  I was just watching Will Smith last night in Hitch.  I really loved him in that role.  I used not to think of him in a romantic comedy, but he was great. 

Appreciate all the suggestions.  I will be eyeballing black men celebs until my eyes swell shut.  LOL. 

Happy Holidays.

Karen

Karen Shelton wrote:  I will be eyeballing black men celebs until my eyes swell shut.

I would be too if my hubby'd allow it  Thanks for sharing the politics of magazine print

Hi Sista,

ROTFLMAO.  You are so funny.  But I have to look at these men for work...so I have a good excuse.  Hee hee.

Hey again!

I just remembered... Locs with coloring- Elephant man, Ying Yang twins

I think I'm out of men for now

edit to add

Curly look could be natural/texturized- Genuwine, B5, b2k  

Straight look- snoop dogg, ronald isley  and there is a comedian with a straight look but i don't know his name...if i remember I will let u know

moreHarold Perrineau, Terranc Howard, Reggie Hayes, Wyclef Jean, Sean Paul, Bobby Valentino

...ok I'm done now

LMAO@ Pokahontas.  Shes even thinking about getting purple tips put on that mess.  But is it just me or does Keshia Cole look different everytime we see her?

cmesweet wrote:     and there is a comedian with a straight look but i don't know his name...if i remember I will let u know

I think you may be talking about Katt Williams, the guy that played Money Mike in Friday after Next.  I have the biggest crush on him.  He does have pretty hair. 

cmesweet wrote: Hey again! I just remembered... Locs with coloring- Elephant man, Ying Yang twins I think I'm out of men for now edit to add Curly look could be natural/texturized- Genuwine, B5, b2k   Straight look- snoop dogg, ronald isley  and there is a comedian with a straight look but i don't know his name...if i remember I will let u know moreHarold Perrineau, Terranc Howard, Reggie Hayes, Wyclef Jean, Sean Paul, Bobby Valentino ...ok I'm done now

Hey Cmesweet,

I found some great shots of Snoop.  His hair looks pressed at the top with the braids.  Is that what it is?  Or does he use a kit?  I think you said he pressed it.

I was talking to a friend of mine who actually got to interview him about a year ago but she had no clue about his hair when I was asking her about it.  :-)  She said it was braided back then as well but straight at the roots.

Thanks for all your help.

Karen Shelton wrote: Hey Cmesweet, I found some great shots of Snoop.  His hair looks pressed at the top with the braids.  Is that what it is?  Or does he use a kit?  I think you said he pressed it. I was talking to a friend of mine who actually got to interview him about a year ago but she had no clue about his hair when I was asking her about it.  :-)  She said it was braided back then as well but straight at the roots. Thanks for all your help.

No problem Karen...

  Snoop has a loose curl texture to his hair...so his roots may look straighter. I do know, however, that he sometimes presses his hair to get the straight look. I hope that information helps.

snoop has to be pressed... he can go from fro'd to bouncy shirley temple ringlets, to puffs in seconds

and yes nivea with those purple tips being next on the list  The way she was talking, it just sounded like she hadn't the slightest inkling how to care for hair.  I think her advice was "keep your hair trimmed up"  Gee thanks nivea!!!!  NOT!!!!!!  and the purple tips were her husband's idea too

Sistaslick wrote: snoop has to be pressed... he can go from fro'd to bouncy shirley temple ringlets, to puffs in seconds   and yes nivea with those purple tips being next on the list  The way she was talking, it just sounded like she hadn't the slightest inkling how to care for hair.  I think her advice was "keep your hair trimmed up"  Gee thanks nivea!!!!  NOT!!!!!!  and the purple tips were her husband's idea too

sounds like Nivea's husband lost his mind and needs a beat down.

Yeah I do...I read and have just about every issue of SBH, Hype hair, Braids and More, and theres another one too I think but cant think of the name...something with braids. Its like my little addiction besides hair! LOL

princess8907 wrote: If so which ones?  I personally like Sophisticates black hair.  They have sections in every issue for every type of hair

I like that magazine also.