Braids on white women - thoughts?
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Category: Hair Talk
Forum Name: Hair Politics
Forum Description: The politics of Hair is a slippery slope...
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8771
Printed Date: April 26 2024 at 9:50pm
Topic: Braids on white women - thoughts?
Posted By: willowtree
Subject: Braids on white women - thoughts?
Date Posted: February 25 2003 at 8:11am
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Hi y'all, I'm a white woman thinking about getting braids. I'm a musician and think it would be an opportunity to do something different, funky, and also let me grow my hair out a bit. I'm interested on different opinions and feedback on this idea. I'm particularly interested on how people would view this from a cultural perspective. Any thoughts? --willow |
Replies:
Posted By: Kintaro
Date Posted: February 25 2003 at 9:13am
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Wow, this sounds blatantly racist AND sexist at the same time. Sarcasm aside, I thought this thread would have been white hair braids.... anyways, did you mean a single 3-strand braid or like a gazillion on your hair ? Your post offends me in the way that I just learned to braid like Sunday (and I ain't good at it), and that I'm a white male. Although I prefer it in a simple 1-point tail, I like the braid when it's there. Do what you want with your hair, don't let anyone influence you to do otherwise. Should the latter happen, blast them so hard that they will regret ever pissing on people's originality/good-looks-they-couldn't-attain-if-they-tried. I can't think of any hairstyle that could be offensive to anyone's culture or ethnicity , besides dreadlocks, and even then, that meaning is long gone now. So go nuts with your hair. It's yours, right ? ------------- I hate all of the following and lots more : Fundamentalists, racists, sexists, fascists, ageists (people saying seniors = senile , kids = stupid , 18 = immature or a combo of them), and bigots for causes yet to receive their own designation. |
Posted By: willowtree
Date Posted: February 25 2003 at 10:10am
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Kintaro, No offense meant. I am asking these questions because: 1. I'm white (well, a mut, really, but I look pretty white) 2. I am thinking about getting braids (multiple/many braids) 3. I am a performing musician, so before I make a drastic image change, I like to take a lot of things into account, and different people's perspectives are part of that for me. So, with that in mind, I really am interested in actual, real intelligent perspectives from folks... Thanks, willow ------------- |
Posted By: Lady Maria
Date Posted: February 25 2003 at 11:50am
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"White" is a relative term. I am Hispanic and some people think I am white and some don't. If you are a strong individual you won't worry about what other people think. I had very long waist length hair and I cut it in a very short pixie. I don't care what others think of me doing that. The people I care about , including my fiancee, love me anyway. If you want to go to a braided style that is your decision. It is not for others to decide for you. And it doesn't necessarily mean you are "acting black" or being a phony, it just means you want to try that style. ------------- Lady Maria |
Posted By: Sophie
Date Posted: February 26 2003 at 7:57am
Imitation is the ultimate compliment.  Go for it if it fits the professional persona you are trying to create. ------------- Sophie http://salonwest.proboards34.com - http://salonwest.proboards34.com |
Posted By: Ingrid16
Date Posted: February 26 2003 at 8:00am
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Sounds cool to me, willowtree! I don't think it would look wierd or be offensive to anyone...if so, that's their problem and not yours. And if you're a musician (what do you play by the way?) then it'll really work. Lots of musical folks go for interesting and unique styles. Why not you? Good luck and hope it turns out great! Love, Inga ------------- If I had wings then I could take you in I'd stay on the ground and show you some things The grass is strewn with blades of gold all sights and sounds I have been told all hopes, desires, seem to sing |
Posted By: willowtree
Date Posted: February 26 2003 at 8:57am
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Inga, I sing and play rhythm guitar. Rock/atlernative with a country/folk influence. I'm really looking to do something which is funky, feminine, and different from what I've done before. I've got pretty short hair right now, and was thinking long would be good, but I've got 3 problems. 1. When my hair gets really long, because of the texture, my face gets lost in it, and my eyes are my best feature, so I don't want that to happen. Braids would be a way to do long without it also being a bit "big" 2. I look horrendous with my hair at any length above my chin and below the middle of my ears, so "growing it out slow" would be an image nightmare for about 6 months to a year. 3. The next 6 months to a year is going to be crucial in my career because things are really picking up steam, so growing my hair out the traditional way is not an opiton because of reason #2. And I just plain like the way they look. Especially when they're not microbraids, but a bit thicker, just past shoulder length, and braided in an interesting pattern. It's not about imitating anyone or trying to look anything other than who I am, and more about just being me. They look fun, sassy, and sexy to me.... --willow ------------- |
Posted By: Gurus student
Date Posted: February 27 2003 at 12:46am
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I like the idea. I've seen braids on caucasian women before that were the artistic sort...I thought it looked really good. I think the unexpectedness would not be greeted warmly if you had a corporate job...but you don't have a corporate job! For a musician that likes the look I think it's a fine idea. ------------- Keep hope alive! |
Posted By: andi
Date Posted: February 27 2003 at 10:10am
I'm thinking sort of an ani de franco look here  ------------- ''A single open mind can open any door' Sonia Rutstein |
Posted By: ponytailhead
Date Posted: February 28 2003 at 9:43pm
go for it,braids look awesome no matter what skin color you are! ------------- "i can feel it in my bones" |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: March 03 2003 at 6:41pm
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I'm a black woman and I could care less if a white woman wears braids. It is a free country ain't it? How many sistas are getting their hair straightened or dyed blonde or red like a white woman? |
Posted By: LiliBeach
Date Posted: March 03 2003 at 8:40pm
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Hi Artist need to express themselves so go for it!! I might even suggest that you can get braided extensions in your hair along with it for a really dramatic look! Keep us informed.  ------------- I am a professional Hairstylist/Haircolorist with 19 years experience. I have traveled all over the country for my advanced education. I am also a salon owner.:)........and I LOVE Redken!!! |
Posted By: Ingrid16
Date Posted: March 05 2003 at 5:59am
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Rock on, Willowtree! Good luck with your hair and with your music. :) :) Lotsa Love, Inga ------------- If I had wings then I could take you in I'd stay on the ground and show you some things The grass is strewn with blades of gold all sights and sounds I have been told all hopes, desires, seem to sing |
Posted By: Isla Q.
Date Posted: March 07 2003 at 6:44am
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I have been holding back on posting on this thread, because I wasn't sure how I felt about this subject. Not so much because of a cultural aspect, but I wasn't sure about braids in general. And I try only to use encouraging words if I really mean them. But since I saw this thread I've been noticing there a lot of (white) women who wear braids and look fabulous! Of course not everyone looks great with braids, but that's the same for every other hairstyle, it either suits you or it doesn't. But it sure is fun to experiment! If you don't like it, you can always try something else. So I say go for it, Willow! I hope you'll like it and good luck with your music! ------------- |
Posted By: demodoll
Date Posted: March 17 2003 at 1:05pm
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The only thing I can say is be very careful. I have heard of women having all their hair break off when braided in all those tiny braids. I had mine done in the Bahamas and it hurts for several days because they pull your hair so tight. That could also be why the hair breaks, I don't know. I do remember that the first time Faith Hill cut her hair short it was because she had worn it in braids for several weeks and it had turned to brittle straw. I didn't leave mine in for very long so I didn't have any problem. I haven't seen too many white women, other than Bo Derrick in the movie 10, who look good in braids. Little flyaways tend to stick out and unless your hair is really thick, which it sounds like yours it, it can look really sparce in braids. I would say go for it if you wish but be cautious. It would be nice to have maintenance free hair but not at the cost of having it all break off. ------------- "It is better to look marvelous than to feel marvelous" Billy Crystal |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: July 21 2003 at 10:09am
| man, this is a good topic! i remember back in the day...old school days, i could imagine myself not being down with anything when it came to white people doing anything that african american called "Their own". It was if they were trying to be like us or become us. I'm just keeping it real y'all. It had nothing to do with us not liking whites or being racist...it was just that finally, we had something of our own..or something that had been a disgrace and that white people hated or treated indifferently was all of a sudden something that they had to be a part of. But now, because everyone of all different races have integrated and united and are sharing their culture with different cultures...it's just a way of life! Either you except it or you don't!! On the braids issue...i agree with one of the points made above by the sistah. Do your thang, because theirs a lot of us sistahs whose crossed over and got the thin noses, lipo suction, blond/red hair, fried died laid to the side to get that "White woman look", why can't they cross over into our trends? Whatever...opinions are opinions...I say do whatever they hell you want! |
Posted By: duke
Date Posted: July 21 2003 at 11:41am
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Well, braids can be un-braided. So do what makes you happy. ------------- |
Posted By: caramia
Date Posted: July 21 2003 at 2:45pm
| Give it a try. See what braided style works best for you. There are so many different hairstyles to choose from when using braids. You could braid all of your hair or just a few strands. Braids are fun and like the previous poster said they can be undone so they are not like experimenting with hair color which is less easily undone. Good luck. |
Posted By: les
Date Posted: October 22 2003 at 11:14pm
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Willow...I am a 46 year old, white female artist, and plan the same as you. Why? Because it is a fun look. Creative, yes. A racial thing. Maybe. but the sisters have been straightening and lightening their hair forever and no one is stamping their feet! Go for it!!! I am.
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Posted By: Jenna
Date Posted: October 25 2003 at 2:33pm
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I think you should do it! I love when cultural boundaries are broken to break up all the divisions we've created in this world. I don't like the attitude of certain hairstyles being forbidden to other races, and anyone who had a problem with a hairstyle should be woken up to the more important problems in the world. Don't worry about a few people who may be stuck in old fashioned, segregating views.
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Posted By: Bonnie
Date Posted: January 24 2004 at 9:49pm
| I say go for it girl.. Who cares what other people think, it is THEIR PROBLEM not yours |
Posted By: joec
Date Posted: February 20 2004 at 10:13pm
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Never liked it not even on Bo Dereck ------------- |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: March 15 2004 at 7:21am
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Hey i think that braids would look awesome on you. If you want historical perspective, go rent the movie ten. Bo Derek who is very "white" rocks cornrows and she looks awesome. You say your in a music group, that would be an excellent way to stand out.
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Posted By: The_Airknight
Date Posted: May 19 2004 at 6:39pm
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a) No one is "white," nor "black." b) I am a firm believer in embracing other culture. c) Truly, this topic is pointless. You can do whatever you want with your hair. There shouldn't even be a question. It's YOUR hair, not our's..LoL. ------------- |
Posted By: Unregistered Guest
Date Posted: June 03 2004 at 11:33pm
| I've had those done before, they look good but GOD DO THEY HURT LIKE HELL. |