Why?

[Number23]

With everything that is going on in the world right now, somehow there is time for this??!

"Chris Rock takes on black hair"

An exposé of comic proportions that only Chris Rock could pull off, "Good Hair" visits beauty salons and hairstyling battles, scientific laboratories and Indian temples to explore the way hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of the black community. Director Jeff Stilson follows Chris Rock on this raucous adventure prompted by Rock's daughter approaching him and asking, "Daddy, how come I don't have good hair?" Haircare professionals, beautyshop and barbershop patrons, as well as celebrities including Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symone, Dr. Maya Angelou, Salt n Pepa, Eve and Reverend Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations to Rock while he struggles with the task of figuring out how to respond to his daughter's question.

Damn. Can black folks not have ANY damn secrets anymore? Why was this even necessary?

Part of me thinks this could actually be enlightening, maybe even entertaining. The other part of me thinks that Chris Rock needs to go back to HBO specials.

P.S. Be sure to click on the trailer in the link. I'm annoyed by this whole thing, but the comment from Rev. Al is priceless. :)

[Karenina]

1. Comic relief!!! BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

:spray: :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Kind of Blue]

2. Comic Relief is right, Karenina! Fantastic.

:rofl: :rofl:
I know how you feel, Number23, and I'm glad you gave a balanced review, because I think it's high time to belly laugh at this and bring it out into the open at the same time.

As an aside, I've been looking for a conditioner containing the HMC (hair moisturizing complex) I've only found in my texturizer. I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Just yesterday, I've found Soft & Beautiful is making it. I have to order online though. I am one hair-happy woman :bounce: It's such a little thing but good God does it make a difference!

[Number23]

6. lol Your post is too cute

Even when dissing a movie about our obsession with our hair, our hair-obsession comes out! :)

because I think it's high time to belly laugh at this and bring it out into the open at the same time.

But why, though?? Why does everything black people do need to be brought out into the open?? Why are we so damn FASCINATING to people???

What's next? The fact that our butts are usually three shades darker than our faces???? Or maybe that's just been some of the men I've dated. :rofl:

[Kind of Blue]

9. Oh, my God! "Butts three shades darker than our faces..."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Number23, you are probably the funniest person I've ever met online. I'm gonna have to stand naked in front of a full length mirror to check that out. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

But, really, I wasn't thinking about the fascination other people have with us but the absurd fascination/disgust/awe we have with ourselves about hair. When I use to go to the beauty parlor to get my hair relaxed after wearing naturals, I've had 3 stylists say to me, "Ugh, you've got that African hair!" All pissed off x( It took forever to realize that my hair is great with lots of movement and body when relaxed and beautifully round and soft when natural. I like it.

But so many of us don't and it all boils down to self-esteem, as a group. Slavery and it's consequences, I think, have driven us crazy on the most minor of things that I think a good, good laugh will make us feel better about, at least showcase the lunacy at work. I mean, Chris Rock's baby daughters who probably need nothing, are worrying about this. It's such a shame.

Remember the Jeri-Curl family in "Coming to America?" How insane and funny was that. I had stopped with the curl long before the movie, but many people I knew stopped pretending that daggone curl juice was a menace and stopped using it. So to me a good movie/documentary can bring about some positive social changes.

Instead of talking about it in our small groups from time to time, it's good to really face it head-on and perhaps laugh at our behavior and begin to throw it back to those who created the farce as their problem, not ours.

(Shoot! It's happened again. I reply to a thread and it appears as an OP and the reply at once. Doesn't anybody know why this happens?)

[noiretextatique]

10. locs are liberating

i haven't been in a beauty shop in 4 years.

[Kind of Blue]

14. You and me, both! I totally gave up on them.

Noiretextatique, I've just been loving myself for being able to do exactly what I'd paid good money for, for so long. As soon as I get over patting myself on the back, I know locking is my next and final phase!

[bliss_eternal]

21. so, you're natural now...?

do you occasionally straighten, or au natural one hundred percent of the time?

[Kind of Blue]

22. Hey, Bliss! Mostly natural. Then I get tired of it

and switch, depending on workload and time. Then get tired of that and switch, and on and on... Hair is fun and I hope that's one of the movie's conclusions :)

How are you wearing yours these days?

[bliss_eternal]

25. i'm natural, too.

most of the time i wear it back in a ponytail or bun, or some sort of curly updo. i'm lazy (w/my hair) and dislike spending a lot of time on it.

[noiretextatique]

28. congrats...it takes a lot of work at first

but less as they start to grow. i can't imagine life without my locs now :7

[Karenina]

29. The first 5 cm. are the worst!

LOCK, DAMNED STRANDS!!! LOCK!!! Beeswax and 2 hours of twisting on a Sunday afternoon watching some shit like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U9lOtxwDTk&feature=related

The Color of Fear: the Paradox and Oppression in the New Millenium ca. 1:10:00

Gary Bailey, PhD, Assoc. Prof @ Simmons College in Bos. MA 12/18/08

[noiretextatique]

30. i studied that in my grad program

we used it for a diversity class. :rofl: my hair is only should length...doesn't grow very fast...so it only takes an hour or so.

[Karenina]

33. Girlfriend, GOOGLE THIS!!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Book Title: LIAR
Author: Justine Larbalestier

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[LooseWilly]

35. Beeswax is a mistake, methinks...

My hair dreads with merely a braiding, and an spot of ignoring (my beard, not so much...)

I'd say try without the beeswax first... try braiding instead... I know my brother's beeswax experiment failed anyway... and he's got the kinky (if red) hair of the confused ass family tree... I stand by braiding hair, then letting it ride for a few weeks.. it'll tangle, or it won't... dreads become an obviously possible (or impossible) option.

[LooseWilly]

18. And how...

A little work to separate the roots that sometimes try to tangle themselves with other locks... and the occasional lock that, after years, gets so thin at the base that it winds up falling off... but whatever urge to go to someone else to style your hair is quickly gone.

Of course... all the bleach and dye I used on mine probably didn't help...

[bliss_eternal]

20. do you have locs, loose willy?

i adore locs! i think they are gorgeous on so many people. i've complimented (some non-ethnic) people i see wearing them. they seemed pleasantly surprised that i was complimenting them.

[LooseWilly]

34. I don't today... I have on a number of occasions in the past...

Unfortunately, dreadlocks aren't a well looked upon hair style for those looking for a job... ironically, even more so for those who aren't black than those who are... and, of course... if your dreadlocks are dyed purple... well that's hard to explain no matter what ethnic background one might claim...

I cut the last batch off in 2003 when I was substitute teaching in Oakland... thinking the institution would care.... in hindsight... I shouldn't've bothered...

I'm not made for the educational institutions.

I'll look for pics... if nothing else, my drivers license will be interesting...

[bliss_eternal]

19. girl...

...i didn't know you had locs--i *LOVE* locs! i was researching that option when i went natural (long story :eyes:). i haven't been in a shop in two years...i'm totally diy now.

[noiretextatique]

24. on my second set of locs

but before that, i was pretty much diy too.

[bliss_eternal]

26. i've heard that is common...

(starting over w/a new set). did you do start them yourself?

i honestly think they are beautiful, and really envy the liberation aspect. though i've found just being natural rather liberating as well. but w/locs it's like having braids 24/7--365 days a year, you just never have to take them out. :bounce: how cool is that?

did you experience any flack professionally?

i frequently read a young woman's blog who has sisterlocks. she's done some informal 'polling' regarding how some sisters w/locs fare in the workplace (she's an attorney). i think she found quite a few black attorneys that were natural and/or had locs, which i found interesting.

[noiretextatique]

27. yes...i started this set myself

the first time i had someone else do the twists with a comb. my hair is rather fine in some places, so the twists didn't work out too well. the second time i did a two strand twist with shea butter, and they are much stronger this time. so many people have locs in the bay...it's never been an issue for me professionally.
and of course, my locs are cultivated, and i twist all the time. a girl can't be looking ragged, you know :7

natural hair is liberating. i used to perm my hair before i grew the locs, but i wore it natural for years too.

[bliss_eternal]

31. not as many...

...women w/them down here. though, i see lots of non-ethnic people wearing locs. :shrug:
encountered far more women w/locs on the westside (santa monica, century city, west la, bh, la, etc.) not sure why...

i've heard (from women w/locs) the worst crap they get about them are from other aa women (which makes me sad). they ask loc wearers questions like, "why would you do that with your hair? :eyes: or

otherwise they said they get nothing but compliments.

[noiretextatique]

32. i've had some of that...especially in the south

when i visited, or from older people. i get a lot of compliments on my locs from other black women now. my sister and brother-in-law locked up too, and they live in alabama and work (both managers) in the aerospace industry in mississippi :wow: they've never mentioned having problems with their hair either, but clearly they aren't from around those parts :rofl: i think the bay is the epicenter of locdom :rofl: thanks, bliss...feeling better than i was this morning :hi:

[AspenRose]

42. +1

I love my locs :-) I'm glad I made that choice and I too, feel liberated. Been off the creamy crack for 3 years now. But I don't judge other sisters if they choose to relax. That's a personal decision....

[bliss_eternal]

43. agreed...!

i didn't know you were locked--for how long (if i may ask)?

i understand why some call it (crack), but i don't. i don't want the sisters who choose that option to feel put down. it's such a personal decision (imo).

i stopped relaxing for personal reasons. i don't talk to others about their choice. if someone asks me, i tell them what i do...but don't try to sway their choice at all. what's good for me, may not be good for the next person, kwim?

i know people that went natural and became "evangelists"...it's like they aren't happy unless they are shaming a black woman about her hair choices. :( that makes me sad to see. we're all individual.

[Kind of Blue]

44. Creamy crack! I love it.

Too funny :rofl: I guess I'm still an addict but have been weaning myself off texturizing for about a year but still can't let go.

[Kind of Blue]

45. Shoot! There I go again, unintentionally

hijacking the thread. Does anyone know why this happens? I'm sick of doing this :(

[jmm]

46. Have you tried contacting the admins?

Maybe you're working with multiple open screens and accidentally posting instead of replying but if not it might be an IT glitch.

[Kind of Blue]

50. Thanks for the advice, Jmm.

:thumbsup: I've contacted Administrator Elad Hopefully, he'll get to the bottom of this soon. I'm starting to hesitate to respond to anything because it's happens in another group that I participate, as well. Ugh!

[Number23]

48. I think this is DU's way of trying to get you to start more OPs of your own

:rofl:

Seriously, I have no idea how you keep doing this! It's so weird!!

[Kind of Blue]

51. Ha-ha! You are very funny, Number23.

:rofl: And you may be right. But my OPs have very short lives, they sink like a rock. And when I'm struck with brilliance :) for an OP, I know I'd have to spend a lot of time responding, time I can't afford right now, so I try to lend support to others as much as I can. But I will try harder to let my brilliance shine :rofl:

[jmm]

47. I'm thankful my hair never took to creamy crack.

I don't have the patience to keep up with it and I love swimming too much :D.

Except for the time a hairdresser who thought it would be a good idea to mix some with my hair dye while she snapped and went off on a xenophobic rant I only tried it a few times when I was younger. It can damage my hair but that's about it. When my brother was studying to be a machinist he started measuring people's hair with one of his tools and I had the thickest hair strands he came across. Mine was twice as thick as his and three times as thick as my mother's.

[Kind of Blue]

53. Lucky! Ooh, I envy you thick-haired people!

Beauticians can be scary :rofl: I've had my share of horror stories and am doing just fine on my own. Thank goodness for the internet!

[Fire1]

49. Ok. What is 'texturizing' ????? n/t What am I missing?

[Kind of Blue]

52. Actually, I've only found it as a men's product.

It's not as harsh as a perm. For me, it's milder than the mildest perm that always eventually destroys my hair. It relaxes natural curls but not all the way so that I can wear a 'fro or straighten it easily when the mood hits me. I'm addicted to the Pro-Line creamy texturizing crack :rofl:

[bliss_eternal]

55. i seem to recall

of this on one of the hair boards, and women were surprised to find the ingredients of the two were almost (if not completely) identical.

maybe it's marketed as a "texturizer" as most men just want to "loosen" the "kink" of their hair to create waves. calling it a "texturizer" probably seems more male friendly than "relaxer" from a marketing standpoint.

[Kind of Blue]

56. I agree! I was just at the drug store today

and saw that it's also the same stuff for kids perms. Getting the children started early on the stuff.

[bliss_eternal]

54. texturizing...

...is loosening the curl (and/or kink) as opposed to relaxing until the hair is completely straight.

this can also be achieved by using a regular strength relaxer, but mixing it with conditioners and/or oils (to slow down the process). so one achieves a looser curl to their hair, as opposed to bone straight hair.

[Number23]

12. Ahhh. I see what you're saying

You're looking at this totally differently than I have been. I've been looking at it from the perspective of "why does our business need to be discussed before the world?" and you've been seeing it as an issue that sooo many black women wrestle with and it would be good to get it out in the open so that WE (meaning black women) can discuss it.

I get that. That makes sense and it's a great way to look at it. And if a good conversation with some overlapping change in the community comes about as a result, then I think it may be a good thing.

Anything that gets black people off of the 300 year old trip that the closer your hair/eyes/nose/lips etc. are to a white person's the better it is would be a much needed marvel.

Have you ever noticed that we only seem to worry about this kind of stuff from the neck UP?? From the neck DOWN black people looove our definitive "blackness," our muscular, curvaceous bodies. Black culture has devoted more music, more poetry to singing the praises of the black female rear end than they have to just about anything else. Not that that's a good thing, come to think of it... :)

[Kind of Blue]

16. You are so right! IMHOP, that is a better question

for a documentary for why our bodies are dutiful and wonderfully praised. So much going on overall and we have to use a ridiculous term like "Good Hair." That would be a hit for sure.

Here are a few verses of a song my dad used to tease my mother. And his expressions when he sang it used to crack. us. up! It's an old Nigerian song men sing to women in honor of the butt called Idi (eedee), you can imagine that the rhythm kicks!

Idi, idi lan lan (Butt, butt so big)
Idi, idi rogodoe (Butt, butt so round)
Idi, idi repehteh (Butt, butt so much)

[Number23]

38. rofl That is too funny! Did your mom throw a crock pot at your dad when he sang that song??

I know I would have! :) I'd be mad and blushing at the same time! :rofl:

[Number23]

39. ***PAGING Kind of Blue***

I'm still waiting for an answer! What did your mom throw at your dad when he sang this song to her????
:rofl:

[Kind of Blue]

40. LOLOL...

:rofl: Oh, she was very embarrassed And flattered because the song is really an ode in of praise beautiful rear ends. Mostly it was telling him to PLEASE, Stop singing That song in front of the children. It was fun to laugh at her. Wish I could have remembered the song as a young woman when my you know what was the bain of my existence for far too long.

I'm intrigued by the evolution of acceptance of it in the culture at large. And but pads, I don't even know where to put that in the scheme of things :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Number23]

41. "butt pads"??!

Girl you are the cutest thing!! You are CRACKING ME UP!! :rofl: :rofl:

Now, I've got that horrible scene from I'm Gonna Git you Sucka in my head when that lady takes off her fake butt. And her wig. And her green contact lenses. And her padded bra. And one of her legs... :scared:
:rofl:

[Number23]

13. What the...??! Where am I??!

How in the world did I end up in another thread??! Kind of Blue, did you kill AAIG?????

[Kind of Blue]

15. Ugh!!! I don't know why that happens! It's so frustrating

because if I delete that crazy OP, then I delete everything I post in both. Does anyone know what I'm doing that causes it???

[Fire1]

3. I, too, have mixed emotions about the 'exposure.' n/t

[firedupdem]

4. I agree 100%...

some things are just "house" business IMO.

[AspenRose]

5. I can't wait to see it.

Don't worry about exposure, it'll mostly be black people who will go to see it; with some exceptions, white people by and large don't care about this stuff, and they wouldn't "get it" anyway.

I would be more concerned about the potential for spats between the "relaxed" sistahs and the "napptural" sistas.

But as I once heard a wise black woman say: NEVER tell a Nubian Queen how to wear her crown. :D

And I am glad he's shining a spotlight on how black features seem to be universally panned (unless it's on a white person, of course).

[Number23]

7. "NEVER tell a Nubian Queen how to wear her crown."

Girl, if those aren't the truest words ever said I don't know what are!

And I am glad he's shining a spotlight on how black features seem to be universally panned (unless it's on a white person, of course)

Don't even get me started!!!!

Big lips on a black person?? Yuck!

Big lips on Angelina Jolie or that Liv Tyler girl?? FAAABulous!

Round butt on a black chick?? Yuck!

Round butt on (again) Angelina or that Kylie woman?? Oh my God! It's sooooo perfect!! :eyes:

I hear what you're saying, but I still have no idea why this is something that needs to be analyzed and "discussed" with the larger community. Why would they care anyway? And we sure as hell don't care what they think about our culture, particularly as everything black people do winds up in white culture 20 years later anyway.

[Fire1]

8. They like to 'cherry pick' our finest attributes! LOL!

[Number23]

11. You know it.

Beyonce with Beyonce's butt is "fat" but Jessica Biel, that girl who's dating Justin Timberlake, went out and BOUGHT her some @ss and now she's a big time Hollywood star. :eyes:

This girl went to the padding specialist and said "give me the J-Lo special."

Nobody ever heard of this child when she looked like this -

[NOLALady]

17. Hah!

I remember asking my Mom why my hair was not like hers. I didn't call it "good hair" because I was didn't know the term at that time.

Her response... Ask your Father! :)

[Number23]

36. lol Too cute!

:)

[HopeOverFear]

23. Looks like that's gonna be a good movie

[Number23]

37. Lord, this is the most JACKED UP thread I've ever seen!

Kind of Blue, what have you done, girl???! It says I got 13 responses and then I open it up and it's like 35 in here! I am soooo confused!!! :rofl: :pals: :rofl: