The fro = intimidation ?

[lucky8502]

Today I was rocking a blow out fro ( even though I'm in the HYH challenge ) which I think is very cute . I went to the mall today and at the MAC counter I noticed a couple of girls almost jumping over the counter as if I bite or something. They wouldn't help me, when I asked a question they replied to my mom. I also had a similar experience in the gap. Do you ladies ever experience this are people intimidated by your fros ?

 

[4bslbound]

WOW, THAT'S CRAZY

 

[FebeeSigns]

Yes. Because many of the black people and caucasian people working at the Gap here choose very "professional" hairstyles which include straight hair and hardly ever afro-textured hair. So when they see that in full force just loose and out I would expect them to react that way, especially at MAC; Cake covered faces and rare natural hair to be seen. When I walk into Macy's in the perfume section I get a similar experience. Everyone seems afraid that my hair might just jump off my head and attack them. I wish it would because the looks they give are dirty and uncalled for. On top of that, there will be an occassional person behind the counter who claims they're busy and I should go to someone else, when they're just standing there.

 

[thehairmaverick]

Yes. Because many of the black people and caucasian people working at the Gap here choose very "professional" hairstyles which include straight hair and hardly ever afro-textured hair. So when they see that in full force just loose and out I would expect them to react that way, especially at MAC; Cake covered faces and rare natural hair to be seen. When I walk into Macy's in the perfume section I get a similar experience. Everyone seems afraid that my hair might just jump off my head and attack them. I wish it would because the looks they give are dirty and uncalled for. On top of that, there will be an occassional person behind the counter who claims they're busy and I should go to someone else, when they're just standing there.

People need to grow up...and get a life at that. Me nor my hair cares about you, I'm here for the products. Get over yourself! (rant over )

 

[hair4romheaven]

I don't have a fro but when wearing one I suspect a woman should dress it up and look feminine, funky or even afro centric. Dressing down (jeans and sneaks) with such a hair style can give the wrong impression..kinda manish. IMO
Some women maybe scared IDK I wouldn't be because hair styles are a form of expression not a mirror to who you are as a person.

 

[kmn1980]

Natural hair is always seen as political as if the wearer is some angry, militant person. Perhaps that's why?

 

[Vashti]

This is the 21st century though. It's time for people to get over themselves. I haven't had anyone in a service position react that way towards me and I wear an afro 24/7. Or at least I haven't noticed and IDK either.

 

[Foxglove]

I've noticed that too. The reactions I get in a wash and go fro are a lot different. I don't know if it's intimidation or what but there is a definite change in people's behavior towards me

 

[PistolWhip]

Absolutely ! Until we as a people can fully accept natural hair than no one else will. I have noticed that commercials are showing more sistahs rocking natural hair.....

 

[SND411]

My experiences are sometimes the opposite. I have noticed that when I wear my hair in an afro, people tend to be nicer to me and approach me more.

 

[getta]

^^^^^^People love it when I wear natural hear. The guys love it.

 

[melodies815]

Natural hair is always seen as political as if the wearer is some angry, militant person. Perhaps that's why?

Interesting. My stepfather mentioned to me last year that he understood "where I was" because he went through his angry, political stage around my age as well.

I just stood there.

My political stage happened around 21. I kept my relaxer. I just wore African-themed tee shirts.

When I went natural, it was just to go natural. I didn't want to make a statement. I got a relaxer again around the time I married and cut that off again last year.

I'm done now.
My hair is just natural...not a statement. I don't get too many comments or too many odd looks that I can say I even remember. people don't treat me standoffishly at all...but there is probably a holdover from the older generation that natural is not professional and I would do better with a relaxer.

My response: to each, his or her own. My hair is just hair...not a statement or a mark of uncleanliness or unprofessionalism.

Finally, my husband loves my hair...so I don't really care what others think...if they are thinking anyone.

I hate that you had that experience.

cj

 

[Sianna]

This is very interesting... I'm not sure I realized that people would fear the 'fro in such an unreasonable way. IDK if I'll be subject to similar reactions when at last I'm able to break out my "Big Girl 'Fro," (a BAA) but if it does I'm sure I'll find some way to make it work to my advantage... :scratchch

Maybe I'll bust out the "Big Girl 'Fro" when I want people to stay outta my face!

 

[mrsjohnson75]

I was at the mall and saw someone with a beautiful fro. She was at the Mac counter...I see u are in Fla.....I wonder if it was you??? Are you in a college town?

 

[CrissieD]

Where was this MAC counter?? The people at MAC always look pretty cool and funky a Fro should not have intimidated them @ all. That must have been the wackest most boring MAC counter ever.

 

[Hysi]

I have just the opposite and I've worn the wng bush every since I went natural. I get the oohhh's and ahhh's and compliments. A white girl in Ulta kept fluffing it and saying how nice it was. Get yo hands.....!!!!! But I've never experienced any negativity from it or perhaps I don't pay attention because I don't care anyway, lol.

I'm sorry this happened to you. There are some stupid ppl in this world!

 

[fletgee]

Back in the day many woman wore their hair straightened with a hot comb that was heated up on top of the stove at home. Lord, if I had a nickel for how many times my mom burned my ears. If you could afford to go to the hairdresser the beautician heated the hot combs up in a small portable "oven". And Miss Flossy (that was her name) burned my ears too.

We would sit in wonder and watched the puffy, fuzzy dried hair (that we all laughed at, but would never be caught dead in) be transformed into stick straight (acceptable) hair. As we would say "it was fried, dyed and laid to the side".

Then came the dawn of the radical black movement. Young angry black men and woman. Clenched fists. Natural hair. Hugh afros. Free yourself. Black is beautiful. Angela Davis's and other young black radicals natural hair frightened and intimidated even blacks-until we learned to embrace it.

Whites were totally freaked. Every black with a fro was out to do them, their wives and their children in. White flight. Hippies moving to the hills.

I say all this to say some people (through their upbringing) still view our natural hair as an intimadation tool on our part. Not what it is....our natural selves.

 

[Imani]

I think locale plays a role. I usually go to the malls in Atlanta, and I'm pretty sure I've seen natural, outrageous funky styles on the girls (and men) who work at the MAC counters.

 

[HappilyLiberal]

Ya'll need to just take that as a sign they don't want or need your money--E.V.E.R.! KIM!!!

 

[Sammaji]

Ya'll need to just take that as a sign they don't want or need your money--E.V.E.R.! KIM!!!

I agree! If you can't be treated with dignity and respect DO NOT give them your money!!!!

 

[CurlTalk]

Wow--that's uncool.

At the MAC counter I go to (in DC), most of the women working there are black, and have big natural hair. Personally, I think the boldness of natural hair fits MAC's oftentime loud makeup colors perfectly...

And to answer your question, I don't think anyone's ever been intimidated by my hair. I notice that older black folk and certain younger people (usually the ones with lacefronts and hair pressed w/in an inch of its life) will give me and my fro the side eye; they do it to me no matter if my hair is blown out or shrunken, but they seem to do it more when it's blown out.

I do notice, though, that I get approached by guys more when my hair is big--be it blown out, in a blown out puff, or in a chunky twist out...No intimidation at all.

 

[Solitude]

I don't know about intimidation, but I have been distracted by fros. One girl wore her fro out to class one day (law school) and I found it really distracting - it's probably partly because I'm a hair care addict and partly because I rarely see people wear their fros out.

When my son used to wear his fro, it's like people were obsessed with it - in a good way.

Sometimes people just have a staring problem when they see something they are not used to seeing. A lady's face was tatted in the barber shop the other day and I felt like a kid - I could not stop staring....I wasn't scared/intimidated, just kind of fascinated.

 

[Boujoichic]

Ya'll need to just take that as a sign they don't want or need your money--E.V.E.R.! KIM!!!

Exactly. As outlandish as some of those chicks behind the counters look they shouldnt be intimidated by anything. If I was ever ignored they could forget about getting my money for their commision. I love my local MAC store though probably a little too much the sales girls know me now

 

[Kindheart]

You didn't look at them with the expression in your siggy pic did you?cuz that's intimidating girl!
LOL.
Jokes aside,Fro is powerful and people often perceive naturals as strong minded people therefore they tend to be a bit intimidated by them.

 

[GreenD]

I get a bit of looks when I wear my hair in a wash n go (my hair is a bit big). I actually like the stares and reactions. Whenever I do where my hair in it's natural state in public I often have the mind set of being a "hair bully" and will feed off of others being uncomfortable by it. It tickels me how something like my hair can make people uncomfortable. I get a kick out of seeing people squirm.

In fact if I notice they're uncomfortable I make an extra effort to approach them to make sure they see me, and whatever I say it's always with a smile.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

YES! i thought it was just me and a figment of my imagination. i've noticed that when i wear my fro out, some of the customers are short and less cordial with me. then if i'm wearing it in a puff, or twists, anything other than my fro all out, they are like 'oh you look like you're in a better mood today', or 'you finally feeling better'. wtf? i'm not blitchy when i wear my fro and i'm not sick either. i don't know why they assume i'm mean or attitudinal with the fro. don't fear the fro! lol. ♥

 

[deltagyrl]

Dang. I'm so in love with my twa that I don't notice.

I was a bit self-conscious because I went from mbl-ish to 1 inch of hair but once I figured out how to moisturize my hair I've been unflappable.

I can not WAIT until I have a BAA. Hear me?

Later for those fools.

*kisses teeth*