Peple with brastrap length ..do you have aparent or grandparent of another race

[envybeauty]

OFF TOPIC: Why do Americans call Latinos "Spanish"??? It's not accurate. Most Latinos have a mixture of Spanish + Native Amerindian (e.g. Aztec, Inca, Arawak) + African blood. Some have very little Spanish blood - tending more to the native Amerindian / African.

because Spain did conquer most of Latin America (minus Brazil and small countries here and there). there are not that many that have african blood (especially those in places like guatemala, bolivia, etc.). other places have more (dominican republic, panama, etc.)

 

[LadyKaypnyc]

:Run:

 

[BrooklynSouth]

It seems as if asking this question is not pc in this forum .

Deeshortesthair, my family has never had a genetics screening but as far as I can trace back to around the late 1800's in South Carolina, we are all the way black...I've learned to take much better care of my hair by protecting and nurturing it...I think we can all grow it long with time, healthy habits and effort.
Moisture and protection have been my key.

 

[CurlyMoo]

because Spain did conquer most of Latin America (minus Brazil and small countries here and there). there are not that many that have african blood (especially those in places like guatemala, bolivia, etc.). other places have more (dominican republic, panama, etc.)

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Actually that's not my quote but it might as well have been since I often ask myself the same question.
But these people are not Spanish. It has more to do with the fact that they speak spanish and many Americans tend to group them together based on language. Being called Spanish only applys to those that were born and raised in Spain and those that moved from Spain and had their children also in various parts round the world which would include Latin America/Carribean, etc. Spanards are European. Actually there are plenty latin americans that have African blood including Mexicans. Although many won't admit.

 

[Qetesh]

i do have some white and indian in my family down the line.

but really most african americans do.

i still consider myself black and when people ask "do u got indian in you" i say no because i feel like its jus a way for them to feel like all black women cant have hair as long as mine which is false. also because the indian and white in my family culturewise had no effect on me growing up, its not like i met my cheroke ancestors or know the line of "white" people i am indirectly related to. i jus more or less know this person was mixed etc. and since it was further down the line then 2 generations i guess u can almost not count it.

 

[topsyturvy86]

OK, I think the reason why this question seems to touch a nerve is because hair is a very sensitive issue for a great majority of black women. If you are pointed at or criticised for something constantly, you automatically become defensive when people question you about it.

I am not bra strap length yet but getting there and am full black - 100%. As soon as I learnt what works with my hair and how to take care of it, retention began.

On first looking at the question, to me it could be re-phrased to: can pure black women actually grow bra strap length hair or are you prolly mixed with something ( as I said, to me). My answer is yes, the problem with black hair is retention of length due to our requirement for special conditions; e.g. moisturizing, relaxing/texturizing, dryness, and all kind of things. Once you learn how to take care of it, u're on ur way to great length.

 

[deeshortesthair]

You have a right to ask your question.

Thank you I am happy that I brought up this question even though I deleted my original post ..because It made ME realize how sensitive people are about issues that bother THEM.
Everyone on this forum has a right to ask any question which would enlighten them about the why's and Why not's of their hair growth.Those of you whom were offended by this topic need to ask yourselves why .Those of us that learned something from this topic might be able to understand the reasons behind lack of length.I am not ashamed of any type of blood that I carry in my veins and will not be bullied into denying my ancestors.
My hair is short does not grow past my collarbones and I am mixed...FULL STOP. Now I can really say that race does not play a part in hair length based on the enlightening responses I received.

 

[lilsparkle825]

Y'all are going to spank me, but I am just going to say it and suffer the consequences (I've been here long enough to know the deal). Some of the people here who have ultra long hair are "garden variety black" (like me), 100% African, or biracial. There are some, however, who say "I'm a plain 'ole' black person" leaving out the fact they have creole ancestry which some would call black (which, to me and several other people, is a little different from plain 'ole' black) or there parents and grandparents are individuals like those in Our Kind of People who selected mates based on having a certain appearance (long hair-3b or not) and continued to do that through generations. To me, the people in this category are still black, but it's a little different. Based on avatars and siggies, some of the people on this forum with BSL and over hair (NB-not all) look as if they might be descendants of these people...

OT - that was a really great book. i had to write a research paper/review on it last semester.

 

[Miss*Tress]

The length of our hair is all about the care we give it - just like losing weight is about eating less and exercising more.

Genetics is a helluva thing. My parents both have type 4 curl pattern while I have type 3 and never passed APL until I joined the board BTW.

Getting back to the original question, I had friends at university whose parents were from the Dem. Rep. of Congo, i.e. 100% black African and two of the women had MBL texturized hair - probably waist length when stretched.

 

[crumbling_images]

Ok, my response won't be popular here but I don't care. I do think black folks of mixed decent can grow their longer than those 'regular' black folks. Ok, there I said it. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but based on my own experiences, that's what I've seen. Perhaps, afro-textured hair was not meant to hang and flow down our backs; that's why our hair reaches to the heavens instead. Since we all seem to want what we don't have, i'm the first to say that I've tried every growth potion, lotion, elixir trying to get my nappy hair to grow downwards and curly/wavy/straight like my multi-racial family members. Further, a lot of the ladies on here (& outside this forum) that I've seen with long hair, don't have my type 4ab textured hair. Some do, don't get me wrong, but most don't. My type 4ab hair is not curly nor does it form ringlets and bounce. It's nappy and soft and sits straight up on my head like cotton. There's nothing wrong with it either. I'm just saying...

ok, i'm done.

 

[Inches411]

okay as far as the 100 pure black thing.. i dont know honestly.. i dont think anyone knows unless a dna test is done.. however.. When it comes to length i think that 4 type hair just has a longer time retaining length because of breakagea and dryness. And i also believe genetics do play a role but not race wise. Me and my sister have the same mother and father and my hair has always been longer than hers even when we were younger and my mom took care of our hair the same way. i do know that one of my great grandparents were native american but what proof do i have to say taht oh i got that gene and my sis didnt.. thats just making assumptions with no proof. And also the reason i wouldnt belive it cause i have a african friend and her hair is just as long as mine before i cut it. shes not african american let me make that clear shes african so in my opinion long hair can not be always attributed to having some other mixed ancestry.

 

[Inches411]

OK, I think the reason why this question seems to touch a nerve is because hair is a very sensitive issue for a great majority of black women. If you are pointed at or criticised for something constantly, you automatically become defensive when people question you about it.

I am not bra strap length yet but getting there and am full black - 100%. As soon as I learnt what works with my hair and how to take care of it, retention began.

On first looking at the question, to me it could be re-phrased to: can pure black women actually grow bra strap length hair or are you prolly mixed with something ( as I said, to me). My answer is yes, the problem with black hair is retention of length due to our requirement for special conditions; e.g. moisturizing, relaxing/texturizing, dryness, and all kind of things. Once you learn how to take care of it, u're on ur way to great length.

I think is the best response i could ever give a person who ask a question concerning black hair and length. Instead of worrying about who mixed with what we need to keep on researching and continue to learn better ways to keep our hair moisturized and reduced breakage... once we have this down ... the sky is the limit...

 

[glamazon386]

Interesting way of asking if only mixed chicks can grow their hair long

Basically... Any hair that it taken care of properly will grow. It has nothing to do with race.

 

[MizaniLocs]

100%, Black American Negroid!

And I didn't get the "she's trying to ask if only mixed people can have long hair" thing from her. She's mixed herself and admitted to being unsuccessful with growing out her OWN hair.

I think some people's minds and unconscious thoughts are playing tricks on them.

 

[d-rock]

Ethnicity plays a huge role in hair length, thickness, and texture. Blacks that have ancestry in this country dating back to slavery are all mixed somewhere along the way, hence the wide variety of physical appearances and hair textures. I started looking into my ancestry when men kept commenting that I looked a little East Indian. I don't see it, but whatever. I know so far that there's been Native American, Caucasian, East Indian, and of course, African genes that have influenced my genetic make-up. Longest my hair has grown to date is, MBL (before this triflin' stylist cut it), but I recently found a hand full of hairs on one side that hit my waist. I definitely think mixed ancestry has played a role. Not everyone can grow hair to their waist or mid back because it's just not in their DNA.

 

[envybeauty]

[/b]


I think is the best response i could ever give a person who ask a question concerning black hair and length. Instead of worrying about who mixed with what we need to keep on researching and continue to learn better ways to keep our hair moisturized and reduced breakage... once we have this down ... the sky is the limit...

I am still trying to learn the secrets to this................boy o boy...........

 

[angelbaby]

No, not in any way, shape, or form. My maternal grandmother had VERY long hair. Two of my aunt's had waist length hair with braids thick as double ropes. My mother has 4A hair and one of my aunt's has 3C ? hair, natuarally wavy and very shiny without any type of product. As far as I know everyone in my family and distant family is black.

 

[MizzBrown]

Ethnicity plays a huge role in hair length, thickness, and texture. Blacks that have ancestry in this country dating back to slavery are all mixed somewhere along the way, hence the wide variety of physical appearances and hair textures. I started looking into my ancestry when men kept commenting that I looked a little East Indian. I don't see it, but whatever. I know so far that there's been Native American, Caucasian, East Indian, and of course, African genes that have influenced my genetic make-up. Longest my hair has grown to date is, MBL (before this triflin' stylist cut it), but I recently found a hand full of hairs on one side that hit my waist. I definitely think mixed ancestry has played a role. Not everyone can grow hair to their waist or mid back because it's just not in their DNA.

I agree! I've been reading up on articles and stuff about hair phases and how some people's hair just stays in the anagen phase and their hair just won't go through the shedding/regrowth cycle, thus longer hair. Some people stay in this anagen stage, hence the reason of having hair to the floor.

There are many who have taken better care of their hair than all of us on this board and it still won't budge past a certain point.

Just like eating well and taking care of your body doesnt ensure you will gain more inches in height. Your body chemistry is already set.

I use supplements and growth aids and have just started taking better care of my hair, but if I don't see bra strap or so by year 2010 then I aint gonna fight God about it! LOL That's just the way my DNA is made!

 

[d-rock]

I agree! I've been reading up on articles and stuff about hair phases and how some people's hair just stays in the anagen phase and their hair just won't go through the shedding/regrowth cycle, thus longer hair. Some people stay in this anagen stage, hence the reason of having hair to the floor.

There are many who have taken better care of their hair than all of us on this board and it still won't budge past a certain point.

Just like eating well and taking care of your body doesnt ensure you will gain more inches in height. Your body chemistry is already set.

I use supplements and growth aids and have just started taking better care of my hair, but if I don't see bra strap or so by year 2010 then I aint gonna fight God about it! LOL That's just the way my DNA is made!

Couldn't agree more. I read about hair phases too and learned a lot about why some people just always have short hair. I know a lot of white women who have short fragile hair too, so it's not just us darker women struggling with the hair situation.

 

[Evazhair]

[/b]


I think is the best response i could ever give a person who ask a question concerning black hair and length. Instead of worrying about who mixed with what we need to keep on researching and continue to learn better ways to keep our hair moisturized and reduced breakage... once we have this down ... the sky is the limit...

Basically... Any hair that it taken care of properly will grow. It has nothing to do with race.

100%, Black American Negroid!

And I didn't get the "she's trying to ask if only mixed people can have long hair" thing from her. She's mixed herself and admitted to being unsuccessful with growing out her OWN hair.

I think some people's minds and unconscious thoughts are playing tricks on them.

I didn't want to participate in this thread, because I felt that the op answered her own question early in the thread, but I must say I strongly agree with the bolded.

 

[Inches411]

I am still trying to learn the secrets to this................boy o boy...........

yea i think we all are lol

 

[NYAmicas]

I dont have a problem with your question OP, in fact I'll do something really strange like simply answer it and not wonder about your intent.....my grandparents on my maternal side are all mixed up, (I know some of what but it's confusing and they simply state that they're black and leave it at that), and my paternal side is black with some Native American down the line like others.

Hair length varies down the line from shoulder length and on. I know my stepfather's daughter is natural (no mixing that they know of) and her hair is at least bra-strap level, thick and strong.

 

[HoneyA]

It was clear my great grandmother on my mother's side was mixed and my father's mum is light skinned with blue eyes but I'm from the West Indies so we are all a blend. We can't get away from that. I don't know if that made much of a difference in my hair. I still had to find this forum to learn how to care for my hair to reach this length.

 

[chellero]

Are we really trying to pretend that in general white people,and people mixed with white don't have an easier time growing long hair? Yes there is always an exception to the rule, but for the most part my multi-racial relatives reach BSL and beyond quickly and easily. Is their hair problem free? Of course not. No one's hair is, but let's not ignore the obvious because we are offended that the OP dared to ask the question.

 

[topsyturvy86]

Are we really trying to pretend that in general white people,and people mixed with white don't have an easier time growing long hair? Yes there is always an exception to the rule, but for the most part my multi-racial relatives reach BSL and beyond quickly and easily. Is their hair problem free? Of course not. No one's hair is, but let's not ignore the obvious because we are offended that the OP dared to ask the question.

Chellero, I don't think there is a problem with asking this question. I also don't think its about who has the easiest time doing so ... if it was that easy, we all wouldn't be here right now . It's more of is it possible for a full black person to grow long-ish hair.

Truth is I didn't think it was possible myself till I did some more research and realized its not that it doesnt grow at the same length/pace, its just that it's much more fragile and breaks. As I said before, it just is a very sensitive topic for a lot of black women, having been picked on about this hair issue like for ever.

 

[d-rock]

okay as far as the 100 pure black thing.. i dont know honestly.. i dont think anyone knows unless a dna test is done.. however.. When it comes to length i think that 4 type hair just has a longer time retaining length because of breakagea and dryness. And i also believe genetics do play a role but not race wise. Me and my sister have the same mother and father and my hair has always been longer than hers even when we were younger and my mom took care of our hair the same way. i do know that one of my great grandparents were native american but what proof do i have to say taht oh i got that gene and my sis didnt.. thats just making assumptions with no proof. And also the reason i wouldnt belive it cause i have a african friend and her hair is just as long as mine before i cut it. shes not african american let me make that clear shes african so in my opinion long hair can not be always attributed to having some other mixed ancestry.

Yeah I agree. I'm going to have to say that people who think they're 100% of any one ethnicity are fooling themselves, especially black people here in America. We've been mixing for centuries so no one can claim to be of undiluted African ancestry.

 

[SparklingFlame]

Whats the big deal people? I think the OP asked a valid question. Why get all up in arms about it? Outside of this board it does seem like mixed people have an easier time growing hair. Notice the word seem.

 

[d-rock]

Deeshortesthair, my family has never had a genetics screening but as far as I can trace back to around the late 1800's in South Carolina, we are all the way black...I've learned to take much better care of my hair by protecting and nurturing it...I think we can all grow it long with time, healthy habits and effort.
Moisture and protection have been my key.

No one is "all the way black." Not even all Africans are "all the way black." Human migration and mutations in DNA markers show when and where ethnicities blended and it happened a lot in Africa. Alexander the Great and his clan spread European genes all over North Africa and there are European influences found all over southern Africa as well. The Arabs left their mark on Africa. No one is pure bred anything (chances are we were muts even before our ancestors were brought here on slave ships), I wish people would understand that. If you're pure bred, you're inbred. Not a good look.

And to the woman who said she wouldn't admit out loud that she's part Indian, why not? You should have no shame in any part of your ancestry.

 

[FAMUDva]

gdad - geechie & native
gmom- african & native

HEY!! Another Geechie!!! My gma is geechie & native

 

[didirose]

Whats the big deal people? I think the OP asked a valid question. Why get all up in arms about it? Outside of this board it does seem like mixed people have an easier time growing hair. Notice the word seem.

ITA and The question is valid because it's one I think the majority of our community wonders about. The "elephant" in the room, if you will.

I wish we would stop getting sensitive about it and realize that many products marketed for type 4 hair has led to the destruction of our hair; I'm not just talking about relaxers but the many greasy and drying products marketed toward people of African descent.

I know a biracial woman in her 50s now who remembers her mom using grease and relaxing her type 2 hair and she said her hair wouldn't grow and was in poor health. She didn't realize until she was an adult that she could achieve hair health and length with just a wash and go.