What Do You Think of This Herbal Essences Commercial?

[Songbirdb]

I thought it was cute and funny. I love that he asked for his money back. I don't think they were trying to show that straighter is better because it was obvious that he wasn't pleased with the results. Maybe they were just showing that it works on all hair types. I'm not gonna try and over-analyze it because it was a cute 30 second commercial that made me smile.

 

[Solitude]

What a strange little commercial. It misses the bar culturally, but I don't think it was intentionally offensive.

The "I have locs cause I haven't found a a shampoo to make my hair luscious" concept is just odd, but people who are already puzzled by locs might not see anything wrong with it.

 

[Rapunzel*]

this commercial was actually funny
me wants my money back

 

[Priss Pot]

I thought it was cute and funny. I love that he asked for his money back. I don't think they were trying to show that straighter is better because it was obvious that he wasn't pleased with the results. Maybe they were just showing that it works on all hair types. I'm not gonna try and over-analyze it because it was a cute 30 second commercial that made me smile.

He wasn't pleased with the results. But the MESSAGE was that the shampoo is so good that it'll turn those rough, nappy locs into soft, luscious, silky, straight hair.

 

[Lynnerie]

He wasn't pleased with the results. But the MESSAGE was that the shampoo is so good that it'll turn those rough, nappy locs into soft, luscious, silky, straight hair.

Pretty much!
But I love your hair soror! You are making wonderful progress!

 

[Reinventing21]

I thought that commercial was very funny & not offensive on any level. I don't think necessarily the 'message' has to be the shampoo can tame even ugly dreds*(i.e. 'bad' nappy hair). I think it just a joke on the commercials for that product--everyone has seen those hair swinging commercials--and after all, the guy wants his money BACK. If they had left it where he thought the silky straight hair was way better than his Jamaican dreds then that would be different. I wouldn't take it too seriously, for real. It's just meant to be funny.

 

[Priss Pot]

I thought that commercial was very funny & not offensive on any level. I don't think necessarily the 'message' has to be the shampoo can tame even ugly dreds*(i.e. 'bad' nappy hair). I think it just a joke on the commercials for that product--everyone has seen those hair swinging commercials--and after all, the guy wants his money BACK. If they had left it where he thought the silky straight hair was way better than his Jamaican dreds then that would be different. I wouldn't take it too seriously, for real. It's just meant to be funny.

Hmmmm........

I don't have anything against straight hair at all, but the commercial's message is kinda offensive. But I guess if you have the same feelings that the message portrays, then you won't see it as offensive.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[poookie]

How is this offensive?

 

[poookie]

@ the shower stall in the mid of the playground. . .I had to re-watch for that!

And OT - I think I'm gonna play Rihanna and Fefe and totally jack your hair swag with the hair color in your bottom pic. It's sooooo fiyah! I'm just letting you know in advance so it is no shocker Is that okay?

lol! fine with me!!! and thank you

 

[Priss Pot]

How is this offensive?

Refer to post #34. I explained it there.

 

[poookie]

Refer to post #34. I explained it there.

oh, ok, i guess i missed it. thanks

hmm... that's one way to interpret it.

another is that Herbal Essences works so well, it can de-dred dreadlocks. my sister, who just took hers down a few months ago, thought it was funny.

i guess if you dig real deep, there's a negative message... but i didn't see it that way.

 

[KizzieNapps]

Ummm...besides the fact that it is false advertising; it IS amusing.

 

[seraphinelle]

The message is quite obvious to me and it's ignorant. There is no searching necessary to see a negative message.

Again heee haawwwinng in whitey's face.

Lawd gawd.

 

[Reinventing21]

Hmmmm........

I don't have anything against straight hair at all, but the commercial's message is kinda offensive. But I guess if you have the same feelings that the message portrays, then you won't see it as offensive.

Different strokes for different folks.

With all respect the bolded makes no sense. It's all about perception. I don't find it offensive because I don't agree the commercial portrays a negative message as in the message you obviously see. If I thought the commercial was insulting type 4 hair, then of course I would be offended. For me it takes hyper hyper hyper sensitivity to be offended --3 'hypers' because I am already hyper sensitive about anyone insulting type 4 hair.

Sometimes when you go to the extreme to find an insult, it says more about your issues than the other person. Btw, the guy's hair looked more delicious than the girl who recommended it in the commercial. It was just supposed to be funny.

 

[Priss Pot]

With all respect the bolded makes no sense. It's all about perception. I don't find it offensive because I don't agree the commercial portrays a negative message as in the message you obviously see. If I thought the commercial was insulting type 4 hair, then of course I would be offended. For me it takes hyper hyper hyper sensitivity to be offended --3 'hypers' because I am already hyper sensitive about anyone insulting type 4 hair.

Sometimes when you go to the extreme to find an insult, it says more about your issues than the other person. Btw, the guy's hair looked more delicious than the girl who recommended it in the commercial. It was just supposed to be funny.

Alrighty, ma'am

 

[Naemone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7qkmPUeqf0&feature=related

From locs to straight.....

didn't like it

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

I thought it was funny but could see how it could be offensive.

There are times when little offends me, then there are times when I am hella offended. Not just by stuff relating to Black folks and hair but also when it comes to other cultures. I'm an equal opportunity offendee.

In all honesty, I am more offended when Black folks and Latinos are shown shucking and jiving or dancing when it comes to food. Check out a BK or McDonald's commercial. I might have been happy to get food but damned if I started break dancing or shaking my money maker while wolfing down a whopper. WTH? ...... But I digress.

My rant is over. Carry on.

 

[bravenewgirl87]

Honestly, I was offended. From the accent, to the dreds, just.... boo. And, it doesn't surprise me that this commerical would be popular in Australia. The land of prejudice.

 

[bravenewgirl87]

With all respect the bolded makes no sense. It's all about perception. I don't find it offensive because I don't agree the commercial portrays a negative message as in the message you obviously see. If I thought the commercial was insulting type 4 hair, then of course I would be offended. For me it takes hyper hyper hyper sensitivity to be offended --3 'hypers' because I am already hyper sensitive about anyone insulting type 4 hair.

Sometimes when you go to the extreme to find an insult, it says more about your issues than the other person. Btw, the guy's hair looked more delicious than the girl who recommended it in the commercial. It was just supposed to be funny.

Not only was it blatantly offensive to those who wear natural hair i.e. dreds. But, I found the commercial especially offensive to those who are Rastafari or caribbean. locs are not a passing trend, esp., in the Caribbean. You're making a big statement when you wear them because they were usually associated with the religious movement. A lot of Rastas are vilified for their hair in the Caribbean, hence the attitude all over the world that locs are dirty and gross.


Also, as a carib, I'm sick of us being portrayed as white-y loving pot heads with "nappy" hair and stupid beanies. And, please don't tell me that folks don't see it that way because if I have another American ask me another stupid question referring to this ignorant caricature I'm going to kick them in their face. You don't see every image of white people in the media as some hlilbilly joker with a pitchfork and a ***** wife?

 

[bravenewgirl87]

And, if its supposed to be so danggone funny why didn't they show some scrungy white guy with "dreds" in his head?
If anyone's hair needs to "fixed" or "made silky smooth" I would have to say its these culture-stealing hoes.

This, does not need fixing:

 

[MoniintheMiddle]

TSU Princess, this is off the topic but darn your hair grew!!! I remember when you did your BC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dymondz7]

He wasn't pleased with the results. But the MESSAGE was that the shampoo is so good that it'll turn those rough, nappy locs into soft, luscious, silky, straight hair.

Hum, I wonder how people would respond if the commercial was opposite. Someone walks in with straight silky hair and using a shampoo that turns the hair into dreads and the customer complained? IMHO, it does not speak favorably of AA textured hair. As if to say I know you like your locks but the swinging silky straight hair is better and our shampoo will give you that. I dunno. I also don't want to be too sensitive either.

 

[Southernbella.]

Hmmmm........

I don't have anything against straight hair at all, but the commercial's message is kinda offensive. But I guess if you have the same feelings that the message portrays, then you won't see it as offensive.

Different strokes for different folks.

I agree. That's why I said I didn't think I could say this commercial is offensive, because most black folks think straighter hair is better. His hair at the end as been described several times as "droolworthy", so...

No big deal...it is what it is.

 

[yuriko]

I disagree with this commercial on so many levels

 

[anon123]

Hum, I wonder how people would respond if the commercial was opposite. Someone walks in with straight silky hair and using a shampoo that turns the hair into dreads and the customer complained? IMHO, it does not speak favorably of AA textured hair. As if to say I know you like your locks but the swinging silky straight hair is better and our shampoo will give you that. I dunno. I also don't want to be too sensitive either.

Thank you for verbalizing my unclear feelings. It's always good to turn it around and see how it sounds then. I try not to be too sensitive and make everything a big deal, but really everything has someone's viewpoint behind it. Sometimes it's worthwhile to step back and take a look at what that viewpoint is.

 

[*Muffin*]

I don't think the commercial is meant to be offensive. In order for your hair to lock you can't apply too much moisture. I know someone who's trying to re-dread his hair and if he applies a lot of moisturizer in his hair it prevents his hair from locking up. Also when you moisturize dreads it helps to unlock them, so I guess they are taking that concept and blowing it out of proportion to make it funny (and not to mention sell product). All in all I don't think it was looking down or being derrogatory toward dreads. It was meant to be a clever marketing technique and I thought it was funny and the guys hair was lovely.

 

[Leeda.the.Paladin]

I was honestly a little offended.

I was offended by the exaggerated accent and the fact that he was showering outside. And I agree that the turning of locs into long silky hair was meant to play on the whole "kinky is bad" thing. The fact that he asks for his money back is not a redeeming quality of this commercial.

I am trying to not be offended, but I watched it again and had the same negative feeling towards it.

 

[*Muffin*]

Now that I think about it I can see how the commercial would be a bit offensive. The end result was his hair being long and straight, instead of soft and fluffy fro or just locs like it's supposed to be. On the surface it is an enjoyable commercial and quite funny, but there are subliminal messages. I didn't particularly like the part when he said "Me loves the Herbal" or something like that. I felt that was a reference to--another herb . His hair was beautiful at the end, but I'm sure it would have been just as beautiful if they would have unleashed a massive, bouncy 'fro. I guess these commercials subconsciously feed stereotypes that afrocentric hairstyles are undesirable by the masses. I still like his hair though, .

 

[Kay.Dee]

I don't like being a whiner but the ad was kind of offensive but I won't lose sleep over it.

For those who think it's an over reaction:
Imagine if it was a guy with a head of hair like Corbin Bleu or whatever his name is
Would it be as funny if it washed away his curls and he came back in swinging his hair?


I think people would probably say his hair was beautiful before the washing with HE and may see them equating curly hair as bad.

If it still would be funny to you then that's fine, and there is nothing wrong with that.


I think people may not see the possibility of it being offensive because the actor has locs instead of some other type of hair.

 

[Tarae]

Ummm...besides the fact that it is false advertising; it IS amusing.

That's what I was thinking. HE never had my hair shining and swinging like that.

Seriously though, I do see why some people think it's offensive. I did a while watching it but I'm not as offended as others. I honestly don't think it was too thought out (the whole "hair is suddenly luscious because it's straight and swanging and no longer in dreads"). I was more offended by the accent and the randomness of his shower than anything else.