Why'd they have to describe her hair as "icky"?

[sunshinelady]

I just clicked on AOL and they are talking about the woman with 9 foot dreadlocks, they said "Woman's Icky Hair Is 9 Feet Long." WTH? Is her hair "icky" because she has dreadlocks? I complained, maybe it would help if you do too. I would expect them to be more aware of the power of their words.

 

[malachi74]

hmm, i saw that too. i don't know why they put that in the link. her hair is beautiful. i could see if she and her hair was dirty-looking or something. maybe "icky" means something other than what we're thinking.

 

[january noir]

I just clicked on AOL and they are talking about the woman with 9 foot dreadlocks, they said "Woman's Icky Hair Is 9 Feet Long." WTH? Is her hair "icky" because she has dreadlocks? I complained, maybe it would help if you do too. I would expect them to be more aware of the power of their words.

They must have changed it because it doesn't say it now.

 

[malachi74]

ick·y (k)
adj. ick·i·er, ick·i·est Informal
1. Disagreeably sticky: icky candy.
2. Offensive; distasteful: icky sentimentality.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin unknown.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

it's not on the title anymore but it's still on the link that takes you to the story from the main aol.com page. i just submitted a complaint as well.

 

[Coco_Sips781]

No offense but I think hair that long is just "icky" period. Dreads or no dreads. I so a white lady with straight hair like that in the mall and it looked so gross, lol I wanted to say lady just let it go. But that was weird that they referred to it as that.

 

[princessnad]

How come only one of her locs is really long?

 

[chicacanella]

Okay, let's see if it is possible not to be PC for one minute.


*sigh* when I think of dread locs, I think of ickiness too. To me, it's nothing but scab, dried up, shedded hair twisted up with some type of balm or oil. And yeah, I know you can wash it and make it "clean" but it is still not appealing to me in the least sense.

 

[locabouthair]

I think a lot of people, who arent black, think that you cant wash dreadlocks, I've heard several white women ask how can you wash your hair if it is dreaded. So I think it might be that or maybe it's just the length.

 

[chicacanella]

And this pic is why I hate when people use dreadlocs as a determiner of how long one's hair can growh. The ends of dreds are shedded hair, not hair that is still attached to the scalp therefore, just because someone's mother or cousin has dreds five feet and hair grows an average doesn't mean they have this long growth cycle. They could or could not but you won't know unless you see the hair growing from the scalp which dreds don't do.

 

[clarity2008]

I saw this too and thought the very same thing. Why her hair gotta be "icky"?

 

[Menina Preta]

LOL...Chicacanella, tell them how you really feel. Anyways, I think AOL was in the wrong for calling the hair 'icky.' What was the point behind it? It just makes it seem like they dislike dreads. And I don't see the point in a corporation commenting on the cleanliness of someone's hair style.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

I agree it's sad. She even talks about shampooing it in the interview. So it's not like she's running around with nasty hair. When I saw that, I clicked in thinking it was going to be someone disgusting, not someone with dreads. I know that person was discriminating because of her hair type and the fact that it's dreads. Sad SAD SAD!

 

[joib]

I think dreads are beautiful but a little too much work for me. I do think what is icky is people's stupidity. I don't think people should generalize all folks that wear dreads as "icky". I know plenty of people, white and black, with dreads and they keep their hair as clean as anyone else. What is icky is women using glue to attach fake hair to their scalp. I could keep going but I would start offending people. Sorry just venting. I read most of the comments on AOL which were pretty ugly and to hear some of the same comments on hereohwell:.

 

[MissNina]

9 foot long hair is icky, IMO. I get your point, but it is pretty icky. erplexed

 

[CurlyMoo]

Thanks for posting this article. I hope she makes the GBR. Her hair looks good and she washes it once a week. I wish there was a close up of her hair though. She said she used to wash it 3 times a week which is what I do now. This actuallly has me thinking about my regimen. When I reach my goal length of Classic Length will I reduce the frequent washings? Hmmm

 

[CurlyMoo]

Well it looks like they changed the title of the article, which was in very bad taste not to mention unprofessional. That title set the tone for some very inappropriate comments at the bottom of the page. Very racist and truely ignorant. We truely have some work to do when it comes to race in this society.

 

[DreadlockedLady0171]

Okay, let's see if it is possible not to be PC for one minute.


*sigh* when I think of dread locs, I think of ickiness too. To me, it's nothing but scab, dried up, shedded hair twisted up with some type of balm or oil. And yeah, I know you can wash it and make it "clean" but it is still not appealing to me in the least sense.

I think that you need some education in terms of dreads.
Not everyone twists their hair.
Not everyone uses balm or oil even.
Some of us who are locking our hair wash our hair more often than those with other more "pc" styles.
Sure, there are some who don't wash their hair for a ridiculous amount of time and slather on the products, but there are some who are relaxed or loose natural that do the same.
Also, there are some sistas who are walking around this very minute with scabbed up, dried hair as well.
If dreads are not your thing, that's cool, but at least educate yourself as it is obvious you haven't got a clue

I think dreads are beautiful but a little too much work for me. I do think what is icky is people's stupidity. I don't think people should generalize all folks that wear dreads as "icky". I know plenty of people, white and black, with dreads and they keep their hair as clean as anyone else. What is icky is women using glue to attach fake hair to their scalp. I could keep going but I would start offending people. Sorry just venting. I read most of the comments on AOL which were pretty ugly and to hear some of the same comments on hereohwell:.

 

[chicacanella]

I think dreads are beautiful but a little too much work for me. I do think what is icky is people's stupidity. I don't think people should generalize all folks that wear dreads as "icky". I know plenty of people, white and black, with dreads and they keep their hair as clean as anyone else. What is icky is women using glue to attach fake hair to their scalp. I could keep going but I would start offending people. Sorry just venting. I read most of the comments on AOL which were pretty ugly and to hear some of the same comments on hereohwell:.

No one is saying that the person who wears the dreads are icky, just that their dreads are icky. I mean, after all, they aren't their hair. And yeah, their hair may be clean but just the thought of shedded, hair rolled up into each other is enough for me to

It actually reminds me of the old wives tale where people would not get rid of their old hair and just ball it up for years and years in fear that the birds would get it.

And yeah, glue and hair is icky too. Hey, to each is own. It's my opinion but I'm sure others have opinion that it isn't icky.

I don't know how more frankly I can put it but I don't like the idea of old scab/shredded hair being rolled up into each other. It's nasty to me.

I think that you need some education in terms of dreads.
Not everyone twists their hair.
Not everyone uses balm or oil even.
Some of us who are locking our hair wash our hair more often than those with other more "pc" styles.
Sure, there are some who don't wash their hair for a ridiculous amount of time and slather on the products, but there are some who are relaxed or loose natural that do the same.
Also, there are some sistas who are walking around this very minute with scabbed up, dried hair as well.
If dreads are not your thing, that's cool, but at least educate yourself as it is obvious you haven't got a clue

Okay, we can also say that there are black women who wash their hair everyday, who don't use grease for moisture or who have never worn weave/braids/pressed/etc. But this is not true for most and from all the research I've done including tutorials and talking to people with dreads, it does involve some use of balm to loc the hair.

Just because you have come across something different doesn't mean it is the majority.

So, people could be washing their hair more than people with pc styles, I don't like the fact of old hair being balled up into each other. I'm trying to find what is so hard to understand about that. You may not like other styles and think they are icky and that is your choice. I'm tired of everyone trying to make everyone elses opinion line up with theirs.

You sound like some of the Nappturality members, who even though I may disagree with at times, I still respect their opinions.

 

[pistachio]

I saw only ONE to THREE dreds that were remotely 7+ feet. All the other ones were only waist length which is like three feet or something. To me it's not icky, it's silly. I know she's going for a record, but in day-to-day practicality, it seems silly to go though extra work and hassle to take care of three dreads of many if she kept them after she made GBR. If she decides to hold on to the 1-3 dreads it's her perrogative, and opinion it's fit to do so. Just like it's my opinion it'd be silly...

 

[anon123]

Okay, we can also say that there are black women who wash their hair everyday, who don't use grease for moisture or who have never worn weave/braids/pressed/etc. But this is not true for most and from all the research I've done including tutorials and talking to people with dreads, it does involve some use of balm to loc the hair.

Just because you have come across something different doesn't mean it is the majority.

I disagree, just like I don't think people wearing extensions or braids with 2 or 3 months of shed hair in them are icky. But you are free to have your opinion, of course. The point is that when you write a news article you don't put your personal feelings like "ew that's icky" in the title. I might think putting 6 different products in one's hair after washing and continuing to apply oily products daily w/o washing is gross (i don't really, but you can see how someone would, right?), but if I'm writing an article about someone's hair accessories, how am I going to start my article like "woman decorates icky sticky hair with flower accessories"?

 

[DreadlockedLady0171]

Okay, we can also say that there are black women who wash their hair everyday, who don't use grease for moisture or who have never worn weave/braids/pressed/etc. But this is not true for most and from all the research I've done including tutorials and talking to people with dreads, it does involve some use of balm to loc the hair.

WRONG..."balm" is not necessary to loc afro hair. That is something that came about as more people decided to loc and wanted their hair to look more in place and calm their frizzies.

Just because you have come across something different doesn't mean it is the majority.

So, people could be washing their hair more than people with pc styles, I don't like the fact of old hair being balled up into each other. I'm trying to find what is so hard to understand about that. You may not like other styles and think they are icky and that is your choice. I'm tired of everyone trying to make everyone elses opinion line up with theirs.

I'm not trying to make your opinion like mine or line up the others...if you don't like something, so be it. All I said is that you educate yourself because from what you wrote previously, and even now, you don't have a clue. You are basing your opinion off of misinformation. Also, I am not running around here commenting on the "ickiness" of another sistas hair. Whether you know the person or not, that is just plain rude and tacky. But I guess since this is the Internet, being rude behind a computer screen trumps niceness or not saying anything at all. Someone in another thread stated that things are getting rough around these parts for naturals and I am seeing what she was saying

You sound like some of the Nappturality members, who even though I may disagree with at times, I still respect their opinions.

Again, all I said is educate yourself. You can have your opinion but at least make it an educated one. Also, from all of the "research" that you have conducted on dreads and people you have "talked" to, have you said that you think that their hair is "icky" to their face?

...............................

 

[chicacanella]

I disagree, just like I don't think people wearing extensions or braids with 2 or 3 months of shed hair in them are icky. But you are free to have your opinion, of course. The point is that when you write a news article you don't put your personal feelings like "ew that's icky" in the title. I might think putting 6 different products in one's hair after washing and continuing to apply oily products daily w/o washing is gross (i don't really, but you can see how someone would, right?), but if I'm writing an article about someone's hair accessories, how am I going to start my article like "woman decorates icky sticky hair with flower accessories"?

When you mention, the fact that braids do contain shed hair is kinda icky. But I don't think that is the same because the shed hair is not left in their for the duration of years and years. It's combed out after a certain time which locs don't give anyone the option of doing.

As one who has had to take a lot of journalism courses in order to receive my degree, I definitely agree that one should not put their personal feelings in a feature or soft news article...unless it is warranted. Say, something that most people find universally "icky" such as someone having a hundred piercings on their face. Now, in that situation, "icky" would be something excepted by most but I just spoke to one of my associates who is a journalist and says if it was not in good taste, "Why didn't the editor remove it?"

And of course, you could find putting gobs and gobs or product on one's hair without washing is "icky." No dispute here, that is your opinion which I can only do but accept. I can't change it nor would I want too...what would be the point?

 

[chicacanella]

Originally Posted by chicacanella
Okay, we can also say that there are black women who wash their hair everyday, who don't use grease for moisture or who have never worn weave/braids/pressed/etc. But this is not true for most and from all the research I've done including tutorials and talking to people with dreads, it does involve some use of balm to loc the hair.

WRONG..."balm" is not necessary to loc afro hair. That is something that came about as more people decided to loc and wanted their hair to look more in place and calm their frizzies.

I wasn't disagreeing about whether or not it was a necessity to use balm to lock hair. I was commenting on the fact that out of all the information I have found on locking hair, many people use a balm.

Truthfully, whether one uses balm or not, it is still icky to me. But the balm just increases the icky factor.

Just because you have come across something different doesn't mean it is the majority.

So, people could be washing their hair more than people with pc styles, I don't like the fact of old hair being balled up into each other. I'm trying to find what is so hard to understand about that. You may not like other styles and think they are icky and that is your choice. I'm tired of everyone trying to make everyone elses opinion line up with theirs.

I'm not trying to make your opinion like mine or line up the others...if you don't like something, so be it. All I said is that you educate yourself because from what you wrote previously, and even now, you don't have a clue.
You say I don't have a clue because of all the information I have found out about dreadlocs, there is a use of balm. So, you have informed me that some people don't use balm which I acknowledged but still stated that this is not what I usually see. That really isn't the issue, as I stated before, the use of balm just increases the "icky" factor. What more do I need to be educated on because the main thing that makes dreds icky to me is the fact that it is rolled up, shedded hair? Even if someone washed their hair 3 times a day, the rolled up, shedded scab hair is what makes it icky to me.
You are basing your opinion off of misinformation. Also, I am not running around here commenting on the "ickiness" of another sistas hair.
Running around here? Okay, that was just funny but do you really think it is wrong for me to voice my opinion on whether I not I like someone elses hairstyle? The purpose of a message board is all about voicing one's opinions but all of a sudden, when someone doesn't like someone elses view point it is wrong.

Whether you know the person or not, that is just plain rude and tacky.

This is not tacky or rude to me, just a difference of opinion. Someone may think the fact I wash my hair with conditioners many times is "icky" since most are under the impression that it doesn't really clean the hair or scalp. They could be right but that is their opinion which I can't change nor would I want to.

But I guess since this is the Internet, being rude behind a computer screen trumps niceness or not saying anything at all.

Not being rude just not being pc or in other words just being real. I guess it is better to act as if I think another way when I don't. I'd rather know someone's true feelings than some pc version.
Someone in another thread stated that things are getting rough around these parts for naturals and I am seeing what she was saying

You sound like some of the Nappturality members, who even though I may disagree with at times, I still respect their opinions.

Again, all I said is educate yourself. You can have your opinion but at least make it an educated one. Also, from all of the "research" that you have conducted on dreads and people you have "talked" to, have you said that you think that their hair is "icky" to their face?

Why would I say their hair is "icky" to their face? Most of these people were either in my classes and the topic came up. And really, back then I didn't have an opinion of whether dreds were icky or not. I didn't give it much thought but I always knew that they weren't something for me. Now, the article made me think about it and that is why I came to the conclusion that dreds are icky.

 

[divya]

Well, some people just don't like dreads. That's their opinion and they are entitled to it. It would be one thing if she didn't wash and care for them, but her dreads look good overall. But people often have negative things to say about things that are perfectly fine but just outside the norm. My view? Sometimes it's not worth wasting your time on the ignorant and/or uncultured...

 

[sunshinelady]

I just want people to keep editorial comments out of the news.

 

[DreadlockedLady0171]

Well, some people just don't like dreads. That's their opinion and they are entitled to it. It would be one thing if she didn't wash and care for them, but her dreads look good overall. But people often have negative things to say about things that are perfectly fine but just outside the norm. My view? Sometimes it's not worth wasting your time on the ignorant and/or uncultured...

I need to adopt this philosophy, not just here but in general...

 

[chicacanella]

I just want people to keep editorial comments out of the news.

I thought the point of editorial comments were for the writers to base their opinions?


Not trying to be rude, but here is an editorial boards view on abortion.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/medical_issues_abortion_editorial/index.html

I think you are saying when someone is writing a feature story, that it shoud try to remain as objective as possible while still getting the focal point of the story across.

 

[chicacanella]

Well, some people just don't like dreads. That's their opinion and they are entitled to it. It would be one thing if she didn't wash and care for them, but her dreads look good overall. But people often have negative things to say about things that are perfectly fine but just outside the norm. My view? Sometimes it's not worth wasting your time on the ignorant and/or uncultured...

My view on ignorance is the lack of knowledge, which many have attempted to share some of the knowledge on how dreds are produced and maintained. But I am not understanding the uncultured part so I looked it up.

uncultured
adjective

1. Not cultured or civilized; lacking in delicacy or refinement.

So to all the newbies, lurkers or anyone else wishing to state their opinion on this discussion forum, beware that you may be indirectly referred to as uncultured.

 

[sunshinelady]

I thought the point of editorial comments were for the writers to base their opinions?


Not trying to be rude, but here is an editorial boards view on abortion.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/medical_issues_abortion_editorial/index.html

I think you are saying when someone is writing a feature story, that it shoud try to remain as objective as possible while still getting the focal point of the story across.

I am totally missing your point. The description of something as "icky" is editorializing not fact and typically not helpful to the reader.

 

[likewtr4chklit]

I think any texture of hair that drags on the floor picking up God knows what on a daily basis is UNSANITARY which in IMO is beyond "icky". So if this lady's hair touches the floor everyday, I say "yuck", and good for her if that's what she likes. But as far as locks go, they are a choice made by the wearer and I really don't care, just like relaxers and weaves and naturals and the like.