Does your natural hair look "fake"? WTH???

[chicacanella]

That would make me a bit annoyed because I could be walking around with my hair straight but still frizzy and people will still ask or think it's fake. And I'm like, "Why would I spend all this money to have a messed up looking weave and buy fake hair that can't even stay straight?" Please tell me?

 

[fyb87]

That would make me a bit annoyed because I could be walking around with my hair straight but still frizzy and people will still ask or think it's fake. And I'm like, "Why would I spend all this money to have a messed up looking weave and buy fake hair that can't even stay straight?" Please tell me?

Right! Before I knew how to straighten my hair myself without getting frizz it would really bother me because of the above.

But, yes it does annoy me when people ask me if my hair is fake. I'm from New Orleans and it never happened to me until I moved away. It's way more annoying to me when a black person ask because when I say yes it's ALWAYS followed up with, "What are you mixed with?" which is ignorant to me. Now that I wear it curly all the time I don't get the "WEAVE" check I get the "RACE" check???? WTH perplexedperplexed

 

[wavezncurlz]

I get that a lot. Even on my dullest hair days with little moisturizer, my hair reflects light. I've been told it looks like doll hair and/or it has to be fake. I also have been weave checked more than a few times.

I get offended because I sense it's a type of racial/stereotypical remark in a subtle way...but maybe I'm over-thinking it.

I agree with this quote. It's like, it can't be real because AA women can't have healthy, naturally shiny hair.

 

[Solitude]

I've been told that when my hair was jet black, perfectly even, and bouncy, even though it was just SL at the time. I took it as a compliment.

I've also mistaken a classmate's hair for being fake. I sat behind her for 6 months and finally asked her where she gets her hair done. We ended up having a long convo about hair care and I admitted to her that I thought her hair was fake because it was soooo perfect-looking, every day! (She was going to Dom salons for roller-sets and her hair stayed between MBL and WL). She didn't seem surprised, but I couldn't tell if she was offended or not. Anyway, she became my real life hair idol.

OP, your hair is beautiful.

ETA: I honestly think people can't help but wonder. With the overwhelming DOMINANCE of weaves, extensions, wigs, whatever, it's really hard for people to tell the difference. As into hair as I am, I often can't tell.

 

[oooop2]

I get asked whenever I wear my hair in a big fro. For some reason, people don't expect that it is all my hair. I've even had relatives go all through my hair looking for tracks. I try not to get offended, but stand proudly when they do have to acknowledge that it is indeed all mine....

 

[yamilee21]

People have always asked me if my hair was real particularly when I wear it curly. My twistouts look especially fake at times, even *I* look at my hair and think, "That looks like an amazing weave." I rarely straighten, but my straightened hair seems to look more "real" - probably because it reverts and shrinks as people are looking at me.

 

[CocoBunny]

I get offended because I sense it's a type of racial/stereotypical remark in a subtle way...but maybe I'm over-thinking it.

You might be over thinking it. I sometimes find that when negativity is looked for negativity is found.

 

[1QTPie]

When my hair is in a puff and I slick the edges down, that's the main time I get asked about "where I purchased my hair." It's because my slicked down hair is dramatically different from my pony-puff hair.

 

[meecee]

I take it as a compliment. When I was natural I wore twists and twist outs 99% of the time. I had dyed ends that were a lighter brown than my roots. I would get asked randomly where did I buy my hair. This was back when kinkly twist extensions were popular in L.A.

 

[LatterGlory]

You usually get that comment about any aspect of your nature that seems "too good to be true" .

Just like if you are naturally polite/nice, people who are not this way or used to being treated this way assume you are fake.

Or if you have nice boobs they must be fake.

Real beauty to some is such a scarce commodity anytime it is recognized, it must be fake.

Your hair is beautiful.

 

[Fine 4s]

I straighten my hair for the first time in six months this week and I got that ALOT. And then people did believe me! I was kinda offended when I was asked if it was a wig. I think that was a little much.

I'm a lil' concerned about this when I decide to straighten. I want my credit dayum it! I'm not sure what I'll have to do maybe:

Scratch my scalp all loud so people KNOW it ain't a weave/wig?
Half up, half down? (or anything where the scalp shows?)
Hmmmm...maybe i'll start a thread for more ideas for those of us who wanna 'show off' a wee bit

 

[melodies815]

Just before I BC, my husband came home and joked about my "hair hat." He said it looked so thick and bouncy that it reminded him of a wig he'd seen once.

I took it as a compliment.

Now, I am natural, and a woman in the airport mentioned while washing her hands that my hair looked "unreal" but didn't go so far as to call it a wig.

It made me happy inside because I must be doing something right after all these years...

cj

 

[Bun Mistress]

Your hair looks fab!!! That is where I want to be in 6 months. I just try to change my up do alot when my hair is straight thinking that might quiet the nay sayers though I doubt it works. BTW di I mention your hair is awesome?

I'm a lil' concerned about this when I decide to straighten. I want my credit dayum it! I'm not sure what I'll have to do maybe:

Scratch my scalp all loud so people KNOW it ain't a weave/wig?
Half up, half down? (or anything where the scalp shows?)
Hmmmm...maybe i'll start a thread for more ideas for those of us who wanna 'show off' a wee bit

 

[Fine 4s]

Just before I BC, my husband came home and joked about my "hair hat." He said it looked so thick and bouncy that it reminded him of a wig he'd seen once.

I took it as a compliment.

Now, I am natural, and a woman in the airport mentioned while washing her hands that my hair looked "unreal" but didn't go so far as to call it a wig.

It made me happy inside because I must be doing something right after all these years...

cj

Kiffany- Thanks! I'm hoping to reach WL with that thickness....

M, I like the comment the woman made actually, it's like a comment/question AND a compliment all in one? Whatever your perception/paradigm is will determine how you take it. Clearly you are a positive person or maybe you were in a good mood so you just vibed with it and took it as a compliment...I think I'm going to use the 'unreal' comment going forward...

Wow, the color of your eyes are 'unreaaaaaaaaaal'

 

[MissBCurly]

I get this question asked all the time when its straight.

 

[rabs77]

I get that my pressed hair looks wiggish because its so full, I take it as a compliment.

 

[snillohsss]

people think my hair is fake when it is curly....everyone does.

Now I've started to wear it straight...and I think people are more convinced that it is mine. Now I just started to wear it straight, so who knows.

 

[baddison]

*sigh* I wish I had such a problem...

 

[JollyGal]

so does that equal to oily/greasy looking scalp and hair?
No it shouldnt. Usually oily/greasy hair makes your face oily.

Anyway, just wanted to know if you have ever been told that your hair looked/was fake. And if so, how did that make you feel?
I have been told on many occasions that my hair looks fake. I get asked first of all "what did you do to your hair?" I reply "I just twisted/flat ironed/bantu knoted/etc... it" They say "Sorry, I mean what did you add to your hair, what kind of hair is that?" I reply "this is all mine ".
I tend to laugh it off...as in a nervous-this is making me uncomfortable-I don't believe it- laugh. But deep down inside I get a bit upset. I try everything to make my 100% natural hair look natural. I too use natural products. The shine looks natural

Do you get offended or take it as a compliment?
I used to get really offended but now I shake it off I'm more offended when strange black people ask me when I am going to get my hair done *as in relax it* and then proceed to tell me the details of good relaxers or weavologists who will give me discount.

I guess natural hair on black women is not considered the norm in modern western society.

***speaking of hair hats, I saw a woman yesterday with just that. Her hair was styled like a russian fur hat ***

 

[CurlyMoo]

Well the world is weaved up and wigged out and folks don't know what the real stuff looks like anymore. And some fake hair looks really natural. I was told by a little girl that my hair looked like a wig and she kept pointing at me as if to taunt me. I said no you little s**t my hair is real. I told her father about the incident and he just said yeah it looks like a wig because you have so much of it. I'm like well damn does anyone teach their kids manners anymore?

I wore my hair in a bantu knot and left it out and big curly. An associate passed by me and asked if it was real. I told him I guess you are so used to seeing the fake you don't recognize the real. And walked off. Now that I think about it people are so damn nosey.

 

[camilla]

I have always been asked this my hair is VERY THICK and I put jet black rinse in it so it shines but i love the shine. I was even asked when i had an asymetrical bob idk it does not bother me when they try to touch it does

 

[delray712000]

It's funny because my friend said she would totally take it as a compliment, but for some reason, I get offended subconsciously. Even though I don't think I should be. And I haven't gotten the full wig comment yet, most think I got a weave or half-wig or something...

I really understand because it obviously looks good (compliment). Since it looks so nice and healthy critics believe that it is fake (insult).

 

[Ivey14]

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