Armed with all this enlightened Hair-knowledge, how do u now see Goodhair/badhair?

[*ElleB]

I, for one, see it so much differently, and this might be arrogant, but the RIGHT way. I hear people debating about it on the radio, and every else and it doesn't even REGISTER in my brain the same way it used to.

Before, if people said it, I'd equate it to someone who was mixed, with silky straight, "oooh, she got Indian in her/his family" type hair.

I cringe at conversations with friends in HS: "Why didn't God give us hair at least like Spanish ppl??!"

Now, I hear it, and I even snicker, to be honest and say, "Oh, if you only knew the truth."
I most certainly will pass on this philosophy to my children and everyone who will listen who is still stuck on that goodhair/bad hair trip!

How do u guys see it?

 

[Starian]

I see it as no such thing as good hair and bad hair, only healthy hair and unhealthy hair.

Occasionally, when I'm around my relatives if I'm talking about someone with silky or straight textured hair I'll "slip" and say good hair...I mean good like silky and fine textured though, not good as in better than other hair types, you know what I mean?

I am trying to break myself out of that, but like I said, I slip sometimes. Old habits die hard.

 

[Lovelylocs]

I see it as naturally thick, full hair vs. thin see through hair.

 

[*ElleB]

I see it as no such thing as good hair and bad hair, only healthy hair and unhealthy hair.

Occasionally, when I'm around my relatives if I'm talking about someone with silky or straight textured hair I'll "slip" and say good hair...I mean good like silky and fine textured though, not good as in better than other hair types, you know what I mean?

I am trying to break myself out of that, but like I said, I slip sometimes. Old habits die hard.

That's how I see it. i guess I couldn't verbalize it...

 

[myco]

It sounds like fingernails on a chalk board. But most of the time I don't want to sound like a zealot, so I don't make a huge blowout about it. If I hear someone say that someone has bad hair, I try to redirect it by saying there's nothing wrong with the texture of their hair, but maybe that person is not taking the best care of their hair. I try to describe hair in terms of density and health instead of texture, just to avoid people's preconceived notions.

 

[ArrrBeee]

The way I see it is that if you have hair on your head, that's a good thing.

One way that I try to keep this hair situation in perspective is to think of chemo patients. I have never been through chemo ( and pray to God that I don't ever need to) but I 'm willing to bet money that the sister who has and always wished for shakable, silky, "good", indian whatever negative crap we were fed, would love to have her type 3,4,5, 6 hair back.

 

[TropicalRose]

It sounds like fingernails on a chalk board. But most of the time I don't want to sound like a zealot, so I don't make a huge blowout about it. If I hear someone say that someone has bad hair, I try to redirect it by saying there's nothing wrong with the texture of their hair, but maybe that person is not taking the best care of their hair. I try to describe hair in terms of density and health instead of texture, just to avoid people's preconceived notions.

thats my take on it.

i cant really recall myself ever referring to someone's hair as good hair or bad. i know ive thought about it but ive never said to my family or anyone else "oh she has good hair" just because i know i would question later why i said her hair was "good". was it really better than mine? was it healthier? how is it really better than mine (just by its texture)?

 

[SignatureBeauty]

I hear this crap everyday, I get that from family & friends when I went natural and my natural curls were popping out they swore up and down I had a texturizer or someone in my family was either indian. And I am like why can't the Dark Skin sister just have nice healthy hair, But I don't even argue these people down, I just say whatever and keep on moving.

But why is it like that with our people? Who knows but I love my hair whether I am Relaxed or Natural, Short, Long or Darn near Bald Headed.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

When I decided to transition, I just KNEW that the hair growing out of my head was some mutant off the chart hair texture that was beyond the scope of any hair typing system.

But a funny thing happened, as it started to grow out and I began caring for it with LHCF tips, I started to get 'good hair' comments from friends and family members who said they NEVER remembered my hair looking like anything other than a brillo pad.

My perspective on good hair/bad hair has changed. I don't look at hair type as a competition anymore. Type 3 hair is no better than type 4 and vice versa. There is enough room for all of our hair to be beautiful. To me, good hair is hair that is well cared for-with or without a curl pattern. Bad hair looks like a goat has been chewing on it with a few licks thrown in to add moisture. Trust me, when I'm people watching at the grocery store, I see plenty of goat licked hair of all hair types.

 

[SignatureBeauty]

Jcoily you ain't lying! I see some like that too, But once they learn to care for it properly (if they want to) I am sure they will have some beautiful hair.

 

[alexstin]

"Bad hair looks like a goat has been chewing on it with a few licks thrown in to add moisture."

 

[SparklingFlame]

I look at it this way: since when does hair display such characteristics as being good or bad? Those are behavior characteristics. Theres no such thing as "good" or "bad" hair. I agree with the other posters: theres only healthy or unhealthy hair.

 

[honeycomb719]

I see it as no such thing as good hair and bad hair, only healthy hair and unhealthy hair.

Occasionally, when I'm around my relatives if I'm talking about someone with silky or straight textured hair I'll "slip" and say good hair...I mean good like silky and fine textured though, not good as in better than other hair types, you know what I mean?

I am trying to break myself out of that, but like I said, I slip sometimes. Old habits die hard.

So in using the term "good" in referring to those with silky, fine textured hair are you saying that those who's hair that is not silky and fine in texture is "bad"? Just trying to understand your statement..

 

[dimpalz]

I think everyone has their own definition of good hair. People without hair knowledge e.g. someone who hasnt been to this forum, would think good hair was fine and silky textured (seemingly the universal black norm when black people are refering to it) I think people that have GHS see good hair as their ideal. I used to think good hair was shiny, soft, manageable, not necessarily long, but in good condition wether it be genetic (latinos, mixed race) or someone with some GHS. Now I see good hair as the opposite to bad hair. Bad hair being hair that looks rough, unkempt, screaming for an aphogee treatment, that type of thing.

Although there are ladies on the forum that do not have the *universal* definition of "good" hair generally, with their GHS you could never come on here and tell. It just goes to show that if everyone had GHS I think it would be easier to get rid of the generalisations and stereotypes.

But even as I've finished writing this I see how I still have defined people as having good and NOT good hair, but, again I still have an ideal in mind. I think because of all the oppression of black peoples natural hair (and the people in general) it has become an issue. Other races feel the same, they have a definition of good hair too (ever see some straight silky haired Dominican laughing at ms frizzy?) but they dont have a problem debating it because there is no stigma attached.

 

[legaldiva]

I may get 'attacked' for this statement and that is not good seeing as how I'm new but these are my thoughts ~

My parents have always drilled it home never to think in terms of or say "good hair" or "bad hair'. HOWEVER, when I see hair types from the range between 2A and 3C on black women I think it's really beautiful. I can't help it. I also think healthy type 4 hair is beautiful too.

And I think we are mostly all still guitly of this type of thinking. For instance even with naturals everyone is always cooing over so-and-so's texture when it has "curls" or "waves". Rarely do I see people oggling over someones "naps" or "coils". No one is gonna dare say "ooh, she got that good hair" but there is more than one way to say the same thing. That's just what I observe.

 

[MizaniMami]

I may get 'attacked' for this statement and that is not good seeing as how I'm new but these are my thoughts ~

My parents have always drilled it home never to think in terms of or say "good hair" or "bad hair'. HOWEVER, when I see hair types from the range between 2A and 3C on black women I think it's really beautiful. I can't help it. I also think healthy type 4 hair is beautiful too.

And I think we are mostly all still guitly of this type of thinking. For instance even with naturals everyone is always cooing over so-and-so's texture when it has "curls" or "waves". Rarely do I see people oggling over someones "naps" or "coils". No one is gonna dare say "ooh, she got that good hair" but there is more than one way to say the same thing. That's just what I observe.

You won't get ragged on by me (welcome by the way). I understand what you are saying and how you can feel that way.


I don't care what no one says I believe there is a such thing as bad hair and it has NOTHING to do with hair typing (3c, 4b, whatever). Some people have bad hair in my eyes. Frizzy,broken, damaged hair (all in one)-equate as bad hair if you ask me.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

I may get 'attacked' for this statement and that is not good seeing as how I'm new but these are my thoughts ~

My parents have always drilled it home never to think in terms of or say "good hair" or "bad hair'. HOWEVER, when I see hair types from the range between 2A and 3C on black women I think it's really beautiful. I can't help it. I also think healthy type 4 hair is beautiful too.

And I think we are mostly all still guitly of this type of thinking. For instance even with naturals everyone is always cooing over so-and-so's texture when it has "curls" or "waves". Rarely do I see people oggling over someones "naps" or "coils". No one is gonna dare say "ooh, she got that good hair" but there is more than one way to say the same thing. That's just what I observe.

Ain't go be no attacking going on up in hurrrr!

I see what you're saying, and I was going to mention in my previous post that one of the reasons I stay away from those terms is that I think a person without a defined curl pattern to their hair would think I was being snide if I said they had 'good hair'.

Also, since we're in no attack mode, I have heard the comment that nappy Fotki albums don't get no love, but let me put something out there. It's hard to see dark colored nappy hair in a picture to start with, if you add taking pictures at weird angles with a 1 pixel camera phone, no lighting, blurry shots and a hairstyle that doesn't really showcase the hair - odds there isn't much that people can say about the hair that doesn't sound contrived.

 

[dimpalz]

Also, since we're in no attack mode, I have heard the comment that nappy Fotki albums don't get no love, but let me put something out there. It's hard to see dark colored nappy hair in a picture to start with, if you add taking pictures at weird angles with a 1 pixel camera phone, no lighting, blurry shots and a hairstyle that doesn't really showcase the hair - odds there isn't much that people can say about the hair that doesn't sound contrived.

roflmao!!!

Why do people do that? lol only 1 pixel!

I am so immature

 

[caligirl]

And I am like why can't the Dark Skin sister just have nice healthy hair,

Because "healthy hair" is usually thought of as very shiny, silky, etc. Like when you look at someone with straight hair and you say their hair looks so "healthy" its usually because its very shiny with no splits. Type 4 hair isn't usually very shiny and I myself don't understand the term "sheeny."

 

[caligirl]

Ok, here is my take. Good hair is like having good nails. You know the people with really strong, long natural nails that don't really do anything to them? They don't get manicures or put some kind of special growth creams to get long nails. They are just like that naturally. In my mind, that is what good hair is like. People with good hair don't have to do very much at all to their hair or use some special concoctions to have long, easy to manage hair.

 

[SignatureBeauty]

Ain't go be no attacking going on up in hurrrr!

I see what you're saying, and I was going to mention in my previous post that one of the reasons I stay away from those terms is that I think a person without a defined curl pattern to their hair would think I was being snide if I said they had 'good hair'.

Also, since we're in no attack mode, I have heard the comment that nappy Fotki albums don't get no love, but let me put something out there. It's hard to see dark colored nappy hair in a picture to start with, if you add taking pictures at weird angles with a 1 pixel camera phone, no lighting, blurry shots and a hairstyle that doesn't really showcase the hair - odds there isn't much that people can say about the hair that doesn't sound contrived.

I am guilty of taking a blurry picture but I need to get me a new camera but there is no fotki album but there will be soon with good clear pictures when I start. But my photos are clear when I take them but the blurry on the computer, Thank goodness my photo has been in hiding because I don't know how to take it off lol

 

[Tene]

Re: Armed with all this enlightened Hair-knowledge, how do u now see Goodhair/badhair

Jcoily you ain't lying! I see some like that too, But once they learn to care for it properly (if they want to) I am sure they will have some beautiful hair.

I agree with this if you take care of your hair it will look good.

 

[Healthb4Length]

I do believe in good and bad hair. Good hair is hair that is healthy and beautiful regardless of texture or length. Bad hair is, well bad...chewed up, lye/dyed/&laid to the side, and anyone can have bad hair...

 

[Starian]

So in using the term "good" in referring to those with silky, fine textured hair are you saying that those who's hair that is not silky and fine in texture is "bad"? Just trying to understand your statement..

No, that's what I was trying to distinguish...

Of course I don't think people with silkier textured hair is "better" that 4A/B hair, etc. I have 4A/B hair myself, and ain't a damn thing wrong with my head, lol. However, I've grown up hearing that having silky or fine hair means good. I have since broken out of that frame of thought since discovering the boards and being enlightened, but I still slip sometimes and say "good hair" when I just mean a person as finer textured hair. NOT that their hair is BETTER. It's just like an adjective, I'm describing a characteristic, not trying to perpetuate a stereotype.

It sounds bad and the meaning behind it is wack as hell, which is why I try to avoid saying "good hair" at all costs.

 

[cocowhite]

I see good hair as thick, full of life with lost of body to it, whether relaxed, texturzied, natural, straight, curly or wavy and see bad hair is unhealthy hair that is not taken care and the life has been sucked out it.

My family sees good hair has having staight, curly or wavy hair regardless of the condition it is in.

 

[*ElleB]

When I decided to transition, I just KNEW that the hair growing out of my head was some mutant off the chart hair texture that was beyond the scope of any hair typing system.

But a funny thing happened, as it started to grow out and I began caring for it with LHCF tips, I started to get 'good hair' comments from friends and family members who said they NEVER remembered my hair looking like anything other than a brillo pad.

My perspective on good hair/bad hair has changed. I don't look at hair type as a competition anymore. Type 3 hair is no better than type 4 and vice versa. There is enough room for all of our hair to be beautiful. To me, good hair is hair that is well cared for-with or without a curl pattern. Bad hair looks like a goat has been chewing on it with a few licks thrown in to add moisture. Trust me, when I'm people watching at the grocery store, I see plenty of goat licked hair of all hair types.

That had me laughing!

 

[Britt]

I may get 'attacked' for this statement and that is not good seeing as how I'm new but these are my thoughts ~

My parents have always drilled it home never to think in terms of or say "good hair" or "bad hair'. HOWEVER, when I see hair types from the range between 2A and 3C on black women I think it's really beautiful. I can't help it. I also think healthy type 4 hair is beautiful too.

And I think we are mostly all still guitly of this type of thinking. For instance even with naturals everyone is always cooing over so-and-so's texture when it has "curls" or "waves". Rarely do I see people oggling over someones "naps" or "coils". No one is gonna dare say "ooh, she got that good hair" but there is more than one way to say the same thing. That's just what I observe.[/quote]


Thank you !!!!
I've been on this board for a long time, and I still observe this.. many of us are still guilty of this thinking....
Compare the comments of a natural with type 3b/c hair to a natural with 4b+ hair.... all you ahve to do is read between the lines

 

[MizaniMami]

I may get 'attacked' for this statement and that is not good seeing as how I'm new but these are my thoughts ~

My parents have always drilled it home never to think in terms of or say "good hair" or "bad hair'. HOWEVER, when I see hair types from the range between 2A and 3C on black women I think it's really beautiful. I can't help it. I also think healthy type 4 hair is beautiful too.

And I think we are mostly all still guitly of this type of thinking. For instance even with naturals everyone is always cooing over so-and-so's texture when it has "curls" or "waves". Rarely do I see people oggling over someones "naps" or "coils". No one is gonna dare say "ooh, she got that good hair" but there is more than one way to say the same thing. That's just what I observe.[/quote]


Thank you !!!!
I've been on this board for a long time, and I still observe this.. many of us are still guilty of this thinking....
Compare the comments of a natural with type 3b/c hair to a natural with 4b+ hair.... all you ahve to do is read between the lines

Exaaaactly! I totally feel you on that.
People try to act all 'i love every texture and every texture is beautiful" and politically correct, but then get on here and say some off-the-wall stuff that people might not even catch.

It's all bad when someone says that really coily hair isn't what they consider good, but when someone says relaxed hair is limp everyone agree. Hair is hair regardless of whether it is relaxed or not and people have their preferences. What's so wrong with that?!

Personally I don't care if people think 4z ot 1a hair is bad. It's their preference and I ain't the one to try and change the way they think.

 

[SignatureBeauty]

Britt you are so right! I just noticed that! WOW!

 

[Cheleigh]

Re: Armed with all this enlightened Hair-knowledge, how do u now see Goodhair/badhair

Well, I grew up learning that good hair was long hair, regardless of texture. Kids said I had "good hair" because it was long and well pressed (still had lots of body), not because of my texture. I didn't really know many folks with 3b or 3c hair--just straight or kinky. There will always be folks whose idea of good hair doesn't include 4a or 4b or 3c or 1a hair. That's okay, as long as they keep their opinions about it to themselves, from my perspective. I think good hair is what I really call "pretty hair." It can be a big wild afro, a long layered relaxed cut, a bomb twistout or really hot press and curl. Certainly I have my preferences, but if I like the hair, regardless, I'll state that. If I don't, I keep my mouth shut.

Now on accolades: honestly, my hair is now short and kinky (coily, nappy whatever) and I don't really expect to get accolades on my hair from any quarter. I sort have to plant my own seeds and water my own soul, ya know? I love my hair, and wouldn't change it for the world (at least while it's short ). Granted, I've gotten the most support from folks at other natural hair sites, but I don't really read anything into that--you can't, IMO.