Does long healthy hair= rich person...

[caribeandiva]

especially in children or young teenagers? cause whenever i see children or teens (or sometimes adults) with long (or at least apl) hair i automatically think: 1) they're not poor and 2) they're smart to take care of their hair or their children's. I seriously can't help it!

 

[Radianthealth]

I do this with everyone, but mine is more about healthy hair, when I see a caucasian person with stringy dry raggedy hair I automatically assume they are poor.

Sort of on topic there have been studies on African American women and the higher their income the less they weighed. I think this had something to do with being in the corporate world surrounded by non-blacks and being forced to fit into their standard of beauty.

 

[lsubabiedee]

I'm sure there is a correlation between income level and health in general, but I grew up with long, healthy hair and my parents were not rich by any means. Same goes for my mother and her siblings. They grew up pretty poor, and all of them had really long hair. But then again, I see the most damaged heads on people with less money. I don't think it has anything to do with the money at all, but on how educated they are on keeping hair (and body) healthy.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Not necessarily. I know a girl who scrimps on groceries and clothes in order to save money to get expensive hair products because she thinks they automatically work better. So her hair looks rich, but not much else on her.

 

[Incredible1ne]

I don't think so. Growing up I knew plenty of girls with long hair that were not rich. Their moms were just more knowledgable about hair care and took care of their daughters' heads more.

 

[MuseofTroy]

There is a correlation with income and health. When you see someone with long healthy hair, nice teeth, and overall clean appearance, most people automatically put that individual in a higher socio-economic class. I think we are all guilty of doing this. For example when I see a black woman dressed very nice and with healthy hair that isn’t over processed or greasy my impression is that this woman is a professional or she is doing well for herself. On the other hand when I see a black woman with multicolor weave, cloths that don’t properly fit, or even a certain dialect a light bulb goes off in my head and I might assume this person is in a lower socioeconomic less. My point is that your assumptions aren’t that off. Its human nature to draw conclusions about people based on their appearance and how they carry themselves.

 

[Eiano]

Of course that's not what it means...
but I'll be the first to admit that I do think that. Whenever I see a black woman with long hair, she usually has the outfit, the walk and the whole general style/appearance to go along with it... and it makes me think. "Hmm.. this woman is doing things". Now, I've seen ladies with short hair having all of this, but there is something about me seeing a black woman with long hair, I know she takes care of herself.... and you can see it on her. That's a good thing!

 

[Aveena]

especially in children or young teenagers? cause whenever i see children or teens (or sometimes adults) with long (or at least apl) hair i automatically think: 1) they're not poor and 2) they're smart to take care of their hair or their children's. I seriously can't help it!

I will admit I used to think that.. if I saw someone with beautiful hair I would think "If I had enough money my hair would look like that too!" But since I've come to this site and learned so much I feel like a million bucks when I wear my hair out. You do need money to support your habit if your a PJ

 

[cutiebe2]

i think there is some truth to the fact that I see a higher percentage of wealthy blacks with longer hair. I don't think they have so much more knowlege about hair care than I do, its just that they have more money to go to nicer hair salons more often...that correlates to slightly longer hair.
But I do find that many of them don't know why they have longer hair. Some don't even take care of it! They just leave everything to their stylist.
Again, this is my observations of the people around me...im not trying to generalize.

 

[seeminglysweet]

Hmm, I have never thought about this. I do not attribute long hair to wealth because I've always had long(ish) hair and lawd knows I'm no where near rich but I do attribute healthy hair to some level of wealth due to the resources and knowledge that it takes to maintain a healthy head of hair. And yes, I do see white people with stringy hair and assume they are of a lower economic class. This is interesting, now I will catch myself judging people based on their hair more often because it will be top-of-mind.

 

[Bunny77]

Sort of on topic there have been studies on African American women and the higher their income the less they weighed. I think this had something to do with being in the corporate world surrounded by non-blacks and being forced to fit into their standard of beauty.

Ok, if that was the reason given, I completely disagree. I hate the idea that if you're black and thin, it means that you're trying to fit a white standard of beauty. I don't give a crap about what white folks think of my body and most thin black women I know don't care either.

If anything, the reason "richer" black women might be thinner is because they have more access to healthier food and can afford gym memberships. Income levels also correlate with education, and a black woman with a higher income is also more aware of what foods are healthy and which aren't, so she's more prone to make better choices in her daily eating habits.

Which relates to the hair topic... I think black women with higher incomes are more likely to have the knowledge or seek out info on what it takes to have healthy hair and then can purchase the products/apply the methods. I know if I was poor, I couldn't buy all the stuff I do on Naturallycurly.com or places like that and might have to live at the local BSS which sells crap. I'm natural, but if I wasn't, I also know that excessive perming and weave usage would take out my hair, so I'd look for the healthiest ways to process my hair so that it would look good.

There are studies that also show that teeth are an indicator of class, simply because folks with more income can afford regular dental care and extras like braces. I know my parents grew up poor and they didn't see a dentist until their late teen years. By then, their mouths were jacked up and they had to have teeth pulled.

Meanwhile, I went to the dentist when I was 5 (I didn't need a filling until I was 23). I had braces from ages 18-21 and then got my teeth whitened, so a lot of money has been put into making my smile look good... something that some people might not have the discretionary income to afford.

Good discussion!

 

[Bunny77]

its just that they have more money to go to nicer hair salons more often...that correlates to slightly longer hair.
But I do find that many of them don't know why they have longer hair. Some don't even take care of it! They just leave everything to their stylist.
Again, this is my observations of the people around me...im not trying to generalize.

Exactly!

I know when I started to make a lil' $$$, I started going to a nice salon where they knew how to hook up some hair, but also cared about health. I got great conditioners and my hair was treated very well, even though the man did a very hard press on it... but it was without grease and cheap pore-clogging gunk... just a good pressing oil.

That's opposed to back in the day, when I'd go to the stylist who'd "work in" people who didn't have appointments and she'd use a quarter-sized drop of conditioner on my hair! As I got older, I realized that was horrible for my hair and when I started making money, I knew I had the ability to go elsewhere.

As for children, I think that healthy hair corresponds with economic class and social class moreso today than it did a long time ago. I mentioned that my parents were poor, but my mom and my aunt (dad's sister) had gorgeous hair that went down their backs. I think then however, mothers relied on simplistic measures that didn't damage the hair. Maybe a home press, some grease, some plaits/braids/cornrows and that was it.

Today's moms seem to be perming earlier or putting weaves in little girls' hair earlier. No one is taking the time to do the cute little plaits I love to see in black girls' hair, so when I do see a girl with thick hair in plaits, I assume (sometimes rightfully) that she's from a family with a decent income because her mother had the education and knowledge... or even simply time, to nurture her daughter's hair and not look for a quick, but unhealthy way out.

 

[Denim And Leather]

Ok, if that was the reason given, I completely disagree. I hate the idea that if you're black and thin, it means that you're trying to fit a white standard of beauty. I don't give a crap about what white folks think of my body and most thin black women I know don't care either.

If anything, the reason "richer" black women might be thinner is because they have more access to healthier food and can afford gym memberships. Income levels also correlate with education, and a black woman with a higher income is also more aware of what foods are healthy and which aren't, so she's more prone to make better choices in her daily eating habits.

Which relates to the hair topic... I think black women with higher incomes are more likely to have the knowledge or seek out info on what it takes to have healthy hair and then can purchase the products/apply the methods. I know if I was poor, I couldn't buy all the stuff I do on Naturallycurly.com or places like that and might have to live at the local BSS which sells crap. I'm natural, but if I wasn't, I also know that excessive perming and weave usage would take out my hair, so I'd look for the healthiest ways to process my hair so that it would look good.

I totally agree with all this. I also like to add that having having healthier eating habits (buying healthier types of food from Whole Foods for example) do cost more money than if your diet consisted of eating mostly fats, sugars and other junk.

 

[BklynHeart]

From my experience, I've had women who were making $$$ ask me where I go to for my hair. These women made a lot of money, but really didn't have time to spend it in a salon. My hair at the time was about armpit length but really healthy. Their hair was mostly in a short bob and looked dry. Whomever was doing their hair when they did have time to go really wasn't putting the proper conditioners on it, or telling them what products they should use when they can't go to the salon.

 

[plove]

I don't think this is true.
what about the poor black mothers who took/take good care of their daughters hair with what ever they had.
Most of these girls had/have have long healthy hair.
Their mother didn't have money but they knew what to do to take care of their daughters hair. I walk around looking like a HAM sometime it doesnt mean that I don't have the money to get my hair done or buy the products to do it my self it means I'm just lazy about my hair.
MY daughter hair is always done.

What do y'all think when you see a woman who hair is jacked up but her daughters hair is long , nice and healthy.

 

[Qetesh]

This is interesting because I never really thought about this until now.
I do notice both someone’s hair and skin in order to give them what I feel is a social standing. I notice for the most part they go together.
When I see someone with multi colored weave and a more washed out dry look on their skin I assume they are of a lower social class and do not take good care of themselves the same can be said for a white person with dingy dirty hair , I also assume they probably drink and smoke. Then again when I see someone with well kept hair and skin I assume they have morals and are clean, I never even thought about how I assume this until now, and I know it’s not always true but I guess I am programmed to do it.
Since I have always had between below armpit length and mid-back length hair I find that people assume I am stuck up in some way, I think it’s the whole class thing possibly some assume I am stuck up because of my long hair. I am not sure if other black females with long hair experienced this or not.

 

[seeminglysweet]

Since I have always had between below armpit length and mid-back length hair I find that people assume I am stuck up in some way, I think it’s the whole class thing possibly some assume I am stuck up because of my long hair. I am not sure if other black females with long hair experienced this or not.

I have and still do at times. Both because of my hair and my fair skin. It's really unfair because I'mm the furthest thing from stuck-up, but I've been labeled it many, MANY times. From people who don't even know me personally.

 

[ADB]

Since I have always had between below armpit length and mid-back length hair I find that people assume I am stuck up in some way, I think it’s the whole class thing possibly some assume I am stuck up because of my long hair. I am not sure if other black females with long hair experienced this or not.

It's funny that you mention this because people sometimes assume I'm stuck up too. A really good friend of mine told me that she thought I was stuck up when she first saw me. I asked her why and she said she didn't know.

 

[Candiss]

Maybe they just have better weaves. I see plenty of women with long hair from all over. Just depends. Many women have long hair because they work for it but many more have long hair because of genetics.

 

[Nightingale]

I don't. I've seen/met some hood chicks in Chicago with beautiful hair. I always think they have great genes.

 

[SerenavanderWoodsen]

This is an interesting question, I do not see ppl with bad hair as poor but I do seem them as perhaps unhealthy! Anytime i see someone with a head of hay like hair I assume they dont take care of themselves and this is something i didnt usd to think about, but I realize that years ago when i had extremely damaged hair, ppl were probably thinking something was wrong with me!! I totally realize this now which is why id rather wear my hair pulled back then wear it down when its all frizzy and dry looking. If I see hair broken around the face I ALWAYS notice this,, my hair used to be severely broekn about the face and it bothered me terribly,, that always looks unhealthy to me,, About length,, so long as is healthy looking length does not matter as far as well being and wealth lol

 

[caribeandiva]

yep, i wonder about the health thing too. somebody with tore up hair i assume is unhealthy or not eating right