Have you personally experienced the "Good Hair" Effect?

[Harina]

The GHE can be described as the increased interest or fascination in the African American woman's hair by both black and non-black people as a result of the release of Chris Rock's 2009 documentary "Good Hair." The first round of the effect has already begun and is scheduled to terminate in December of 2009 as ticket sales dwindle and newer releases enter the box office. However, a second round is expected to start with the release of the DVD in the spring of 2010. Unfortunately, the second round's termination is unknown.


For example, I was lounging around my dorm hall all today. Half studying/half chit-chatting with people. Hair all over the place. I decided I wanted to get a hamburger and fries so I put my hair in two very simple high afro puff/pigtails and headed off to the campus restaurant. There was absolutely nothing extraordinary about these puffs. Nothing! Frankly they were a little raggedy and dry. I arrived at the counter and did the whole greeting/ordering speel with the black lady working there. She told me she liked my puffs. I said thank you and thought the conversation would be done. However, she kept on going on about the hair and how she was natural and how my hair was beautiful. Then another man who was working popped in the conversation agreeing with the lady about my hair asking me if I was going to loc. I said no. The lady told me she had locs but decided to cut it off. Somewhere in between the dude wanted to make sure I was natural. I am. The dude said "That's great. Keep growing that hair without any CHEMICALS!" The lady starting throwing out suggestions about what I could do for me to keep it naturals. "Twists!" "Braids!!" This all happened with in the span of 30 seconds.

THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME IN THE HISTORY OF MY LIFE! A week ago, before the release, I had my hair pressed. It puffed up and i kept in bantu knots at night and would let it out for one of my most successful wavy bantu knot outs ever. I got a lot of stares, but not a single person I did not know complimented me or acknowledge my hair once. Coincidence, I think not. I believe this was a result of the good hair effect.

Are you prepared? Are you ready?

 

[tallnomad]

I'm assuming the man was Black too?

I don't know. I've had a lot of conversations like these with Black folks (usually older or very Afrocentric/pro-natural hair types) for years.

When I was in college, I had a woman and her boyfriend--probaby in their 30s-- chase me down at a concert and promise them that I would never relax my hair. They complimented my natural hair for quite awhile and just kept saying that I was "representing."

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

Well to me thats good! I mean you had a lady that was relating to you on the commonality of being natural and a man who told you to stay chemical free because your puffs look so nice. I don't see how that has any relation to the good hair effect perse.

Now if some white lady ran up on you and was like "um, like, is that like really your hair or is that like a weave?" then I would've definitely attributed it to the "good hair" effect.

If the good hair effect results in Black people making an emphasis on encouraging natural women to stay that way and makes embracing our god-given texture mainstream........ I'll personally construct a trophy for Chris Rock and deliver it myself.

I havent had a chance to see it since I'm away to school and tryna stay focused but the movie must've been a doozy because my brother called me before he left the movie theatre saying the move was so outstanding he was gonna personally drive up and take me back home to see it. I was like daaaayum lol I can't WAIT till this weekend

 

[Neith]

A friend (happens to be a white male) watched the Oprah Show on good hair.

He basically was perplexed about why they made it seem as if every black woman wears weaves.

He bought it up and everything. lol

 

[Chriselle83]

I've been into natural hair since I decided to go natural in 2007. I was always extremely excited to talk about it and share with family and sometimes random strangers who's hair I had grown to appreciate. Over the years, though, my excitement has died down. I talk read the boards regularly and talk about hair woes with my natural friends but that is pretty much it.
So... Chris Rock was on Oprah and I get home from work and my grandmother is talking about how she loves my hair and how we need to be comfortable with ourselves, e.t.c....
So now everyone in the fam appreciates my natural hair and complements me.
I guess this movie is making everyone more aware. IDK

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

^^^WOW that is just wonderful......as controversial as this film has been on this board from the things I've heard from many ladies "Good Hair" is having a VERY positive effect.

 

[Misshairdiva]

Good Hair, well, my white neighbor two weeks ago asked me if I had a weave. At the time I didn't know that the previous day that Oprah had Chris Rock on. I think now for all of us who are growing our hair long that now every white person will swear we have a weave.

 

[ceebee3]

Good Hair, well, my white neighbor two weeks ago asked me if I had a weave. At the time I didn't know that the previous day that Oprah had Chris Rock on. I think now for all of us who are growing our hair long that now every white person will swear we have a weave.

That's so true. I don't even have long hair and one of my white co-workers wanted to discuss my "hair pieces". I was just wearing my usual rollerset and she felt prompted to tell me about her hair piece discovery and wanted to press me about mine.

Oh well, I just let her know it was my hair, no biggie.

 

[Harina]

I'm assuming the man was Black too?

I don't know. I've had a lot of conversations like these with Black folks (usually older or very Afrocentric/pro-natural hair types) for years.

When I was in college, I had a woman and her boyfriend--probaby in their 30s-- chase me down at a concert and promise them that I would never relax my hair. They complimented my natural hair for quite awhile and just kept saying that I was "representing."

Nah, chinese.





I kid, I kid. Yeah he as black too. But the thing about me is I haven't ever gottten run down by people like that since I've been natural, so I do think it was about the movie.

Well to me thats good! I mean you had a lady that was relating to you on the commonality of being natural and a man who told you to stay chemical free because your puffs look so nice. I don't see how that has any relation to the good hair effect perse.

I'm saying that maybe it was because of the movie that she would say anything, to keep off the creamy crack. If she actually had said "creamy crack", then it definitely would have been because of the movie.

A friend (happens to be a white male) watched the Oprah Show on good hair.

He basically was perplexed about why they made it seem as if every black woman wears weaves.

He bought it up and everything. lol

That's whata I'm talking about.

I guess this movie is making everyone more aware. IDK

Again, what I'm trying to get at.

Good Hair, well, my white neighbor two weeks ago asked me if I had a weave. At the time I didn't know that the previous day that Oprah had Chris Rock on. I think now for all of us who are growing our hair long that now every white person will swear we have a weave.

That's so true. I don't even have long hair and one of my white co-workers wanted to discuss my "hair pieces". I was just wearing my usual rollerset and she felt prompted to tell me about her hair piece discovery and wanted to press me about mine.

Oh well, I just let her know it was my hair, no biggie.

Again. Though I still think it's kind of rude to ask someone if that's your real hair, unless you're close to them? I would never ask somebody if that;s their real boobs or hair color.

 

[Raspberry]

Again. Though I still think it's kind of rude to ask someone if that's your real hair, unless you're close to them? I would never ask somebody if that;s their real boobs or hair color.

Yea, I think it's completely rude.. I bet he would never have asked his white female neighbor if she was wearing a wig.

 

[Anew]

Good Hair, well, my white neighbor two weeks ago asked me if I had a weave. At the time I didn't know that the previous day that Oprah had Chris Rock on. I think now for all of us who are growing our hair long that now every white person will swear we have a weave.

I need to see this movie...

Did he have women with natural kinky long hair in the movie, or was everyone pressed/relaxed/wearing weaves?

 

[SweetSpirit86]

I don't think so...

Though it has made me more aware of my complimenting black women on their hair. I always did it..if I like something, I say so. However, I don't want someone to assume that I'm only complimenting them because of some recent enlightment due to television shows I don't watch nor a movie that I have not seen.

I went to Dave and Buster's yesterday for my brother's going away party, and saw a woman with a gorgeous puff in the restroom. I complimented her on it. Whether she's thinking it's a result of the movie? I don't know. I had a wig on, soooo....yeah.

 

[Diva_Esq]

I've been into natural hair since I decided to go natural in 2007. I was always extremely excited to talk about it and share with family and sometimes random strangers who's hair I had grown to appreciate. Over the years, though, my excitement has died down. I talk read the boards regularly and talk about hair woes with my natural friends but that is pretty much it.
So... Chris Rock was on Oprah and I get home from work and my grandmother is talking about how she loves my hair and how we need to be comfortable with ourselves, e.t.c....
So now everyone in the fam appreciates my natural hair and complements me.
I guess this movie is making everyone more aware. IDK

I agree. I'm using the conversations as a way to educate and try & get people to examine some of their misconceptions. I get SOOOOOO sick of people finding out I am transitioning and saying, "Well, you have good hair...you have the hair for that! I couldn't." God gave you good hair...whatever it is.

 

[mscocoface]

I need to see this movie...

Did he have women with natural kinky long hair in the movie, or was everyone pressed/relaxed/wearing weaves?

The actress from I think cold case was on talking about natural hair. I think she was the only one. That was unfortuante.

I was surpised to see Sheila Bridges on their showing how alopecia has taken all her hair including her eye brows and looked like her eyelashes. There was no hair anywhere on her.

After Alopecia

 

[BostonMaria]

I'm still trying to get the courage to ask one of my white co-workers if they use extensions LOL

I made the mistake of asking a (miss clairol) blonde co-worker if she blow dries her hair straight every day. Being on naturallycurly made me realize that most white women have curly hair and most blow dry it. So she almost has a meltdown, asking me if I can see a curl. She was ready to cry LOL I was like mental note, never ask that again! Now that I think about it.... months later this same yt girl asked me if I was wearing a weave so I guess she got her revenge LOL

 

[Irresistible]

Getting ready to be weave checked all the time

 

[Irresistible]

I'm still trying to get the courage to ask one of my white co-workers if they use extensions LOL

I made the mistake of asking a (miss clairol) blonde co-worker if she blow dries her hair straight every day. Being on naturallycurly made me realize that most white women have curly hair and most blow dry it. So she almost has a meltdown, asking me if I can see a curl. She was ready to cry LOL I was like mental note, never ask that again! Now that I think about it.... months later this same yt girl asked me if I was wearing a weave so I guess she got her revenge LOL

 

[Zsugar]

Last night at 7 eleven the hispanic cashier.I'm wearing a sew-in.
"Is that your hair?"
"No,it's not."
"Is that very expensive? It's looks very beautiful."
"Thanks,bye."

Weird because that never happens to me.I would have just said yes
normally and left.

 

[mscocoface]

I would love to see what was left out of that movie on the editing floor.

 

[Raspberry]

Last night at 7 eleven the hispanic cashier.I'm wearing a sew-in.
"Is that your hair?"
"No,it's not."
"Is that very expensive? It's looks very beautiful."
"Thanks,bye."

Weird because that never happens to me.I would have just said yes
normally and left.

Why can't folks just say your hair looks nice? erplexed I'm really not feelin this..

 

[Harina]

Last night at 7 eleven the hispanic cashier.I'm wearing a sew-in.
"Is that your hair?"
"No,it's not."
"Is that very expensive? It's looks very beautiful."
"Thanks,bye."

Weird because that never happens to me.I would have just said yes
normally and left.

Wow, this is so unclassy. How do people think they can just say whatever,

I would have been like "are you an illegal immigrant?" "No, I'm not" "Ok, thanks, bye"

You just don't ask random people certain things. This isn't tv show.

 

[Harina]

I would love to see what was left out of that movie on the editing floor.

That's what the dvd is for. didn't he say in one of the interviews that he interviews some naturals but in the end he had to choose a focus or something like that.

 

[Dellas]

I have had the bad hair effect. People (I don't know) offering me advice and numbers to their stylist. Black guys telling me to do something about my "kitchen". Interviewed by black female who did not think my natural look was professional for a corporate environment. Sometimes, I am relieved when I am in a non-black environment....because the judgment is not based on those reasons.

 

[Bubblingbrownshuga]

I haven't experienced anything out of the ordinary.

 

[CurliDiva]

I had a white friend email me this morning about going to see GOOD HAIR .......and I responded that I had no intention of seeing this movie.She got it once I compared it to Adams Sandler making a movie about Jewish Women holocaust experience......just because he is Jewish does not mean he would show the topic the depth or respect that it deserves especially because he is a comedian.My point is that the term and mindset of "Good Hair" - just like the light/dark skin thing- is a direct effect of colonization. We (meaning black women) did not just wake up one day decide "collectively" that our hair or features were not good enough

 

[CurlyMoo]

Last night at 7 eleven the hispanic cashier.I'm wearing a sew-in.
"Is that your hair?"
"No,it's not."
"Is that very expensive? It's looks very beautiful."
"Thanks,bye."

Weird because that never happens to me.I would have just said yes
normally and left.

Why can't folks just say your hair looks nice? erplexed I'm really not feelin this..

It's always been this way except it was usually Black folks and the few White folks who were hanging around Black folks who were rude enough to ask if it was real. I hope I can deal with this because I have very little patience with rude people. If someone asks me if my hair is real I'm just going to tell them that I'm on my period because I thought that was the next question. It depends on the situation and how it's asked actually.

 

[CurlyMoo]

I have had the bad hair effect. People (I don't know) offering me advice and numbers to their stylist. Black guys telling me to do something about my "kitchen". Interviewed by black female who did not think my natural look was professional for a corporate environment. Sometimes, I am relieved when I am in a non-black environment....because the judgment is not based on those reasons.

Trust me they think the same thing, they just don't want to be sued for discrimination. I swear if I'm EVER told by a Black interviewer that my hair is not suitable when I KNOW my hair was neat and clean; I will tell them immediately that the comment was inappropriate and grounds for a discrimination law suit.

 

[Chriselle83]

Again. Though I still think it's kind of rude to ask someone if that's your real hair, unless you're close to them? I would never ask somebody if that;s their real boobs or hair color.

You know... that's what I'm going to start doing. If someone asks me if my hair is fake and I think its an inappropriate question, I'm going to ask them with a straight face "whew... you know, I'm glad we're on a personal level like that. Before I answer that... I've been meaning to ask you... Are your boobs real or fake?"

People are so rude sometimes!

TANGENT:
Have you noticed older people always want to ask younger people how old they are? I used to work at a bank and I had a lot of "High Value" customers who always wanted to out talk me regarding loans, IRA and other investment accts. After I "proved" I knew what I was talking about they would say... "how old are you"? I kinda think thats rude too... IF I answered I always asked them back and when they got defensive I added... "I need this info to set up you account. I hope I wasn't too personal" or something to that effect.

Maybe I'm sensitive.

 

[CurlyMoo]

You know... that's what I'm going to start doing. If someone asks me if my hair is fake and I think its an inappropriate question, I'm going to ask them with a straight face "whew... you know, I'm glad we're on a personal level like that. Before I answer that... I've been meaning to ask you... Are your boobs real or fake?"

People are so rude sometimes!

TANGENT:
Have you noticed older people always want to ask younger people how old they are? I used to work at a bank and I had a lot of "High Value" customers who always wanted to out talk me regarding loans, IRA and other investment accts. After I "proved" I knew what I was talking about they would say... "how old are you"? I kinda think thats rude too... IF I answered I always asked them back and when they got defensive I added... "I need this info to set up you account. I hope I wasn't too personal" or something to that effect.

Maybe I'm sensitive.

Bolded: Actually I have older men ask me how old I am. Then they follow up with "ARE YOU IN YOUR 20's?"

 

[silvergirl]

i dont think asking if the hair is real is inappropriate but thats just me. i like being able to say yup its all mine. and heck, i welcome a weave check lol. i love being able to disprove the "black ppl all have short hair or fake hair" phenomena .

i havent noticed any "extra" questions since the movies come out though.