AwesomelyNappy
Well-Known Member
In the April issue of Cosmopolitan, there was a response about African American hair that made me cringe. In the Beauty Q&A section (page128) one of the questions was "What helps minimize breakage on African-American hair?" Their answer was
"Don’t apply chemical straighteners more than once every six weeks, and give your hair a one-week break from extensions, says Pantene stylist Tippi Shorter. Also, shampoo only once every 10 to 14 days, then do a deep conditioning treatment. Pantene Pro-V Relaxed and Natural Breakage defense mask, is packed with protective proteins."
First of all, in the first sentence, they basically made a statement that assumes that all black women do is get relaxers and weaves. To me, it was a stereotypical answer about hair given to a race of people, misinforming the rest of the people, and adding weight to the stereotypes of black hair. Although it is best to wait at least 6 weeks between chemical treatments (as most people know already as it says to do so on the box!!!) and to take breaks from weaves, the focus of this answer just seems a little degrading to me. (I know I might sound crazy) I know that we do use both tools for our own hair needs, but it came off (to me anyway) as if all black women have short nappy hair and usually go out to get perms and extensions to look acceptable. I know (and most here know) that most people inside and outside our race already assumes that a "black woman can’t possibly have long hair without the use of a weave" or that "black hair only looks good when straightened". Or since we don’t have “good†hair, we HAVE to have perms. This is why most times when black girls have long hair, people want to question its realness or challenge you on it as if "it can’t be true". OR, if you do prove to them that your long hair is really home grown, they assume that it’s because you’re mixed somewhere in your lineage or something. Anyway, that first sentence irked the heck out of me!
Second, haven’t it been proven here and elsewhere that washing more frequently than once every 2-4 weeks is MORE beneficial to our hair? I know that most people outside these hair boards might not warm up to co washing since its kinda unconventional, but with that right conditioner after a bi-(or more)-weekly wash, adding vitamins, protective styles, leave in conditioners and low heat and manilipulation... our hair can become more stronger and resilient than ever. (I know. I used to wash maybe once or twice a month, unless it had buildup or sweat, because I used to believe that since our hair didn't produce natural oils as much as others, that it didn't get dirty as quick and thus didn’t need to wash it. Now that I’m cowashing-amung other things- I’ve finally been introduced to my real hair-strong, soft, moisturized, and growing hair... I even believe that I’ll be at brastrap sometime in 08 at my rate...) I remember last semester in a nursing class, I had a teacher ( older white lady with real thin see thru and short white hair) who was giving instructions about hygiene care of the elderly tell the class that we should not wash African American hair more than twice a week as opposed to every other day as in non-blacks because... and then she looked at me for an answer, and I raised my eyebrows and shook my head and told her I didn't follow... and she told me that we (blacks) don’t do it because basically black hair is more brittle and weaker than other peoples... (she was a major culprit of using blanket statements about different types of people – once there was a tightly coiled hair inside a lunch cooler left in the break room, and she assumed it was mine because she thought it was a “blacks†hair… the cooler turned out to have belonged to a straight hair Indian lady’s) I then told her, and the class that that info wasn’t true and unfounded and that I washed every other day with no breakage or other problems, and then the class got turned into a hair discussion.
Not only are we as a whole mostly misinformed about our hair, but "they" are as well. To give vague, blanket, misinformed, stereotypical advice about black hair in a mass magazine like that is sad in my opinion. Why couldn't they just said that to stop breakage, take biotin or a b-complex vit and eat a healthy diet, or recommend a strengthening shampoo and conditioner and a leave in. Why couldn't they said use minimum heat and chemical exposure and protect against the sun and wind and sleep on satin or silk pillows? I don’t know, maybe I’m overanalyzing it. Sorry for my long rant… thanks for reading this far….
"Don’t apply chemical straighteners more than once every six weeks, and give your hair a one-week break from extensions, says Pantene stylist Tippi Shorter. Also, shampoo only once every 10 to 14 days, then do a deep conditioning treatment. Pantene Pro-V Relaxed and Natural Breakage defense mask, is packed with protective proteins."
First of all, in the first sentence, they basically made a statement that assumes that all black women do is get relaxers and weaves. To me, it was a stereotypical answer about hair given to a race of people, misinforming the rest of the people, and adding weight to the stereotypes of black hair. Although it is best to wait at least 6 weeks between chemical treatments (as most people know already as it says to do so on the box!!!) and to take breaks from weaves, the focus of this answer just seems a little degrading to me. (I know I might sound crazy) I know that we do use both tools for our own hair needs, but it came off (to me anyway) as if all black women have short nappy hair and usually go out to get perms and extensions to look acceptable. I know (and most here know) that most people inside and outside our race already assumes that a "black woman can’t possibly have long hair without the use of a weave" or that "black hair only looks good when straightened". Or since we don’t have “good†hair, we HAVE to have perms. This is why most times when black girls have long hair, people want to question its realness or challenge you on it as if "it can’t be true". OR, if you do prove to them that your long hair is really home grown, they assume that it’s because you’re mixed somewhere in your lineage or something. Anyway, that first sentence irked the heck out of me!
Second, haven’t it been proven here and elsewhere that washing more frequently than once every 2-4 weeks is MORE beneficial to our hair? I know that most people outside these hair boards might not warm up to co washing since its kinda unconventional, but with that right conditioner after a bi-(or more)-weekly wash, adding vitamins, protective styles, leave in conditioners and low heat and manilipulation... our hair can become more stronger and resilient than ever. (I know. I used to wash maybe once or twice a month, unless it had buildup or sweat, because I used to believe that since our hair didn't produce natural oils as much as others, that it didn't get dirty as quick and thus didn’t need to wash it. Now that I’m cowashing-amung other things- I’ve finally been introduced to my real hair-strong, soft, moisturized, and growing hair... I even believe that I’ll be at brastrap sometime in 08 at my rate...) I remember last semester in a nursing class, I had a teacher ( older white lady with real thin see thru and short white hair) who was giving instructions about hygiene care of the elderly tell the class that we should not wash African American hair more than twice a week as opposed to every other day as in non-blacks because... and then she looked at me for an answer, and I raised my eyebrows and shook my head and told her I didn't follow... and she told me that we (blacks) don’t do it because basically black hair is more brittle and weaker than other peoples... (she was a major culprit of using blanket statements about different types of people – once there was a tightly coiled hair inside a lunch cooler left in the break room, and she assumed it was mine because she thought it was a “blacks†hair… the cooler turned out to have belonged to a straight hair Indian lady’s) I then told her, and the class that that info wasn’t true and unfounded and that I washed every other day with no breakage or other problems, and then the class got turned into a hair discussion.
Not only are we as a whole mostly misinformed about our hair, but "they" are as well. To give vague, blanket, misinformed, stereotypical advice about black hair in a mass magazine like that is sad in my opinion. Why couldn't they just said that to stop breakage, take biotin or a b-complex vit and eat a healthy diet, or recommend a strengthening shampoo and conditioner and a leave in. Why couldn't they said use minimum heat and chemical exposure and protect against the sun and wind and sleep on satin or silk pillows? I don’t know, maybe I’m overanalyzing it. Sorry for my long rant… thanks for reading this far….
, leaving the relaxer on for 40 min or more. Some people would rather have no edges than nappy edges. While every 6 weeks is frequent by LHCF standards, it is a stretch for some, I think it would have been more appropriate to give a range, but saying not more often than 6 weeks is the most frequent relaxing any head of hair should be subjected to is solid advice.
too. 
I really dont take it too seriously when i read stuff like that. I usually avoid reading their advice for AA unless i feel its really reliable. Its one of the reasons why i stopped reading some black hair mags, but i still like cosmo despite my rant. Anyways, after taking it with a grain of salt, i see it could be viewed as good advice. I dont think that Cosmo is that deep where they would mean any harm to anybody. I still think that some of the suggestions i wrote were good tho.
). 
I'm loving it my damn self too 
It's about time too. Couldn't stand it for the longest
