Oprah Winfrey Hairstylist Andre Walker Launches Natural Hair Product Line

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Kinky Hair’s No Longer “Limiting”? Oprah Winfrey Hairstylist Andre Walker Launches Natural Hair Product Line
MARCH 29, 2013 BY CLUTCH


Oprah Winfrey’s hairstylist, Andre Walker, sent the natural hair world into a tizzy when he made statements in 2011 about kinky hair. He said:

“I always recommend embracing your natural texture. Kinky hair can have limited styling options; that’s the only hair type that I suggest altering with professional relaxing.”

When the backlash from his suggestion reached a fever pitch, Walker countered with this explanation:

“So when I say to embrace your natural texture, but consider relaxing kinky hair, am I contradicting myself? I don’t think so! You see, even relaxed hair can still be worn naturally. If you want a natural look, but find that your kinky hair is difficult to manage, breaks too easily, lacks shine and luster, and limits your preferred styling options, I say feel free to consider a mild chemical relaxer, sometimes called a texturizer, that eases your hair to a more manageable texture and allows you to Make Peace With Your Hair.”

Andre will now help naturals “make peace with” their hair with his own branded line of natural hair products. Instead of the relaxers and texturizers he once suggested, he’ll be shelling sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner and straightening creme.

Via Juicy Magazine:

The Andre Walker Hair line, created for women who are looking to transition and become natural, promises to treat, condition and style African-American, ethnic and textured hair types without the use of chemical relaxers and straighteners.

The line includes an Ultimate Moisture Sulfate Free Shampoo, Ultimate Moisture TKO(Total Keratin Obsession) Conditioner, Beautiful Kinks Styling Crème Gelee and Straightening Crème, all to establish hair that is soft, healthy, shiny and manageable.

To accompany the collection’s debut in July, Andre tapped “The Coiffure Project” photographer Glenford Nunez to shoot the advertisements. The product descriptions and Glenford-lensed campaign may signify that Andre Walker is turning over a new leaf when it comes to natural hair.

http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2013...re-walker-launches-natural-hair-product-line/
 
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A lot of Black women feel this way so I can't say I'm surprised to hear a hair stylist make this kind of comment. The only thing that seems odd to me is that he made this comment in 2011. "Natural hair care" has been en vogue for at least 10 years in major cities. This just makes him seem like he is behind the times.
 
There are certain people/vendors I will never patronize no matter how hard they try...and he is on that list.
 
The product descriptions and Glenford-lensed campaign may signify that Andre Walker is turning over a new leaf when it comes to natural hair.

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I'm sure his true opinion of natural kinky hair hasn't changed, the only things that have are his appraisal of the market opportunity of kinky hair care and the best strategy to capitalize on the market. The marketing message is dictated by the money.
 
Dear Andre I wished that I gave one kink about your new line but sadly, my au natural hair has a long memory and holds on to grudges as she does her 4B shrinkage.
 
Oprah's hair just looks weird. Are those half wigs she wears? It looks like she just has two pieces left out in front and they just don't blend well w/the hair. IF that is her hair, he is flat ironing the heck out of it.
 
I will spend not one dollar! You hear me?? Not one. I can’t stand it when people like Andre and companies like Dark N’ Lovely try to step into the natural world like it’s brand new. You are a day late and a dollar short. Sorry, have several!

:lachen::lachen:
 
Love the comments at the link :lol:

-Either he’s come around or more likely he’s following the dollar signs. +5

---Following the dollar signs. DEFINITELY! +15

-----OR he’s an a-hole who wants to make money off the same community he just thoroughly insulted. Maybe he’s gotten the memo about how Black folks tend to like to make rich the same folks who like to break us down. I say BOYCOTT. +17

-His viewpoint likely hasn’t changed. He’s just going where the easy money is. His nerve insults my integrity & intelligence. He basically toted that spike lee “good n bad hair” attitude and I’m supposed to let that go bc time has passed? His prior comments sidelined a portion of the natural community…as if we don’t have enough of that already between some naturals! Now he suddenly embraces it! He’s full of it & I won’t be using his line. +5


They all summed it up for me. LOL
 
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