What do you want to see in a Utube hair video?

[jada1111]

When viewing hair instructional videos what do you want to see and how do you want the person to act?

I bring this up, because I've seen Youtube videos where the people do more TALKING than SHOWING. I've seen better fotki show and tells. A video doesn't have to show you all FOUR HOURS of how the style was created, but at least the beginning, middle and end of it, along with product info.

Another pet peeve of mine is "LIGHTING". Okay, I dig that many of us have "vanity" issues (me included), but when you're showing how to do a particular hairstyle the lighting needs to be on point. In all honesty, I don't care how ugly or pretty the person is just as long as I can see the style being created. I think many of us will agree on this.

Here's what I would like to see MORE of:

1) more instruction either in written or verbal form.

2) better lighting. When showing how you did a part, rolled a strawset, defined your coils, etc., get up and personal in the camera so that WE can SEE what you're talking about.

3) The products you REALLY used for that particular style. Please don't make up or "suggest" that something else might work the same if you haven't used it. This bothers me greatly. If you're not gonna come clean totally, then don't show us ANYTHING.

What I'd like to see LESS of:

1) less music and OPINIONS. It's about the hairstyle and how you got it that way. NOTHING ELSE. Create a separate Youtube for your blog.

2) stop trying to turn me on in the camera. I just want to see you DO YOUR HAIR. Thanks.

3) Please cut down on the music. Sometimes, I can't hear what you're saying, because of the background noise. If you MUST play your favorite song, then put up written cue cards detailing what you did.

Before I go on, I just want to say not ALL videos are like this. But there have been a few lately where people are looking to showcase their thoughts, opinions, looks, etc., instead of SHOWING how they did the style that I clicked on. This is not an INSTRUCTIONAL video. I've seem more description typed on the hairboards.

Is there anything that you would like to see more or less of in a hair video?

Please post. Maybe the current youtubers I'm talking about will take note. LOL!

 

[JustKiya]

Ooooh, good post!!

I have some minor hearing issues, and personally, I MUCH prefer that you use cue-cards to tell me, or at least to re-iterate what you said - especially if you lay music over it.

If you are doing the same thing to your head multiple times - I really only need to see it once, maybe twice - then you can time-lapse to the finished 'process'.

I have to cosign on the lighting - I know we ain't all able, but I betcha all of us have a standing light (or one of those clip-on desk jobbies) to shine a little more light on the process.

Focus, focus, focus! Both the camera, and what you are doing - no rambling tangents, please. (and I know, if I ever do a video, that's gonna be my personal hangup! )

On youTube, please fill out the details next to the video - including your hair type and length, for those on slower connections - ain't nothing worse than waiting for a video to load, and finding out the person is a texturized 3a with APL hair (with 'Short Natural Style' in the title), and I was wanting something more suited to a 4b with barely shoulder length hair, ya know?

This is a good thread......

 

[jada1111]

Ooooh, good post!!

I have some minor hearing issues, and personally, I MUCH prefer that you use cue-cards to tell me, or at least to re-iterate what you said - especially if you lay music over it.

If you are doing the same thing to your head multiple times - I really only need to see it once, maybe twice - then you can time-lapse to the finished 'process'.

I have to cosign on the lighting - I know we ain't all able, but I betcha all of us have a standing light (or one of those clip-on desk jobbies) to shine a little more light on the process.

Focus, focus, focus! Both the camera, and what you are doing - no rambling tangents, please. (and I know, if I ever do a video, that's gonna be my personal hangup! )

On youTube, please fill out the details next to the video - including your hair type and length, for those on slower connections - ain't nothing worse than waiting for a video to load, and finding out the person is a texturized 3a with APL hair (with 'Short Natural Style' in the title), and I was wanting something more suited to a 4b with barely shoulder length hair, ya know?

This is a good thread......

Everything, especially the bolded are very good tips. If I ever make a Youtube, I'll verbally SAY what I'm going to do FIRST, then do whatever it is, then show a cue card detailing it all over again before moving on to the next step.

Also, the hairtype description is helpful as well.

 

[BostonMaria]

Great post!
The music usually drives me crazy! I would love to see more videos of natural hairstyles. Real hairdos that I can do. I can't seem to find this in black or latina magazines.

 

[jada1111]

Great post!
The music usually drives me crazy! I would love to see more videos of natural hairstyles. Real hairdos that I can do. I can't seem to find this in black or latina magazines.

Yeah, me too. You're better off visiting people's fotkis by doing a search on google.

I don't see too many instructional pic fotki's like I did in the past. It IS time-consuming though. I haven't done that many either, but I only wear my hair in one or two styles basically. I'm trying to change that though. LOL!

 

[ladylibra]

Ooooh, good post!!
Focus, focus, focus! Both the camera, and what you are doing - no rambling tangents, please. (and I know, if I ever do a video, that's gonna be my personal hangup! )

On youTube, please fill out the details next to the video - including your hair type and length, for those on slower connections - ain't nothing worse than waiting for a video to load, and finding out the person is a texturized 3a with APL hair (with 'Short Natural Style' in the title), and I was wanting something more suited to a 4b with barely shoulder length hair, ya know?

This is a good thread......

okay why did you have to call me out on my rambling though...

on the bolded - ah yes, i remember my first vid - response to the "Curlisto Styling Method - Tight to Kinky Curls." boy, did people get pissed at me for classifying my curls as "kinky." ironically, the girl in the original video has a looser texture than me but lesson learned on that one...

 

[Kirei]

Great thread!

My only pet peeve is the music! Please stop the music! I have had to just sit and watch with so many vids on silent due to the music in them. I understand you want us to enjoy the "show" but when you have a sleeping husband, that music is not the business.

Also with the music, I hate when people also have the music really low, so low that I can barely hear what it is. I don't like this b/c I want to make sure you don't have me listening to some subliminal crazy suicide murder stuff.

IMO, it is best to leave the music for the intro and the ending, I want to hear what you are saying not anyone else.

 

[Neith]

okay why did you have to call me out on my rambling though...

on the bolded - ah yes, i remember my first vid - response to the "Curlisto Styling Method - Tight to Kinky Curls." boy, did people get pissed at me for classifying my curls as "kinky." ironically, the girl in the original video has a looser texture than me but lesson learned on that one...

Well dayum, how kinky does your hair have to be to make people happy??

Just saying... your hair is definitely kinky imo! Kinky hair is NOT only straight type 4z hair.

 

[MizAvalon]

I am with you on the lighting. In most of the Youtube instructional hair videos, the lighting is very poor.

Also, I would love to see a video of someone cornrowing or flat twisting their OWN hair.

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

Kinky hair is NOT only straight type 4z hair.

Yes. Yes it is. (I'm teasing)

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

I am with you on the lighting. In most of the Youtube instructional hair videos, the lighting is very poor.

Also, I would love to see a video of someone cornrowing or flat twisting their OWN hair.

YES! I can't cornrow. I can't get it. I need someone to slow it down, get all up in the camera, and show me (step by step) what to do. Thanks to Pokahontas I can do 3 strand twists. I watched every other tutorial out there and it didn't make sense to me until I saw her do it.

 

[anon123]

Um, where are your YouTube videos?

Here's what I'd like to see. Someone making a video showing me what they know for free in a way I had never been able to get before YouTube. If they want to tell their opinions, you know, it's their video and I really can't see how their opinions make it any worse. The makers of the videos choose what they think is important to show and tell. Why save it for a blog?

This post just rubbed me the wrong way, as stuff usually does when I hear a lot of complaining for something people get for free that they don't have to take if they don't want.

 

[Traycee]

Thanks for posting this...Its so helpful.....I have started using music just for into's and endings...This a great post..Hahaha..I have my pen and paper out

 

[jada1111]

Um, where are your YouTube videos?

Here's what I'd like to see. Someone making a video showing me what they know for free in a way I had never been able to get before YouTube. If they want to tell their opinions, you know, it's their video and I really can't see how their opinions make it any worse. The makers of the videos choose what they think is important to show and tell. Why save it for a blog?

This post just rubbed me the wrong way, as stuff usually does when I hear a lot of complaining for something people get for free that they don't have to take if they don't want.

The thread doesn't have to descend into something degrading. There really isn't any need for it.

As to answer YOUR question regarding why I don't have a Youtube video, it's because I don't have the equipment to DO one right now, but I will.

And it's not ALL hair videos, but SOME. My pet peeve is that if you're going to show an INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO on how to do something, then SHOW it. It's like these people come on and show you the after style, then EXPLAIN how they did it. They could have described that on a messageboard or fotki.

And no, I don't like rambling on about off topic stuff in an INSTRUCTIONAL video. Stay on topic.

Also, this thread is EXCELLENT feedback for when I and others on here do create one.

Jeez. Why things always gotta be a problem with some folks.

 

[jada1111]

Thanks for posting this...Its so helpful.....I have started using music just for into's and endings...This a great post..Hahaha..I have my pen and paper out

I also believe it will be very informative as well. :-D

 

[JustKiya]

Um, where are your YouTube videos?

Here's what I'd like to see. Someone making a video showing me what they know for free in a way I had never been able to get before YouTube. If they want to tell their opinions, you know, it's their video and I really can't see how their opinions make it any worse. The makers of the videos choose what they think is important to show and tell. Why save it for a blog?

This post just rubbed me the wrong way, as stuff usually does when I hear a lot of complaining for something people get for free that they don't have to take if they don't want.

I don't think - I know I didn't mean it that way - as a complaint (cuz lord knows I haven't made any videos!) but as a list of ways to make the best video you could.... though, I can see how it can be viewed that way.

 

[jada1111]

I don't think - I know I didn't mean it that way - as a complaint (cuz lord knows I haven't made any videos!) but as a list of ways to make the best video you could.... though, I can see how it can be viewed that way.

No one's taking it that way and your are ENTITLED to your opinions that's why I posted the thread - TO GET EVERYONE'S OPINIONS regardless of whether or not I agree.

 

[Irresistible]

GIRL! I CANT HELP BUT LOVE YA! ,

Um, where are your YouTube videos?

Here's what I'd like to see. Someone making a video showing me what they know for free in a way I had never been able to get before YouTube. If they want to tell their opinions, you know, it's their video and I really can't see how their opinions make it any worse. The makers of the videos choose what they think is important to show and tell. Why save it for a blog?

This post just rubbed me the wrong way, as stuff usually does when I hear a lot of complaining for something people get for free that they don't have to take if they don't want.

 

[Kirei]

Um, where are your YouTube videos?

Here's what I'd like to see. Someone making a video showing me what they know for free in a way I had never been able to get before YouTube. If they want to tell their opinions, you know, it's their video and I really can't see how their opinions make it any worse. The makers of the videos choose what they think is important to show and tell. Why save it for a blog?

This post just rubbed me the wrong way, as stuff usually does when I hear a lot of complaining for something people get for free that they don't have to take if they don't want.

Well, since I posted in this thread. I for one am grateful to those who make videos, I have learned alot.

But, it does get frustrating when you want to learn something from someone you know is experienced and you can't hear what they are saying. Nothing wrong with saying that.

I don't have videos b/c I ramble, have bad lighting, don't know jack and don't have the guts. But, if I were to do it, I would do it right or at least use some common sense about it all and make sure people can hear and see what I am doing. Duh!

I can see how this thread can be taken as a negative but, I don't think it was and if you make videos maybe some of you can use these points after all, don't you make the videos for us to watch? Okay, well expect some critisim from those who actually want to watch you.

(not you personally, just a "you" in general, I like your vids to be honest)
Just my .25 cents.

 

[jada1111]

Well, since I posted in this thread. I for one am grateful to those who make videos, I have learned alot.

But, it does get frustrating when you want to learn something from someone you know is experienced and you can't hear what they are saying. Nothing wrong with saying that.

I don't have videos b/c I ramble, have bad lighting, don't know jack and don't have the guts. But, if I were to do it, I would do it right or at least use some common sense about it all and make sure people can hear and see what I am doing. Duh!

I can see how this thread can be taken as a negative but, I don't think it was and if you make videos maybe some of you can use these points after all, don't you make the videos for us to watch? Okay, well expect some critisim from those who actually want to watch you.

(not you personally, just a "you" in general, I like your vids to be honest)
Just my .25 cents.

Agreed. Her videos are some of the GOOD ONES. The lighting is perfect, no music, and goes into detail instruction to what she's talking about and STAYS ON THE TOPIC.

I don't get why she's trippin'. Her videos are where the WHACK ones need to get some tips. The ones who are whack KNOW who they are and if they don't, they do NOW.

 

[gorgeoushair]

I like the music as long as they're not talking.

 

[Irresistible]

It is my opinion that making videos can be a very personal thing and choice and that person making 'their' video has to do it with their own vibe and personality , not an imposed one. I can appreciate a wish list and what not, But I can even more appreciate not making something someone tried to do that was a positive thing for them a 'picked apart to peices' thing. I mean who says they are trying to turn 'YOU' on? maybe they are aware of an audience larger than you, the music can be something personal as well, although I can appreciate someone saying they dont want to hear it, but when 'the maker' of the video does want to hear it while making the video, then who has final say. I'm sure some people dont want to hear my ring tones on my phone either, but um yeah, they hear them tho and wishing to stifle ones free expression that might be 'rambling' to you, might be something worth being said to another. So all in all the wish list is cool, but respect that people have the right to say and do what they want in their videos and of course if its not meeting your standards you can always click off, But I agree with mwedzi , you make videos how you like and respect and appreciate that others will make their videos how they like . thats the great thing about youtube its 'personal' expression and the beautiful freedom to do so . its variety and its total freedom of ones' individual expression , nobody's videos are going to be the same it certainly is not about someone else's definition of youtube hair video perfection

 

[Irresistible]

Agreed. Her videos are some of the GOOD ONES. The lighting is perfect, no music, and goes into detail instruction to what she's talking about and STAYS ON THE TOPIC.

I don't get why she's trippin'. Her videos are where the WHACK ones need to get some tips. The ones who are whack KNOW who they are and if they don't, they do NOW.

wow! she spoke her mind because its the truth, I dont think anyone has to take these tips at all if they dont want to and its actually kind of imposing, how bout you just dont watch the 'whack' videos and do yours 'your' way

I for one, will keep rambling and play my music if thats what I choose and will say what I WANT in MY videos and I'm sure many more will too, but you can always find what YOUR looking for on YOUTUBE , there are so many different vibes and personalities on there. So just click next if you dont like what you see or hear, thats what I do

 

[Kirei]

It is my opinion that making videos can be a very personal thing and choice and that person making 'their' video has to do it with their own vibe and personality , not an imposed one. I can appreciate a wish list and what not, But I can even more appreciate not making something someone tried to do that was a positive thing for them a 'picked apart to peices' thing. I mean who says they are trying to turn 'YOU' on? maybe they are aware of an audience larger than you, the music can be something personal as well, although I can appreciate someone saying they dont want to hear it, but when 'the maker' of the video does want to hear it while making the video, then who has final say. I'm sure some people dont want to hear my ring tones on my phone either, but um yeah, they hear them tho and wishing to stifle ones free expression that might be 'rambling' to you, might be something worth being said to another. So all in all the wish list is cool, but respect that people have the right to say and do what they want in their videos and of course if its not meeting your standards you can always click off, But I agree with mwedzi , you make videos how you like and respect and appreciate that others will make their videos how they like . thats the great thing about youtube its 'personal' expression and the beautiful freedom to do so . its variety and its total freedom of ones' individual expression , nobody's videos are going to be the same it certainly is not about someone else's definition of youtube hair video perfection

wow! she spoke her mind because its the truth, I dont think anyone has to take these tips at all if they dont want to and its actually kind of imposing, how bout you just dont watch the 'whack' videos and do yours 'your' way

I for one, will keep rambling and play my music if thats what I choose and will say what I WANT in MY videos and I'm sure many more will too, but you can always find what YOUR looking for on YOUTUBE , there are so many different vibes and personalities on there. So just click next if you dont like what you see or hear, thats what I do

Iris, I think you are missing the point. It isn't about someone's personal video, she is talking about tutorials, like how tos and stuff.

I agree with you on personal vids, I mean they aren't making those for me but for them but, on tutorials, what's the point if no one can see or hear you?

I appreciate people's vids but, it just gets annoying having to listen to funky music or have to trun the sound off and miss what they are saying and have to read lips or product labels.

Get me? This isn't about personal vids, I would never scrutinise those.

 

[Irresistible]

I hear you girl, I just think people are still going to do what they do, and want to do, and its not studio quality professional videos ,they are at home and most often people are just working with what they got yanno? Ive seen people hollar at their kids and messy houses and all kind of other unmentionables, I guess it really depends on the type of video your doing and your right its not just for that person, but trust a part of it is, is something they have signed up to do because its in them to do, lol I just had Tracyee's video on while typing this and was listening and at the end it starting booming with the bass, scared me haha. I just wouldnt come on saying what someone should do with their videos, I watched someone put some egg concoction in her hair today and it was boring , it went on and on , but something kept me watching just to see 'how she was gonna do it' I think individuality makes youtube beautiful , i wouldnt tell anyone how to do their videos or how I would like to see them do them, thats just me though Liyah, I do get the point though , dont get me wrong cause I do but gurrrrl its a mute point for folks doing their own videos how they choose...yanno?

Iris, I think you are missing the point. It isn't about someone's personal video, she is talking about tutorials, like how tos and stuff.

I agree with you on personal vids, I mean they aren't making those for me but for them but, on tutorials, what's the point if no one can see or hear you?

I appreciate people's vids but, it just gets annoying having to listen to funky music or have to trun the sound off and miss what they are saying and have to read lips or product labels.

Get me? This isn't about personal vids, I would never scrutinise those.

 

[Kirei]

I hear you girl, I just think people are still going to do what they do, and want to do, and its not studio quality professional videos ,they are at home and most often people are just working with what they got yanno? Ive seen people hollar at their kids and messy houses and all kind of other unmentionables, I guess it really depends on the type of video your doing and your right its not just for that person, but trust a part of it is, is something they have signed up to do because its in them to do, lol I just had Tracyee's video on while typing this and was listening and at the end it starting booming with the bass, scared me haha. I just wouldnt come on saying what someone should do with their videos, I watched someone put some egg concoction in her hair today and it was boring , it went on and on , but something kept me watching just to see 'how she was gonna do it' I think individuality makes youtube beautiful , i wouldnt tell anyone how to do their videos or how I would like to see them do them, thats just me though Liyah, I do get the point though , dont get me wrong cause I do but gurrrrl its a mute point for folks doing their own videos how they choose...yanno?

I get you!

Tracee's vid made me jump too when it went off! LOL! But at least it wasn't bass all over her talking b/c I was interested in what she was saying! LOL

But, I get you Iris and actually agree. This isn't cable and we don't pay for it so, ehh,we can leave it or take it.

I can't stand a junky house though, I will cut the vid off if your background is a mess, it makes my nerves act up! (my young self doesn't even have nerves, LOL)

 

[anon123]

Thanks to those who said they like my videos. Let me be more clear and a little more calm to try to get across what I was saying.

A suggestion can surely be appreciated if put the right way. But this post was started with a virtual laundry list of things that are "wrong" with people's videos, including remarks like "Do X instead of Y. Thanks" where you get the feeling the "thanks" is said like this: . I generally look at YouTube videos as similar to gifts so, like gifts, sometimes not being what the recipient wanted exactly or not being perfectly wrapped but a gift nonetheless where the giver's only reward is to feel good about giving something and to get a thanks. So from my perspective it's like the initial post went beyond offering one or two suggestions in a nice way to get the ball rolling, but started off with rapid gunfire of all flaws, and what made it worse was that the OP had never actually given any of these videos/gifts herself, only having taken them.

I have written a few knitting and crochet patterns, too, and have offered a couple for free. Sometimes on forums for knitting or crochet, I see a lot of complaints about free patterns. Curiously, those threads are always started, and for the most part participated in, by people who have never written patterns themselves. I think becoming the giver offers a different perspective. Okay, maybe not a better perspective, but a different one.

Now if you don't subscribe to the youtube videos as gifts analogy, okay. I can buy that. But hopefully now you can I understand why I was "tripping." Looking over the thread again, I can see how it could be a collection of useful tips. In fact, correct me if I'm wrong Jada, but it seems you have more issue with how some of these videos are named rather than their contents, as in it's okay to have music and express your opinions, just don't name the video "instruction video"?

 

[Irresistible]

I get you!

Tracee's vid made me jump too when it went off! LOL! But at least it wasn't bass all over her talking b/c I was interested in what she was saying! LOL

But, I get you Iris and actually agree. This isn't cable and we don't pay for it so, ehh,we can leave it or take it.

I can't stand a junky house though, I will cut the vid off if your background is a mess, it makes my nerves act up! (my young self doesn't even have nerves, LOL)

Liyah!
@ this isnt cable! okay!!!!!???


I hear the points being made though

 

[Irresistible]

Thanks to those who said they like my videos. Let me be more clear and a little more calm to try to get across what I was saying.

A suggestion can surely be appreciated if put the right way. But this post was started with a virtual laundry list of things that are "wrong" with people's videos, including remarks like "Do X instead of Y. Thanks" where you get the feeling the "thanks" is said like this: . I generally look at YouTube videos as similar to gifts so, like gifts, sometimes not being what the recipient wanted exactly or not being perfectly wrapped but a gift nonetheless where the giver's only reward is to feel good about giving something and to get a thanks. So from my perspective it's like the initial post went beyond offering one or two suggestions in a nice way to get the ball rolling, but started off with rapid gunfire of all flaws, and what made it worse was that the OP had never actually given any of these videos/gifts herself, only having taken them.

I have written a few knitting and crochet patterns, too, and have offered a couple for free. Sometimes on forums for knitting or crochet, I see a lot of complaints about free patterns. Curiously, those threads are always started, and for the most part participated in, by people who have never written patterns themselves. I think becoming the giver offers a different perspective. Okay, maybe not a better perspective, but a different one.

Now if you don't subscribe to the youtube videos as gifts analogy, okay. I can buy that. But hopefully now you can I understand why I was "tripping." Looking over the thread again, I can see how it could be a collection of useful tips. In fact, correct me if I'm wrong Jada, but it seems you have more issue with how some of these videos are named rather than their contents, as in it's okay to have music and express your opinions, just don't name the video "instruction video"?

I agree with you on how the 'tone' came across

 

[1QTPie]

Well as a youtuber, I will say that sometimes it's very very hard not to ramble. Editing is a ***** for real because #1 people have short attention spans and the only person I can watch for a full 10 minutes is me. LOL!!!

But it's hard to squeeze all you want to say in 10 minutes. For me, when I ramble I'm doing three things, trying to fill dead air. I can't stand that (hence the music,) trying to answer questions that I get asked repeatedly for my repeat viewers and I try to respond to people's advice about my hair and what they think that I'm doing wrong.

About lighting. Sometimes it's the lighting, most of the time it's the camera. Lighting can be solved if people would put light behind them. Light the room. The only time I light my hair is when I'm doing a demo and it's nighttime. Natural light is the best thing out there. I find that when I use too much light my videos are worse.

Cameras... some people actually film using their cellphones. Or they use a very very old webcam. Others use older camcorders or cameras that don't work well in all environments.

And finally it's about location. If you're doing hair or makeup you want to be able to see yourself. Your station may be in a room that's not ideal for filming. For instance, my setup is not ideal, but I use a webcam and this is where I have my PC, I don't have a laptop. I don't like the quality of my regular camera so I don't even bother.

All-in-all, I would say offer your critiques to the person whose videos are bugging you. Some people don't even realize how bad it looks. They really have no idea. A desk lamp and open curtains can improve a video tenfold.