Let's Talk About Hair

While i was home for Thanksgiving break I decided to catch up on Netflix bingeing, as most of us do. I came across the movie “Nappily Ever After”. I had heard of it briefly and knew the basic plot line but hadn’t heard much else. I pressed play and watched intently for an hour and a half.

Nappily Ever After discusses the importance of representation of natural hair in media. (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

I was pleasantly surprised by the movie. It wasn't an Oscar winning performance but there was much more to it than a cute love story. What stuck with me was the message it told. It stuck with me. The movie explores portrayals of black women in the media. More importantly portrayals of natural hair in the media.

Often times when we see black women in media they have that “ideal” light chocolate brown skin, model-sequence physique and long straight black hair - no frizz, no kinks, the occasional 3A. Black women already struggle finding representation in today’s society and what does exist is so limited that a very very small number of women meet these expectations.

Andre Walker's Hair Type Chart has helped women find their hair type and helpful products for years. (Photo courtesy of 99percentvisible)

One of the beauties of black women is that there is so much variation. A multitude of complexions, facial features, body types and hair types - but we are diminished to a few pictures that society has deemed “ideal”, especially when it comes to hair. Hair can mean so much to someone, it becomes part of your identity. Hair is more than just the strands on your head but becomes a form of self expression, and for black women can shape their experiences navigating this world. Often times, natural hair isn’t seen as “professional” so black women have to either wear a weave or straighten their hair to be accepted in the workplace.

“Nappily Ever After” explores the idea that black women should embrace their natural hair regardless of what society deems ideal and acceptable. The movie also takes the conversation further and instead of telling women it's on them, challenges the media to embrace black women for who they truly and naturally are, which isn't the direction most conversations take when it comes to natural hair.

I applaud the movie for taking the stance and for opening the conversation to natural hair.

Read other articles about black women's connection to hair:

The Connection Between Hair and Identity in Black Culture

8 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Black Women's Hair

Navigating the History of Myths About Black Hair