I just received the newest copy of Essence in my mailbox last Friday. I hardly ever read magazines anymore but as I thumbed through it, I couldn't help but notice the section dedicated to natural hair and a guide towards going "natural".What I noticed:
- MOST of the African-American models throughout the magazine (adult women and children) had curly hair of some sort (including weaves)
- pg. 42 includes their "Go-Natural Cheat Sheet", products recommended include Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream, Jane Carter Nourishing Cream, Carita Revitalising Scrub and Miss Jessie's Rapid Recovery Treatment. They also list the top 10 brands for natural hair.
- pg. 45 lists the "5 Commandments for Going Natural"
However, this blog and the many other great ones like it probably wouldn't be around if there hadn't been that strong need...
Thoughts?
22 comments:
to be honest mainstream media didn't have to come to the party at all so stop your whining and just be happy that natural hair is becoming the norm.
Hard to say with Essence I've always felt they've done the best presentations of Natural Hair styles and variety there of in their magazine in comparison to others. I'm judging strickly the beauty section not always throughout the entire magazine.
But I've always loved what they've done. However it is a good thing that they've added the guide and I think alot of you bloggers should be covered or guest writers for these magazines.
I say better late then never... I mean it would've been nice if these things were out sooner but I think women are slowly becoming more inclined to going natural. I'm transitioning & have recently found other women who just started doing it recently. At least some attention is being paid to the issue finally.
I have yet to read this issue, but I feel like we as people tend to always find an issue with things. If you're going natural and the resources for you to educate yourself aren't there then we're inclined to complain about that - - and once we have them at our fingertips we're complaining that they weren't there soon enough. I think that with the success of Chris Rock's movie it's causing other media outlets to hop on the Natural Hair bandwagon or at least making black women be more aware of what we're doing to our hair and the possible psyche behind why we make the choices we make.
Kind of agree with everyone else. Mainstream media is always late on things. This is no different.
If we want to gripe, let's talk about how they airbrushed Nia (who is already very pretty) into oblivion to the point where she is hardly recognizable? This is a trend that has been going on forever. Let's try to do something about that. Even SHE knows she don't look like that! *sighing*
It's so funny that you mention this I just wrote a blog post about this about a week ago. I found it to be really interesting considering the amount of information that was given through out the magazine about natural hair. i even have friends now that are considering going natural, after bashing it for awhile. It's a beautiful thing.
First off, anon please kick rocks with that negative bs.
Now, on topic. Yes, they are always late. The main stream now sees that there is a trend forming and they want to CASH in on it. We know it's not genuine. Going natural is the lastest fad, kinda like twitter.
@ Lady J, thanks- That's my point
To be honest M&C when I read the article I simply said "This did not teach me anything" and passed it to the side.
It's is nice, but they can always do more.
OMG! I said M&C I meant SH... gosh, I got confused which blog I was reading :)
Why are people saying that mainstream is late? The media is supposed to cover topics that people are interested about. It makes since for the magazine to post about topics they cannot ignore.
Ha...where were they my entire life? I've never had a relaxer and had to figure out my hair (killing it with heat and other damaging practices along the way) through much trial and error. Oh well, better late than never!
I agree with you and I think they should give credit where it is due.
@ Lady J and Wes, exactly!
While I do agree with the "better late than never" comments, I was still disappointed. The products that were recommended were on the expensive side and the article seemed to steer you right into a salon chair. I’m by no means against salons (still looking for the perfect one), but I think people would assume that it’s the only way to transition. I believe the next article should feature lower cost products (and how to use them) as well as natural websites and blogs currently out there.
I was disappointed that the products were pricey and also that they were things most of us found to be less than satisfying for our hair. If they'd researched and consulted with you, Nikki, Patrice, etc., maybe they would have had a more thorough piece. They focused on ad revenue (by recommending those products) instead of healthy ingredients and recession-era transitioning. Most of us think Hello Hydration (<$5) works better than Kerastase ($$$$). Also, the airbrushing of Nia was so unnecessary.
Not only is Nia's face airbrushed to mannequin-like fakeness, she recently told Wendy Williams she was wearing a wig on that particular Essence cover. She says they did several shots using her real hair, pieces and wigs etc, but went with that one. She was on the show with Chris Rock promoting the movie "Good Hair."
National magazines aren't ever going do away with airbrushing covers. Zits, blemishes, wrinkles, black heads, blotches, large pores and cellulite are real and a fact of life, but many readers do not want real. They can get that just looking at Shaniqua or Harriet from down the street. People want their stars to look picture perfect. And if Nia had a big ol' zit the size of Mt, Everest on her forehead (maybe her reality for that particular day) more people would complain about that than the massive airbrushing.
I just received my issue in the mail and of course the first thing I noticed was the airbrushing of Nia Long...it made her look strange. While I understand airbrushing is the norm for magazines, I think it should be used as a polishing touch (not a reconstruction). The cover was a bit overboard.
I would comment on the coverage of natural hair in this issue, but I haven't read it all the way through yet, so it wouldn't be fair to say anything regarding that. However, regarding general MSM, I agree with those who said that it is seen as a trend. Would it have been nice if this coverage had been around when I did the "big chop"? Yes, but I think the available resources I used (THANK YOU Nappturality!) were wonderful. So I won't complain = )
I noticed and read the article as well. I don't think they are late getting aboard. There are still women that are just beginning their journey, and more I'm sure that will follow suit.
I loved the Q&A with the women. I thought Solange's piece was a trip when she had to explain to her french bf that she would NOT be ready in 30 minutes after taking a dip.
I am just so very THANKFUL for youtube and other blogsites that have taught us how 2 "do" our own hair and not necessarily by investing in oline only and expensive products.
i agree with u wes & lady j in that the media has come waaay to late in trying to "advise" us on how to do our natural hair. now that natural hair is the "mainstream" and with chris rock's good hair documentary, magazines, newspapers and other media sources want to cover natural hair and act like they know what they're talking about...when they don't even know a d@mn thing, to be honest! lol. i learn more off of blogs like this, curlynikki, and keepitsimplesista (that was my resource when i used to b relaxed) than i've ever learned off of tv or magazines like that. natural women who are bloggers should seriously consider teaming up to make a book or something, or start their own magazines or periodicals to represent issues& recommend products that are actually important to us. i wouldn't mind buying a monthly magazine if u and curlynikki created it :o)
You took the words right out of my mouth...
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