People act differently towards you if you have natural hair..omg

[Theonealways1]

This subject needs to be on Tyra. Maybe it depends on how your natural hair is styled.

[1garrison1845]

I feel u on this one...I cut my hair off a few years ago and honestly, there are a lot of people who ARE put off by veryshort hair, and some who are put off by natural hair altogether. But the morE your hair grows and gets more style, your confidence will grow and your style will develop more into its own. Keep the faith!!! this is part of the process but its well worth it in the long run, Try wearing bigger earrings or a more bold lip color with your short 'do to make it look more feminine.

[gwyn247]

It is sad but true. I had similar experiences when i was natural.

[tmq2moo]

The first time I did a big chop, everyone I spoke to just loved it, fortunately I can't relate. But embrace your hair and wear it proudly. If you find that some people have a problem with it, then you know that those are the people who have difficulty accepting people for who they truly are.

[babygirl35ify]

THen u need to move to Virginia Beach...because over 50% of the people there are natural..I love it!

[jacienz]

I think some people see black hair as being "militant" - I guess that's the reason the white guy at my job was so scared of me.

[hearfan]

@jacienz really. That made me lol.

[mekagirl331]

I had some that objected to my decision, but I didn't give a darn about what they said. I was born with this hair and was deceived early in life to think that straight hair was better. Any African American that can't embrace that their natural hair is part of them is really messed up. I don't talk about anyone that choose to have relaxed hair, but don't look at me sideways or talk about me because I am confident in myself to wear my beautiful natural hair.

[newmindseye]

White friend of 5 yrs left when 2 yrs ago I went back to natural hair, she became fixated on my hair, rude sounds, hated my choice altogether. Positive remarks from bm, even some wm though. Some ww/bw make rude gesture still. She slowly exited my life, thank goodness. My cheap self image of her made her feel good, not my positive self image. I love it, my natural makes my soul sing. I have been a coward letting our bm and black children were theirs alone in this world, never again. Awake bw

[Neanda56]

Heck yeah , Girl I began my career (as in the interview) with Straight Nice "professional" layers but once i got that contract I wore My natural curls, some braids, kinky twist or whatever! Relaxed hair keeps people around you RELAXED too.

[mekagirl331]

@Neanda56 You are so right!

[19sweetandbrown86]

Sorry to hear this happened to you. I guess I've been fortunate going by your video and a few of the comments. People of all races love and comment on my natural hair. I live in a pretty white city...there's some diversity but not much. It could be my personality though. I'm a huge people person so people talk to me (even if I don't want them to.)

[sweet201065]

it sounds like you were in a classroom full of fake ppl :[

[Cantgetenough44]

yes, I know what u are taking about, i cut my long hair off, and everybody act like i had went crazy or depressed over something, and they did not come around me to much for months now that my hair is growing back here they come, and the black men are just to fixed on relaxed hair to even understand why black women are walking around with TWA's . I know now to proceed with caution, with black men and their long hair games .that is their lost. we Natural women are free to be who we are.

[JennyLyric]

omg this seriously happened to me...when i cut off all of my hair no one really tlked to me but as soon as i wore my wig everyone loved it...

[Bzgurl85]

Yes gurl I am a natural and at the time I was rockn my twa....... I would fix it up and dress nice and everything but 1 wk I had a short weave(27 pcs) and I got so many compliments b4 that I thought everybody hated me for some reason. LOL

[2Cool2Care2]

Sweetheart don't worry about those idiots. People are and can be judgmentally STUPID. I noticed when I did the big chop Aug 2010 and my tired hubby didn't have anything to say and he's BALD but I ignored him and he was made to look foolish (between me & him) when I got ALL these fabulous compliments from our white, hispanic and black friends (both genders) and now I have a lot of hair again ( so you GO ON and do your natural thing and don't let those close to you or strangers bring you down.

[tobifer]

Yup, I get this too. I got it even when my natural hair was longer but I notice it a lot more when its short

[brckshths]

It's the same for me, when I wear my hair up in a bun, versus leaving it down. I have hair to my butt, but I'm totally invisible when It's up or somewhat hidden.

[shamelesslycool]

I noticed that whenever I'd get a relaxer on the weekend & then go to school on Monday, my classmates & random people were extremely likely to approach me (whether my hair was in a bun or down). I was flattered, but when I realized they only talk to me when they think I look "Indian", it was a serious blow to my self esteem. I like the attention, but I want it from people who are genuinely interested in me & not just my looks. So I'm transitioning for the 2nd time & I'm not quitting this time!

[Diamonddusted68]

As long as you have long hair people will approve. Even the texture isn't that much of a drama as long as ITS long.

[GorgeouslyNatural]

ive worn my hair in many different styles (natural and permed). i also noticed a difference in reaction from all kinds of people. especially when i wear my blow out. though i get compliments, i see that people are more straight-forward and many seem intimidated.( i hate to say this: ie white ppl) i think that with straight hair ppl see you as docile or mild mannered whereas with natural afro hair they assume you are rebelling and want to cause problems... wtf? its just hair!

[Onegurrrlrev]

@GorgeouslyNatural i actually find that other races find it cool and want to touch my hair all the time.

[howulikethoseapples]

after getting kinky twist everyone kept complementing me one said im really glad you got that new hair style i was too but hearing it from other people just hurt my confidence to much. high school is hard enough with chin length hair and no mom or sister at home to do it cause you dont know how so the 1in. fro just made it worse.

[sunnyashers]

YES! went to work and people acted like they didn't see me or i was the new chick no one wanted to talk to!! i was like damnnnnn!!! haha! the one person who didn't like it the most was my mom and she pretty much treated me like a red headed stepchild for a good week. how sad is it that black people don't even love who they are naturally enough for it to be a crazy thing to do? or a big deal? like seriously? we've gotten nowhere

[SassySophelia]

PLS ORDER A SASSY SWAG SILK HAIR WRAP...WATCH MY VIDEO GOD BLESS!

[Offended83Shadow]

its not because your hair was natural... its because your hair was short. People say women are SUPPOSED to have long hair and they don't care if its permed, straightened, wig, weave, natural, curly, kinky, nappy... as long as it is long. Even though its a bullshit belief, its how society works. So... i guarantee you it had nothing to do with whether or not your hair was natural it was because it was short.

[MyPottergirl]

people are nice to me either way.

[43christy]

You are soooo right!!! Same thing happen to me!!!

[Onegurrrlrev]

It depends what the person is exposed to. Some people are only used to seeing straight hair and afro textured hair on women is foreign to them. Where i live in hawaii, natural hair is accepted. Everyone incluing asians like to wear locs! but i get more love on the island or in any major city then where I grew up in the suburbs where everyone conforms. Honolulu, L.A., NYC...it's cool to stand out and be natural.

[momolicious21]

right now i am still transitioning! & everyones comments, everyone being my family and friends....are killing all hope for me! they say stuff like"you need a perm", "your going to look like a boy or a slave"! it makes me feel horrible! but i have been perm free since may 2010 & i am doing my BC on march 2011! i hate hearing everyones opinions & i know i shouldn't care but its difficult when it is people you think you can count on 2 b there for you! :(

[nessa28socute]

yeah gurl i feel ya its like youre in the twilight zone or some shit everyone looks at ya like ya crazy i had the same experience i bc in jan of this year and the second semester of class started girl when i say as soon as i walked into the class it was like what the f*** is going on with vanessa, but it was another natural in the class and some people loved it but it is like what the f*** ever the more i get the negative comments it makes me love it more so boo love the natural ...

[smokeybone07]

wow That is crazy I live in Fort riley,ks and since i did my big chop I get soooo many compliments and I noticed that fake people( lame men) stay away only those that are for real step to me. Well stay strong and bump what the next person thinks about you. peace

[QueenBee1118]

Don't let it get you down. If you haven't gotten there yet, you will get to a point where you LUV your hair. If you take care of it and give it what it needs, it will love you back. Soon, many of your critics will have to admit they were wrong. ALL HAIR that is taken care of becomes beautiful. Kinky coily hair is no exception.

[stephanieishere1983]

@QueenBee1118 Thank you. Im getting there now that I can do more things with it.

[Onegurrrlrev]

@stephanieishere1983 lol, watch what happens when your hair gets really big in a couple of years. You might get others to change their minds. Once they see how thick and big your hair has gotten from going natural then everyone will either compliment you or jump on the bandwagon. That's what happened to me.

[HateMillions]

YES...its cazy how brain washed ppl are to accept the assimilation process. its so sad but true umph.

[AuthenticallyMade]

Who cares what people thing....I don't wear wigs, n my case it makes me look like a drag queen an it has never been my think. U come in this world by yourself and ur going to leave it by yourself. Only deal with true blues.

[temickab]

wtf... are you serious... at my college alot of girls are going natural... so no one experienced it... I got alot of compliments on my hair

[stephanieishere1983]

@temickab yes I am so serious! where do you live? MAybe that has something to do with it..idk. This was last semester and now that school is out I am seeing a lot more people going natural. But at this particular school I will say that I was the minority.

[odamae86]

I do my bc, war my natural hair out and receive odd looks from this girl every time i see her. Last week i wore a straight weave in and this girl wouldn't stop complementing me. "ohh i love your hair, omg i love your hair like that" she would even point me out to customers and coworkers! . when i went back to the natural she went back to barely talking to me...smh

[odamae86]

I do my bc, war my natural hair out and receive odd looks from this girl every time i see her. Last week i wore a straight weave in and this girl wouldn't stop complementing me. "ohh i love your hair, omg i love your hair like that" she would even point me out to customers and coworkers! . when i went back to the natural she went back to barely talking to me...smh

[odamae86]

lol wow i got a story. when i was transitioning i wore my hair in kinky twist. while i had my twist in this coworker ( a young white girl) is talking to me (looking at my hair the whole time) and she finally asks if im "allowed" to have my hair like that...i ask her why wouldn't i be to bc it not a green Mohawk or anything and ask her if its too ethnic and she starts looking uncomfortable so i drop the convo. fast forward about a yr.

[bahianut]

you are so right...and it depends on what color they are too. Don't let it get you down. You had short hair literally onc second came back in 10 minutes no one asked you how did you grow your hair so long in such a short time.

[Papillonmuscogee]

Annoying as it is, you just have to let it roll off your back. Even when, you have a lot of hair, like I do, people will say dumb stuff like "oh, you're doing the wild look" NO, it's the NATURAL look. I don't know which is worse, when they say stupid things, or look at you, dead in the face, and don't say nothing, knowing there's an obvious CHANGE. C'est la vie.

[afrojan1]

yes i get it all the time. mainly from black women and this is in the UK. It really don't bother me at all coz i know they love my hair.

[FrauMase]

Absolutely! A few months after my bc, one of my coworkers asked if I had joined "some Zulu tribe". She was a black woman!!!! there were many more expressions of ignorance, sometimes I preferred the "speechlessness"!

[MsElementE]

No you are not alone. Ignorance is everywhere. Oh and the comment on if you were here the other day . I have heard that comment alot of times.When it is something the other person doesn't want to see your invisible but if it a hair style that they like your Visible. I had to understand I could not please everyone because I would please no one weather I rocked my natural hair , wigs, or braids. Keep positive and positive people around you. I support you on your hair journey in transitioning.

[omgiheartvideos]

Bottomline, its all what you think about your hair and what you see as beautiful. People are ignorant and just as they treated you as invisible because you had your natural hair they would be invisible to me. Our hair in its natural state is not accepted by the black community, so no one else will accept it until we appreciate the exotic, beautiful hair God has blessed us with. I've had neg and pos comments about my hair, so don't think your by yourself. Keep wearing your hair proudly!

[tressfreecre8tions]

I have experienced a lot of flack from the black community/relatives...the why did you do that to your hair; your hair was so long; I couldn't do it (my hairstylist when I was transitioning)...etc. Now that I'm rocking a twa I do get some compliments about the texture/short style but it can be rare. I don't feel I need validation from others for my own hair choices, but I wish that people with nothing positive to say would "callate la boca"!!! Lol

Thanks for the vid!

[stephanieishere1983]

Thank you for taking time to respond to my video. Loving the support!

[seygra20]

nope never happened to me and ive been natural all my life

[BohemianMagic101]

I know what you mean ... I got the 'Oh it suits YOU' thing, people avoiding me (even though I was rather obvious to see) and when they did have to talk to me, they did so quickly and to my hair, or they said nothing at all on my new style (with my own hair)  while complimenting me in braids, It did make me a bit self concious ... but i was never one to follow the status quo and well sometimes i wonder if people know what cute is anymore ... keep on going my dear and yes your are not alone :)

[PRealistB]

I've experienced this also. It's sad but it happens!

[stephanieishere1983]

Thank you so much for responding. Its good to know that I am not alone in this.

[divamiss8706]

I have encountered that a lot since i've been natural. While i was transitioning I had kinky twist, micro braids and sew in weaves and i recieved so many compliments about my beauty and how well the hairstyle looked on me but only a select few people gave me the same type of compliments when I wore my fro. They'd say things like "that suits u" or "I don't know if i could pull that off" but not many people appreciated my beauty with my short natural hair.