The other day Maybelline spokes person model Jessica White did the usual celebrity instagram selfie you know the one where they show their natural hair usually pairing the picture with a cute but flippant caption like, #longhairdontcare #Realhair #Whattodowithallthishair #thinkyouknowbutyouhavenoidea, stuff like that.
Jessica’s instagram caption was pretty simple too, she said:
#nofilter ..Last day home.. Then back to my weave makeup and heels! Ugh can’t wait!
She does have the cutest curly fro, but I don’t think she likes wearing it too much, I suppose that is the best thing I could infer from her statement without reading too much into it.
It really is easy to go in on Jessica about not liking her natural hair blah blah blah, but honestly you never know what ‘does it for a woman”. What makes her feel happy and glamorous, we all are different and for Jessica, a tall pair of Oscar de la renta and a long weave may just be it. Might I add that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!
Jessica hasn’t had the easiest life, she was a victim of molestation from age 14 to 17, she has spoken about her drug abuse, cocaine being her drug of choice and she was arrested for assault at 20 years old. According to People.com Jessica opened up by saying:
I had to go through the hurt secretly.
She added that when she first came out about the ordeal, she was told that she should keep it private.
I look at modeling as a savior, because [it allowed me] to leave and travel to Paris and New York when I could finally relax and be out of the abusive environment.
Tyra Banks dubbed Jessica as the model of her generation, and newly single, fellow scientologist Tom Cruise might be just trying to holla according to some reports. The point is, the girl is gorgeous she is doing well and looks happy, nothing else matters, don’t you agree?
I’m just like that.
shes a buffalonian #buffalo ny
I love natural hair
Shes beautiful and I can’t wait too…only 12 weeks post tho 🙁
My natural takes a lot of time/ maintenance…so I feel her!!
I know right. i have always hated weaves just not my personality but i recently went back natural and now i am seriously considering installing them, This hair is just too much to deal with. Curly or Nappy
I prefer weave than my natural hair. It’s nothing major just preference. I have long thick curly natural hair however it is more time consuming to take care of than when I have a weave – the preference is more about the practicality
What’s so awful? She’s natural & has used weaves/ wigs as protective styles as do I. I can’t stand natural women bashing one another for a hairstyle preference. Just enjoy hair – whether you grew it or bought it.
but her problem is that she was abused and has had a hard life, science, psychological studies and experience shows that type of trauma without closure or a form of rehab turns the woman into a self hate machine. . i am natural but i wear weaves too. im just saying these women today need to appreciate who they are without the filter (hair,lashes,clothes shoes etc)
It is their right and personal choice how they choose to look and feel. It’s called “freedom of choice”.
Brenda Schooler indeed but when you feel like you need those things to feel beautiful you become a vanity slave. so what is freedom of choice if you are still trying to live to others standards of beauty?
I really don’t see the problem with someone wearing their natural hair under a weave its called a protective style if she has personal issues with self love, self worth or esteem than she needs to get help regardless of choice of hair
I do think its important to get in Touch with your real hair and rocking it when you can its apart celebrating your Crown.
Wear weave 365 days /365 days is not call protective style sorry.
I love her natural hair. I respect the fact she dont like it. But dont let your hurt take away who you are. Your hair is you. Love it. Embrace it. Your weave is your way of hiding. Don’t hide anymore. Overcome that hurt and take your life back. Believe me ik how you feel. We have a similar story..
Beautiful woman and love the curls
I’m not sure why people think its cool to push their preferences on others. It’s their hair they have the right to wear it how they want to. At the end of the day natural vs protective styles is just another way to separate us as Black Women! In my Bill Cosby voice “Come on People!” We should be lifting our sisters up instead of finding ways to tear them down!
Can’t knock the weave! Helped my hair grow a lot after a break from relaxer damage and was the only way to manage my hair as too thick. The worse problem with weave is when some ladies don’t choose the right style or colour to compliment their face or skin tone and I cannot stand weaves that look unnatural i.e. shiny weave! Awful!
^
Edu Edu Umoh I agree with you100% …….I don’t. Put down those who wear their hair natural, so respect thoses women who love to wear their hair in a weave……I’m going threw this transition of going natural, but under my Weave…..
I think a lot of natural Woman read too much into something and attack ppl for no reason. Hell I’m just like Jessica and it has nothing to do with not being comfortable in my skin, self hate and all that other bull some of you try to spew. Stop tearing other Woman down for there style choice and embrace them and there hair decisions.
Thank You Rivian Jones…….Everyone in the world who’ s BLACK!!!!! Don’t have to go Natural…….
Lol!!! So True…
Wasn’t there a post on this SAME FB page less than a week ago where two women (one weaved and the other natural) were lamenting being lambasted and judged for their choice of hairstyle? Then we get this. This is at best disingenuous and at worst hypocritical. Says she who is 6 years natural beneath the virgin remi full head sew in.
The Real Person!
What do you mean Kelli Stansbury? We are saying that it’s her choice to wear her hair as she pleases. Where in the world did you get anything different than that??
Some people obviously missed the part where you said she’s happy and that’s all that matters. Selective understanding lol
First, the headline that she “can’t wait to hide her curls under her weave” has a negative tone. It gives the distinct impression that using a weave to “hide her curls” is undesirable. Also the phrasing is such that she is anxious to get a weave and that wanting to get a weave quickly is also negative. Second, the article includes the text “She does have the cutest curly fro, but I don’t think she likes wearing it too much, I suppose that is the best thing I could infer from her statement without reading too much into it.” The author projects her impression of what Jessica feels about her hair into the text of her article and that impression is also negative “I don’t think she likes earing it too much” and then walking back the statement by adding remarks about inferences does not minimize the context and the tone of what she said. Third, the author again makes a negative comment about Jessica and her choice in weaves and then attempts to make a backhanded disclaimer in the next few sentences. The author states: “It really is easy to go in on Jessica about not liking her natural hair blah blah blah, but honestly you never know what ‘does it for a woman”. What makes her feel happy and glamorous, we all are different and for Jessica, a tall pair of Oscar de la renta and a long weave may just be it. Might I add that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!” If the author really had no intention of “going in on Jessica” she would not have made any statement to that effect at all. Nor would she have added “there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.” The author is making transparent attempts to “go in” on Jessica’s choices but stops just short of making blatantly negative remarks and then makes the “necessary” statements that allow her to deny the negative message of her piece. The tone of the piece is far from neutral. That is where I am getting an entirely different message than “it is her choice and she can do as she pleases.”
no it doesn’t you assumed that tone
Kelli, You did quite a disection of what my intentions were and on some level you are right, there is a variety of emotion some negative and some positive. The article began with Jessica’s statement, which was in my opinion negative, but not so negative that we would need to go crazy over it as I was not there when she wrote it, I didnt see her face and I do not know for sure what her absolute intention was. My opinion is it would be easy to bash Jessica on a statement like that which sometimes we are really good at doing, without knowing everything that surrounded such a statement. However to play devils advocate.. this is what I take from it…it doesnt seem like she likes to wear her natural hair out very much! OPINION not FACT, whether it is positive or negative is completly up to the reader to decide. You have decided it is negative, I can take that because again.. YOUR OPINION
Then we put some facts in about her life, which are just facts there is not much you can do about that…
You actually placed negativity on the weave point, because from my perspective I absolutley see nothing wrong with wearing a weave, or longing to be back in one after taking a break. That is just what some women prefer and I and many others can thouroughly appreciate that. I am not a heels, makeup and weave kind of girl, but I can appreciate a girl that can really rock a great pair of heels, have her face looking flawless and her hair done however she sees fit. It isnt me but I love that about her. Period! –
Be careful about your own inferences, that you might gather from the peice, sometimes it isnt about having a completly nuetral tone, alot of our posts are very opinionated because we want to encourage a healthy agument. It was not my intention to bash Jessica but to give all the perspectives that could be possible from her own statement on her picture ….
@ Brittni Michelle there is no selective understanding here. There is nothing in the text of the article where JESSICA said that she is “happy.” In fact, there is nothing in the text of the article that says anything about how JESSICA feels about her hair. What is in the text is inferences and conjecture made by the author, not Jessica herself. In fact, the author did not even speak to Jessica. The author quotes other articles about Jessica and adds her own spin on what Jessica has said. In fact it was the author who said that Jessica ” is gorgeous she is doing well and looks happy. Looks happy is not the same as the person themselves saying that they are happy. There was nothing to miss, because it wasn’t there.
The Real Person!
The way I see it, Jessica herself said that she couldn’t wait to get back to a weave. I know Petra/Emily (the author) of the post personally and she writes articles on weaves and relaxed hair so I KNOW that she’s in no way negative about women choosing to relax or wear weaves or whatever. You have to allow a bit of creative licensing for the title certainly but I didn’t think it came across as negative seeing as the lady herself said she couldn’t wait to wear a weave again. Everything else in the post that you have taken issue with can be explained as the author trying to placate those naturals in our community (and they are out there) who choose to bash weave wearers. Not the intention of the author herself. Like I said I know Petra/Emily and she’s an open book.
The author may not be negative about women who relax or wear weaves, but the tone of the piece and the actual text was negative. Even though Jessica said she could not wait to get back to the weave, the statement itself was benign. However, the subsequent text and tone of the piece (i.e. the portion about going in on Jessica) was negative.
Nothing you outlined was meant as an insult to this woman or to diminish her journey. Maybe you’re taking it a bit too personally, let’s not make it about being defensive, let’s make it about uplifitng eachother. 🙂 Positivity in our community is vital to our survival, thank you bhi for sharing different perspectives!
The Real Person!
I edited that article myself and I don’t mind saying that I have been known to remove stuff that could come across in an unintended way but I genuinely did not see that from this post. Oh well, can’t please everyone I guess! ~ Alma
The Real Person!
It was definitely not my intention to be at all negative there is a variety of emotion in that post which started from Jessica’s written statement. The statement is definitely not neutral it can be seen as negative but without actually knowing her emotion we can only make inferences about it. The post is an opinion post, which gives me the right to explore her statement however I please. I chose to infer.. Yes “infer “that her statement could be seen as negative but if we could avoid that for a moment and look at the fact that some women love a great pair of heels and a weave.. To which i said there is Nothing wrong with that.. Which I think I clearly said! My intention as the author was to give the possible negative emotion towards Jessica’s statement and then provide a more positive perspective.
You however have your own opinion on my intentions which is fine .. Opinion posts are there to encourage healthy debates but let me state for the record – bashing Jessica or anyone for there choices is never acceptable. > Petra
Natrual curley hair is pretty…
I am glad I have choices…..
Edu Umoh whos bashing. ? i am not, im telling you the psychologically researched truth babygirl!
Some ppl just love weaves. I’m not sure why ppl are saying naturals are bashing. Honestly out natural hair grows better in its curly, coily, kinky, state. A weave is a good way to grow your hair. A lot or naturals rock weaves. It’s a good way to give your hair a break.
EXACTLY! some of these women are poorly educated when it comes to what im speaking on! i dont bash. i got wigs and weaves in the top of my closet like you wouldnt believe. but i love my natural hair just the same. these women need to understand they are apart of a plan that has been set in motion to ruin the self confidence of our culture as a whole. making us believe we arent good enough or beautiful enough without wigs weaves lashes, makeup and expensive shoes.. #imjustbeinghonest !
Why do black women think that we all should look the same????
Love the curls
Jessica White is so beautiful! I wish I could be her!!
there is very big difference between natural hair and nappy head. I mean she has beautiful hair there is no ashamed in haven’t preference in wearing weaves and wigs all it’s something she feel comfortable in so just like her and everyone we all go through what we like best for our own hair and I preferred wearing my own natural ain’t nothing wrong with that with all due respect European hair weaves and wigs cultivated our culture from Caucasians and Asians and any other Europeans who originated the idea especially for black African American women usually for most who are insecure with the way they look an feel in their own hair adopted .but I feel as though for those who wear weaves and wigs extremely hide who they really are we have adopted to the American lifestyle and we see on TV is a appealing in our culture .
She said “UGH can’t wait”…..is it possible that she isn’t looking forward to it?
Exactly!!! This is what I thought! It appears that Jessica was being sarcastic. This topic came up on another blog, which had a few more pictures. Jessica was shown with her younger relatives, wearing her natural hair and smiling all the while. I think it’s sometimes difficult to know what someone means when they use sarcasm after hashtags. Well, we can’t be certain what she meant . . . we’ll just have to wait and see if Jessica responds.
Her natural hair does look nice and its unfortunate if she really doesn’t like to wear it in its natural state for whatever reason. But I like how you wrote the article because at the end of the day we have choices and people should be allowed to do what they want, which includes wearing their hair how they want without judgement…it is a bit annoying though to see these kind of selfie pics on the increase just to get a reaction from the natural hair community. But whatever live and let live:)
I read the article last night and it was pretty clear to me that she was being sarcastic. It seems to me that she was not all the excited about going back to work after being able to lounge around with her real hair and chilling with family.
Why she has beautiful real hair
She has good hair that prob don’t stay straight cause it’s to curly.
What do you mean by “she has good hair?” Just curious..
why cant ladies of today admit that we as BLACK WOMEN STARTED RELAXING, STRAIGHTENING & WEAVING BECAUSE OF ONE MAIN FACTOR.. we wanted to fit in with what we saw on tv, movies and celebs, this problem is deep rooted, much farther back in time. i love weave. look at my facebook for damn sakes! i have had all types of weaves wigs and enjoy my natural hair . hell im a hairstylist, i appreciate all hair but in order to advance as a race we need to stop making comments like ” i cant wait to cover up my natural hair, i cant wait till i get a weave” lol SO YOU ARE ADMITTING YOU THINK U ARE UGLY WITHOUT ONE? LOL IM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND!
^Nappy hair???? Uhhh……go somewhere!!! I couldn’t even follow your book report! >.< Someone pls translate.
there is so many things when it comes down to black women back then I don’t think it wasn’t much criticizing one another on hair just as much it’s today some black women wears because there is nothing wrong wearing weaves and others wear it as to self hatred which is the truth . I don’t think or agree that every black woman should just be natural everyone has they own individuality their own preference it shouldn’t be a big deal at all most women wear weaves to help grow their own and for etc uplift one another and Stop all this bashing because really black females period we are the most race their is to get judge and mistreated for everything . Love live and enjoyed life and most importantly help uplift one another with love not hatred because the devil is a lie!!
you may hate my comments but ..
I love those curls! My hair only looks like this when its wet, once it dries…..thats a different story lol
Word… I Feel You…
Whatever work for each individual.
SyRee YoungMommie I need you to proofread what did you just say? Anyway why are some of you reading into this it ain’t that deep! Just comment if you like the pic if you don’t well no need to leave a whole paragraph about self hate because unless you talk to Jessica and every Woman individually please have several seats.
What I meant by my meaning of “Nappy hair” not being sarcastic at all but this was originaally I was born and tease just like many others like me for you toeven understand or comprehend girlbye with that BS that you come from the university of ignorance just like you’re entitled to your stupid not understanding opinioin I am entitled to mines
Rivian Jones why would I need to proofread I don’t need head start maybe you’re misreading on what I am saying see it’s sometimes the misunderstanding in people generally I am just speaking my opinion regardless or not what people like you think for you it seems obvious this must be a touchy subject furthermore you need to take some extra seats and reread what I had written
understand what I am reading even though this isn’t really about
SyRee YoungMommie I was referring to those run on sentences maybe you should look into that issue because it’s hard to take one serious. I’m unphased because I’m still me and will be rocking my 24inches regardless of any ignoramus such as yourself darling.
Brittani Michelle also let’s just be real what if there wasn’t no such things as weaves and wigs for all women race nationality especially for black women regardless then what defined being happy for you if none of this stuff never ever existed ! even for the perm or straightened hair with curling irons and all defined what would make Jessica happy if she didn’t have it! Ijs
I have hair like that can’t do nothing with it. I hot comb it flat iron it and in 1 hour it’s waving up. HELP please
Rivian Jones good so like I am entitled to my own opinion at the end of day I am still doing me and you are still doing you regardless sweetie long hair or short hair don’t care but not bashing anyone for their own individuality just like you like your 24 inch I am still rocking and doing I whether it’s ignoramus to what you may think
I don’t wear weave
I’m glad I’m not addicted to weave. Love showing the real me.
Her natural hair is gorgeous!
I have a problem if she doesn’t like her natural hair, I believe that self love starts with loving yourself and all of you and accepting all of that…that being said I don’t anything in her statement that suggest she doesn’t like her hair maybe she does or doesn’t; but her instagram does not suggest that to me. just seems to me that she can’t wait to get back to ease of the weave and her glam makeup and heels
That is her choice but we should love ourselves the way we were made. Nothing wrong with changing your look, but there is something wrong with not accepting yourself.
“There is very big difference in natural hair and nappy head” wtf does this mean
I’m so tired of this topic on hair forums. Damn it’s just hair leave other women TF alone what she does to her hair isn’t damaging yours. I’m sure she doesn’t hate herself bc of her decision to wear a weave. And you all would be offended if a white person said we all look alike so why is it okay for natural nazis and “miss I don’t wear weave” to take shots at her for looking different??? Retire that ish ASAP
Same here AnitraMsneat Winters..I wish it stayed curly once it dried..
Hide her hair? Her hair is beautiful!!!! But if she wants to wear weave then thats her. Do you sweetie.
Omg enough already. It’s just freaking hair. And the choice of what you do or don’t is yours. Articles are interpreted by the reader but given a forum and we will comment on it.
By the way my natural hair was flat ironed for a day. Am I any less natural. Do you
No judgement here. Love being natural, however, it is work. I wore a wig the majority of my vacation.
It’s 2014..PLEASE stop using “good hair” to describe fine/silky/curly/wavy hair..”well, she has ‘good hair’, so yadda yadda. ” ughhhh!!
She has pretty natural hair
WHY ARE ALL THESE BLACK WOMEN FIGHTING BLACK WOMEN?? WTF KIND OF SENSE DOES THAT MAKE LADIES?? IF YOU WANT TO BACK PEDAL, DO THAT ELSEWHERE, BUT TAKE YOUR NEGAITVE, JUDGEMENTAL SELVES AWAY FROM HERE!! Y’all do understand that as blacks, and as women, we have come TOO TOO far to be fighting each other, and over hair no less, right? HAIR! Really? Take your opinion about someone else and use that energy to better yourselves! Just shut up and go fix whatever it is you don’t like about yourself that you have to fight someone else for. Just shut up.
Perhaps it isn’t she who wants to wear weave, but her employers! As a model, do much id done to the hair for various assignments, it would be CRAZY to wear your own hair and not wear a weave. Come on ladies, get real and stop bashing one another. Why do we have to be like crabs in a barrel with each other????? Damn, where is the love?! To much negativity!
Amen. Karen!!!
Her hair, her choice. Period. The way she wears her hair, who she dates or marries, or even what she eats had NO (zero) affect on anyone else. If you dislike weaves, that’s ok. If you dislike natural hair, that’s ok too. Just do what makes you happy and leave others alone to do what makes them happy. Even if you disagree. Its all about freedom of choice 🙂
Refreshing Statement…
Thank you! Just speaking from my heart because I know how it feels to be judged and I don’t like it, so I’m all for team BE HAPPY
It’s all about personal choice. For years I wore my naturally curly hair flat ironed and pressed straight. After 30 years of pressed hair I now wear my hair natural. But it is my choice and someone elses opinion of how I should wear my hair does not matter at all.
There’s no way in hell I’ll ever hide my hair. And her hair is beautiful, may be short, but packing under wigs and weaves isn’t going to help it grow either.
Uh, her hair will definitely grow under wigs and weaves!!! The less manipulation to the hair, the more it will grow.
I don’t blame her! Being natural is a lot of work and the products can be very pricey!! It’s so much easier to weave it and protect your own hair from all that styling and heat! Her hair, her choice!!!
Her natural hair is gorg, who knew!
Tonette Laleta Shakur you are not getting what I am saying by my meaning not trying to be sarcastic and all what I meant is there is a difference between natural hair and extreme dead hair people who naturally take care of their hair well ends up being hard putting a comb or really repairing the hair back to it normal roots sometimes people have to cut their hair off just like people who wear locks to be more specific most people can’t afford it I know I have seen people who ain’t got no money whatsoever what comes first depending on a person situation and lifestyle and it’s not about where I am from with this rational statement not trying to be negative and all I am just from my experience sadly but truth . Now natural mostly it does take some work to each of their own I am not knocking anyone or bashing anyone for their own individuality people are going to be doing themselves regardless . But originally in history our ancestors of course especially what they called darkskin people nappy head if you ever heard of it maybe you’re misinterpreting !!
Observed how negative black people especially when it comes to the term nappy head now they’re relaxer and other treatment for hair whether most need it I mean I as African American women shouldn’t be ashamed of our natural roots I think since stuff has been created especially weaves and wigs our own African American females finds the term nappy head offensive even though I do agree but what defines who we are underneath makes us who we are and this is how things go out into the left field for not observing or understanding where most people like me to be coming from which is the truth . Like I had said before if none of these things not ever existed would be all worried if there were never no hair relaxer and etc hide away from the truth to be honest because truthfully at first none of these things existed for our ancestors back then it took women like madame CJ walker to create these things to help women hair grow if wasn’t for women like her .
If that’s how she keep her hair healthy so be it!her hair her life!
Beautiful natural hair 🙂
Weave, makeup and heels are for her job. It looks like in her personal time she likes her natural hair, little makeup and etc. From her statement, I cannot infer that she prefers weave and makeup. She’s a model, what else would she wear?
I was the same way… For about 7 years i never showed my hair… Not that i was ashamed of it but because i hadn’t learned how to deal with it… It was long but slightly damaged from lack of regular maintenance… Eventually i came from under the weaves and wigs but then i needed to learn how to care for my hair… I think that a certain point you have to just let go and accept what you have and what it does…
Freedom of choice.
She Is Sooooooo Beautiful!!! That Is All! #Jessica <3
I think women that say it’s to hard to take care of their natural hair just don’t really know what they are doing, it takes me only 1 hour a day or less to style my natural hair in dozens of styles that look amazing it’s no trouble at all, once you find the right products it’s actually very very easy it grows at lightning speed and is tangle free, bouncy and blows in the wind I love it. But I’m not a hater if a weave is what you want go for it. I think it’s more of a self esteem issue, than a weave or natural issue in general.
Dede caring for natural hair is a process, and experience and a journey… For some people it can be difficult and has nothing to do with self esteem…!
Sometimes you’re just not feeling how your hair is….= bad hair day! Straight haired girls always want curls while curly haired girls have craved bone straight hair. It has been that way for ages…certainly long before the natural hair craze!
Saying you can’t wait to hide something that’s naturally you doesn’t sound happy to me.
Gorgeous curls
She’s beautiful. I love her natural hair
Personal choice
It’s interesting how we all can read the same thing and interpret it differently. When I read her statement I didn’t think that she did not like her natural hair. I thought that she was sarcastically saying “Ugh, can’t wait!” Which I understand because she might not want to put in a weave and wear 5 inch heels on all the time.
When most people say “ugh” I take it a different way depending on the context in which they are saying it. She stated:
#nofilter ..Last day home.. Then back to my weave makeup and heels! Ugh can’t wait! –
That’s like me saying:
Last day home. Then back to dropping my kids off at school. Ugh can’t wait!
I would think that people would gather that I’m being sarcastic and see that I might not necessarily want to drop my kids off at school although it is something that I HAVE to do. Just like she HAS to wear her hair straight for her profession whether she may (or may not) want to. Even if she really wants to “hide” her curls, is tired of wearing her natural hair, sees that it is less maintenance wearing weave, or if she was joking. It’s HER HAIR! I’m not going to condemn her on what she does. But I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion. Which is just that an opinion because at the end of the day she is going to wear her hair however for whatever reasons. Just like I am.
wish i had read your response before i posted mine. my thought exactly!
The whole thing was taken out of context. She mentioned it being her last day home. She also mentioned heels and makeup along with the weave. Why is the weave the only thing mentioned here? She is basically saying she’s going back to work. Her job is basically clothes, hair, makeup and heels. Maybe I’m wrong, but where does it say she wants to hide her hair? The whole thing is kind of slanderous, don’t you think? This was misleading.
Hey hair is gorgeous! I’m taking about her hair she was born with! She’s a model so maybe it is easier wearing weaves!
doesn’t the “ugh” mean what follows is more sarcasm than truth? i got the impression that she was dreading going back to the weave and heels, not that she has some type of hate for her natural hair. that just goes to show how easy it is to introduce your own perspective into the journey of others. *smh*
I’m mixed so i have super thick but yet curly hair and it loses SOOOOO much moisture by me living in the desert so i stand by my weave to protect my hair but I continue to maintain my natural hair so that this scenario won’t happen!
I dont like weave but if she wants to wear it so be it