Good Hair

They say you learn something new every day.  Today was mind blowing for me!  See, I don't know very many (read: any) black people whose hair I can touch (or who I'm willing so ask) so it has always been a mystery to me.  Chris Rock was on Oprah today talking about his new movie Good Hair, which is about exposing what black hair is really like... interesting.  JUST as interesting was how little Oprah and Chris knew about 'white' hair.  Listen, I live in Colorado... how else was I going to learn about this? From Mo Betta Braids & Things?  Wait... they have a website now??  Wow!  And moved to a new location.  Good for them!  Probably less scary now.  (Sorry for the tangent, just a little inside info for the college peeps.)

Things I learned about 'black' hair (in general):

• Black hair is all the same, the only reason it looks different on different people is the different things they do to it.  Like use relaxer or braid it OR get a weave.
• If the hair is natural then it is a fro or a "jerry curl" (think Michael Jackson in the 80's)
• If it's straight then it's been "Permed" (chemically relaxed using 'creamy crack') or it's a weave (extentions... ouch)
• The relaxer burns!!!  And it's used on kids!
• A perm means chemically straightened... not: get curly hair, like white hair.
• Cheap, ugly wigs can cost $1000!!!  They have to be washed and styled every two weeks and tightened every 6 weeks!  
• A decent weave costs around $5000!!!!  And I thought I was getting ripped when I paid $120 for partial highlights... gee!  Some spend 40 to 50 THOUSAND dollars a year on their hair!
• The hair comes from India.  Another totally crazy story in itself.  People being robbed of their hair in the name of false gods... or medical malpractice.
• It's a $9 Billion business
• Black people don't think they have good hair and want "Good Hair"
• Even if it's permed and then straightened, they can't do that forever, it'll break off from being damaged.  Eventually it'll have to be left natural or put in braids.
• DON'T touch a black woman's hair.

Some things black people don't realize about white people (and find shocking)

• That no one has their natural hair color and many can't remember their natural color
• The 'blondes' aren't natural (haha!)
• Everyone wants thick/er hair
• How white people could have a bad hair day

I always thought black hair was so cool, I never realized how out of control it is and how much they do just to style it.  I also learned that I should be more thankful of my good hair : )