African American women dumping chemicals(al jazeera article)

[qoraxeey]

African American women are increasingly dumping harsh chemicals and embracing natural hair. Some call this a liberating movement. Others say it is simply another standard to meet. Is natural hair a trend or a movement?

[qoraxeey]

http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/roots-beauty-0022285

[qoraxeey]

Light skin and silky hair has long been the standard for beauty across many parts of the world. Entertainment and fashion industries tend to promote Caucasian features, either choosing models that fit that image or using technology to remake them.

Critics say such choices have created a racialised perception of beauty, along with a multi-billion dollar market for chemical products that alter skin tone and hair texture.

In the United States, African American women have increasingly been dumping harsh chemicals and embracing natural hair. Some call this a liberating movement; others say the trend is simply another standard to meet.

In this community-requested episode of The Stream, we talk to Afrobella.com creator Patrice Yursik (@afrobella) and Black Studies professor and author Ingrid Banks. Members of our community also join the conversation through Google+.

What do you think? Could the natural hair trend change traditional notions of beauty forever? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using #AJStream.

[Protagonist]

qoraxeey what do you use for your jareer hair?

[qoraxeey]

US ideals of beauty have long been dictated by Eurocentric standards and norms.



This has led many within the African American community to alter their skin tones and hair textures with potentially dangerous chemicals. Skin and bodycare brand Nivea was at the centre of controversy last year for running an advertisement implying that wearing unaltered hair is uncivilised.



Many fashion magazines have also been criticised in recent years for "brightening" pictures of African-American celebrities on their covers. These "before and after" photos, courtesy of Beauty Redefined, illustrate this practice.

[qoraxeey]

qoraxeey what do you use for your jareer hair?

ALHAMDULILAH NOTHING


IM PROUD BLACK AFRICAN WOMAN FROM SOMALIA


im proud of my jareer hair ..... all day ,, every day

[qoraxeey]

Earlier this year, the altered photo below made the rounds across the internet, depicting US First Lady Michelle Obama with natural hair.

[qoraxeey]

PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE


WE SOMALI WOMEN ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM

[Colonel]

About time, it's an absolute eyesore walking down the street and seeing black women with wigs/weaves. It looks as fake as WWE and shows a great lack of confidence in those women.

Whenever I see a black chick rocking her natural hair I go out of my way to shake her hand and send my tribe's blessings upon her.

[qoraxeey]

Colonel so maha .... nothing wrong with beign natrual

[Protagonist]

About time, it's an absolute eyesore walking down the street and seeing black women with wigs/weaves. It looks as fake as WWE and shows a great lack of confidence in those women.

Whenever I see a black chick rocking her natural hair I go out of my way to shake her hand and send my tribe's blessings upon her.

[TeAmo]

Alhamdulilah I don't have this problem coz I don't have jareer hair so couldn't care less about who's putting what chemicals in their hair or wearing what weave. If I had really jareer hair I would use chemicals too, alhamdulilah I don't. But Michelle's hair is okay I would love to have that hair texture.

[qoraxeey]

]

Please watch this video .. Al Jazeera Stream ... they are interviewing important women

[qoraxeey]

Alhamdulilah I don't have this problem coz I don't have jareer hair so couldn't care less about who's putting what chemicals in their hair or wearing what weave. If I had really jareer hair I would use chemicals too, alhamdulilah I don't. But Michelle's hair is okay I would love to have that hair texture.

Michelle Obamas hair is jareer ... so is mine ...... jareer means african hair


its not only about hair


also about skin-color ..... do U know many somali women suffers from pain and skin problems due to DIANA

[TeAmo]

Alhamdulilah I don't have this problem coz I don't have jareer hair so couldn't care less about who's putting what chemicals in their hair or wearing what weave. If I had really jareer hair I would use chemicals too, alhamdulilah I don't. But Michelle's hair is okay I would love to have that hair texture.

Michelle Obamas hair is jareer ... so is mine ...... jareer means african hair


its not only about hair


also about skin-color ..... do U know many somali women suffers from pain and skin problems due to DIANA

But her hair doesn't look picky and hard it is okay jareers I wouldn't mind if my hair was like that but not jarer where it is hard as fuck. Yeah the skin bleaching issue is a big problem in the Somali community. I used to know this really madow girl I saw after one year and she was light like beyonce except her skin looked like it was about to fall off Somali men bleach as well my dad told me how he know this Somali guy who bleaches