The Internet brings out the trolliest of trolls. In a recent Essence interview, actress, DJ, fashion paramour Solange Knowles discussed her hair, being an inspiration and advice for women going natural. The interview reposted on CurlyNikki.com attracted some unsavory comments about her hair, its unkempt state and what she needs to do to make it look better.
Well, I never. In true Solange fashion, she retorted to her critics via Twitter.
I’ve never painted myself as a team natural vice president. I don’t know the lingo and I don’t sleep with a satin cap…However, I did noticed when I picked out my hair, I kept seeing feedback about needing a “twist out”. Connnnfesssioonnn: I HATE twist outs. Correction, I hate the way they look on me. SO i end up always picking them/steaming them out. Look, all i’m saying is. My hair is not very important to me….so i don’t encourage it to be important to you.
As I read her retort, my first thought was that she is a new spokesperson for Carol’s Daughter and their Transitioning product line, which is targeted to African-American women going natural. Doesn’t that mean Solange is apart of some faction of #TeamNatural? And as a spokesperson isn’t she putting her hair on the proverbial chopping block?
Does her celebrity give people the right to comment on her choices, hair or otherwise? When will naturals accept that Solange wears weaves and hair extensions as well and might not want the positioning she’s been given?
Or is Solange biting the hands that uphold her? The natural community reveres her hair and she has catered to the attention until they had something to say. Should Solange just deal with the criticism or should people just mind their business?
What say ye on the Solange hair debate?
Source: Jezebel, Curly Nikki
I really think whether or not Solo is or isn’t a spokesperson for the natural hair community is irrelevant. It doesn’t give people the right to leave mean and hurtful comments about her. Unfortunately, we (black folks) can be so negative towards each other, and the internet has provided a platform for people take their trolling to the next level. It’s very sad to me. Sometimes I think the condescending attitude of *SOME* people in the “natural hair community” can be just as damaging as old notions of straighter is better. Everyone’s hair is different, and nobody can or should presume to know all there is to know about what is best for the next person’s hair.
Second, while people may not agree with Solo’s styling techniques or lack there of, she is still natural…period. And, some might venture to say that her acceptance of her hair’s natural texture (sans manipulative styling) actually speaks volumes about her love for her natural hair as-is. She doesn’t feel the need to twist it or otherwise manipulate her hair’s texture to get a more perfect curl pattern. She is comfortable rocking a fro…a fresh out the bed ‘fro, at that. I, for one, don’t see anything wrong with that. And when she wants something a little more polished, she rocks her weaves/wigs and calls it day.
Lastly, I can’t say that I agree with the comments…when Solo’s hair is not weaved/wigged up, I always think it looks super cute. Sure, she doesn’t have perfect waves or curls, but it works for her and her effortless style, so I say more power to her!
Sorry, these types of things really strike a chord with me. Folks can just me so damn mean!
Perfectly stated Eboni!!
I agree 100% and would add… “what you give your attention to you give relevance and importance to”. So, nay-sayers… If you don’t like what Solange chooses to do or not do to her own hair, cool but is it REALLY affecting you? And to my girl Solange, you choose to retort, that’s cool too but at the end of the day you know who you are and others opinions doesn’t matter.
Yes Solange is putting herself out there to be criticized by the stand she takes but we all do when you make a choice to be or dress a certain way and step out of our homes into the world. And who knows… Maybe her style is what Ms Lisa of Carols Daughter wanted for this new line?!
We all need to take a lesson from our beautiful ladies such as Grace Jones, India.Arie and Patti LaBelle circa 1970′s era and DARE to be DIFFERENT!!!
What’s the fun in all of us looking alike anyway?
I love that Solange is different and completely beautiful!! She expresses herself freely and that’s what beauty is to me!
Always KeepinCHIC,
Lady K
Why does some people always force black celebrities to make a statement with their hair? I’m sure “I don’t care” means she styles her hair the way she pleases, not to be a part of a club.
Ok, so Ms. Fjar knows that I am not black — so I can’t really speak to specific issues of haircare. But I do think that she should maybe be careful saying she doesn’t care about her hair when she does represent a haircare company that’s well-known like Carol’s Daughter….unless she’s cool with disrespecting people who wanted to work with her and pay her. That’s just my marketing and self-promotion training talking.
She’s dead on that she doesn’t have to take mean comments and that other people shouldn’t be caring about what she does or doesn’t personally do to her hair though in the sense that yelling at her on the internet — or anyone really — isn’t going to solve anything.
I guess this is why some celebs get social media firms to tweet for them…but I’d really hope not liking how someone styles their hair would be grounds for that.
I think this is a real great post.Really looking forward to read more.