Gabby Douglas' hair

[TrickyBob]

As though a 16 year old who made it to the Olympics has nothing bigger to worry about.

Wouldn't straight hair get in the way?

Go her for being young and awesome! And wearing her hair sensibly.

[rupertpenny]

Is her hair natural? Is that what they mean by saying she doesn't "do her hair"? I honestly can't tell

Anyway, her hair looks the same level of "done" as all the other girls to me.

[gretchenindisguise]

I really liked her hair.

[alzi]

i don't know if this is the same thing, but i thought it was weird that most of the girls had undone/messy hair while competing. like half pulled through ponytails. usually they are more polished.

[leeann]

It's not like any of the other girls are sporting amazing hairstyles, this is WTF to me.

[speckledfrog]

I didn't notice anything odd about her hair.

[dowagercountess]

This is such a black people thing, and it's pissing me off.

[Deleted]

I want to yell at these women to STFU. Another sad example of women tearing each other down instead of building each other up.

ETA: I guess I'm sort of doing the same thing by criticizing them. Damnit.

[speckledfrog]

dowager, what kind of hair are the naysayers looking for?

[Deleted]

Aug 2, 2012 18:40:32 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

dowager, what kind of hair are the naysayers looking for?

A relaxer or braids would be my guess but mostly a relaxer.

They can shut it.

[dowagercountess]

What HAB said.

[Jermys]

It looks like it's been straightened, not relaxed, and with sweat it's reverting to its natural state (kinky/curly). Like DC said, it's a black people thing. The problem is that she has flyaways and her hair isn't perfectly straight (because she's working her ass off and sweating). Which not one white person would notice unless they have a black child and have been conditioned to notice. And black people, for the most part, take great pride in having perfect hair because they are judged if they don't.

For example, Edith's hair can be commented on by a white woman and a black woman. The white woman will comment on how cute it is, whether it's day one of the style or day 20, and the black woman will comment on how healthy it is, and how impressed they are than it's done at all. If it's natural, I get "My sister does hair, can I give you her number?"

[Deleted]

And what Jermys said too. It also may be a grown out relaxer as the ends look straighter than the roots.

[Jermys]

Aug 2, 2012 19:00:52 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

And what Jermys said too. It also may be a grown out relaxer as the ends look straighter than the roots.

I thought this might be the case, but I am relaxer dumb, so I wasn't sure.

[speckledfrog]

Jermys, do you mind if I asked how you learned about doing Edith's hair?

[dfl]

Aug 2, 2012 19:00:52 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

And what Jermys said too. It also may be a grown out relaxer as the ends look straighter than the roots.

This. and what Jermy's said too.

[TrickyBob]

This is going to be such a dumb question but what is the importance of it being relaxed or straightened?

[lucky513]

we were talking about it here at work, and my assistant who is black was telling me how her mom made a comment on why isn't her hair pressed....

I think it looks fine

I couldn't imagine her hair whipping back and forth

[Deleted]

Aug 2, 2012 19:06:15 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

This is going to be such a dumb question but what is the importance of it being relaxed or straightened?

Because it apparently "looks nicer."

It would take forever to explain the reasoning but suffice to say it's mostly due to black folks protecting themselves from white folk scrutiny though it's up for debate whether or not that is still necessary.

Wearing your hair naturally has only become mainstream in recent years and still hasn't expanded to some sectors/areas, both by black folks and everyone else.

[Jermys]

Friends, strangers, Youtube videos and product trial and error. All motivated by fear of being judged LOL

Also, DC, BAB, 05Heel, HAB and other people who have recommended product. I have so many bottles of barely-used product, it's ridiculous.

[idkmybffrose]

I didn't even notice her hair. I just...ugh.

[snipsnsnails]

I was going to say, wasn't there an entire thread a few days ago about how sloppy the team looked as a whole, including their messy ponytails? I guess it was on CEP that I read it.

[dfl]

Aug 2, 2012 19:06:15 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

This is going to be such a dumb question but what is the importance of it being relaxed or straightened?

some feel that she isn't representing the african american community properly with her hair like that.

[Jermys]

Aug 2, 2012 19:13:42 GMT -5 sameoldash said:

Yeah, but that was talking about the halfway-pulled-thru ponytail styling, not the texture of those girls' hair. Sadly, this has nothing to do with how she made her ponytail and everything to do with the actual state of her hair.

Yep. Which makes me nuts. Natural hair is amazing. I can't believe how many people ask when I'm going to relax Edith's hair. She's four, FFS!

[dfl]

Aug 2, 2012 19:09:47 GMT -5 Jermys said:

Friends, strangers, Youtube videos and product trial and error. All motivated by fear of being judged LOL

Also, DC, BAB, 05Heel, HAB and other people who have recommended product. I have so many bottles of barely-used product, it's ridiculous.

Jermy's I could open a store of barely-used product!

[onesweetworld]

I thought she lOoked gorgeous yesterday. Don't see her yet today. That face - she is a stunner!

[Deleted]

Aug 2, 2012 19:17:19 GMT -5 dfl said:

Aug 2, 2012 19:09:47 GMT -5 Jermys said:

Friends, strangers, Youtube videos and product trial and error. All motivated by fear of being judged LOL

Also, DC, BAB, 05Heel, HAB and other people who have recommended product. I have so many bottles of barely-used product, it's ridiculous.

Jermy's I could open a store of barely-used product!

Dude, I don't know why no one has organized a black folks and/or curly girl product swap.

[underwaterrhymes]

She is beautiful. I will admit I am not watching the Olympics, but it blows my mind that people actually care what the fuck an athlete of this caliber is doing with his or her hair.

[snipsnsnails]

Aug 2, 2012 19:13:42 GMT -5 sameoldash said:

Yeah, but that was talking about the halfway-pulled-thru ponytail styling, not the texture of those girls' hair. Sadly, this has nothing to do with how she made her ponytail and everything to do with the actual state of her hair.

No, I get it, but it's still an example of women being women's own worst enemies at times.

[Deleted]

Way to blame the vaginas as if pressure to conform to a beauty standard was created solely or even mostly be women.