What’s hair got to do with it?

From straight to curly, there’s always a preferred hair texture for each individual. It seems with fashion trends, hair styles also change where whatever style is in, it’s in. However, there is a double standard when it comes to people of color and white people.

Corn rows and braids are deemed hip and “cool” when worn by Caucasian people like Iggy Izalea or Kylie Jenner. Yet when people of color, such as African American women, wear their natural hair in braids or in similar hair styles, it is deemed ghetto or ratchet. The double standards and stereotypes are present and often talked about since there is a stigma that if anybody wore their natural hair there is a negative connotation stuck with it.

Carmen Richardson instructor of cosmetology, teaches the textured hair portion of the cosmetology program consisting of thermal pressing, hot comb and flat ironing, some braids and weaving, dreads and anything that has to do with natural hair or “excessively curly hair.” The term “nappy” is not used because it is not politically correct or the professional term.

There is the argument that everybody should embrace their hair and be comfortable with what they are born with. Sure, there are people who love to dye their hair, and manipulate their texture. However, people seem to judge harshly if others choose to wear their natural hair.

When Richardson was especially when conforming to certain hairstyles such as straight hair she said,

“Image is everything,” Richardson said, when asked why people feel the need to wear their hair a certain way. “Sometimes in our natural state, depending on the job you’re going for, people don’t take you seriously.”

The hope of embracing natural hair is to boost confidence in and outside the work place.

The Skyline Cosmetology program is working on incorporating more courses dwelling in natural hair, since more and more people are mixing and will soon have unique hair textures. As of right now, Richardson is part of that.

Natural hair has broken into the industry because a lot of women are backing away from the relaxers and chemicals. Eventually the state board of hair and cosmetology will have a natural hair care license.

Natural hair is when the natural texture is not altered, and also refers to color. A natural style is different than natural hair, because weaves can be sewn in or braided in and considered a natural style.