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Tyra Banks Calls for ‘National Real Hair Day’

Wednesday Aug 19, 2009 – By Craig JC

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Tyra Banks is unbeweaveable.

The talk show host has declared Sept. 8, the date of the season premiere of “The Tyra Show” as “National Real Hair Day.”

Comb again?

I mean, what you trying to say, Tyra?

We all understand and appreciate the au naturale movement and all, but isn’t it kind of easy for a prototypical supermodel to strip off the amenities, but what about the rest of the world?

The diva, who has not said if she will lose the weave for just the first episode or forever, had this to say about her new attitude:

“This season on The Tyra Show we’re taking it to the next level and getting more real than ever before by encouraging women everywhere to own and rock what they’ve got and be proud!” – she says in a press release obtained by US Magazine. “For the season 5 premiere, I will be doing just that – no fake hair, I’m rocking my REAL hair.”

Rock on, sister.

But just know that thousands of your sisters will be shaking their heads in disgust and rolling their eyes as you ask them, in a lot of cases, to do away with their do.

I mean, is Tyra saying that just because you rock weave, you ain’t real? (Wooooo, the crowd says). That’s kind of a culturally and ethnically charged issue, isn’t it, Tyra? Shouldn’t you stick to making bean-pole skinny girls take pictures with squids on their heads in sub-zero temperatures or something? (I say that with love.)

But seriously, we applaud Tyra for trying to bring earthiness and naturalness back to beauty, but we don’t know about all that realness stuff.

Why? Because realness is supposed to be inside a person, right? Not outside.

And you can be as natural as the dirt on the ground and still not be real. Inside. And that’s real talk.

JoeBmore says:

August 19, 2009 at 11:58 am

She has some damn nerve.

She will exploit Black women from profit to no end.

↑ Reply

Melissa says:

August 19, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Sigh. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t I guess. I love Tyra and can’t wait to see her new do, I just know its going to be FIERCE.

Eve says:

August 19, 2009 at 12:48 pm

great article. makes you think.

just wondering, when you said “but isn’t it kind of easy for a prototypical supermodel to strip off the amenities”……what exactly does that mean? “regular” women won’t have articles written about their choices……..

and while she may say her REAL hair, does that mean her hair in her natural state?…..as in kinks? as in ‘fro? hmmmm. like you said, we applaud her for trying, but…..

::shoulder shrug::

thanks for writing this :)

ljkelly says:

August 19, 2009 at 12:59 pm

I agree with Melissa, damned if you do…I mean, we complain about weave and now she is taking it of. Whether it is for an episode or forever, it is a step in the right direction.

Mack says:

August 19, 2009 at 2:07 pm

Peace

I LOVE IT! She didn’t say UNPROCESSED hair…she said NATURAL…meaning no weave. Some of us wouldn’t know what we look like without a pony tail or sew in or lace front if we starred at ourselves in the mirror!

Many of us have so many hang ups about our hair. I think she’s just encouraging girls/women to feel free and comfortable enough for ONE DAY to just BE OUT…without the prosthetics…

I applaud her.

And I think it’s very inappropriate to speak about EXPLOITATION, considering the fact that the HAIR we buy is exploited from poor Indian and Asian women (some w/ strong religious beliefs). Koreans own more than 90% of all beauty suppy stores and distributors…locking Afikan American business owners OUT of the industry. Naa…exploitation is the least of Tyra’s concerns.

I’ll be watching Sept. 8th!

August 19, 2009 at 2:11 pm

P.S.

Some of us who wear “natural” hair…are not as NATURAL as we claim to be. We still use gunk on our tresses that is full of chemicals and harmful agents…purchsed from those very same Korean owned beauty suppy stores…

- just a thought-

August 19, 2009 at 2:32 pm

Mack – What I mean about exploitation is that she pokes and prods at the insecurities of Black women.

I think it’s great that she is doing a “Natural” show. But I only think she is doing it because its “in” and not because she cares about black women breaking the chains of the weave movement.

I guess the ends justify the means, and if more young Black girls can see the option to have a natural doo. While still feeling beautiful. Then its a good show.

NikkiV says:

August 19, 2009 at 4:45 pm

She’s not just talking to ethnic women!
Just as many white women wear hair extensions too!

No, she’s not suggesting “that just because you rock weave, you ain’t real”.
She is simply stating to all women to be proud and comfortable with ourselves without any makeup or weave- show off how we really look before all those things are put on and be confident with how we look.

GEEZ!

Valerie Myers says:

August 19, 2009 at 6:26 pm

Earlier this year Tyra wore her “real” hair on the show, it was in cornrows and the topic was black women’s hair issues and how it affects our children. I really like Tyra, but have always had an issue with her telling women to be who they are, i.e. whatever size, skin color, scars you have, etc. But at the same time, she is constantly up under a weave. It was like the big elephant in the room, so i knew one day she’d have to address it. It’ll be interesting to see just how she wears her hair and as someone else mentioned, how long she will keep it up. I honestly don’t see her going cold turkey from the weave, but we’ll see. I think it speaks volumes that she has to make such a spectacle of it, almost as if she couldn’t just do it and say, “This is me,” and get on with the show. By trying to make it a “national day,” shows that she is severely attached to those headpieces and some insecurity issues.

lee says:

August 19, 2009 at 6:37 pm

um. why does it have to be a national day? just take your damn weave off and sit down somewhere, tyra. not everyone is as attached to the yaki as you are. as we can clearly see from the image above you are gorgeous even with a little bob. you’d by just as fly with a twa or dreadlocks or whatever you decide to do. it’s not that deep.

Who gon' check me boo says:

August 19, 2009 at 8:44 pm

Damn, CRAIG, you act like she was just talking to black women. She didnt say the topic of the show was “BLACK WOMEN’S NATIONAL REAL HAIR DAY”, it was simply called “NATIONAL REAL HAIR DAY”. I think the fact that so many of yall are so up in arms about the damn show is because some of yall wearing weaves right now and could never bear the thought of rocking your own hair. Please. I guess it would be great time now to also say, many of you who have a problem with this dont realized you just stereotyped the black woman. How? Thinking that Tyra was just talking to black women because only black women wear weaves. You know, I never ever thought in a million years I would defend Tyra but its ridiculous how some of the black blogs are attacking her for such a simple thing as having a simple ass show on “Honoring your real hair”. Black people always think something is about them. Need to let the ish go.

Brit says:

August 19, 2009 at 10:05 pm

not impressed by tyra. this is a publicity stunt, plain and simple. oprah rocks her real hair now, and so tyra wants to do it too. maybe if she shows out with something other than those dang cornrows, she could get a golf clap from me. however, i won’t applaud her until she stops with those silly blond wigs altogether.

Brittany says:

August 19, 2009 at 11:13 pm

Hmmm…I completely get where she’s coming from and support it. Have to say I disagree with this article, funny how you came off so offended. I don’t believe she’s calling women who wear fake hair “fake” I believe it’s more on a level of showing that (as black women) we can be successful in the limelight without trying to cover up our roots (literally) and rockin wigs and weaves to fit the over-praised long “good” hair stereotype.
Try not to be too offended, you’ll miss thereal point behind the “movement”…

NubianPrize says:

August 20, 2009 at 12:54 am

If she wants to go natural,fine. If she wants to wear weaves,fine. Why is it everyone’s business what her reasons are & how she wears her hair ? She’s in the modeling & entertainment business where EVERYONE wears weaves,wigs,extensions,etc It’s her hair & she can do as she pleases with it. Women of other races do it all the time & there’s no drama. King & others fought for us to have the same priviledges & opportunities whites have always had. Apparently some of us can’t handle that & start putting restrictions on what we should & should not do & the reasons why we should or should not do them.It’s like some of us miss the chains of slavery that Lincoln freed us from so we look for new chains to put on each other because we’re more comfortable in chains !! There are lots of reasons for going natural: Tired of spending money on perms,hair damage,scalp damage, friends are doing it, you want to impress certain people,it’s trendy, you want healthy hair, you love your HAIRitage, etc. Lots of reasons,all of which are your own business & no one else’s. In the overall scheme of things why is the reason important & why is there so much HATERATION about it ? I am sick to death of all this animosity & hate surrounding black women & hair. Lots of whites.. celebrities & regular folks… wear wigs, weaves, extensions,etc. Dolly Parton is the supreme example & no one’s harrassing her about it. Tyra’s not even directing this at black women.
This whole argument is just another example of people sweating the small stuff.

LaKeyshaF says:

August 20, 2009 at 9:39 am

If we dont accept and celebrate our natural selves (in this instance natural=no weaves)…then what are we teaching our children? Yes your hair is your choice but when almost ALL AA celebraties wear fake hair that is reinforcing a false standard of beauty that our girls will try to emulate. I applaud Tyra for taking it all off. I think it is important for someone like her, who is very much in the beauty industry, to emphasize the acceptance of natural beauty. You can be famous, successful, and dont have to wear a weave!

And for those who say its a publicity stunt. Remember that she is a businesswomen and there is nothing wrong with her using HER show to make a statement which she considers important and knows will draw media attention! Thats good business.

chloe says:

August 20, 2009 at 1:30 pm

bravo to tyra. black women need to quit trying to achieve the european beauty standard and take pride in own beauty, our own hair. natural hair ain’t nothin to hide or be ashamed of.

Rhue b says:

August 20, 2009 at 1:35 pm

Tyra, I rock my hair natural everyday! No weave 4 me!!!!!! Maybe u will finally stop wearing those nasty lace wigs!!!!

August 21, 2009 at 10:14 am

@Who gon’ check

quite honestly, i think the whole concept of the national day is ridiculous. i don’t agree with drawing attention to a topic that is really not that deep. i’m just really tired of the way that a woman wears her hair defining who and what she is. tyra is a role model and a beautiful woman. i could really care less about the way she is rocking her hair. if more black women want to rock their natural hair… more power to them but there’s nothing wrong with women who want to wear weaves or get perms or straighten their naturally curly hair. it’s just friggin hair. i’m so tired of black women feeling like they need to explain anything about their choices regarding their hair.

and just so you know… i rocks my twa.

peace

Jai says:

August 21, 2009 at 10:21 pm

I don’t think that Tyra is “going natural” or advocating that everyone does. She didn’t call in “no more relaxers, flat iorns and straightning comb day”. I think the whole point is that women of all races be proud and satisfied with what they have. Its not about being real or fake as a person. I don’t wear weave, though I have in the past, in fact I don’t relax my hair either, but that doesn’t make me any more real than my bestie that does wear a weave.
I do agree, though that women should be more accepting of themselves and try not to feel like long (straight) hair = beauty

I am interested to see what Tyra will do with her hair and how long she’ll keep it.

Sasha says:

August 21, 2009 at 11:42 pm

I agree with a number of you. I think all this comes surrounding Chris Rock’s movie. Why hasn’t she done this before?

Its funny, when I rock my natural hair I feel like asking the questions like, “why can’t black women love themselves”. But when I wear my sew ins, I honestly feel that all the weave and relaxer bashing is utterly ridiculous because people should have more pressing issues to discuss.

At the end of the day, Tyra should wear whatever makes her comfortable, most fulfilling and satisfied. I have realized there are far more hairstyles out there to limit yourself in the name of proving to yourself and others that you love you. Where what you want and what makes you feel your best and keep it moving:/

MS. COMPLEXITY says:

August 22, 2009 at 8:42 am

This made me LAUGH. Many of you down south (and I mean south of the border) LOVE that damn horse hair. How many of you will oblige Mighty Tyra?

Miss C Jayne says:

August 22, 2009 at 12:55 pm

I personally think that it is a wonderful idea. More women may feel comfortable with their Natural hair if people like her (i.e., celebrities) urge them to wear their natural hair. I’ve caught hell from many people (mostly women) over my decision to rock a ‘Fro and I think this just affirms that a woman is okay no matter how she chooses to wear her hair. I personally don’t think she’s saying you are fake if you wear added hair, she’s just saying you can still be beautiful without it.

Sadly, too many women (especially Black women) don’t feel that way.

Nadia says:

August 22, 2009 at 1:12 pm

Wow! How hypercritical is she???? Was Tyra a fake person prior to this “National” event??
Truly, I’ve become seriously bored with idiots that believe that black women’s hair is the major issue facing our community today. Not domestic violence, crime, drugs, undereducated children, or equal pay. Nope, it was your lace front, your weave, and your perm that’s been the culprit the whole time…………. Who knew? Why do these people always resort to BS like natural hair vs. weaves, or light skin vs. dark skin? Beauty is Beauty and sisters have plenty to go around. Maybe Tyra and Chris Rock should just come to terms with their problems with black women.

August 22, 2009 at 10:33 pm

Lee,

For one I never said (or dictated) people had to wear their hair a certain because I kinda feel that is what you saying. I was just defending Tyra because people on this and other black websites were trying to demonize her for wanting to have a show where ALL women can celebrate their REAL hair. No matter if it is straight (chemically or genetically) or natural. I think that’s what you need to understand. And while you nay think the idea or tpic is ridiculous, well thats you. I like the idea and if the idea wasnt truly that deep, people wouldnt boohooing and ish about some hair. Its just a show about hair. And its Tyra’s show at that and if thats what she want to do, she should ( and is going ) to do.

Oh yeah, I rock a ‘fro too, a big ‘fro though.

August 22, 2009 at 10:35 pm

*May, topic*

Laquita Thomas-Banks says:

August 24, 2009 at 9:24 am

I’ll be watching… :o)

Keysha Watts says:

August 24, 2009 at 3:31 pm

When she does this for more then one day, then I will give a damn.

Other then that, it will be another one of her gimmicky stunts.

t.allen-mercado says:

August 24, 2009 at 4:07 pm

I agree with commenter Nadia. With the kind of following Tyra has, if she wanted to use her star power for good, surely she could come up with something more pertinent to women of color and women in general than hair. It must be nice to have ‘real hair’ as the top of your real life issues to do list.

kate says:

September 9, 2009 at 2:14 pm

I agree with Nikki V….PLUS, Tyra is fierce and will always be…I think we all should just be versatile. Everybody has a different opinion of REAL and NATURAL but who cares? She was just showing HERSELF and I applaude her.