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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.

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?

↑ Reply

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.

Who gon' check me boo says:

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.