by
Elle D.
Justine Skye (left) Katy Perry (right)
I’ve had a thing for colored hair for as long as I can remember. In middle school, all the skater chicks and alternative girls dyed their hair every color of the rainbow after seeing celebs change their hair color on a weekly basis. We frequently dyed our hair with Kool-Aid and Manic Panic to our parents’ dismay, hoping the rain never came or we’d end up with a t-shirt soaked with orange, purple, or green streaks. At the time, most of these celebrity influences were white, but I never thought anything of it. When Lil’ Kim showed up to the VMAs with a purple wig and her sparkly dress, I thought she looked like a mermaid. When Charli Baltimore blew up on the hip hop scene with neon red hair, I was jealous because I didn’t want to bleach my relaxed hair and have it all fall out. I opted for a more subtle red tint to appease myself.
It wasn’t until I became older and witnessed internet sites like No Way Girl and World Star Hip Hop frequently posting pictures insulting black women with colored hair and categorizing them as “hood.” Recently, I added purple/lilac highlights to my hair and when I was showing my friend inspiration pictures from Tumblr, he responded that they reminded him of the hair color of “hood chicks in Baltimore.”
Elle with her newly colored hair
What? I had never thought such a thing about creatively colored hair in my life. And no, I’m not talking about hair that emulates the infamous pack of Skittles hair picture or hair that is green because a woman has a weave made of money.
I’m simply referring to hair that is dyed an unnatural color. But the funny thing is, the current pastel hair trend and creatively colored hair look is donned by non-black women all the time (Kelly Osbourne being one of my favorites), and I’ve never seen them referred to as “hood” or “ghetto.” More often than not, people find the look creative and cute – more of a homage to My Little Pony rather than an around the way girl. For white women, the look is considered fun, but for black women, it can be considered cheap and classless. Is this fair? I think not.
When I asked my friend to elaborate on his opinion, he expounded on the fact that the hair adds to an overall look – the weave, fake nails, huge hoop earrings, and any other style stereotypically considered to be “hood.” If you couldn’t tell, I keep putting “hood” in quotes because I don’t see styles as hood and find that word to be way overused. But is that it? Is the hair itself not classless, but an overall look displayed by some black women? Well, that’s not really fair either. I guess you could say that on the flip side, white women with colored hair and an ill sense of fashion may be considered trashy (Sorry, Courtney Love), so perhaps it could be a look that reminds people of the negative, outlandish stereotypical view of you as a person, regardless of color. Either way, I would say that the smartest thing is to not judge someone off of the color of their hair, because you never know where the inspiration came from, whether it be My Little Pony or Fantasia (the Disney movie, not the singer), or simply a pack of tropical Skittles. And if it were a pack of Skittles, is that so wrong?
Do you consider unconventionally colored hair to be “hood” or “ghetto”? Do you think there is a double standard between white and black women with colored hair?
Elle is the owner and editor of Quest for the Perfect Curl, a collaborative YouTube channel and blog dedicated to promoting healthy hair through research and the sharing of information. A former product junkie, Elle promotes the importance of product ingredients, knowing your hair properties, and your climate when choosing what products to use on your natural hair. She also frequently explores healthy hair care practices and methods to achieve the “perfect curl,” which to her is big, healthy hair.
247 Responses
If your hair is representative of “hood chicks in Baltimore.”, then those gals were beautiful and had awesome hair. You happen to rock with the purple in your hair, but then I may be a bit biased since I have purple hair all the way down my back to my backside.
I never heard that term before. I just appreciate if someone looks good. like the pictures above the person who wears it better is justine. they both look good. I don’t know why someone would think beyond “that looks good on them.” We each have our own beauty. Sure sometimes people have hair colors or styles that don’t work, but that isn’t black or white that is humanity as a whole. I mean I got told I was too pale to be goth, ironic isn’t it?
I’ve never hear people call a.a. women hood for dying their hair. At the most they get made fun of for trying to be like white girls with dyed hair, the same way white girls get yelled at for “culture appropriating” even though it’s almost similar……. But they never called it hood.
I think regardless of race, it all depends on a person’s personality most of all, but it also depends on the rest of their appearance as a whole as well. You’ll find that a really sweet quiet person constantly gets compliments on it regardless of race, but a person that’s loud, not dressed right or carry themselves in a loose way just gets mostly criticized.. I think it’s just the way an individual presents it!
I have honestly never heard anyone call it “hood” on black woman before, but obviously that’s just my personal experience. I have seen where white women have been called white trash for having different colors though. I honestly think it’s when it’s part of an all-over look that’s seen that way or when it’s done very poorly and contributes to looking trashy that people start labeling it in derogatory terms.
All of the black girls I grew up going to school with had weave of different colors at some point or another and I never remember anything but praise being said about them. Whether it was due to the quality of the weave or the environment we were in, I couldn’t say.
But why limit the end of double standards to hair dye and experimental hair colors. If a person want to express themselves with Skittles hair, money weave or whatever, that’s their personal decision and not a reflection of how “hood” they are. I say allow people to be who they want to, without lumping them into some whitewashed description of what “hood” means, which is a entirely different conversation.
Hi! I’ve never heard of anyone saying a woman of African American decent having colored hair being “hood”. That’s ridiculous. I’m very sorry that anyone would say such a thing. If I ever hear it, that will be the last time they say it. Trust.
Although, I am quite intrigued with the word “hood”. Are people using it in a negotive connotation? Is it negative? Should it be.
See now that’s an interesting discussion to have right there!!!
Wow. As a white female and to see that people are actually calling it “hood” for an African American female to color their hair however they choose makes me embarrassed for my race and the people out there who still are downright prejudice. I’m sorry there are people out there still to this day who live in their own little bubble of complete IGNORANCE. The same goes for any race and or religion. We should be supporting one another on outnumber differences instead of trying to tear them down. And unfortunately there always will be that cluster of ass holes no matter what. Your hair is beautiful by the way, no trend or look belong to anyone based off their race, gender, religion and of course can’t forget opinion (unless said person is disrespectful towards another’s belief/lifestyle) ?
Currently my hair is braided with blue and red braids, I’ve been doing this for a year now, and not once have I ever heard the phrase of being hood referred to my hairstyle. In fact, I get compliments daily both from men and women, with majority of the compliments coming from Caucasian people. I’m thinking the hood mentality may be referred to the style of the hair vs the color of the hair! JMO!
Probably way out of my lane here but as the father of a mixed daughter (I’m white my wife is not) she is constantly wanting to dye or tint her hair like her white blonde haired friends and I have no issue with it other then worrying about damaging her beautiful curls.
What would you suggest as a way to tint her hair (she’s 8)
For what it’s worth there is nothing “hood” about the hair coloring. It’s just expression.
Reminds me of a white girl I know who spends a lot of time justifying her dreadlocks, without seeming to care about black girls right to have them.
My hair is purple now. I’ve never been one to let the weigh-in of others opinions stop me from being exactly who I want to be. I do think there is a unbalanced scale when it comes to the differences in skin color, but I never let that stop me from being me.
I’m a black woman i feel as those it is ghetto or trashy pic one no matter what race does it!
Yessssss
Of course there’s a double standard when it comes Women of Color.
Ppl sorely wish to Tear Us Down, because we Exude Confidence in all that we do, whether it’s changing hair color, or jus merely existing we’re gonna be CONFIDENT about it and others Hate our confidence.
So they secretly go and perpetuate the Same EXACT things as We do (hair color, hair styles etc.)
Then all of a sudden it’s all the Rave, and everyone one in the Fashion World is accepting and on Board.
The thing of it all is These White ppl don’t wanna accept what they themselves did Not Create, ESPECIALLY something Created or Implemented by a person of COLOR!!!!
Anyone who casts judgement on you or anyone you know for your beautiful self expression needs only be met with an icy and disapproving stare. If it’s an article that says you can’t shine as bright as you want to- then your response is a perfect remedy of owning your own power to look and feel as you want to. I can’t speak for all women- so I will speak only for myself. I choose to recognize that anyone who doesn’t like my weight (fashion considers me the horrible beast of fatness) can suck it. To all my sweet friends who thought they were being helpful when they told me “to act my age” and dye my hair back to a normal shade- I laughed and told them I WAS acting my age! Because last I checked being an adult means I dress myself! Thank You for your article. Thank You for being outspoken and fierce. We can all quell the concept of double standards when we look the fashion police and bullies in the eyes and say- No More. YOU don’t get to define me based on weight, height, race, religion or sexual preference. I know we can all do this together. I see the foundations being rocked and even though it feels unstable- it is leading the way to true expression and freedom. Rock on with you Awesome Self! BTW- the original inspiration for my hair color going from normal to alternative was the extreme loss of my hair due to illness- I lost about 70% of it. I decided to cheer myself up by cutting what was left into a pixie and coloring it pink as my ribbon for breast cancer. When I would sit in the hospital waiting for hours with other women and they would ask “why pink” and I would tell them… it would usually end up with me holding them while they cried. It would lift them, open them and cheer them up. I went to green when I got my hair back to stand for a healthy environment. I doubt I will ever go back to natural. I have so much more joy with my candy colors.
The hood commentary is nonsense no one has the right to police your hair. You look absolutely gorgeous. I think that dyed hair on anybody is a fun creative way to express yourself.
I don’t think unconventionally dyed hair looks hood or ghetto at all. I’m of mixed race descent and I do see a double standard. Personally I think the bold bright colors look better against the darker complexions of black girls, especially the dark purple pictured.
People are shitty and have double standards. My own opinion, I have never considered colored hair to be trashy or “hood.” Perhaps because in my generation it’s just far more pervasive and common – it’s an outlet of expression! I think this stereotyping is an old opinion: consider the fact most public schools in the US outright punish students if their hair is dyed an “unnatural color.” I don’t really see an issue with it, it’s no different than painting your nails.
Hopefully in another decade or so this negativity and stereotyping something so mundane will be in the past. I certainly hope it does. Meanwhile, your hair looks great, and I wouldn’t worry about people being ignorant. Do what you love.
By bringing attention to this issue, and pointing out the hypocrisy, you’re helping bring these double standards and needless judgements to an end. Thanks for the read, and making me aware of this issue.
Why would people call white girls “hood”
Or “ghetto” when they are “punk” or “alternative” or “metal”?
We get called “Unployable-Stein” when we have colored hair, but black girls seem to be able to wear purple or pink in their hair and still have an office job!
There is nothing going on here except You all calling each other names again, and trying to make white girls feel bad about it… meantime we couldn’t give a crap about what you call each other.
Is this comment a joke?
???? who lied to you girl??? That’s far from ghetto or hood . it’s called creative.
Well I believe the only reason hood became popular with those type of hairstyles in the black community. Because women from the hood was the only one wearing them at the beginning. Also the word hood wasn’t a bad word at first.im a black man that grew up in Hyde Park, frayser,orange mound and Whitehaven in Memphis tn.
In America we are very superficial, and very quick to pro-ject what we have been indoctrinated to believe. But then again there are some people that don’t like to see themselves natural, and in that case I think some self-hate might come with that, and a HOST of other things.
Um what? White women under the same style sense look just as hoodrat as their black counterparts. I am mixed and I know white,black, asian, and Latinas that can pull off colored hair… colored hair is not a hoodrat fashion. But being fake about your fashion is indeed trashy. The fact that you ignored the many rich trashy people with fake noses lips and boobs does disturb me.. the general population seems fake beauty as trashy… it screams “this person lives behind a mask, this is not who they are, they are interested in acting like someone else…not themselves”. It is acceptable by society to be fake to some degree…mainly in ways that enhance what you already look like… such as make up. But to make 90% of your appearance look like nothing you would look like after you take it off is repulsive… and you nor anyone have any right to tell anyone they’re feelings toward this type of fashion is flawed… because it’s not… we know what we find attractive and repulsive. Now the true problem… the real topic you should have written about is why do black women feel the need to stand out so much? Over compensation? For what? I find that black women who look respectful and natural are beautiful… natura hair and all.. it screams class, as well as saying “this women is confident and is not trying to fight to be looked at”. To me it is as if black women feel they have to dress and act a certain way to be noticed. And then when these girls do get the attention they end up getting knocked up and left in the good to raise a child alone… why fight for the attention of dogs?
I am one of the 40+ crowd who dyes her natural African American hair purple in places. Young folks LOVE it. I get compliments all the time. Folks my age, especially White people, just stare and not in admiration. I don’t care. They need to get out more.
I’m whiter than chalk, and i’ve never see black women with differently colored hair and think it’s “hood”. I used to work in a beauty supply store and there were ladies that would come there all the time with purple and red hair and it looked beautiful. I think people get a bad image because they see girls online that act rough and “hood” and then sometimes have bright hair so people automatically assume that’s the norm. Then again, a lot of those people that judge are the same ones that automatically assume all black men are thugs. And if people are ignorant enough to immediately assume the worst of anyone, I would take their opinion with a grain of salt anyway.
Yeah I’m bi racial (black and white) and I dye my hair pastel, bright colors, neon colors all the time and have never been referred to as “hood” so maybe the author of this article is taking something someone said to an entirely different level than it needed to be. And trying to find a problem in something and scream racism or double standards when there isn’t any. I’m getting pretty tired of these articles trying to make something into something it’s not.
Keyword being bi racial. I think we all know she is talking about darker skinned omen and so was her friend. Also this problem of black girls with colored hair has always been an issue so it’s nothing new. Also you can just not go to any of the articles to begin with. There will still be a double standard you will just ignore it. Also stop trying to talk from the view point of a black women when you aren’t one, you are a bi racial women. I also suggest you go find more put together articles about this topic befote spweing your ignroant bullshit.
Yeah I’m bi racial (black and white) and I dye my hair pastel, bright colors, neon colors all the time and have never been referred to as “hood” so maybe the author of this article is taking something someone said to an entirely different level than it needed to be. And trying to find a problem in something and scream racism or double standards when there isn’t any. I’m getting pretty tired of these articles trying to make something into something it’s not.
In Amerikka there has always been and will always be a double standard in every situation you can think of. Little girls being sent home for wearing their hair in “afro” puffs or natural is deemed a “distraction.” What hogwash. The people who do that are just racist and MEAN!
I think it’s a regional thing. I’m a white high school teacher in Nevada, my hair is blue/black heavily streaked in midnight blue, and I’ve also had fire-engine red, and pink hair, too. I think it’s all about how you work it. If you are going to do it yourself, and not do it well…then it will look trashy. If you do it well, or have someone do it for you…then it will look smoking. A Hispanic teacher I work with has her hair heavily streaked with fushia and lighter shades of pink and blonde (it looks really good), and a black teacher I know has hers this really cool deep purple that has lavender highlights…tres cool. We live in Vegas, so maybe west/west coast is a bit more accepting of violent shades of blue, pink, purple, and crayola in general. East coast and Midwest folk tend to be judgemental about it. I always get weird looks when I go back home to Detroit. Sometimes…I just go platinum, or throw a brown in it when I go back. So, yeah. I’m going with regional. As for double-standard…anyone can look trashy if they rush a job. If it’s done well…then it’s great. Here’s my prom chaperone picture from a few weeks ago.
I am of different nationalities/races as most people are these days… however, I appear to be white. Now with that being said, I have a younger sister who has more African American features like “thicker hair”. She often got called, “white washed” in high school because she had the funky color hair and multiple piercings. I had the SAME THING!! Multpile piercings and funky hair colors, and I got called “Gothic”. I am FAR from gothic. ?? and my sister isn’t “white washed”, who cares if she has an alternative look to the normal brackets? WHAT THE FUCK IS NORMAL?. I feel everyone needs to leave people’s personal preferences alone. Who cares what color they choose to wear their hair? This world is far too worried about others and aren’t focused on themselves and what they need to do, MIND THEIR OWN DAMN BUSINESS. Lead a simple life. Do what makes YOU happy as long as you’re not hurting the next. Do your job, take care of your family, and sleep peacefully at night!
I think it goes deeper than a black woman being called “hood”for their hair color choice. I think that they except light skinned women who color their hair over dark skinned women. I say that because just recently my light skinned cousin colored the front of her hair blue. She has gotten nothing but positive comments. But let me, a dark skinned woman, color my hair that color. I’m instantly labeled “hood,” which I’m far from. I even asked my 10 year old daughter if I colored my hair pink what would she think. She said, “Mom that’s a hood color. Please don’t do it.” It hasn’t gotten that bad when our kids don’t see that it’s just hair, we all have it, and we can do whatever we want to it. Wear it long, short, shaved, colored, or anyway you choose. Be creative, be sexy, and just be you!
There is absolutely a double standard. I’m a natural haired black girl and I’ve been no stranger to playing in hair colors over the past few years. I work in retail, so I’ve dealt with a mixture of different reactions. Mainly, I’ve gotten white people asking me rude questions like, “Is that your real hair or is it a wig?” and, “Can I touch it?”
Mostly, I’m recognized as the girl with the crazy, cool hair. I still get other women of color contacting me to let me know that I’ve inspired them in some form or fashion to cut and play with their hair or experiment with colors.
I can’t say that colored hair is professional, but it for sure it not hood or ghetto.
Wow, I love that you are being who you want to be? I can see that creativity in all of these images of you in both color and textures. I call it brave cause I haven’t even tried. I admire this in you Tiffany and anyone that expresses their creativity in hair color/style.
Wow I send in a compliment and it’s deleted as SPAM!
Disclaimer: I’m white (apologies if it’s inappropriate for me to post here!).
I just want to say, I absolutely ADORE when black women have natural hair that is dyed funky colors. I haven’t seen much of the “weave” styles with fun colors, but I’m sure they look gorgeous as well!
I like dyeing my own hair fun colors (it’s currently brown, but I’m planning something fun soon), and I always get lots of compliments (except from my grandparents. “I’ll know you’ve finally grown up when you stop that with the hair colors!”), but one thing that sticks out to me, is older women.
Like, I’m guessing the 40+ crowd (I’m bad at gauging ages), I get a lot of women telling me that they wish they could dye their hair a fun color. I’m just like, DO IT! If more older, conservative, and professional type women started doing their hair funky fun colors, it’d start being more socially acceptable for EVERYONE, I think.
The way I see it, is you have not been personally victimized. We can’t live off the victimization of others or hate will continue to rage this earth. Who knows why those women were called hood for having colored hair, I know black girls that would take that as a compliment, heck I would. I don’t really care what others say about me! whatever, embrace who you are.
There is definitely not more unbiased in other countries, every place in every stretch of the earth that has people on it, you will be judged. Let’s stop making this a bigger issue than it is in regard to race. Every time race is mentioned you separate one another and cause us to look to our own “people” (unsettling) and that just gets us allllll moreee distant. Stop looking on the outside, the people that are judging you are evillll, they have heavy, sad, demented hearts. Sadly, we all have that within us, we just need to move past our self and get to the bigger picture. It’s about whats on the inside, as cheesy as it sounds, but your outer self is wasting away, we must renew our minds and hearts and love others to get past wickedness of the heart.
I have been called trashy, white-trash, idiot, fuck face, bitch, slut, blah blah blah blah. Know who you are, and who cares about you and just keep it up. As I have read and learned: haters gonna hate 😉 it’s just life anyhow, this world really has nothing for us.
I think it is the style or the overall look, that can make it look hood or ghetto…honestly, to me, it’s definitely a skittle hair, or crazy long, ramen noodles looking weave, because it’s not a flattering look, not because the hair is colored an unnatural color. That said, I don’t accost the person who thinks it’s fitting- (unless they’re my friend, I’m obligated then)- let them do them. Truth be told, I love the colors
There is no double standard. Outside of celebrity white women, the white women that color their hair skittle colors are considered “white trash” aka hood.
Everyone knows it’s a double standard. It’s accepted, imposed and even ignored.
Black women have the worse Public Relations and relationship with the American entertainment industry which shapes the way society views people. Black Hollywood perpetuates stereotypes among women. The American Media / entertainment industry is what shapes and perpetuates these stereotypes. The devaluation of dark skin didn’t just start with a hair style color it has been going on for decades used by Hollywood and the music industry. They have been at war with the dark skin women from the very beginning.
Clearly everyone does not “know” that, since everyone doesnt agree. I think it might depend on where you live, how many people have these hair colors there, and what is the overall look the person has going on. Sometimes I see someone with some ridiculous shape and color of hair, and wonder what their stylist was thinking. Other times I admire it. And I am mainly talking about sisters on the West Side where I work. (I cant really assume the MSM has that “hood vs creative” judgement based on skin color, because I watch / read MSM as little as possible. )
Yet she has a right to her opinion too. So…
I absolutely think people see black women with colored hair as ghetto. It’s funny because black women have been wearing funky colors in their hair since forever but now that other race women are wearing it it’s looked at as trendy. That’s crazy…….
You use Justine Skye out of all the women you could have used? This is one of the few women who I have yet to see be called ghetto for having colored hair because she doesn’t look ghetto at all.
I think this is an American issue, not a black issue as a whole. Am from the UK and am always being told by my Caucasian friends and colleges how jealous they are that I can do anything with my hair and just be seen as creative, but if they were to try an extremely un-natural colour would be considered a punk or un-professional. Maybe UK ghettos look different to American one’s?
so true!
is not the hair is what it signifies, colourful hair,along with fake nails and other stuff are known to be associated with black women who are loud,rude,disrespectful,dont care,disloyal,unprofessional. it looks good on some ppl but is the stereotype that comes with it from some ppl who are wont to seeing ppl with that appearance acting in a certain manner
Colored hair when done correctly and tastefully, like the comparison picture and the stripped hair, looks fine not matter what race, but when done like the Skittles that is ghetto. Its unfair to compare a performer who has created her popular image for being colorful with an everyday person walking down the street.
See the way you dyed your hair looked fine, It looks very fun, infact I’m considering dying my fro *crosses fingers* it only begins to look ratchet or hood when you have the skittle pack hair or like the SUPER artificial looking, glued in, super shiny neon red hair. If you’re performing on stage or something it looks great but in the normal day to day it looks like a costume which is pretty crazy. White girls would look just as crazy if they walked around with costumey hairstyles just walking around at the grocery store lol.
well put
Good point. White women, unless they are truly punk as in way back, do not go to the “costume” level of fake hair unless going clubby or to Burning Man. When Black women wear neon hair that is that level of fake and/or extreme, and they wear to school and church and the store, they are likely to be seen as gaudy rather than artistic.
Let me just say this, her ass wouldn’t have been my friend from that day forward. Anyone who starts out a sentence saying no offense is probably ignorant and trying to offend you. Also you can pull off full on purple. Just find the right shade. Not everyone will look flattering in pastel purple but maybe a dark vibrant purple will look stunning.
I heard that. A, some friend she’s got there! B, it looks cheap and trashy on anyone to blindly pick a color to wear without looking at what suits your style and skin. I used to go navy blue bangs 20 yrs ago, friends called me Saffire. But ultimately it wasnt a flattering color for my skin tone, so I’m trying some other shades this time.
I have had this conversion in my head ever since I saw Kelly Osborn, back in the ’90s I saw every color of the rainbow and the crazy nails that has become “mainstream” , black girls were always called ghetto, but white girls its just beautiful.
¯_(?)_/¯
Double standard or not it is what it is. My daughter asked for burgundy dye for her hair. She got the look and is the proud owner of honey blonde. It’s who’s wearing the diffent colors in their hair. No black woman in an IBM board meeting has blue hair. Period. 9 times out of ten it’s the ratchets I see with it. It’s not professional in any way shape or form. My girl won’t be doing any of that.
Ugh. “no offence, but…”
Really?! I’m already offended! I hate people who preface their shitty opinions with this.
She’s in 8th grade. Chill out and she has a right to her opinion. It’s your opinion I rather not read.
I’m in the eighth grade and I was talking to one of my friends (she’s Mexican) on how I wanted to dye a few streaks of purple or red in my hair because my mom is finally letting me again. She said, “No offense, but I don’t think black people should dye their hair.” I think it is such a double standard. So basically anyone of any race except for my own can dye their hair freely and not be stereotyped for being “hood” or “ratchet”? My goodness it’s not like I’m dying ALL of my hair purple. I know for sure that wouldn’t look right on me. I have dark brown hair and I had dyed 3 streaks of my hair purple in 6th grade and it fit me really well. I absolutely hate when people say stuff like that. It’s not fair that I can’t be myself without being called out just because of my skin color. Come on it is now 2015, why is stuff like this STILL an issue?!
when it comes to hair and fashion, there is always a double standard for black women. I blogged about this myself. We are judged if we wear weaves or wigs and we are judged if we wear color in our hair. People feel its okay to categorize us as a group rather than understand the individual. Our whole being is defined simply based on a look. its frustrating really.
Why do really think that? That sounds like a personal issue, I think the world cares about much more than just your outer beauty. I don’t know who you are or what kind of people you surround yourself with, but it sounds like a toxic environment
strange how it matters how you carry yourself, its like giving you an a-okay to do something. Please stop doing this.
I also think it’s because Justine sky had natural hair i love colored natural hair i see beautiful black woman all the time with colored natural hair blonde red highlights green blue purple gorgeous I hate ratchet colored weaves that’d ghetto and it’s mostly the ghetto bad ratchet black woman who wear colored weaves. Colored perm straight hair is ok sometimes .
I think it’s on finding the right color , how you dress , and how you present yourself .. Justine sky looks gorgeous with purple hair because she dresses nice and casual carries herself like a lady and found a color that matches her skin tone and features perfectly . It would only look ridiculous if she had rainbow colors or dyed it a neon color
My hair is a light brown color and it’s very noticeable in the summer with the sun reflecting off my hair i got it from my granddad and mom . It is a dark brown color in the fall and winter . I tried dying it black and now most of its light brown again .
High Lights LOOKS GOOD ON BLACK WOMAN BUT THAT Second Pic WAS Ghetto . Lighter to brown skin black woman can pull off blonde but I think darker skin woman like me look better with black and brown hair and highlights.
Actually that is wrong, Rivero.I’m an african american woman.I’m not mixed, neither is my daughter.I recently realized my hair is a cherry dark red.When it is exposed to light .You can see it, so clearly. I never realized this, tell one day I was doing my hair .I never noticed.I was a red head, but to the naked eye .Without light being shown on it directly. My hair looks plain black.My daughter’s hair is the color of my hair .Except hers actually shows.It recently became noticeable .After me recently using applecider vinegar and oil detangler.I made, it’s like it brought the color out.I don’t know if this is possible or not .It didn’t have that same affect on mines.You would never know.My hair is that color by looking at me.
Some kind of reddish is not an uncommon hair color for black people. Hardly anyone on my dad’s side has naturally black hair. Outside in the sun my hair looks a like bozo the clown color. Indoors it looks dark brown. People have always asked if I dyed it but I didn’t until a few years ago I started to henna. Honestly, besides the grays you can’t tell my new growth from the hennaed hair.
Dully noted Akela. I’m always striving to learn & understand, which usually includes being wrong (read: alot). As I continue along in life, I expect I’ll be properly educated in one way or another regarding my perceptions.
I’m 14 and March 2015, I’m going to be 15 and I want to dye 2 inches of my hair turquoise, although I have the money for the appointment and for the dye, my mom said no
I don’t get it she wouldn’t give me a direct answer, and I knew it was because of this but I am of no sort ‘hood.’ I want her to read this and understand that this has been something I’ve wanted since I was 12!!!
But now that I see more girls doing it, and I finally get the money, the approval from my closet friends, I get an answer of no from my mom
She wouldn’t dare say it will damage my hair because my hair will not grow any longer than it is, and I have started going for trims so within a year it should be gone. MOM!!
And the weird part is my sister is allowed to put in full couloured single braids for like 2 months and I can’t keep a colour for 6 months
Hey kid, mom’s rules! I know it sucks, trust me i wanted purple hair for years and never got it. Maybe as a happy medium, you can use blue cream eyeshadow and give yourself a couple highlights. google image “curly nikki eyeshadow” and show your mom. it’s temporary and you can do any color that exists. (But If she says no, then that’s no. please don’t cause a fight with your mom)
The double standard is horrible, I am in college in Philadelphia primarily white school and I have natural hair. I dyed my hair a maroon and purple mix color and get mixed reviews from people.Some say it is nice,but some say it is inappropriate, I personally believe it is fine but it is also said to be ghetto though I don’t dress stereotypically. It’s annoying because I personally just wanted to experiment with color.I plan on doing white with a purple tinge like a favorite superhero of mine. Hair color should not dictate how someone is, I am young and having fun.
Funny they call it “ghetto” when punk rockers in Britain where doing this back in the 80’s.
Idk. I personally think colored hair look better on darker women. Not saying they have to be black, but when adding color you need to understand how it looks on your skin. I think Justine looks better than Katy Perry with that blue/lavender hair. Nikki M. kill any celeb with color hair. (black, white, Asian, you name it)It all comes down to colorism. A lot of people think lighter is better when in reality, darker skin gives off a nice contrast to color hair. I don’t think its hood. ITS FABULOUS!!!!
Please people color hair is Never Classy! Don’t use the word classy for purple or pink hair lol
Double standards Yes!
KATY PERRY looked nice where
Rihanna probably won’t be able to look decent in color hair.
But then again if ur 17 it looks nice on myself a mother who hangs around sophisticated people I would look stupid.
trololololol.. stop.
Lol…you spend your free time with sophisticated friends but you couldn’t come up with a better synonym for the word “stupid”? But I digress. You stated Katy Perry looks nice with colored hair but Rihanna wouldn’t why not? Rihanna has dyed her hair bright red and blonde; both colors looked fabulous on her. I’m sure she could pull off other colors as well.
I think it has more to do with how they dress, or their attitude. I wouldn’t think that Elle looked hood or ghetto, it looks great on her!! she actually makes it look very classy and not even skater like! Not like skater look is a bad thing, but when you’re adult it’s better to look so.. A few color streaks on a adult looks way better than five colors and all over. I think people over think things way too often.
Totally a double standard. Great article.
One way to look at it is like this: How many Centric (black) women do you see with a natural hair color other then black? Now, how many Caucasian (white) women do you see with a natural hair color other than, let’s say, blonde?
The point being – although, for example, purple may not be a natural hue, Caucasian women already have a variety of different natural hair colors, whereas many Centric women’s natural hair hue TENDS to be black (I could be wrong).
Decide on how those particular dynamics may — or may not — contribute to the issue and in what ways (positively and/or negatively)
The ancient Egyptians and Indians have been using henna for thousands of years– that’s an auburn hue over top of naturally dark brown/ black hair. Do you see that as a positive or negative?
You, Rivero, are feeding into the same BS that’s preached in this country. Whenever black people do something, it’s “hood” or “ghetto”, that is until white people make it more “mainstream”. Then the derogatory commentary seems to cease. And people of color feed into this nonsense, especially those looking for approval.
This might be before your time, but I remember when black American women where the primary ones rocking long acrylic nails with designs on them. Black men called it hood or ghetto and looked down on it for being fake. That was until Korean women started opening up nail salons next to their husband’s dry cleaners and now white women, Asian women, etc… women had somewhere to go to replicate a look we were rocking for a decade. Funny how the derogatory name calling and references to it being ghetto stopped once other women joined in.
The bigger issue is that minority men need confirmation from white men for whatever reason to acknowledge anything different their women do. They should realize mainstream culture in this country will never admire anything that’s unique to black American women, until they figure out a way to emulate it, and make a white woman the poster child for it.
My ‘One way to look at it is like this’ may have been misconstrued with disapproval for the way Centric women style their hair; not at all Ladylanita. My original post was simply a way of trying to come to an understanding of the issue at hand. Judging by your reply (and the up votes on your post), I suppose we can rule out my theory as a possible answer to the articles question; No?
Being a leader/influencer means being ridiculed for adopting trends before they’re trends; it means not having to be in an
‘official’ position to have an official impact on affairs; it means learning/understanding that people will call you crazy, stupid, uncouth, etc., while simultaneously paying close attention to your moves and adopting said moves for themselves in a culturally relevant manner (read: cultural relativity; going mainstream).
As far as the lack of support from Centric/Latino men for their women: others psychological bearings are theirs and theirs alone.
After reading the article, I think it depends on how you carry yourself. Enough said right. Unless you’re super Bo-dunk or have never left “the hood” you can distinguish between who is “ghetto” or just an Alt-Rocker/Punk…or just likes to play with color.
I honestly, as a person who changes their hair colour often via synthetic dread (not!)locks, cannot say that I ever thought of an unnatural hair colour on a black person as “hood”. “Freakin’ AWESOME”, maybe. BUT I have seen people who I thought unnatural colour didn’t suit (maybe it didn’t fit their face, or the hue was too warm/cool, or they just threw it on there and got a mottled look), but that’s just *my* opinion. Sometimes you can tell when someone is trying too hard to be trendy, or when they’re just expressing themselves. There’s a vibe, a certain feel to it.
Someone said above that black people are the “worst” when it comes to judging people. I live in a big, predominately black city, and I am, unfortunately, inclined to agree. People ridicule and fear what they don’t get; it seems that if you don’t look The Typical™, it’s a problem. I have always worn an “alternative” look and 9 times out of 10 it was someone black that didn’t get it who insulted me, HARD–or tried to take my picture without me noticing…which I always did. Maybe to put on “No Way Girl” or whatever…?
Lately, in the complex where I live, little girls have told me they like my hair, which I thought was sweet. Or, if I do a show where there’s kids, they all come up to play with my hair. But I usually get stares, pointing, laughing, “Happy Hallowe’en!”, and once, at Universoul Circus, asked if I was part of the show. ::eyeroll:: And it’s all from black people. If it’s not those reactions, it’s labeling me with “Lil Kim”, “Nicki Minaj”, “goff (read:”goth”)”, “Elvira”, “Lady Gaga”, and “George Clinton’s [insert family member here]”…”Who you tryna be, Nicki Minaj?!” “Look at her, trying to be George!” Er…NOPE. We are so quick to accuse someone of being a “fake [insert celebrity]”, instead of taking each person as an individual.
Funniest thing: a boy came up to me after a show and asked if my hair was real. I told him, “No, because if I did this shxt to my OWN hair, I’d be bald!” He gasped, “I KNEW IT!” My whole thing is “Why was that so important?”
Oddly enough, something I’ve done that would catch ridicule at one point would, without fail, be sported on the street by the same types six months to a year later. And sometimes in fail mode.
I absolutely adorable Justine Skye. She truly is my idol. I planned to dye my hair purple once I did the big chop, but we got a new principle at our school who’s always preaching “natural colors only.” But, the thing is, she only preaches that to black girls. My friend, Sarah, dyed her hair a deep purple/blue and it looked gorgeous on her. She came to school and was immediately told to get rid of it, or she would be kicked out of school (a public school, mind you.) So she had to go and bleach her hair. There’s a white girl with pink streaks in her hair, and they haven’t told her not one thing about her hair being a distraction. And another with bright red hair. It’s just very irritating how anything a Black woman does to express herself is “unprofessional.”
I’ve never heard of a black girl being called “hood” because of her hair color. I’ve heard “ghetto” because some of the crazy and (you have to admit) creative designs. I could see where stuff like that could be considered unprofessional (the skittles designs, etc;) But I do know there is a big double standard when it comes to women of color dying their hair an unnatural color. For example, there’s a lot of blogs that showcase fair women and men with color hair but when you try to look for darker skinned people with colored hair you’ll have a hard time finding much. Unless you google something like “Ghetto hair styles” But try searching “Colored hair” and find me a black girl other than Willow Smith with colored hair.
I think there is a need to the rest of the world to understand and accept the uniqueness of black women’s hair. However, a lot of our problems start from “within the camp”. Let’s cheer each other on and celebrate our individuality.
Now, i’m no about to and copy her do today but i kind of admire the guts of the Skittles hair lady – fair play to her!
Check out my new blog:
http://www.diaryofaplainzimbogirl.com
I’m not the type to wear the big hoop earrings and dress trashy but I’m black and I color my hair bright colors and have always been talked about. I love wearing jeans and cardigans or pencil skirts and button downs I have a very good vocabulary and I am college educated. I’ve been coloring my hair for about 12 years I’ve even done the colored weaves. People will judge people over anything. What’s sad is that a lot of the remarks made about my hair come from other black women some who can’t rock the colors others who are afraid and some that just don’t understand that my hair does not affect them. I even got written up a job AT A HAIR SALON (that I interviewed at whit got pink hair) because the guest complained….. Smh humanity I’m slowly losing faith in them!
Please excuse my typos, I was at the time heavily medicated…. Sorry!
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I don’t think I look “hood” here but the guest at the salon complained…..
I don’t think you are hood however I don’t like bright red hair on anyone and you have tattoos and a nose ring on top of all that color so it can be considered hood. I don’t care if your black or white but your hair should be your natural color. Just my opinion.
My tattoos symbolize the cosmetic industry I work in, my nose ring isn’t worn at work either. Why is it considered hood though? I thought hood was a place people lived or a way in which people act. Why is it ok to judge me by how I look? Tattoos date back ages and so does coloring the hair red…. Learned all that in Cosmetology school! Why in this day in age is it now a problem for the 2? Why should hair be a natural color only? Who says these things have to be the way they are? How does my appearance play into your life or anyone else’s if the services you receive or me going about my daily life do not cause any negativity in your life? I know women that dye their hair black which is not a common hair color for women of color is that wrong? It’s not naturally their hair color! White women have naturally red hair that comes in all shades. A persons hair color or piercings or tattoos have nothing to do with how they perform their job or their character! These people out here committing crimes, serial killers, child molesters, etc all look like your typically next door neighbor driving a Prius going to their 9-5 but people have more of a problem with the person who’s hair is bright and a nose ring but the sweetest person you could ever meet?
ALL OF HUMANITY IS DOOMED BECAUSE EVERYONE IS SO DAMN QUICK TO JUDGE OTHERS!
Bow tie, button down, slacks, same tattoos, same nose ring, unnatural brown/blonde hair…. Does that still say hood?
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Sunni, you don’t have to justify anything to anyone. The person above who told you that people should wear their own natural color was stating just that-their biased opinion. And as you know, people’s opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and sometimes shit comes out of it. I personally think that people should be allowed to express themselves however they want to. I’ve been dyeing my hair rainbow colors for over ten years now, but finally stopped once I got my job as a school teacher. But then decided to dye it again-this time golden brown. Because I’m mixed, some people assume that golden brown is my natural hair color-when in actuality my hair is usually jet black. Just because it doesn’t look clockable doesn’t mean it’s not totally fake. So people talking about fakeness don’t really have a leg to stand on. As a teacher I do understand the concept of presentation-which is why I tend to cover my tattoos and I don’t wear my piercings around the children. It’s my belief that one should be able to express themselves as much as they want by adoring ones body with jewellery, tattoos and coloring ones hair-or wearing wigs or extensions. It’s your prerogative. However I do understand that in order to get a decent job, a lot of code switching needs to be done so it’s probably best to get stuff that are easily covered, and if you’re rocking a bright color-maybe just mix it in with black or a more earth (natural) tone. As so many people on this board have shown-people can be incredibly judgmental. But in the long run-fuck em. It’s your life and you only have one shot at it. Do you.
My question is, where do you all work and get away with these unnatural colors?
I work at a top 25 liberal arts college. I’m wearing bright blue at the moment. It was purple, blue and turquoise last year. I’m 40years old and I tend to dress in office basics with some more casual day mixed in. No one would ever look ar me and think “hood”. 😉
I work in a bakery and a restaurant. Neither job cares, and the lawyers, senior citizens and government workers that come into my job love it and some have even expressed how jealous they are that they can’t dye their hair because of their professional jobs.
I think The Purple Unicorn aka Justine Skye is thee most beautiful girl! I have always loved her purple hair because it looks so good on her. It’s done in a very tasteful way. It’s funny because on Skye I think (sultry, serious, fashion forward, hot) on Katy I think (pop, childlike, for fun) even though Katy is older.
I love Elle too and I’m glad she made the money/ skittles comment because that’s EXACTLY what I thought of when she mentioned hood hair. Not color, but actual BRANDS and superficial objects etched/painted/attached/molded onto your hair. It’s ghetto to me but I do accept it as an art form (it does take skill to do) and it can be cool, but there’s a time and place. For me that’s weekend/festival hair, not “everyday and I’m trying to have a real job” hair.
To be fair its not every black girl experimenting with color that gets that label. Be for real. If someone has colored natural hair and is dressed high fashion or even H&M fashion they wouldn’t be getting that label. Its those ugly weaves that get that label and it is hood.
20+ years ago when I was a teen coloring my hair and wearing piercings black people told me I was weird and called me a disgrace. I used to say “Just wait 10 years and you’ll be doing the same thing.” I was right.
As a (super pale) lady who used to frequently dyed her often between the ages of 15 and 20, and at one point sported short pink hair for approximately a year- I think that many people hold the belief that if you hair looks crazy then you want attention. And I did get a lot of attention, both good and bad) Younger people seemed to give most of the positive results, and older people tended to be rudely sour about it, as if I was holding some sort of offensive invisible banner). I was never called hood, or anything of the sort (to my face). I did get a lot of “Why!”s. I can only really give my perspective.
As a naturally shy and introverted person it was always INTERESTING to see other people’s reactions to something that didn’t affect them at all. The stares were incredibly unnerving at first, but I slowly became immune to it (it helped me out a lot and became a good conversation starter as someone who sucks at meeting new people). Once I dyed my hair back to a more natural color it was fascinating to see how invisible I suddenly became.
I once had a middle aged (white) lady walking in the opposite direction down the sidewalk leading up to the college take one look at me and just start doubling over laughing/pointing. Some people are just rude.
I don’t it looks hood when women of color experiment with hair color. But there are hair colors mixed or applied in a style that’s less than flattering. I don’t always like Katy Perry’s choice in hair color like I don’t always like Nicki Minaj’s. When it comes to our ethnic hair in general we can change it in so many ways and don’t have to conform to just straight long naturally colored hair. At the end of the day I don’t care if someone finds my hair hood as long as I like it and it doesn’t change me or my capabilities.
Again! What type of job do you have? Are you self-employed such as a hairstylist, nail tech, tattoo artist, band member, you could even work at a job that encourages individuality such as Claire’s, Foot locker, forever 21 and such. For jobs like that, sure, hair color that looks professionally done is fine as long as you don’t step into a court room. Otherwise if you work in an establishment in which the credibility of a business is based on the neatness and professionalism of the employees then you might want to give a second thought to dying your hair, blue, green, purple or skittles.
There is a double standard but we, the African American community created it! We critize & judge our own probably more than any other race.
yep sooo true. we are the worse.
No we are not the worse. white people created all of this and they judge us all the time. we may buy into it eventually which we should not but it is not our fault. This world hates us for no reason
There may be a double standard pertaining to bold hair colours and who wears them. But I think that depends on who you talk to (along with what they’ve been exposed to), as well as the media you choose to consume.
I, for one, don’t think bold hair color automatically looks bad on black women. When you bring up the word “hood” in this context, automatically, I connect it to the word “tacky”. There are people whose overall look is tacky, and they look that way regardless of their skin color. The tackiness that I’m referring to is connected to their overall style of dress and how they carry themselves.
Elle, neither you, nor the model next to Katy Perry look tacky or “hood”. In my opinion, it takes more than a mere hair color for someone’s appearance to be worthy of that adjective.
Whaaaat I’ve never thought it was hood to see a black girl with fun colors in her hair! At my new job yesterday there was a black girl with really pretty unnatural red in her hair and I thought it was beautiful and that she looked very classy!
I recently dyed my hair lavender. I was skeptical of wearing the color because I am currently looking for a new job, and live in a predominately white area. I know how I will be perceived should I get an interview, but fuck em.
I live your lilac highlights. I find them to be funky and original. Plus you seem to keep your hair taim and healthy, so to me you look classy!
I’ve never heard anybody except my parents judging people with brightly coloured hair, of any race. But the high school I went to, it was definitely considered cool. I guess if you live in the south you may run into more resistance. I guess I better hurry up and dye my hair pink if people judge this much once you leave college! But, I think anyone should be free to dye their hair whatever colour they want, regardless of race. As for the skittles lady, perhaps her hair might look better were it to not literally say SKITTLES.
Ok. It is professional vs. liberal, thats why artsy gets a pass. However, bright colored hair by itself it’s not what makes the women hood, it is the hairstyle along with the excessive accessories and the tasteless outfits the attitude oozing from her pores on purpose. In my best… “oh my gooooodness” voice I can muster. That package deal… In my opinion, is what is determined as hood, n 2 be clear, if her hair was black or brown, she would still be considered hood. It’s not creative, it’s gone too far. It’s for attention, n it’s not cute. I like the purple in the opening pics on both models n wouldn’t consider it hood or trashy on either. I’m rocking a pink or orange wig for homecoming this year… Saw lots of purple wigs at essence for Prince n was bummed I hadn’t thought of it too. Turn down for what, have fun.
Exactly! It’s not the color alone that makes one look like a hoodrat. Also there is a huge difference between adding a little color to your own hair and having a tacky, Rainbow Bright weave down to your butt.
Totally agree
nah, white girls might not be considered “hood” when they dye thier hair unnatural colors but it has it’s stigma in the white community as well. if someone is an artist or entertainer they amy get a pass but they’re not taken seriously with neon hair colors either and be considered “trashy” in this case it’s not a racial double standard but more of a conservative vs. liberal standard.
I had a lady almost run in to someone today because she could not believe my hair color as she drove by with her frown and nose stuck in the aire,but it look great on me
I’m black and I’m proud and I represent my color wow and that don’t make me ghetto just b.proud.
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Why the class hangups? Why is “ghetto” an instantly negative stereotype? A lot of the creative class in music are from these neighborhoods. Children are growing up there. What’s trashy is the assumption that we need to belittle anyone with these labels.
I realize that your argument includes that we need to let go of these stereotypes, but I think the lady with skittles hair is leading by action: doing the damn thing and rocking it without fear or reservations.
I’m not sure why this article was even written. The majority of people are not thinking “hood” when they see a black person color their hair. No need to attempt to create racial tensions where it doesn’t exist.
Sorry to hear you had that experience. I’ve never heard people refer to women who colored their hair this way. If these were your friends, I think you need to have a conversation. What is their real issue with you and your style? This could be their biased opinion. Maybe they aren’t truly friends.
Also, I never compare what I do to another race; I don’t think it’s healthy. If you know you look good, that’s all that counts. What others think about you, is their business. I wouldn’t waste time trying to change them. Spend that energy on yourself.
I agree with some of the comments…others, not so much, but we’re all entitled to our opinions.
I think that in order to pull off certain hair colors, some things should be considered first. Like what is the style/look you want to achieve? People judge us based on appearance so it is important to think about the statement you’re making through self-expression.
I know two Black women with short platinum-blonde hair…one is relaxed, the other has natural hair. Both are very beautiful and they somehow make it work. One lady has a caramel brown complexion with golden undertones, the other is very light with green eyes. So it looks nice on both of them. And for brown skin and darker sisters, there are colors like honey blonde, rich chocolate brown, auburn, blue-black, etc. That looks wonderful and stunning.
I knew a few Black girls in high school who rocked burgundy hair and it looked cute. I also experimented with hair color myself, when I was young. IMO, it all depends on a person’s style and the way you carry yourself. And like I said before, people of any race can wear different colors as long as you make it work for your particular complexion.
I know some Black women have been told they can’t wear certain colors of hair, clothes or lipstick…I’ve realized that this isn’t true, it is just about finding the right shade for you.
I believe that maybe it is considered “hood” for two reasons…first, because Black women are often stereotyped so many limitations are placed on what we can or can’t do.
And second, because unfortunately, there is an image/attitude associated with some Black women due to how they carry themselves. There could be two different Black women, one with her hair dyed auburn or honey blonde or even with a few pink streaks, but she still projects a “classy” professional image and wears nice clothes.
But on the other hand, there might be another with the same colors in her hair yet she has a bunch of tattoos and a certain type of demeanor so people might judge her more harshly than they would the first girl. It isn’t just about the hair color or even the skin color…it is all about image, attitude and how we present ourselves.
If you carry yourself in a trashy way, you will be perceived as such. I’ve seen trashy people of all races and I’ve also seen people who can show their individuality in a way that looks great.
It varies in my opinion. Its not what you do, its how you do it. Theres some gorgeous weaves I’ve seen with colors like purple, green, orange, sometimes even the rainbow and it looks gorgeous on some ppl.
Then theres the styles, like in the pic, of the lady with the skittles. That’s just ghetto and ugly.
Yes, there is a double standard, but once again, it’s not what you do, it’s all in how you do it.
I am a 34 year old wife and mother of two with purple /violet hair .my husband loves my hair,and my children love my hair. I get compliments everywhere I go .I think it’s a fun color..
I enjoy getting all dressed and picking out outfits and tops that brings out my color…
If someone thought it was “hood”, they never told me. Older women, young girls, men and boys have told me my hair looks nice. I never been one to care what people think, so I guess being “hood” never crossed my mind.
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White people actually might not call it hood but they do look down on it…those who choose to rock bright neon colors, it’s not seen as professional for any race. In high school, you weren’t considered cool for rocking these colors either…you we’re either a loner or a member of one of the outsider cliques….this is my perspective…and I think we as blacks don’t call it hood when we see whites do it is because we expect them (generally) to be weird anyway
Judging from the article, seems the only ppl labeling black women’s hair as “hood” are other blacks. So, the questions should be, why are blacks so quick to put other blacks blast no matter the situation? That’s the real problem.
I don’t know why you got down voted but I agree with you.
It’s funny how all these BLACK women are coming out saying you can’t get hired in a corporate job or promoted with your hair particular colours.
The people who tend to have the power in corporate environments are often White males.
Quite a lot don’t like dyed hair anyway whether it’s a common colour for the skin colour of that person or not. So dying your hair blue, purple or bright red irritates them as much as a White woman bleaching her hair blonde when her natural colour is brown.
And yes I’ve asked them. I also pointed out that White women dye their hair blonde as it’s the easiest colour to hide gray hair.
not true at all. There are plenty of whites who label blacks as ghetto or trashy. Who do you think came up with the term ghetto? Whites! Go read and learn something.
my friend’s black, and i’m mexican. she bought some hair online that’s like burgundy, and looked much brighter in the pictures. Unhappy with the color, she sold it to me, and i made a cute 3/4s wig out of it. had nothing but compliments.
she bought a brighter color, like near pink color hair for herself. helped her make a full head wig out of it. and maybe she’ll get like 20:80 compliments:negative reactions. It’s ridiculous how vastly different society’s reaction towards our hair is. why is hers judged so harshly??
I’m so glad somebody brought this up! I’ve always wanted to dye my hair fun new colours. I hhad style icons when I was growing up. I used to listen to only alternative rock or punk/emo type stuff. But I was always so afraid of looking like a ghetto girl. I spent most of my life being conscious of that steryotype and not wanting to be cast as that classless loudmouth in any way.
Recently I began analyzing my assessments of black women with coloured hair because I found I was making the same type of judgements about them. I hope we can turn this around for us in the next few years.
While I’m someone who does not have the courage to dye my hair any color, I applaud those who do. But this is just the age-old case, to quote the great comedian Paul Mooney “What’s ugly on us, is cute on them.” It’s not just hair color and hairstyle. It’s everything. Big butts are ugly on us and we’re fat, but on others it’s sexy. Big lips are ugly on us and we look like monkeys, but on Angelina and Scarlett they are full, sexy and sensual. I remember when nail designs were something only black girls did and now “nail art” is trendy. Black women get called terms like “hood” and “ratchet” for being creative, but others are “edgy” and “trendy”. Like the black guy on YT that calls black women with “weaves” “Hair Hat wearing heauxs”, white women wear “extensions” and it’s okay because it matches their natural hair texture.
I am 43 years old will be 44 next month and I am a white woman with blond hair and I have hot pink highlights on my bangs and such … i just like it has nothing to do with being trashy or hood …bi just did this the first time 2 weeks ago and am going in today to touch em up … y u ask ??? Cause it my life and I like them and I don’t care if u do or not … ppl need to let ppl be and stop criticizing others because of how they look … mind ya own business …
Do you want to be scene or hood? If it looks shitty you’ll get called names, if it looks good you’ll get compliments. Its all how you see it.
I never would have thought that hair color would be “hood” on a black man or woman, just like I don’t think it’s “hood” on a white or (insert race/ethnicity) man or woman. Personally, I would have never thought of this had I not seen this article. And my thoughts on that are both negative and positive. On one hand, I think it can perpetuate racial tensions and stereotypes by trying to find and spread more issues, but I think it can also shed light on some racial insensitivities that can be mitigated, simply by understanding the absurdity of selectively passing judgement. I think everyone has, to some extent, the tendency to judge too quickly, on all parts of the spectrum. I think it’s important, not just to accept, but to embrace differences. Personally, I’m tired of hearing the phrase, “i don’t see color.” That’s bs. We all see color, but why should that ever be a negative thing? I’m proud of me, of where I came from and who I have become. We all should be able to feel that way.
Thing is I consider it ghetto when its weave. Maybe Im biased but on black women who wear their natural hair texture and color it, it looks cool. The lady with the skittles however, that definitely is a hot ghetto mess. On a serious note, Neither white, black, asian or latino women would be able to land a job with pink or purple hair. Not a mid level job anyway. I have overheard white women speak negatively of other white women who dye their hair. There is a latina in my office who recently dyed her hair a brilliant fire engine red! And she even gets the side-eye from some of my snooty co-workers. Instead of ghetto they may refer to it is “trashy” but nevertheless I dont think its all that socially acceptable for anyone to dye their hair an unnatural color. But who gets the “ghetto” vs “trashy” label does depend on the race.
I honestly think if a white woman and a black woman walked into a corporate office with lavender or purple or blue or green hair neither would get the job because that’s not professional. I guess I have never seen a black woman be called hood for the way she dyes her hair. No matter what race it’s just not seen as “corporate” or business appropriate.
To me this discussion is kinda late. But better late than never I guess. I’ve never talked to anyone who thought colored natural hair was hood. That’s a dumb opinion, and it’s not even the same from a head looking like an Easter basket. I don’t think I really answered the question, but I think it certainly fits the alternative look. And guess what? Black people do that look BETTER. But that’s just my opinion.
Would it help if I called Katy Perry hood? Cause i’ll do that? Do i need to call her something else like trashy? Because I’ll do that too. That black girl doesn’t look any _more_ trashy than any white/Asian girl with colored hair. But I think ALL of them look somewhat trashing. The white girl, the black girl, the Asian girl. I’ve never thought it looked cute or quirky.
I’ve never in live seen a girl with green hair tips and thought she looked creative. So for me personally it’s all bad. Equally.
That said I fully believe that there is a double standard in the general populus.
I’ve never heard of this. Why would anyone think it’s hood to put a fun color in your hair? That’s just silly to think that black people putting funky colors in their hair are “hood” but a white person doing the same is being creative. I’ve never seen or heard this opinion. I think it’s beautiful.
They call caucasians punk, whuch is not socially favorable amongst the more civilized ( unaccepting) caucasians, yes they call them bad things also, and refuse to give them jobs also. It also depends on the subject if this type of color is worn on a classy girl of color it is ok, not a rude girl, but a girl or guy with a good personality.
Its equally ratchet in my opinion. Unless you work in fashion.
It’s not the tastefully done color that’s called “hood” – its that ridiculous crap like the Skittles shown above that’s suspect. Particularly when done with a terrible braid or weave job.
Great article, Elle! So happy someone is bringing up this topic as it is constantly looked over.
I remember when I got my hair dyed blonde and red, a couple of my friends said I looked “so ghetto” and “looked like a bird”… Interestingly enough, these were the same females who a couple years later dabbled into different hair color and “hood hairstyles”, after I went natural and stopped dying mine.
Just like nowadays, you have these artists and models wearing all of these non-traditional hair colors more than ever, and back in the ’90s, Black girls who wore these same colors were called ghetto and tacky. And the white women that wore them were considered emo, weird or punkish, as you stated.
It’s all taught me that if you are individualistic in how you rock your hair, EMBRACE it, because history has shown that the same people that mock you shall follow you or become inspired by you in some form or FASHION in the future. #FACTS
I feel like you took your friend’s comments out of context. My husband is from Baltimore. I mean Baltimore CITY. There basically is nothing but hood chicks there. When you put a guy on the spot they’re forced to rationalize a response that wasn’t that deep to begin with. I promise you that if I put on door knockers, I’m gonna remind my husband of home. Also, I’ve had fire engine red hair and magenta pink hair. No one ever once told me I looked ghetto. Plus I mean, you got purple and black hair. Ravens colors. LOTS of people get that to show their pride. I think we all need to stop looking so deep into things and just be ourselves. If you conduct yourself with proper diction and class, no one can call you ghetto, no matter what your hair, earrings, or nails look like
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I don’t think it’s fair for you to invalidate her experience/observations because “No one ever once told you you looked ghetto”. It’s great that you never had to experience that but that doesn’t take away from the fact that others have. I found your comment to be extremely dismissive.
Also in regards to “If you conduct yourself with proper diction and class, no one can call you ghetto, no matter what your hair, earrings, or nails look like”… most people judge based on looks… and I’m sure you won’t always have the opportunity to speak with proper diction & convince people that you’re not ghetto lol.
Listen, it was kinda “hood” when we use to color our hair with Kool-aid back in the day. But at that time the colors that are available now didn’t exist. Some sistas can ROCK crazy color, others can’t. If you look around some white chicks are always trying to “Bite” our style. Thus you have white girls wearing pink and purple hair like we’ve already done. Sometimes its a compliment when you are emulated ladies. And hell no it ain’t “hood” if you can pull it off! You have to have CONFIDENCE to do it though. Go on ladies and do the damn thing if you want to!
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I’ve done red, purple and blue. I get compliments and mostly comments that I’m brave and daring, but I don’t limit anything to my race. We are beautiful, regardless. I’m a social worker, and I don’t believe it makes me any less of a professional to express myself as such.
I have experienced this myself as my hair is purple now. Purple is my favorite color since childhood. I have received more compliments with purple hair than I ever have with my own color or different natural color. Funny though a male “friend” decided it was his place to say my hair was a “thot” behavior. If you are aware of what thot is, you know I was offended. I have always carried myself well and do not fit any description of a thot. Needless to say he is not a friend anymore. I do what pleases me.
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Your hair is so PRETTYYYYYYYY. What dye did you use? I think I want to try it out.
Have you considered telling these people to go stick their head in a pig? All sorts of people try hair colours — black, white, Asia. Hell I have purple hair right now, and I’m a middle class white brit
It is *not* intrinsic to any one culture (although certain very puritanical cultures may frown on it, but do we care? No). So tell ’em to go fuck ’em selves because you look bloody fabulous.
I just came from Afropunk fest where 8 out of 10 girls there had purple, green, blue or pink hair. I didn’t think it was hood at all.
I’ve always wondered this and I’m glad someone brought it up. I wanted to add very subtle purple highlights to my hair and I was blasted by my friends for even considering it but Nicole Richie’s hair is completely purple!
Enjoyed this article. 🙂
WOMEN regardless of race are taken more seriously when they are not slaves to whatever newest foolish looking fad that’s being promoted by rich influential puppeteers laughing and getting a rise as you foolishly follow their lead. WAKE UP and become a leader instead of a follower. That’s my point! I guess when Rihanna and Katy put polka dots on their forehead your going to do the same. In fact, I betcha didn’t know that the music they’re singing that you live by and practice they don’t even practice themselves. They sing about kissing girls and practice promiscuity and you say “Yeah that’s cool, ima do it too”, But guess what, they didn’t write it and they don’t practice it, but if they’re told to say it, they will say whatever it takes to get that money. So WAKE UP, and stop being so easily influenced. Besides, they have jobs that require an extraordinary and shocking appearance. Do you? They get more money when they attract attention. Do you? Will you get that higher paying job as a supervisor by walking in to the interview with blue hair, tattoos and piercings? If not, then maybe you need to pay more attention to what it’s going to take to get YOU more money, such as more education and an appearance that gains respect.
Walking into an interview with blue, purple or red hair has made no difference.
Then again I get interviewed mostly by men who have odd attitudes to women in my industry. If you don’t appear conventional as a woman you get hired.
They aren’t that stupid. They know hair colour can be changed.
No-one with tattoos, body piercings or multiple ear piercings shows them at interview. Unfortunatly if you have a nose piercing or even multiple ear piercings then the holes show.
Two things…
1. I REALLY don’t think anyone would consider Justine Skye’s hair hood
2. Why is being simply reminiscent of “the hood” an insult?
There is a hood aesthetic (that usually varies regionally) and within that aesthetic African American hair, both male & female, plays a role.
It’s funny how refined black culture is so quick to distance itself from anything “hood”… but still gets mad when we see “hood” things appropriated by other cultures.
Can we all try to be a little less bougie?
When it comes to damaging double standards for AA women I choose to focus elsewhere…purple hair won’t be my cause.
“Bougie” black woman checking in here and no, no, no I was not one of those fools screaming bloody murder at Miley and the others for “appropriating” because I do not equate rat culture with black culture. I refuse to claim gyrating a la strippers, butchering the english language, N word usage,
Or any sort of ignoramus behavior exhibited by too many of this failed generation. Thankfully my parents were old school and taught us that we not only WERE better than this but ARE better. You can go ahead and keep associating with trash under a false guise of black unity.
I am one of those “hood girls from Baltimore” (complete with long nails) and I think brightly colored hair is glorious. It’s obvious to me that there is a double standard not only when it comes to hair color, but just about anything else that we do to make ourselves look and feel beautiful. Others are allowed to do the same things and it’s seen as fashionable or stylish and on us it’s “hood”, “ghetto”, “ratchet”. I am from what is considered the hood or the ghetto and I’m not ashamed. Much of what is considered “urban style” that others sport with such excitement was created by those hood chicks they so denigrate.
I hate this double standard!!! Ironically, it seems like people approve when you lighten your hair to align more with European standards of beauty but when you are adventurous and choose a fun color, you get criticized. I have locs, and I personally adore loc’d hair with a few “accent locs” in blue or purple.
This article was right on time. My hair is natural and colored an ombre brown/blonde (I’m growing out the color). I want to wear straight hair without straightening my hair so I found a wig that best matches what my hair looks like. However, I’ve been on the fence about it because I work in and am about to start attending school in a predominately white environment. And this may be too much weight on my own shoulders but I don’t want to perceived by them as hood or ghetto because I wear my hair colored or because the style changed too quickly for them and all of a sudden they want to touch my magical hair. However, ombre hair is a major trend for white women. So why should I feel less than? This article made me realize that the perception is coming from me and that I need to let go what I think about black hair. All I can do is embrace my hair, forget dumb, engrained stereotypes, and just wear my straight ombre wig with as much class, style, and grace I have when I wear my ombre fro.
what was wrong with skittles hairdo? very classy 🙂
because the aching desire to meet and maintain euro-centric beauty standards are woven into our culture thanks to white supremacy. it’s all part of the endless grinding down of the black sense of self. just think about the fact that all culture in the world comes from black people and how everything is eventually co-opted/violently distorted by whites without the smallest shred of regard for it’s origin. hair coloring wouldn’t exist in the first place had it not traveled out of africa.
This is the first I’ve heard of hair color on Black women looking ghetto or hood. Kaleena on LHHATL has the most amazing shades of purple in her hair. I do know that some color applications regardless of race look haphazardly done and that has always looked ratchet.
I love Kaleena’s hair
I had never heard that black women that dyed their hair were called “hood” or that, that word was used with any of their hairdo’s or nails or weaves. I don’t think they should be treated any differently than white on what they do with their hair. I am white. I am also 62 years of age but considered myself very young minded in the way I act and behave, lol. My daughter just told me she wanted purple hair and she is 43. I told her “cool” and then she sent me the pictures of Justine Skye and Katy Perry both in purple hair and I love them both and would dye my hair that color too if I still had my long hair. I don’t personally think that people should be judged for anything except if it is criminal… but certainly not for what they choose to do with their own hair or bodies. I like tatoos and pierced ears and had my belly button done when I was in my forties or late thirties at least. People shouldn’t judge one another over such simple things.
I also love Elle’s hair and my daughter just fussed at me because she is only 41 and not 43, lol. I did my math wrong, lol.
that unly happen in the Us cause in the rest of latin america white and black women can do anything on their hair and body and is ok as long you dont hurt anyone
I have to respectfully disagree. It is still highly frowned upon in the DR (Dominican Republic) as well as other Latin American countries with an African ancestry, for women with tightly curled and/kinky hair to wear it in that state….
In the Caribbean too. I remember going to a (some-what) high-end restaurant for lunch with some friends and our waitress had a pink afro puff. Colored hair isn’t uncommon here.
You know why.
It’s not that women of color look “hood” when they experiment with color, it’s that celebrities are more likely to use professional colorists when they want to experiment.
The most difficult color for any person to pull off is probably blonde. You have to take care so that your hair doesn’t fall out in clumps. Trying to take black or dark brunette to blonde requires extensive processing. Not to imply that mistakes can’t happen in a salon, but if there’s a color that should never be attempted at home, it’s definitely blonde. After your color has been lifted, you have to choose the right shade of blonde for your complexion. Worst case scenario, you choose the wrong shade and you look like a hooker. The wrong shade of blonde can also make you look 20 years older.
Cartoon colors look fun for a student or someone that works in a more casual environment. Even though it’s just for fun, the reason some can pull off those colors and other can’t is because even colorful colors need to complement a person’s complexion. Someone with blue undertones can probably wear pink or purple, but someone with yellow undertones might have more options.
Whatever the case, just do your research. Instagram is a lie. I’ve seen a photo of a girl with bright red hair floating around and she looks great. Who knows what type of filters and lights she may be using. In real life and natural light, that type of color might make you look like…
might make you look like this dude…
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I work in tv production where anything goes and there’s a lot of white people. I get nothing but interested comments and compliments. Mainly the “why?” Question as to the color but teal is my favorite color. My boyfriend loves it and my family thinks it’s cool. I’m jamaican btw. My sisters love! I’m pretty grateful for the company I keep and the field I work in.
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Depends on who is wearing it and how it’s worn. Subtlety is the key.
I think a better question is why do we need to see something on white people to validate it for us? Lil’ Kim did the grayish purple/lilac hair thing darn near 20 years ago and we called her ghetto but we see Kelly Osbourne’s hair today and envy her edgy style. The double standard doesn’t have anything to with white people. It speaks to our continuing need to have mainstream America pat us on our heads and say that we are great too. We must stop.
How do you figure that racist double-standards that came about because of white supremacy is black people’s fault?
I thought Lil Kim’s purple/lilac hair(weave?) looked great on her. I thought the off shoulder and off the breast jumpsuit was tacky, but she had the body to rock it. Even her make-up was kinda cute (too much glitter on the lips.) What I did not like were those TACKY colored contacts and what I perceived was her (unnecessary) fascination with plastic surgery.
My sister and I recently had a conversation that included this very topic. Unfortunately, the opinion does not stop at hair color. Let’s talk booty shorts, hip hop attire, etc. etc. For some reason society comes down hard on the black community when donning the same quips as our non black counterparts. Think about it, white children wear there hair cut and styled, but our children where pony-tails….if we cut and styled our 7 yr old’s hair, she would be coined “too grown”, but a bob looks okay on white children….
Part of it is that you all know like I know, black people’s bodies are either criminalised or sexualised. White people look at a six-year-old black girl and think she’s at least ten; they look at an eight-year-old black boy and think he’s twelve and “old enough to know better” or a “thug in training”. They don’t see innocent children. So the longer a black child wears clothes and hair that scream “little kid”, the safer they are. That’s why white children are fine with bobs and ours go in plaits and pigtails.
I agree, and would like to add that lots of clothes that I see on other races (example those “pixie pants” that old navy had earlier this year or last year) would looke a “certain type of way” on many black women…. hairstyles are the same… I have a white colleague (we’re teachers) who changes hair color a lot, but if I did, I would attract way more attention…
This makes me seriously want to try purple hair. And the Dollar Tree recently started to sell hair chalk…
Okay, trying it tomorrow 😀
I full head of colored hair looks trashier than a few streaks or the ends. Like the ombre trend going around looks really nice. But celebrities get away with full head dye jobs way more than your average citizen
I think experimenting with color is cool and I’ve never thought of it as ghetto..except for when people use kool-aid to dye their hair lol. Hell, I wish I had color in my hair right now lol..I think my fellow curlies have been killing the color game better than anyone else right now!
Definitely racist. People will call you ratchet, ghetto, hood or any demeaning name under the sun whether it matches your skin colour or not. You are judged on hair color alone. As if girls deserve respect based on how conservatice they look.
I don’t see dyed hair as ghetto; in fact, I never knew that some people saw it that way until I read this post. But I don’t always see all dyed hair as perfect either.
I’m going to be honest here. I don’t always like dyed hair because sometimes:
1. It doesn’t match the person’s skin tone.
2. It makes the hair look very unhealthy.
3. Some of the dyed hair that I’ve seen looks like someone threw something very dirty all over their hair.
4. Some dyed hair that I’ve seen just doesn’t look nice.
But when I see dyed hair that is vibrant and looking nice and healthy, I LOVE IT.
I love color. I feel weird without it honestly. I rock my natural curls in a beautiful shade of blue/green at the moment. To to knowledge, no one has called me good or ghetto (I had one lady today says she “didn’t know how she felt about it” because my hair didn’t match the season -___-), but I’ve received a good response from quite a few people of all races. I’m thankful that I work at two places that could really care less what my hair looks like, as long as I get the job done at the end of the day.
White women who die their hair pink and purple are stereotyped as ghetto as well. Case in point: I’m in medical school and the two girls in my class who rock colored hair (one has all blue and the other rotates b/w pink/purple/blue streaks) are dying their hair back to its natural color for clinical rotations. Unnatural colors on hair is looked down upon across the board outside of places where creativity and artistry are reveled.
lol yeah right.
“White women who die their hair pink and purple are stereotyped as ghetto as well.”
lol yeah right.
unfortunately, there is a double standard. the most hateful of them being “she know she’s too dark for that” and then call her a glow worm, black & mild, cheeto, etc. i only hear this from OTHER BLACK folk. i think it looks nice long as their hair is healthy. its not something i would do but i would never trash someone for their hair dye – that’s petty.
Depends on how they wear the style. I’ve seen brightly colored braids on black women that have looked both classy and “ghetto”. The nicer looking braids looked thick and full. I’ve seen colored hair on non-black women that looked pitiful and some that looked gorgeous. Bottom line is: the style is just as important as the color (or you will look a mess). The young lady, pictured next to Perry, hair color is gorgeous simply because her hair is.
I 100% agree. A few girls at work were going through a hair dye phase where they dyed their hair green, blue whatever. And, I soooo wanted to dye my hair electric blue but the only other black girl at my job told me not to do it because I would look ghetto. And, for me I had the same exact sentiments. If I had blue hair I would have to look extremely punk or just look ratchet.
Sad, but true.
If it’s not a color that you could naturally hair been born with I don’t think it’s professional but to each it’s own. If you work for yourself cool but in corporate America Purple hair isn’t gonna fly white or black
My friend use to comment on my some of my strange hair colours.
She then had a mixed nephew with some of the strange hair colours and I showed her a photos of one of my little Black cousins with the same strange hair colours.
Point is you don’t know what hair colours a Black person can be born with. No every Black person is born with dark brown/black hair.
i was under the impression she was talkin about off the wall colors like blue and purple. *cue Nico and Vinz:* “Am I Wrong????”
My hair was random shades of red which I sometimes let fade out.
I got comments on the bright reds and the fade outs.
I think it all depends on how well your hair color matches your own natural tones and skin color. If you dont match it will look trashy or “hood” and that goes for any person of any race.
The purple hair looks a hell of lot better on the black girl then it does on katy perry. katy is a natural blonde and she is pale. the black/dark colors don’t look good on her, so she looks off and a little trashy in my opinion. The purple however blends in very well with the black women features because she is darker. same goes for a few black women who try to go blonde. i’ve noticed whenever you see a black women with blonde hair in magazines they lighten her skin to blend in with the blonde. In real life they powder the skin so it wont look off.
i can’t even lie I have a double standard. when I see black women with bright red weaves i think hood but if i see a woman with a bright red fro i think bold/fashion statement
As a girl who lives for Metal (true Maggot here: Slipknot for those who don’t know), Colored hair is far from ghetto for me. And it’s a definite double standard because if you’re colored hair isn’t being refered to as hood the ever classic: “Are you trying to be white?” comes rolling off the tongue. Asians always dye their hair every color of the rainbow and no issue not even with the colored wigs for Lolita or cosplay. Yet a girl of color with hair of an unnatural hue is quick to catch judgement. My only issue is how the color is executed and if it looks healthy.
Not all Asian kids can color their hair
Unfortunately, the tendency to stereotype is all too pervasive in our society. While I could go through a whole host of examples when a trend or action is viewed negatively because of underlying prejudices, I think the more important point is we should judge people individually based on more than their appearance or our experiences with other people who may happen to share some of the same physical characteristics.
Point well taken, Elle. I’ll do my part to be more open minded about people that I meet.
Well I will go further and say it goes far beyond the hair thing
-Black women twerk: they are hood and classless
Non Black do it: They are creative and sexy
-Black women speak up their mind and stand up for themselves: they are like men with no education
Non Black women do it: They are spicy and brave
Black women have big bottom: They have Ghetto bodies, Fat
Non Black women do it: they have the best bodies, they are Glamorized
Black women with confidence: They are arrogant and bitchy
Non-Black women do it: They display good self-esteem
And I can go on like that forever!
Yes such a sad reality that white “artists” and “creatives” will commodify Black culture for their own advancement or to make money and give nothing back to the communities they’ve stolen from.
But I think Black women have a very unique and important position of power. White men will under estimate us based on our gender and race not realizing what a force to be reckon with we are in our communities and just in life period. Historically we’ve been granted access to education and jobs because of that. We were instrumental in the women’s movement (though many White feminists will ignore that) because of our matriarchal backgrounds.
We’ve been here making so much positive history happen and we will continue to do so. I’m thankful everyday I was born a Black woman despite the pain involved. I’m a smarter, stronger and better person because of it and no one can take that from me.
That’s totally accurate my Nubian sister and so profoundly stated. With all of the struggles we face daily. I am also glad I was born black, strong, beautiful, intelligent and dignified. We ROCK 365/24/7!
Every comparison you made was a generalization and just not factually correct.
Very well put Nubiahbella
I don’t think that girl looks “hood” at all, I’m British but I read many american articles, blogs, and watch a lot of american media. The colour alone isn’t hood, especially with natural hair it seems artistic, now… Had she put on big hoop earrings, gold chains, put the colour on a tacky ill fitting weave… That would have been quite close to “hood” we have “chavs” in the uk, they are mostly Caucasian and can be seen in matching top and bottom tracksuit sets along with big hoops and fake designer goods, I don’t think hood is hair colour alone, its a whole style and culture, white people have the capability of looking hood too.
Couple things…Nicole Ritchie is Lionel Ritchie’s daughter and is documented as identifying as black. I really wanted to clear that up first because I know the frustration and pain of being identified as White when you aren’t.
Secondly, I’m so so so tired of men thinking they have a license to tell women what they like and do not like about our appearance. NEWSFLASH, the way we dress and style ourselves ain’t for you!! They need to seriously keep their misogynist thoughts to themselves and seek help on respecting women.
I do think non natural colors can also have a negative connotation for White people as well. I think they are labelled as trashy or low class and it is associated with immaturity and/or rock/punk/juggalo sub-cultures. I think pop stars sort of get a pass as people assume it’s like a costume for them.
I don’t doubt people view it as “hood” but I’m wondering if that’s coming from our own people more than anything. I definitely think there is a White majority out there that doesn’t like any color but I also think they don’t like long hair on men and/or short hair on women. I try not to look to anyone for validations for my look. I do think when you do something that stands out it a part of territory to get comments because it’s not the norm but I really think we need to change our language because saying “hood” is denigrating and is about class issues as well as race issues amongst ourselves.
On your first point, I’ve asked them to correct it – I honestly have no idea why I wrote that (total brain fart b/c I’ve read about it before, she is adopted though). On the second point, I was looking at pics of colored hair and asked him what he thought. Please don’t make the issue about what men think – his opinion was harmless (and obviously held no weight on what I did with my hair, haha). I agree that men often offer up unsolicited opinions, but this time I asked, and asked that he elaborate. And I absolutely agree about terms like “hood” and “ghetto.” Someone once told me that it was “ghetto” to wear pajama pants in public. I was so confused. Thank you for your comment and catching my error!
She can identify as purple doesn’t make it so. Only two black people can create another black person. It’s pretty pathetic this needs to be said.
@Queen False. Race is a social construct. In America, a majority of Black Americans are mixed with a number of ethnicities. You are essentially implying that no Black Americans are Black and THAT’S a pathetic implication. Also, Nicole Richie has a Black parent so end of discussion there.
Sounds like you could do yourself a favor and research race at your local library *sips Kermit tea*
Why oh why is it always a black oops (WTF you call yourself) persons the one parroting the ” social construct” nonsense.
You can keep sipping on that kool aid errr tea.
Nicole Ritchie is Black and Mexican, so in American terms that girl is BLACK!
Whoops sorry to burst your bubble Queen, but black blood makes you black. You put a drop of chocolate syrup in milk and its chocolate milk no matter it’s hue. Stop spewing ignorance, it’s enough of that going around as it is. Both my parents are mixed with all kinds of non African heritage (as are most American blacks with slaves in their ancestry) and I am still black. Despite my Native American, Mexican, Irish, and Dutch genetics I identify and am identified as black. Stick to the subject which is people should be judged on who they are and what they do, not what they look like period!
That is so true it irritates me when a person who is half black claims they understand our struggle it’s not just that let me point out that people of fairest color like light skinned black people get treated a lot different than someone of darker complexion like myself I don’t complain about it but it is the truth
The girl with the colors and skittle design on her head tho’.
Ghetto Fabulousness….lmaoooo
I’ve never heard someone refer to Justine Skye’s hair as hood. The black girls who receive that kind of back lash normally simply do NOT look nice with the color, didn’t blend it well or it doesn’t compliment their skin. White people who dye their hair tacky colors also receive the same criticism. I’ve never even heard anyone refer to Nicki Minaj’s hair as “hood” or “ghetto.”
*Shrugs* it’s “hood” when any woman walks around with skittles hair, EOS. I wish the “they do it too” mentality would die.
Anyhow, BGLH, what’s up with the lack of hair icons? Can these please make a return instead of these feigning for clicks pieces?
took the words out of my mouth
I think that part of it is when I see girls with these crazy hairstyles wearing an everyday look or when they’re dressed down no makeup, etc. it makes the look, look “cheap”
It’s just my opinion that when you have crazy colored hair you have to always be dressed well with makeup to pull it off. Which is one of the reasons why I’ve never dared to have too funky of hair is because I enjoy my comfy yoga pants, sun dress, no makeup days.
I think that’s the reason the Kelly Osbourne’s and Nicole Richie’s can get away with it is because when we see them they’re glamed up. We rarely see them in “everyday” normal attire.
The black woman in the picture next to Katy Perry is gawwwwgeous.
I disagree that black women and black girls look hood when they color their hair because just like white women and white girls are intitiled to color their hair like the rainbow and not be criticized. Black women should not be featured in ghetto blogs such as No Way Girl and World Star Hip Hop which are showing our race as people who only know how to act like fools, when we are much better than that. Black Women don’t only get criticized by the color of their hair but their length and texture. When many White Women are viewed as an influence by other races. The sad part is that our own race is criticizing us instead of trying to embrace each other. My name is Britney Nicolas ,I’m 16 years old and I live in Brooklyn , New York.
I’d love for WSHH to go bankrupt. I’m so tired of the images being portrayed about us and how “we” are when he knows DARN well that people take cues from the media on how to treat us.
This is a great article, Elle, because it is something that I often think about. As a black woman speaking of MY black woman experiences, we foster a culture of conservatism. We are conservative in the work place, in church, and by default in our personal lives. When we do step “outside the box” and try something, in this case hair color, that is not typically considered “what black folks do” we run the risk of being labeled “ghetto” or “trying to act white” rather than creative or simply someone doing what he/she wants to do. I am an educated professional (college professor and new business owner) and I’ve done the shaved side thing and am in the process of figuring out whether I want blue, red, or purple hair. I’ve been warned that it’s not good for me professionally or personally but it’s what I want to do…so I will. I love being a black woman and LOVE black culture, but I will not be bound by it…none of us should!
As a college professor, I would be careful about “unnatural” hair colors (i.e., purples, reds, pinks, etc). Personal liberties aside, you risk putting your job on the line. I say if you still DO decide to color your hair, go with some subtle purple or blue highlights/semi-highlights, that way you can still get what you want, but still be within reasonable bounds of your job.
Brittany, I accidentally upvoted your comment, but quite honestly, I disagree. Professors often possess a certain level of autonomy that others do not. Do you know where “my pretty” teaches, or what subject? Do you know how long she has been working?
I had a professor who rocked a wild colour in her hair. No one cared. She was professional and knew her stuff. THAT is what mattered the most.
When I’m old and grey I plan on dying my hair every color of the rainbow? Why not?? You don’t even need to bleach it first. Why should we have to be boring when we are older? I understand work is a big reason adult women can’t… but when I’m retired? I’m gonna have purple hair and long blue fake nails. Why not? You only live once!!
My two cents: I never thought of this as being hood or ghetto, just a fun temporary hairstyle, white or black. But . . . In my opinion, there comes a certain time when you get too old to carry off a trend. On a young girl, say early 20’s on down, this looks really cute, experimental, trendy, etc. But when you start getting in your 30’s, for me, it seems like you’re trying too hard to look younger, kind of desperate for some attention. I’m 33 and a mom and I wouldn’t do this cuz I just feel like I’m too grown for rainbow brite hair. But to each his own and if it makes you feel good, then do you, boo.
Exactly, one has to consider age! I’m in my 30s too so I have to think twice about these trends. Some if the styles are really cute but I’d look a hot mess if I ever step foot outside my house with some neon colored hair. A couple years ago when those hair crayons were all the rage I just knew I had to have it! I wanted blue hair so badly! ???? I’m glad I had friends who cared and told me to step away from the clot crayon and take a break from youtube.
Hm, I wonder if anyone tells this older white lady (and those like her) that they’re too old to experiment with colour:
http://37.media.tumblr.com/894e0c87543f3725a253e58d44916acc/tumblr_n185tnKyZh1qbuo5po1_500.jpg
I am 70 years old, and I just feel that there comes a time when you do what you want to do, and who gets to judge you?? Why does my hair concern ANYBODY ???
I’m thinking about purple to cover my gray….see you on the other side??
I actually know a few older woman with coloured highlights and different colour hair.
And yes some of them have children including adult children.
They actually act and look younger than they are. They are also less judgemental than a lot of people.
I love colored hair & big bamboo earrings. This is such a good topic. I’m glad to see if mentioned because I see this type of double standard all of the time.
“Hood” like trashy/trailer trash is suppose to be the entire look not just one part of it.
In the case of Black women its just another example of racism to label a Black woman who does one thing i.e. dye her hair an unatural colour “hood” but not call a White woman who does the same thing any names.
Looking at the first 2 pictures above, I love the dyed natural look. I usually like Katy Perry’s looks but I’m not feeling her look right here. So I guess I’m not prejudiced one way or another. A good dye job and hairstyle makes all the difference. Ijs.
Yes! I think execution is the most important part of the bold colors.
I don’t think it is considered hood when ALL black women experiment with color at all. I think “hood” refers to the tackiness of the color choices coupled with the style. “Hood” means you are following ghetto fashion which usually lacks class and is not considered professional. As a VP of Human Resources I see it a lot and in the workplace. Some black women in my opinion can sometimes go overboard with color and styling and don’t seem to know what styles are NOT appropriate for work. If a woman showed up for an interview with either of the color styles above I’d say she was not professional regardless of race. However, it depends on the job and whether it is within the creative industry, etc. Neither style above (side by side photos) I would consider hood but the Skittles style is as “HOOD” as hood can get.
The fact of the matter is that these same distinctions and conditional statements aren’t made for white people.
There’s no, “it depends on how you wear it” “well, some of it’s tacky.”
I never see tacky white girls being described as “hood.”
I’ve gone to work with my hair lots of different colours in the past. Absolutely no problem in blue chips or smaller companies including consulting companies.
Like when I first had natural hair the only people who have an issue with other Black women not conforming to their standard in real life are other Black women.
In regards to turning up with unconventional hair colours – purple or blue hair if you hair is naturally dark doesn’t stand out as much as on women whose hair is a lighter colour unless you bleach it. So Justine Skye’s hair would be fine in the places I’ve worked but Katy Perry’s wouldn’t. Also Elle’s hair would be fine but the skittles hair wouldn’t be.
O…I just had to point out that you said it would work better on someone with naturally dark hair, therefore it would be fine on Justine Skye’s hair, but not on Katy Perry’s hair in the workplace. Katy Perry’s hair IS naturally very dark, she just has much lighter skin, which makes the hair stand out more. Double standard? I do think the style looks better on Justine, but both women have naturally dark hair.
And I think the girl in the above pic is pulling off the purple better than Katy Perry
Truth!
Yea, whoever Justine Skye is, she’s killin it with that gorgeous purple hair! Do your thang girl!
Surprisingly Nicole Richie is actually Black and Mexican
You’re right! Apologies, I should have written non-black. I believe she identifies as mixed race rather than black, but I’m not 100% sure. I’ll fix it on my reprint and ask the editors to update.
She identifies as black. I was a big fan as a teenager, so i remember. She got the race question in nearly every interview, she would always answer that she was black.
Her biological parents are black and mexican (Sheila E. is her aunt), but she was adopted at a young age by Lionel and his first wife, Brenda (both Afro-American). She has often been questioned about her ethnicity, and consistently identifies as “black.”
Looking at your pic and the one of the model, “hood” was the furthest taught on my mind. I think your hair looks creative and fun! Wish I could do it but I’m #toodamnoldforallathat! I do agree that presentation makes the difference in how color is percieved. If you have a bold, bright color yet you style your hair in a natural way (like curls,twistouts, buns etc) then you might be viewed as a woman experimenting with color/or are creative. If you have neon hair that’s styled like a flamboyant cockatiel and give companies free advertisement on the side of your head then yeah, that’s “hood”. Same applies to “others” if you have dry trashy looking hair that looks dry/greasy I get the perception of a “skank”. Is there a double standard for WOC? Absolutely, but as always we must continue to just make up our own rules and standard of beauty regardless of what “others” have to say.
it depends on the style. certain styles are hood. period. they originate from the ghetto and there’s no refuting that. however, that doesn’t mean, just because a black woman colors her hair a funky color, she is “hood”. hood is a mentality, a culture, etc. and every black person isn’t hood even if they are from the hood! it just really depends on the style and the mentality of the person…what the individual is trying to do