Quotes from the Shea Moisture COMMERCIAL: SPECIAL NOTE: PLEASE WATCH THE COMMERCIAL BEFORE READING.
Hair is a beautiful thing and a captivating aspect of the beauty world! So captivating, that it’s a subject matter that we all should be talking about. The quoted words above that captivated my attention during the best ever, BET Awards had every bit to do with acknowledging that ALL hair is beautiful! These words literally resonated with me as I've traveled down these same retail store aisles in search of the most effective products for my hair only to be directed to a small section within an aisle of "beauty products" entitled ethnic. Shea Moisture’s first ever commercial made me come to the realization that I don't really have a presence on the shelf and in so many other arenas, a seat at the table to stake my claim. I've always lived in a world where my hair has been questioned by all ethnicities of women, not just women of color. Therefore, the curiosity of my hair has never really sparked an uncomfortable flair. As the words above state, I've internalized "hair talk." When going to certain events or interviews, I've changed (straightened) my hair to fit the appropriate mold - (hair that doesn't cause too much attention). I've not voiced my thoughts on hair, positively or negatively. White women have told me, "Oh I love your hair, how does it do that?" I just respond with an explanation of how I got it that way whether wearing weave or my natural curls. My African American peers have asked me the same questions as well. The different perspectives of inquiry from both ethnicities have been interesting and definitely a result of the emphatic expectations that we've placed on all women in the beauty division. There is no reason why the girl with the curly fro or the dredlocks should feel as though she's on some lonely island in retail stores or in a sea of women who don't look like her. Here's a tip: Help her feel beautiful by being inclusive! Beauty has been so dictated that we all have these questions as to what hair is "right" when in fact; there is no right hair. There's just hair. I guess this is why I've not allowed hair inquisitiveness to be presumed in the wrong way. Due to the beauty standards before us, some of us simply can't help our naivety. I'll spare you of some of the mindless questions I've received about my hair due to nescience. I'll spare you of some of the painful testimonies I've shared with my African American friends. However, Shea Moisture brings a major topic to the table... We all belong in the beauty aisle. Beauty should be accessible to all rather silky straight, weave, curls, relaxed, thick, thin, or whatever. Moreover, the inclusion of ethnic hair should be accepted as a beacon of beauty just like blondes, red heads, and more. I've always done whatever I wanted to do with my hair- mostly, styles for convenience. It wasn't until I saw this commercial by Shea Moisture that I realized, in order to exemplify the hair styles that I love, I do, in fact, have to go to the ethnic aisle in major retail stores. In most cases of hair shopping for proper conditioners, extensions and supplies, and more, I usually visit "the hair store". Ironically, people of Asian descent own most of those. I've done this throughout the years of my relaxed hair, braided hair, and weaved hair and curls. I've done this without little thought at all to the many aisles of products labeled "beauty" and not designed to accommodate the textures and styles that I embody. The visuals of the Shea Moisture commercial helped me to realize the truth of ethnic hair's role in the midst of tons of products not made for ethnic hair. So this is my call to action for all of us with certain beauty standards. We are all beautiful. Let go of the standards and depictions of what beauty is supposed to embrace and join the Shea Moisture conversation of #BreakingTheWalls. Let's adapt this mentality, "We're Shea Moisture and we can be found in the beauty aisle where we all belong." Better, yet, let's be found in various esteemed positions all over the world because we belong there too irregardless of any physical assets!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorThe things I write about are the love of my life and the life of my love! Archives
July 2017
|