Monday, March 1, 2010

Hair Typing Is Stupid....

That is all...

Okay...No it's not...I've got too big of a mouth for that to be all...

I'm really tired of folks talking about 2b, 3a, 4q...whatever...I still don't get the point of this exercise in futility...

Does it REALLY matter at the end of the day? I've heard it said that it helps folks know what type of products to use, but I'm starting not to believe that...

I honestly think that there are a lot of folks out there that use it to further promote the "good hair/bad hair" foolishness...

That's all I'm saying...

*runs out of post*

11 comments:

Mommy said...

i never looked at it as a way to continue that good hair/bad hair b.s., but i hear you... but i still think it's helpful as a guide for folks just getting started or transitioning or even looking for some new products to play with. it helps me to know that someone with 2b hair who raves about some magical formula can keep it moving because my hair won't respond to it. i'm more inclined to take advice from someone with hair like mine. and without seeing them in person, calling out these hair codes is really all i can go on.

ChariseRaynee said...

I agree with you to a point, and you would not be the "some" that I speak of... I used to think that it had to do with products, but the more I read and the more I interact with folks, it's different. Many, many folks are using the typing to put their "curls" on a scale. I never hear anybody say, "I want to find out how nappy my ish is..." "It's I want to see my curl pattern..." I don't see anything wrong with having nappy hair, but the typing isn't used correctly, IMO...And from personal experience with folks using the typing for finding products doesn't wash with me anymore...I've seen folks buying products based on a review from sombody with 1b hair when their hair is extremely kinky, and will bypass products that would be better for their hair because they "think" their hair is something else based on that typing system...It's sometimes used to further divide and/or distract...That's all...

Mommy said...

ok... on 2nd thought, i totally see what you're saying.

i think the bottom line is that people need to know what they're really working with. to me, that's what good hair is. products won't give them "curly" hair when it's naturally "kinky." products should be used to enhance what's already there.

misss_e said...

You are right on point with this one.

msjaim said...

i completely agree & have always really felt that way. I posted on Naturally curly, most ppl ask that question for 1 of two reasons: folks are in denial & want someone to tell them they have a looser texture that what they actually have 2. others want confirmation that they have what is perceived as good hair. I always challenge folks who ask that question, what are u actually gonna do with that "info" or confirmation of hair type? you can have 2 ppl who appear t have the same hair type, but then their hair will respond to products differently. There are too many other more important factors like: is your hair inherently oily/ dry, is your hair porous or non porous, environmental factors like the climate & how your hair responds to it, are your strands fine or thick, is your hair dense or not.. so yeah, i think hair typing is bull ish. You have folks who try & use the term grade[of hair] like thats any better.

Charise Shields said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nichole said...

I just stumbled upon your blog and love it already! I so agree with you! And even if 'typing' is used for product use, it still doesn't apply (IMO). No curl is considered equal - not even in our own heads half of the time! Like you said, regardless if you're a 1j or a 10p, you're still going to have to work with what God has given you... by trial and error!

Cee-Lo said...

Yea, I can't get with the typing even if its for products bcuz alot of naturals use commercial or drugstore products that are not targeted at us(ex.4a) and work well for our hair and at the same time the ones who it was intended for(ex. 1c) use it with great results as well. So that cancels out the product effectiveness scaling by hair type for me....

Also another thing I've seen on hairboards is that ppl rant and rave about their hair type/curl pattern yet the ones furthest down the scale/tightest curl patern gets little attention which promotes "good hair/bad hair"...I've seen pictures of different people with the "same" hair type and yet their hair looks different ...so I dont get it

Funbi said...

Personally, I don't find it useful, for myself. All it tells me is that that natural has looser curls than mine...so? Aren't we all natural? I genuinely believe some people use this to help others but I disagree with getting hooked up on it because either way what works for one natural even with the same hair texture as the next natural might not work for her. I think a lot of newly naturals find it useful and that's all good but at the end of the day, as you mentioned, even without us knowing it, the whole "good hair" "bad hair" thing lurks in the shadows. We can use it but let's not abuse it!
Great post!


www.datfunkyfro.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I totally agree

Anonymous said...

I see where all of you are coming from. I just got into an argument with my boyfriend because he believes that black people all have the same hair. My best friend believes the same. And even though its not accurate, for some of us who legit had no idea what we were doing, it was/is helpful information. And I'm not even talking about the products, because you never know how a product will react with your hair.
One important thing the hair typing system helped me discover is how to achieve certain styles. For example: Those with loose curl patterns can easliy do wash and go's and twist/braid outs. But those of use with tighter coils have a much harder, if not impossible time achieving a decent wash and go. And we have to put our hair in more twists/braids (only on STRETCHED hair, I might add) to get a more defined look. Another example; those with looser curls don't have to finger detangle. I'm not saying that all of us kinky/coily naturals have to (most of us do), but I know that others definitely do not. The curl typing system shouldn't be our bibleand shouldn't be taken too seriously, but a lot of the methods a kinky natural has to take to care for her hair are different from one with looser curl patterns.