Zoe Saldana covers the InStyle Magazine’s annual issue dedicated to hair. It’s called InStyle Hair, which… I understand what they’re doing and why they’re doing it, but I just think it’s funny. I had a moment of whimsy where I just sat here and thought about all of the other special editions that we could have. InStyle Wrists! InStyle Boobs! InStyle Belly Buttons! InStyle Knees! I would actually pick up an edition of InStyle Boobs, just FYI. And Christina Hendricks better make the cover. Anyway, Zoe gives an exhaustive interview about her hair, of course, and I actually found it interesting. Go ahead and call me naïve, but I didn’t realize that Zoe had been chemically straightening her hair this whole time.
Zoe on Latina hair: “In Latino culture, hair carries a lot of history, a lot of weight, and a lot of energy. I always liked my hair. I never wanted to have any other skin but my own, any other hair but my own. Women who spend so much of their lives wanting to have something else miss out on learning to appreciate what they do have.”
Her mother’s words of wisdom: “My mom raised my sisters and I with a strong sense of self. [My mother] always said, ‘Honey, there is nothing that a red lipstick and a pair of red shoes can’t heal, cure, or solve.’ And I absolutely believe that. They can get you out of anything, even the biggest funk of your life.”
She dreams of pixie cuts: “At some point I might just want to chop it all off and go really short. I’ll just wake up in the morning and, well … you know. [I want to] learn to enhance my other virtues, instead of depending so much on my hair.”
She cuts her own hair sometimes: “If I want to chop off my hair, I’ll take scissors and do one side before I even go to the hairdresser. It’s all about trusting my instincts. Plus, that way I can’t change my mind!”
Letting her chemically straightened hair grow out: “It’s been eight months since my last straightening treatment, and I’m going to let it all grow. It’s been a long time since I’ve woken up with my hair looking like an Afro. I can’t wait to have that again.”
I’m not trying to be nit-picky about something I clearly know nothing about, but I think there’s a contradiction between “I always liked my hair. I never wanted to have any other skin but my own, any other hair but my own” and her admission that she’s had chemically straightened hair. I’m not saying that Zoe shouldn’t do whatever she wants to her hair – seriously, go wild, I have no judgment – but if you’re going to go in for heavy chemical processes, don’t try to convince me that you’re all about owning your natural look. I can’t claim to be “natural” anymore – I’ve been dyeing my hair for a few years now to cover the grey. Therefore, I’m not going to give some thundering “love thyself” speech about how we should all accept and embrace our natural selves. I hate my grey, so I dye it. I’m still me, I still accept myself, but I also acknowledge my own vanity.
Photos courtesy of InStyle Hair, WENN.
Ok I relax, color and flat iron my hair and I feel good about it!
There are plenty of Caucasian women (and Indian women-who have the best hair in the world) who have their hair straightened. It’s the age of perfection, ppl.
As a woman of colour, decidedly African but with mixed blood, which shows in my hair, I understand Zoe. If you are not of colour what she says may sound contradictory—it is not. She is saying she likes her hair and can manipulate it. She did not say she likes her hair as is, as God made it–it’s complicated if you do not know Black/Latin Black culture. Thanks.
I dont agree that its complicated. I’m Black/Latin and I get a relaxer once a year. NBD. I think people of any race who are born with curly/kinky hair straighten it from time to time. It’s still the hair they were born with. What Zoe said just sounds so sanctimonious, as are most girls who go “natural”.
What’s ‘sanctimonious’ about it?
Relaxers may be nbd to you but to act like Black hair hasn’t got history to it is just naive tbh. It is a complicated issue a lotof the time (go and push a Dominican woman into a swimming pool and you’ll see just how comlicated it is). I’d like for our hair to be no big deal too but unfortunately we still put kiddie perms and weaves in our little girls hair when they’re as young as 6 and ‘nappy’ is still used as an insult. I’m not a fan of Zoe but she didn’t lie and it’s very interesting that any black woman that talks about natural hair or loving what grows out of their scalp is called ‘sanctimonious’ or my favourite ‘natural hair nazi’s’.
“It is a complicated issue a lotof the time (go and push a Dominican woman into a swimming pool and you’ll see just how comlicated it is).”
🙂
Oh dear god. Crystal, your comment proves my point. A lot of “natural” girls are incredibly sanctimonious and are the first ones to tell you to go natural and about their journey and yada yada yada. It was interesting at first, but now it’s just annoying. Some of them, notice I said some, need to understand that everybody has preferences and not everyone wants to go natural. People have a right to alter their appearance any way they see fit. I don’t see a problem with “kiddie perms” I started out with them. I’ve never had a weave, but my younger cousin, who’s 11, gets them all the time. I will say, in her case, it’s sad. She doesn’t have much hair and it doesn’t grow, but the women in my family all have long hair that grows fast (everywhere unfortunately) so her mother has instilled a hair complex in her. She doesn’t feel good enough to walk outside with her real hair. But not everyone is like her.
Oh please Gracie is right. Zoe is full of crap. Her hair is more the texture of caucasians. If she jumped into a pool, the texture will remain the same; whereas most Black women will feel the need to run back to the salon if they did that due to fear of ruining their perms and their hair kinking up. Zoe’s hair on the other hand may result back to wavy because she has naturally curly hair but it will not kink up. She needs to STFU.
Yup, I am down to once a year with my relaxer as well. Although I never did get in on relaxing every 6-8 weeks, I always thought that was too much. I just see the benefit in going WAY easy on the chemicals. Your hair is healthier and the growth, provided you take care of it, is stronger. Plus, I went back to using avacado oil on my scalp, don’t know why I ever stopped, that and I am using a different shampoo and conditioner. Alot of the black hair products still aren’t good for our hair. Alot of us know how to style our hair, but don’t know how to take care of it.
…I hate natural hair nazis by the way! Well hair nazis period…what the next woman does to HER hair doesn’t affect me!
LOL. Y’all are a trip, I swear.
You don’t see a problem with kiddie perms. Most of that stuff can burn through a Buick but there’s nothing wrong with putting that in little girls’ hair and indirectly telling them from an early age that their hair isn’t good enough because it’s not straight (under the guise of ‘preference’, it’s always a ‘preference’ isn’t it.)? Ok. Cool. I’m probably just a natural hair nazi anyway (even though I’m not natural, go figure). Have a nice day.
“Oh please Gracie is right. Zoe is full of crap. Her hair is more the texture of caucasians. If she jumped into a pool, the texture will remain the same.”
Not true. I don’t define her hair as “malo” like us Dominicans say but let’s be real, it is not the texture of Caucasians.
Her natural hair is like 3b…
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/fandomsquee/startrek/before/zoe_over_01.jpg
I don’t really think she sounded sanctimonious because she implied that she liked her hair natural or not — she didn’t necessarily say going natural was the best route or that she would never straighten her hair again – she just said she’s trying the natural route out and looking forward to seeing it with its natural texture…
Agree. Look at her hair in part of the shoot. You can see the new growth and texture coming in, which has a lot of wave and curl to it.
“Zoe is full of crap. Her hair is more the texture of caucasians.”
1. I find it odd that you are telling a stranger what her hair is. Hmm.
2. If you look up pictures from the movie “Get Over It” from 2001, she most certainly does not hve “caucasian” hair.
@ Tiffany she is full of crap; Zoe’s hair will not become coarse/nappy (that’s the word that some people of color like to use)if she jumped into a pool. Her texture is much softer than let’s just say India Arie or Viola Davis. If these two jumped into a pool, you will definetely see that Zoe’s wet hair wouldn’t compare to theirs. My son has long natural wavy hair and when it’s wet, it’s wavier but it does not become coarse, I can blow dry his hair and he is good to go.
IMO Zoe is just trying to garner up more credibility as to why she is a good fit to play Nina Simone. She knows that her biggest critics against her playing that part are African Americans. Now she’s playing the look at me card; I have nappy hair to if I don’t perm. Like I said STFU Zoe.
BTW, I saw the movie “Get Over It” don’t prove nothing. It could have been styled that way for the movie.
It’s obvious that Zoe does not have Caucasian hair. But, I doubt her fro would be the same texture as Angela Davis or Nina Simone, who she’s portraying in a movie . Even Halle Berry had a relaxer when she was wearing the long weave. I know that for a fact, my friend went to the same hair salon in LA. Vanessa Williams also went there too. That being said, her fro is probably the same as Halle’s (the curly fro she sported in her younger years) Pre-HW fame and nose job. Yes, curly enough that you would jump out of a pool to run to the hair salon.
Cs have you seen a fro; google Angela Davis and others, that’s a fro. I doubt Zoe’s hair would look like that. But let’s not forget that there are White women with natural curly hair; Gina Davis and Kerri Russell ring a bell. But what Zoe is trying to do is lead you guys to believe that she has coarse hair like Nina or Viola Davis and you’re falling for it hook, line and sink. Curly hair is a thousand times different from nappy or coarse hair. Zoe does not have Coarse hair her texture is so different.
What’s wrong with talking about the journey from chemically processed to natural hair. For a lot of us who have gone natural, shaking off the stigma that there is something inherently unattractive about your natural texture IS a journey. Whatever the next woman wants to do with her hair is HER choice…I’m not trying to convince anyone that they should “go natural” but there’s nothing wrong with loving your hair in it’s natural state and saying so.
Oh god the world is such a ridiculous place when people are aggressively leaping to defend the ‘history’ of black hair…….. Seriously…….
It may seem ridiculous to you, but there is a historical component, whether you agree with it or not.
Watch the documentary “Good Hair” and get back to us.
Seriously, all white people need to see that film just to know what *many* women of color go through. I was completely naive before I saw it. For many, keeping their natural hair isn’t even practical for a job interview, and there is indeed a history that goes with it.
Agreed Lex. There really are way bigger issues in life than hair-don’t care what color you are. Do what you want with it if it makes you happy.
Thank you for the documentary reccomendation, Sweet Dee. Honestly, I’ve been scrolling through the comments and have come to the conclusion that I am remarkably ignorant of what you ladies are saying! This is all going completely over my head.
Why do you assume that @Lex isn’t black or isn’t aware of the history of black hair or that they haven’t watched GOOD HAIR. Honestly, it’s exhausting to see these aggressive defenders of ‘black hair history’.
@Amelia – i would also recommend Jamelia’s documentary about where the hair we use for weaves and extensions comes from. After seeing it, i am never, ever buying cheap, and or non human hair.
LAK, I assumed that because she put the word “history” in quotes. They were the wrong type of quotes, if I’m nitpicking. Sorry you’re so exhausted, nobody is forcing you to join in the discussion.
Sweet Dee – I am exhausted at seeing the same argument used as if we are ignorant of the history. I live in hope that i will see a different POV. I also live in hope to see the history can be acknowledged AND reclaimed rather than this constant accusation.
For those who say that there are bigger issues in this world than hair, I absolutely agree with you. However, in our cultures (Black, Latino, just to name a few), hair does have a history and it is of extreme importance. There are plenty of instances where men within those cultures have deemed women like me, with fine hair, more attractive than women with course or “nappy” hair, and that is simply not fair. There’s even a salsa song titled “Etnia” (Ethnicity) where the singer makes an infamous line that all of us in our culture can relate to: “Al negro le gusta del blanco el pelo bonito” (translated as the Black Latino loves the White Latino because of his hair). Hair may not be a huge issue in the grand scheme of things, but to completely act like there’s no such thing as history of hair or that it doesn’t play a role within a particular culture is obtuse. I don’t mean any disrespect, so I apologize if I disrespected you.
LAK, fair enough. I respect that sentiment.
Everything has a history. And many of those things have a social and political component.
Is Zoe Saldana Dominican?
She’s whatever she wants to be; depends on how she feels when she wakes up in the morning.
That’s the sarcastic answer aimed at Zoe. To answer your question; yes she is Dominican, as well as Black, as well as Black/Latino. In this particular article she is Latino.
This woman as of late can’t seem to talk about anything unless it is relating to her appearance and how she sees herself; who is she trying to convince, us or herself?
She’s Afro Dominican and Puerto Rican I believe. She’s covered Latina as well as Ebony magazine numerous times. Hollywood doesn’t create roles specifically for Afro Latinos, so Zoe, like Alfonso Ribiero (Carlton Fresh Prince) Tatiana Ali (Ashley Fresh Prince) Stacey Dash, Laz Alonzo, Nona Gaye (Marvin’s daughter) play roles specifically for African American, but for whatever reason Zoe gets judged because an interviewer will ask her about being Latina and another interviewer will ask her about being Black. *shrugs* She’s never denied or hid her Latino/Hispanic heritage like some who dropped their last name when they hit Hollywood….Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen, Rita Hayworth etc…who are White Latinos
V4Real, why can’t Zoe have multiple identities?
Edward Said, a postcolonial academic (author of Orientalism which ofcourse is a very important book in postcolonial theory) has said that over time people acquire several different identities. He has said that he struggled with it himself, ‘With an unexceptionally Arab family name like “Saïd”, connected to an improbably British first name (my mother much admired [Edward VIII] the Prince of Wales in 1935, the year of my birth), I was an uncomfortably anomalous student all through my early years: a Palestinian going to school in Egypt, with an English first name, an American passport, and no certain identity, at all.’
So yes, people can have multiple identities and it is a journey for many.
@cs Zoe had a nose job? First time I heard that.
Much like in that story in The Hollywood Reporter’s Stylist Issue, she just sounds so up herself here. Maybe she should do interviews when she actually has stuff to promote, instead of just talking about her clothes and her hair.
Mea culpa. I forgot about Star Trek. However, she is not talking about acting at all (at least in these excerpts). it’s all about hair. The cover even says: “The 5 Pantry Products She Loves for Her Locks”. Nowt about Star Trek.
I am not hatting on her because she’s a woman (wah?). I’m not hating on her at all, actually. I merely observed that she sounds a tad superficial and vain to me of late.
With women it’s always comments like “she needs to STFU” “she is so full of herself” “she’s overexposed”. Never for men.
Can’t expect guys to be tolerant when women are ready to tear another women down for no reason.
Completely agree with B and Mar – Chris Pine recently did a mag where he just wore a ton of different suits…….. And ZS presumably answered the questions she was given. Why the automatic condemnation?
Idk why I couldn’t reply to your 2nd comment, which was a response to someone else; but maybe just this time she was talking about herself (her hair) and not her work, is because the issue is called “InStyle: Hair”. The issue is all about hair. Unless she talked about her different hairstyles in movies, what is the point in talking up/promoting a movie?
@hannah…isn’t the interview in In Style Hair? I would assume that’s why she was talking about her hair. I would also hazard a guess that she was ASKED about her hair rather than her just going on a tangent about it in an interview that was strictly about the movie she’s promoting.
Insert eye rolling/drooling emoticon here.
I do love myself, but I prefer how I look with blonde hair as opposed to the colour it’s become over the years. Having wispy blonde hair as a kid ruined me! I aim for 90% natural, because it’s impossible to be totally natural in this society without a)being shamed for it (hippies are gross!) and b) being some kind of wandering gypsy.
I don’t think Zoe is giving a love thyself speech. What I understand is that she likes her hair and she styles it.
I have a latin american background. What Zoe’s mother said to her about red lipstick and red shoes is EXACTLY what my mother has said to me (except with black heels).
I could never bring myself to chemically straighten my hair. I prefer it curly.
I never would have guessed that she chemically straightened! I’m pretty good about being able to figure out who the naturally curlies are by the texture of their straightened hair and I really did think Zoe was naturally straight (or wavy at least–like a 2a or 2b).
I’m having a hard time picturing her having a natural curl texture tight enough to form an afro, even though she’s got the ancestry to make it possible and likely. I still need to see the receipts. 🙂 I hope she really does grow it all out natural and that this isn’t just some early press for the Nina Simone thing to combat the hate that’s been thrown at her for not being “black enough.”
I was thinking the same thing – my daughter’s hair is 4c (and is natural – she’s only 3) and I cannot imagine that hair on Zoe – not saying it *couldn’t* happen… It just looks more like she has a good press than a perm.
Agreed! Side note: That smiley face looks creepy. I regret using it.
YES! I was writing my own post but saw yours so will just add it here “I actually believe that she gave this interview to portray herself as more “black” for her upcoming movie about Nina Simone. Lots of people, including myself feel anyone else would have been better than her to play this role, perhaps even a singer! That’s all I got out of this…lol. Afro, my a$$ you know this chick loves her hair straight and there aint nothing wrong with that, I like my hair lengthened as well but still love my curls.”
There is nothing that some red lipstick and red shoes can’t fix? Gee, thanks Zoe. All my problems just went away!
There’s the solution to all this North Korean grandstanding.
Oh Hannah, now you put me imagining Kim Jong-un and Obama sharing red lipstick and showing their stilettos to each other!
@Hannah and minime: LOL!!
watched Chris Rocks’ movie Good hair, and it is amazing how GOOD HAIR, not kinky, and tight little tiny curls is not loved in certain cultures. They want flowing hair, loose curls and not to have to relax it. Great movie but very eye opening.
Haha. I was thinking the same thing. mom just died? Here’s some shoes. Now don’t you feel better?
As a naturally curly girl, I say kudos to her. And I can’t really bash her for straightening – when was the last time a curly haired actress, of any ethnicity, was successful in Hollywood?
Most African American actresses straighten/wear weaves, and it’s not much better for white girls. Nicole Kidman hasn’t worn it natural in decades (the “curls” you occasionally see are a result of her chemically straightened hair being tonged). Julianna Margulies straightens her beautiful curly hair for the Good Wife, as do Emmy Rossum, Keri Russell, the list goes on. Sure there are exceptions, but 9 times out of 10 if an actress starts out curly, she inevitably goes straighter over time. It’s about being “perfect” and in control, and on a deeper level, not so ethnic/non-WASP looking. Hollywood is so bland and generic in its beauty ideals when it comes to hair especially.
Good points. There is also the fact, that curly hair is not seen as ‘professional’. No wonder my career as never gone anywhere…
I know, it is ridiculous when it is something we are born with! Did you ever see one of the morning show segments where they sent the exact same woman in for interviews, once with curly hair and once with straight, and the response to her hairstyle completely changed the way they perceived her personality/professional capability? Such discrimination.
Men don’t like it, either, evidently. I am still pi$$ed over the comment Patti Something who does that Millionaire Matchmaker show made. She said her clients NEVER request a girl with curls. Ouch.
Having seen a couple of episodes of that show I can safely say curly girls are better off! They have such slimeballs on it, the whole thing is so tacky, she is glorified madame looking for prostitutes imo!
I know there are guys like that out there but they are generally not very bright, I never had a problem with men not liking my hair but maybe that’s because I didn’t go for superficial jerks? My husband likes it just fine, the one time I straightened it it freaked him out!
@Mrs. Darcy: Good Lord, no I have never seen that show. How frightening to think my competence would be judged on the basis of my hair.
Men (in my experience) fall all over themselves when they see my hair. It has always been one of my best features. I refuse to torture it into submission on the basis of what society deems permissible. Just as I refuse to subject my body to the torture of high heels. Gah.
I have really curly hair, and I rarely straighten it (like maybe once every 6 months cause I like to have a change!). I don’t have a problem with it at work, and guys (and girls!) seem to love my hair. So i think this is just biased media coverage.
The last curly haired girl (that I can think of) on TV was Carrie from Sex and the City. Too bad SJP straightens it so often.
The straight is better than curly cultural phenomenon is across the board, not just Hollywood.
Look at our own dear Duchess Kate. Her natural hair is curly, but she straightens and then adds the loose dolly curls at the ends.
@LAK I agree, but I do think it is even more impossible in Hollywood, where certain narrow standards of beauty are the norm. I came of age before the current trend for every woman owning a straightener so maybe I take it more for granted. Don’t get me wrong, I hated my hair growing up and did everything I could to try to “fix” it when I was a teen, but because I eventually realized it looked better curly I came to accept and eventually like/love it (depending on the day!;). I think young curly girls nowadays can “blend” much more easily with the variety of straightening tools available now. I just wish more of them would give their natural looks a chance because I do think it is breeding a lot of self loathing/homogenization in female self image. Which is a shame because the “pro-curly” information on naturallycurly.com and the Curly Girl books and things are far more than I ever had growing up.
Duchess Kate has had a total Hollywood style makeover, don’t get me started on her!
@Lulu.T.O. totally w/you on high heels, torture devices as far as I’m concerned!
Mrs Darcy – I too came of age before straightners galore.
My parents used to braid or thread our hair so they didn’t have to deal with it. I still shudder at the days spent with the local maasai woman to do a whole head and made it so tight one couldn’t make facial expressions for weeks, not to mention the headaches. To this day, i rarely braid my hair and even so, i have big braids that take afew hours. And i will never, ever thread my hair again. those styles left you with sores on your scalp.
Braids and threading aside, i’ve never had issues with my hair. Once my parents gave me responsibility for my own hair, i went down the road of hair dye [all colours of the rainbow], relaxers, partial shaving or all of it etc. I just loved the idea of playing around with my look. only exception: Jerry Curls. I couldn’t stand the idea of all that oil in my hair.
Is Kate’s hair naturally curly? Wow – never knew that… I’ll have to go search for some old pics. She must have gorgeous hair naturally.
I just think that straight hair is more valued, just as height is valued. However, we all know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors and sizes.
“Hollywood is so bland and generic in its beauty ideals when it comes to hair especially.”
“Hollywood” is a business. It is about selling products people will buy. If the American public showed more support for curly hair, you would see more actresses with curly hair. I would agree with your statement, but I would change “Hollywood” to “America”.
@Tiffany -I respectfully disagree. I don’t think Hollywood truly gives people what they want to see, it gives them what they think they want to see- big difference. Whenever there has been a high profile curly haired actress, I have gotten many positive comments (often from strangers), often being compared to these people regardless of any real resemblance. People notice it because it’s different. A lot of people think curls are beautiful, they just never see them and get used to that,in my opinion anyway 🙂
I do agree with you that there is a very anti-curl feeling across many sectors though, from hairdressers who don’t even know how to cut it to straightener zombies with their fried hair coming at me in the mall like I should look like them! It’s all very weird and complex, I just wish people could look like their natural selves and be appreciated for who they are.
Nothing wrong with what she said here. And really you can’t say you love yourself, hair, face, boobs etc if you’re not totally natural about it? Huh? No hairspray, make-up, expensive bra. Come on, I think this is nit-picking.
I love my hair and I dye it lots of colors, style it straight, let it be curly, wear it up/down whatever. I’ve never wanted any other hair other than my own either.
I don’t think she’s saying she’s wanted it all natural-she just likes her hair.
She likes playing with it. She likes the fact that she can do all these things to her hair, and it doesn’t fall out. Naomi Campbell would kill for her hair (we’ve all seen her bald spots peaking out from under her wigs).
She’s really pretty and I like her hair.
I think she’d look fly with an afro, I can’t wait to see it.
‘In Latino culture, hair carries a lot of history, a lot of weight, and a lot of energy.’
Where is the lie ? She’s right and many people will come into this post and front like they don’t know what she’s talking about. As if they weren’t in the hairdresser at 7 crying when that kiddie perm burnt through their scalp. That sh*t was my reality so I’d never act like our hair doesn’t carry history ’cause it really does.
I agree black hair has a lot of history most of it painful. I suggest doubting Thomas Google the history of black hair and get back to us.
Exactly, Crystal. Great point(s).
I really can’t stand her. Hollywood should stop trying to make her happen.
What she meant to say was, “I love my weave.” Girl who do you think you’re fooling? All of that is NOT your hair!
Look at the top photo, you can see her hair in the front and the weave in the back. The difference shows in the sheen and shininess between the two textures.
I don’t think her message comes across well. Zoe has a tendency to sound superserious in interviews, a little dry, sometimes even humourless. Here she tries to talk lightheartedly about her style, about playing with her look, childhood memories – nothing too deep, but she still sounds very serious. Don’t think that was the intention though.
I agree with you, she does come across as super serious and humorless. But I think there is a seriously hypocritical thread throughout her interviews. I honestly had never heard of her until Avatar and then I read an interview with her on The Daily Beast (the Newsweek daily blog) and when asked about the obstacles faced by women of color in Hollywood, she responded “I don’t live in that reality. That’s not how I was raised, and I choose not to think like the common people, because then you just become a person that’s half-empty. However, I do understand that there is a problem, and little by little, through evolution, we have been addressing it. But the race issue for me is secondary. The biggest battle that I have is being a woman in the world. That takes center stage for me.” If you want to read the whole interview, it’s here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/23/zo-saldana-talks-colombiana-star-trek-avatar-britney-spears-motherhood.html
To me, it seemed, based on that interview, that issues of race were far less important, and gender identity her major focus. Then, suddenly, she replaces (I think) Mary J. Blige in the Nina Simone biopic and the thread of her interviews becomes a celebration of her skin tone and Blackness. In an earlier Celebitchy thread on the Simone biopic, someone said they didn’t see any difference between Zoe wearing dark makeup to play Simone and Anthony Hopkins wearing a fat suit and prosthetic nose to play Alfred Hitchcock. To me the difference is that Hitchcock’s raison d’etre was not the promotion of heavy-set directors or anti-nose job activism. (and no, I’m not being super serious; I’m just older and can’t figure out an alternative term right now as I get so heated about this subject). Nina Simone, however, was extremely vocal about the celebration of Blackness and one loving one’s darker skin. It seems to me to do a service to Ms. Simone’s legacy to pick someone who is not only much lighter and with such facial features (and of limited range as an actor) to portray her. For a better explanation, see Ms. Simone in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ClwX7oyXk
I dont do chemicals i just do braids& my hair is GORGEOUS if i may say so…She doesnt relax?She lying..If she aint then she using a blower every hour of the day. In the old days (still have it im so proud of it)they use to flat iron ‘black hair’, by putting a iron comb on a stove and let it get hot.I still use that instead of all the modern pooha.. 😉
funny on the cover its like they are trying to make her hair look, WELL JUST LIKE MINE ;)…but its not..it really looks photoshopped (just the hair, weird uhu?). I wonder who dissed her hair are her skincolour, and why she has to bring it up now all of a sudden>very strange indeed. DO YOU GIRL,always!!
FYI, growing out chemically straightened her is horrible. I have not had mine straightened since August. It is neither curly nor straight. It just looks bad. I have been blowing and ironing it straight just to look presentable. At some point, I just have to chop it off.
I trimmed my ends every 6 weeks while growing the relaxer out and eventually I just cut it all off because I got tired of looking like a mushroom every time a little humidity hit it lol. Try roller setting your hair while it is wet (apply a setting lotion/styling gel) to blend your two different textures…that helps some.
Thanks. I will try that.
You can try braiding it to transition in the new growth and then have the older hair trimmed whenever your new growth is at a good length for you. As for me, I didn’t transition for very long, I just cut off all my hair. lol
*KanyeShrug* I’m Latin, and while I let my curly hair run wild as a kid and teen, I pretty much always have my hair blown out now. It’s just a preference, and I was actually just thinking about getting a relaxer or straightener.
Oh the hair dilemma! I want to be natural and love my fine, super thinning hair-but the thinner it gets (and as I move into my late 40s) the more tempted I am to get a few extensions put in for some volume. Any one want to weigh in on extensions?
Clip in extensions may be your best bet. I’m not affiliated (just a customer) but check out hellogoregoushairextensions.com. Trust me hun
I’ll check these out-thanks!
I know…. I have very fine, thin hair as well – it used to be very thick as a kid, but completely changed texture and thickness during/after puberty and as a teen.
I want to try extensions, but I’m afraid they will break off what little hair I have left!
Yes-that’s why I’m sort of afraid to start. My friend has recommended someone-but it’s so $$$ to start and keep them up. I’m still debating.
I sew my hair in them, fully to allow my own hair to grow. Please, if you ever go that route, don’t do like some women I see and STOP taking care of your own hair just because you have them. It’s horrifying that some think weave, extensions, etc are a replacement for your own hair. You still have it, therefore take care of it!
I’m kind of concerned about upkeep because I’m pretty low maintenance. But vanity may win out!
Black hair is so diverse.
East Africans for example, tend to have a softer hair texture and looser curly or wavy hair. West Africans tend to have kinkier textured hair and tighter curls.
African Americans tend to have nappy hair texture with different type of curls, some tighter, some looser etc.
I have seen Zoe’s hair in its natural state and it is curly but slightly looser than the average African Americans hair type. I know Zoe is Dominican and that might be why.
Honestly though, there is not only one type of ‘black hair’ type.
I personally cannot use the products that are typically recommended for black women. I have a fine textured hair type and that needs lighter and not so heavy products and conditioners. I have protein sensitive hair and a looser curl pattern.
I have never used a chemical straightening treatment and would not recommend it to anyone, it has harmful ingredients and should especially NOT be used on children!
That said, to each their own.
We all like to play around with different hairstyles, sometimes i blow dry it straight. It’s not that serious.
Just think how many women bleach their hair blond. Yikes.
well said.
I’ve always thought curly hair was gorgous. My hair is in between. Not curly, not straight, just course, frizzy and “wavy”. And I’m caucasian, if that matters.
I am Mexican living in Mexico. In my area there are not many people of African descent, but of course there are people who have curly or very kinky hair.
Years ago these girls I knew at different times could only cut their hair short and that was it. Nowadays I have seen some of themand they probably use an iron or relax their hair because I think they probably got tired of the texture. And they have longer hair.
I understand that they probably did not have as many styling options for the everyday routine with extremely curly hair, and they now change it.
It is not a cultural issue here that one has kinky hair or not, but maybe some companies like their employees to wear a ponytail and that demands styling products. I am a teacher and I have never seen that the teen students with curlier hair change their hair chemically. Years ago, perms to get curly hair were very common, but now the girls that are more into fashion straighten theirs with irons.
There are also a few people of African descent (a family, the father is from Texas), and the older teen children have their natural hair in afros or braids or cornrows. Never seen them with straight hair.
I do not know if all these hair issues occur only in the US or also in othr countries, I find interesting these hair discussions.
What is the historical significance of her hair? It feels like people self impose crazy rules for their and other’s hair. I mean, white people don’t care what Zahara Jolie pitt’s hair looks like but all the black blogs are trashing her parents for not “doing her hair right” I mean, whatever. Like Chris Rock’s docu “Hair” somehow blames “white beauty standards” for black parents burning their kid’s scalp. I love natural hair, I have a giant head of curls, It’s not a big deal.
I saw similar reactions to Charlize Theron’s kid when they posted a pic of her with Jackson at the salon-the hairdresser was using scissors instead of clippers and everyone started screaming that she needs to take her child to a “black barbershop”.
You would have thought she locked her child in a closet, threw him down a well, or some other form of abuse.
I think I can understand some of their disgruntlement. But this is coming from a person who does not like Charlize theoron so that might cloud my judgement, but their babies are genetically different. They have different skin and hair so they require what might be to a white person “special” attention. Like my skin versus your skin has different needs so we take care of it differently. It’s not bad, just different if we wanna look our best or have our hair/skin be healthy we learn about it and treat it that specific way that’s best for us/kids/pets/ whatever.
When my son got his first haircut, my stylist at the time told me NOT to take him to a barbershop because using clippers on a child that young wasn’t ideal. I can’t remember what she said exactly (it’s 16 years later) but I ended up letting HER give my son his first hair cut and she did it with scissors and the world didn’t implode. I also don’t get the uproar over Zahara Jolie-Pitts hair when she was younger. People on blogs would say “they need to comb that child’s hair” but I think what they meant was having it braided or in pigtails or something. I never thought there was anything wrong with what they were doing with her hair. You could tell that they were combing it and putting in some sort of product (I think I remember BP doing an interview saying they used Carol’s Daughter products in her hair) and letting it be. I think, ultimately that’s better for a young child’s hair because braiding means tension and that can cause breaking around the edges. My mom would have my auntie cornrow my hair and it was SO tight at times that you could actually SEE the tension on my scalp. My edges would always be thin because of it.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt is a celebrity child. So, while anonymous posters on the internet might blast them; let’s not pretend like their experiences with hairstyle choices will be the same. These kids probably won’t ever have to work, and if they do; they will have many opportunities available to them, because of who they are. With that being said, non-celebrity Black children/adults aren’t always so lucky. Some adults work in places where they aren’t judged by their hairstyle choices. There are still many situations in which a Black person will go to a job interview with braids, dreads, afro, etc. that get passed over; despite having the desired qualities. Many who already do have jobs, sometimes get advice from the boss or other coworkers; after switching to more “ethnic” hairstyles. My ex (and this happened long after we dated) is a personable, intelligent, non-thuggish guy. He had grown his dreads to mid-back length, and had to finally decide to cut them off; as he couldn’t get hired anywhere. Suit and all (plus well-spoken), he still was perceived as a thug by many.
I, who have relaxed hair btw; wore braids very often, when I was in college. The college had a very diverse population, but still predominantly White. Every time, I took the braids out and wore my straight, relaxed hair; I was told that my hair looked “better” that way.
Many people have and still do have experiences with others because of their natural hair; especially with the popularity of Black people transitioning to natural hairstyles. Do some research. Yes, there are many White people who don’t care about it and don’t judge someone based on their natural hair; but don’t minimize the experiences shared by many throughout history, because of those few that don’t care. I know plenty of white people who don’t care one way or the other, and feel that one should wear their hair in a way that makes them happy. That doesn’t change the fact that it simply has been a big deal, and still for many.
Furthermore, some of the same white people don’t care about natural vs relaxed; and claim to be so open-minded and diversified, will be quick to ask a Black woman with some length to her hair (natural or relaxed) if she is wearing a weave. So, despite being as open-minded as they think they are; that kind of thinking shows that they have the belief that Black women can’t naturally have long hair. And I know that Black people do this, too; and I find it just as irritating. Many times, when a White woman (or any other race or ethnicity) has long hair (celeb or not); it is naturally assumed to be all hers. Yet, weaves/extensions are extremely popular; period.
She seems like an overall nice girl. Does her thing and stays out of the media circus. I was so excited when she broke up with Bradley Cooper. She can do much better than that creep. I hope Zoe continues to be successful.
She may like her natural hair, but according to Hollywood, it’s not movie hair, starlet hair. She probably irons her roots every day.
This isn’t Zoe’s fault, it’s true in business as well. WOC are pressured to have straight, untextured hair because their natural hair is considered unprofessional. When was the last time you saw a successful businesswoman with an afro or braids? A successful movie star or singer, not in character? Only Viola Davis comes to mind as the exception, not the rule.
Lauryn Hill, baby….Erykah Badu.
Right. So out of all the famous women, the two of us thought of exactly three with natural hair. All day long.
By my count, that still makes them the exception, not the rule. Also, none of them is among the more notorious WoC in entertainment. “Black” hair is not considered pretty or professional by most people, and they are pressured to change it. Period.
Well, my mom before she retired was a department head at the company she works for and she had a close cropped afro for many years. And the head of the HR department at the company I work for has natural hair. She’s not rocking a 70’s era ‘fro, but her hair IS natural. Don’t know if that counts, but they are successful business women. Natural hair is more than afros and braids, by the way.
LATE! i dont think Zoe was being sanctimonious and I really don’t like her. Im a “natural hair nazi” I guess and i think she was just saying she loves her hair for what it is, she doesnt wake up like “OMG i totally hate my [stringy, limp, nappy, frizzy, whatever] hair! Basically she doesnt have hair hang-ups.
Now to defend my fellow “natural hair nazi’s” The natural hair movement for me is less about saying No More Perms, but no more of what perm stands for. My hair is hella nappy. I can barely, barely, get a pick thru that baby. My mom gave me a perm at 6, said she wasnt dealing anymore. That was her choice not to deal with the way my hair grows from my head. I deal with it now, and I dont blame her for perming it BUT I will not perm it anymore because of what it says. My hair is more easily dealt with straight, but it is also more socially accepted straight. By whites, by black, by latinos. I’ve had Dominican women talk smack about my hair being “bad” in the shop like I couldnt understand spanish. It’s about being told that the way you are is somehow unacceptable. IDGAF how you wear your hair or enhance your hair, do it because you love the way it looks, not because there is something wrong with what you were born with.
I wear braids mostly now until I feel like combing and braiding and twisting for 5 hours to get it to look like something, or i get a sew in. But I wont perm my hair anymore, because it feels like a permanent choice to hate it. To want it to be something else.
Anyone out there who’s seen “Good Hair”? Just wondering. Also, I’d rather hear about her hair than Aniston’s any day.
I have seen it. It is funny but true and i don’t agree with it’s central premise of good vs bad hair. All my African and Indian friends thought the same.
HOWEVER, i must point out that this is a completely non American POV because we don’t have the same history as Black Americans so whilst we may ape and copy some of the things they do eg relaxing our hair, it”s not for the same reasons that they do.
She relaxes her hair because its easier than to flat iron it every day.
If Zoe has the platform to run her mouth about hair she should have talked about how proper nutrition is the best(and fastest) way to have beautiful hair, with or without relaxers.
She’s going on about first world hair style chemical nonsense while girls in both her cultures of origin starve to death. Those kids wish they had money to spend on rice much less a relaxer. This woman is only marginally attractive as it is. Her hair barely helps to improve her plain looks.
Women are still having these ridiculous hair debates while their daughters lack proper food, meds, and education.
Hair is a complicated cultural issue? WTF ever. I have very very thick, crazy, frizzy curly hair and my parents are British. I just think its absolutely ridiculous to make even the smallest elements some sort of cultural issue. Its a “latin thing” or a “black thing”. White people would blasted if they went around saying comments of that sort.
Really? It’s just a “latin” or “black” thing? I remember reading a novel titled “Arthur Mervin” and one of the somewhat-disparaging comments the title character made about a female character in the book had to do with her dark looks and Jewish hair. If hair wasn’t so important, why do Sikh men have to wrap it in a turban and why do Muslim and Jewish women cover their hair? Why is it that studies have shown that men find long hair to be more attractive than short hair? Let’s look at modern times, shall we. People are even going so far as to claim that Liam Helmsworth cheated on Miley because she changed her HAIR. Again, I am not trying to be disrespectful at all to your point of view, but it’s really not just a Black and Latino thing. Maybe we’re more vocal and in your face about it, but cross-culturally, hair is important. The extent of its importance is what is debatable.
Let’s not forget 100 years ago, a woman with curly red hair was thought to be a temptress! Pre-raphaelite ladies in art all had curly hair or red hair. Hair is a very interesting cultural issue and has been for a very long time.
While I respect everyone’s opinion on the matter, please remember that just because YOU don’t think hair is a big issue doesn’t mean that it isn’t. It may not be a big issue to you, but it is to plenty of others. You may not see a historical element or component to it, but others might. It’s one thing to say, “I don’t see the big deal” and something completely different to say that the significance simply doesn’t exist because it isn’t a personal issue. And no, I’m not ultra sensitive. My hair is mine and I don’t obsess over it, but I know that to a lot of people it is important and it is a sensitive issue.
I was bullied constantly in school because of my hair…please. Don’t even go there. I stand behind my point. Have a great week!
Yeah, I didn’t even realize until now that this was something that was so hotly debated… I mean, I thought it was a fact (whether accepted or not) that hair is a big deal in the black community, whereas weight obsession and the *thin ideal* is a huge thing among white chicks.
The cultural relevance and why we feel that way are for completely different reasons but the hang-ups are still there for sure.
She should really just never do an interview. Ever.
As someone born and raised in TRUE latin culture (Latin America, with both European and Native heritage), i can’t stress enough how tired I am of hearing people from this “Latino” culture speak for the rest of us.
The immigration phenomenon across the past couple of centuries gave birth to a brand new culture in the USA that, although it is branded “Latino”, it has nothing to do with Latin American culture. It was only very specific sectors that migrated, so being re-branded as one whole sub-culture in the USA is not going to reflect the complete panorama of Latin American culture.
This mislabeling leads to many misunderstandings and suddenly, when we travel to the USA, we’re not considered “Latin” enough, or we have to prove to have “Latin cred” through things that are not and never were part of our culture. Suddenly there are articles where US reporters ask “latinos” if they consider the Pope a latino, and they don’t consider him to be one. He is Latin American.
I suppose black people go through something similar. What in the USA is considered “Black culture” is very distant from what would be considered “black culture” in Africa, Cuba, Brazil… etc.
Some say if the elected pope had been one of the African candidates, people in the USA would have expected him to prove his “black cred” in the terms of USA’s “Black culture”. Similar to what happened to Obama. He is black, but nor African-American per se, yet black people demand of him that he be seen playing basketball and speaking with ‘hood slang.
USA is not the world in the same way Epcot is not the world.
Read any of Junot Diaz books to get an understanding that agrees with your view.
For instance, Dominicans are black, but do not consider themselves black. When they move to the USA they are not part of the black community nor the Latina community, not being accepted as either. The plight of Dominicans in United States – mainly New York and New Jersey is explored in depth by Diaz, a fine writer and Pulitzer prize winner.
Maximinia. That happens with a lot of cultures/ethnicities/religions, and not just in the US. Quite a lot of Pakistanis when they move to Europe (esp UK) they get more religious, more culturally aware, ESPECIALLY the second generation. It happens.
I have curly hair, not tight curls but it’s big and crazy hair without hair products to tame it. I’ve only ever flat ironed it straight once (it’s too hard to do on my own but my hairdresser wanted to try it). It was neat seeing what I’d look like w/ straight hair. Damn my hair looks good straight BUT that is not the hair I was given and my inherent cheapness, fear of chemicals and laziness have prevented me from attempting a more long lasting result. I don’t love my hair, I’m just happy to have hair…lol. I hate the grey and I dye it every so often when my vanity wins over my laziness.
There are many different grades of hair beyond “kinky” and bone straight. That being said, do I believe that Miss Saldana has a grade of hair that is capable of a typical Afro? No.
I do think she attempted to be honest in identifying herself as having more “Latina” hair than Black hair but it was just bad phrasing using the word “Afro”.
I don’t think she meant any disrespect or harm here. That being said, I hugely dislike her for other reasons having nothing to do with hair.
I have chemically straightened my hair every six months for the past 3 years. My hair is a 2C or 3A and I am a white Aussie. I don’t have curls I have frizz – rain, humidity and swimming made my hair a nightmare! To keep my curly hair presentable I had to use three types of product daily and then had to wash daily to remove said product. It took me approx 35 min per morning to style curly hair. Once chemically straightened I only have to wash my hair every three days and it takes about 5 min to do my hair in the morning. Obviously living in Aust I have only very little knowledge of hair history in America, however I would assume that for many many people straightening their hair it is for the convenience and ease of styling. In addition instead of my hair feeling like wire, having hundreds of knots and falling out all over the floor it is soft and manageable. However now that I am pregnant the curly hair will return till after bubs is born and I can get it straightened again (I am wary of exposing bubs to those harsh chemicals).
Well at the very least I hope people no longer question if Zoe is downplaying or hiding her Latina roots (even though she has been on Latina magazine several times as well as Ebony discussing her background). And Kaiser, yes you are being nit picky :-). Within the natural hair debate, lies another debate about whether hair is natural if it’s colored and not relaxed. Some think you are natural and some think you aren’t 100% natural if you chemically color your hair. Zoe appears to be on the same side as women who believe you are still natural if your hair is colored but not chemically relaxed.
Her mother’s words of wisdom: “My mom raised my sisters and I…
Why do so many people make this grammatical error? It’ s my sisters and ME.
it is true. you do not know.
so i really don’t think you can call what she says contradictory or sanctimonious or whatever.
you do not know her hair or her hair story.
she is in hollywood. you really expect her to have a fro and get roles?
please…
Hair is such a big deal…it really is!Everyday I’m tempted to cut it all off!Go GIJane, like Demi, and stay in bed another 1/2 hour in the mornings!
I don’t care about her hair whether it is in a natural state or a relaxed state. I do care about her insensitive comments about black actresses and uneducated comments about Pres. Obama election has leveled the playing field in Hollywood. I listen to what Zoe says not what she looks like or her hair.
Oh my word, it’s possible to make a war and a huge deal about hair? No wonder there’s missiles setting ready in North Korea if this small things can make people boil over!
Breathe more ppl. Who gives a damn what anyone does with their own hair! She can set it on fire if she likes and claim she loves rainbows.
I love Zoe. And personally, AA women who criticize her about her appearance and not being Black enough to play Nina Simone or Black enough to talk on Black life really need an education in Black History – American and Latin / Caribbean. She IS a Black woman. She IS a Latina woman. She is not suffering from an identity crisis, her detractors are. Go read a book.
Also, she is free to say whatever she wishes about Black actresses, Black people, Black issues as she CAN relate to Black life as a Latina woman.