Hair Story | Litsy

MsLeah8417

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

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🌟🌟🌟🌟

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MsLeah8417

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

CURRENTLY READING

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violettemeier

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

This will be my next book buy. Just heard about it on NPR news. #blacklitsy #blitsy

Chelleo Ohhh...stacking! 6y

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SW-T

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

1. Yes 2. Mostly fiction (70%) 3. History of stuff (homes, beer, tea trade, hair care, politics, social movements, etc) 4. H is for Hawk 5. Tagged

@wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Thanks for playing! 😀 6y

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SW-T

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

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Light read with tons of information. Information on the hair industry was really interesting. Enjoyed this one.

#blackhair #blackhistory #lifelonglearner

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SW-T

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

Loving the history in this so far. Some stuff I was familiar with, but picking up some new info.

#lifelonglearner #hair #blackhair #africanamericanhistory

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SW-T

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

I used to read just one book at a time, now I have multiples going. Of course, more digital holds just came in also.

#readinghabits #hoopla #overdrive #libby #readharder

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TheNextBook

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

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Well, this wraps up my February! I was well aware of a lot of the history of black hair but I was not at all aware of the information provided about the hair care industry. I found this book fascinating. It's a light read with a lot of heavy implications. A novice to black hair would learn quite a lot about the different facets of black hair, it's history and the changes in implications over generations! And there is an Adichie interview!!!!

Notafraidofwords That's awesome! I want to read this one. I have always been interested in hair. My sister has silky light-ish hair. And I have deep black thick and curly hair. People are always amazed that we are sisters with completely different hair types. 8y

CouronneDhiver My family is like that too, @Notafraidofwords ... I always tease my mum about the milk man 😉 8y

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TheNextBook

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

"We found our Black beauty and the pride to go with it."

"Black is beautiful."

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TheNextBook

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

"There existed neither a public nor a private forum where Black Hair was celebrated in America."
Listen. Let me tell you how deep this resonates! When we are told from a young hair that our hair is nappy, told our hair is difficult, told it needs to be changed. This stuff still resonates! And it all needs to be unlearned in all communities! But this is where it originates.

BookishFeminist 💙💙 can only imagine how denigrating it must feel to have a part of your body to never been seen as normal. It's been long overdue but I am so glad this conversation has picked up more steam, especially in public spaces. So much more work to do though!! 8y

Notafraidofwords I totally get it. I'm Puerto Rican and I always been told I have bad hair (mostly because it's thick). 8y

Hooked_on_books I love natural black hair. I think it's beautiful and way more interesting than mine! I wish more people would embrace in themselves whatever is natural for them. 8y

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TheNextBook @BookishFeminist within the last five years I have personally seen a change in black natural hair more in line with the seventies when women began wearing afros. But the mainstream aspect is what's telling and I'm hoping it stays. 8y

TheNextBook @Notafraidofwords have you ever watched Chris Rocks documentary Good Hair?! It's very telling perspective from a man on what people have considered good hair and why. 8y

TheNextBook @Hooked_on_books it's hard for people to embrace something that you've heard is negative from all sides. Because when I was growing up you heard nothing but the negative. I got a relaxer put in my hair for the first time at 6 years old. It chemically altered the strands of my hair to make my hair straighter and easier to manage. After that I received nothing but compliments on my hair and it was because of the relaxer! It was because my hair... 8y

TheNextBook was straighter, more manageable and long. But it was a process. I continued relaxing my hair on and off for a decade and when I stopped my hair was damaged! Because of the chemicals! I remember the struggle and I still straightened with a hot comb, literally putting metal into my hair to straighten it for years after that because I didnt like my natural hair texture. It isnt until now that I will weat my hair in any state I please because... 8y

TheNextBook I like it in all of its forms! But it took a long time for me to get over the stigma and then learn how to manage the natural texture of my hair. So now I take pride in my hair in whatever form I choose to wear it. But these stigmas run deep and it is hard to look past the stigmas that have taken root in your mind because of society. Especially when certain fashions affect the way people perceive you and that is still true. 8y

BookishFeminist @TheNextBook I can definitely see the similarities to the 70s and I really hope the mainstream aspect makes it stick rather than back track again. I've seen it in so many tv shows and movies, stuff I wasn't even familiar with because where would I learn it? Mainstream affects so much. White consciousness changes = society changes 🤞🏼 8y

Libby1 🖤🖤🖤. Thank you for sharing, @TheNextBook . I know you're not looking for my affirmation but I have to say that I love Black hair. It is beautiful. 8y

TheNextBook @BookishFeminist in this instance black women and men have definitely stopped giving a damn about what anyone thinks! I can definitely see the change because all of these product lines are changing their products to fit the natural line because they were losing money. 8y

Hooked_on_books It's so sad you were made to feel that way. Another example of the subtle racism that is so entrenched that many people don't even see it. I agree with earlier comments that it's good to bring these issues into the light to make that racism obvious. And of course there's the role of sexism at play as well, always judging women by our looks. 8y

Notafraidofwords @TheNextBook yes, I watched it years ago and really understood a lot of things that I felt but never spoke about. 8y

TheNextBook @Libby1 Thank you! I think it's amazing too! I just wish it hadnt taken me as long as it did to realize it but I'm here now and it's all about the journey! 8y

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TheNextBook

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

I am starting this right now while I sit in two plastic conditioning caps letting my deep conditioner soak into my hair. I could tell you stories about the evolution of my own personal hair styles, wash routines, trips to the beauty salon for hours in a chair. My own experiences with hair are why I wanted to read this book so badly. Black hair and the imagery and perceptions that go along with it are topics that will always be timely and relevant.

BookishMarginalia Keep us posted on what you think of it, please! 8y

Cinfhen I second @BookishMarginalia 💕interested to hear more about this one! 8y

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BlackandBookish

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

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As mundane as it may sound, Hair Story gives an in-depth account of black hair from slavery up to 2014, when the new edition was released. Great resource for understanding the racial disparities black people face when dealing with hair and where we as a culture are today. It was really fun tracing my own hair trends against the bigger workings of the beauty industry.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa That sounds really good, I have to look for that one! 8y

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BlackandBookish

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

Pineapple juice. Coconut rum. One chapter to go.

TheNextBook Coconut oil and shea butter. 8y

BlackandBookish @TheNextBook ha! Coconut oil doesn't seem to absorb well into my hair but I love Shea butter. For hair and skin! 💁🏾 8y

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BlackandBookish

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America | Ayana Byrd, Lori Tharps

I'm loving this book. But I had to take a break from reading and do some hair. #unflatteringphoto #reallifemom

TheNextBook Does this mention anything about the struggles of wash day? Stacking! 8y

BlackandBookish @TheNextBook it's so fascinating with the history and where styles came from and who wore them. I'm in the 70s as it reflects on the Black Panthers, the policies, and the Afro. It's loaded with references to historic papers and news adds- plus commentary from real people during the time. I'm really enjoying but no help with my own hair maintenance! 8y

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