“One final postscript: I was going to illustrate this blog entry with a photo of a high-powered national black female CEO with natural hair–except that I couldn’t find any. In fact, only three of Ebony’s ten most powerful black women in America don’t have straight hair. And these three women–Marian Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), and NAACP lead counsel Elaine R. Jones–have all achieved their success in the area of activism and public policy.

I’m in no position to lecture anybody about whether natural hair is more authentic than, or otherwise preferable to, straightened hair. But it’s hard to look at these statements, and at these cold facts, and not come away with the sense that corporate America rewards people with straight hair–hair that most white women are born with, and that most black women have to work to achieve. This is a racist standard that has nothing to do with hygiene or professionalism, and it should be acknowledged as such.”

Ironically, since I’m also an actress, the role I play most often calls for curly hair. So I constantly hunt for appropriate hair pieces, since my hair won’t hold a curl to save my live.

I love that, too!

I am far from what you would call a “go-getter,” but I work in an engineering firm and without minimizing the experiences of others (especially at city law firms, military and government jobs, investment banks, etc.), because I know we have all had different experiences PLUS I’m of white-bread northern European descent and have a relatively “manageable” hair type so I’m sure it’s a lot easier for me… I think it’s possible that we can get away with somewhat more in terms of hairstyle, in some job environments, than we think. In my industry, I don’t think I would bat an eye at seeing a “neat” (OK, even that is subjective, but anyway) hairstyle of any kind on people at any level of management. I’m picturing a curly, kinky, or afro type style paired with a really nice suit and I think that would definitely be considered very professional by people in my line of work. Not that my opinion or my managers’ opinions are the be-all and end-all–and lower-level people like me can look pretty much however they want in my office unless meeting with a client–but I think the way people dress is generally considered a more important factor. A well-put-together outfit seems to have the capability of lending an air of professionalism to any hairstyle… and conversely, any hairstyle, “styled” or natural, can look blah or messy or unkempt to me if it’s worn by somebody in droopy, ill-fitting, faded or worn-out clothes and shoes.

I have very mixed feelings about the whole appearance standard for corporate jobs anyway… I think it’s stupid and have a hard time forcing myself to buy into it. But the above is what I have observed in my industry.

As far as the news anchor mentioned upthread, I heard an interesting explanation of that kind of thing from Paula Begoun. She usually includes a photo of herself at the top of her web site and newsletters, and updates it from time to time. She wore her hair natural/curly in one of them and said she had gotten a lot of great feedback on it, but generally was advised by her stylists to blow it out for photos and TV interviews because curly hair scatters the light and doesn’t look as pleasantly “shiny” and reflective as straight hair on-camera. Sort of like it was explained as an aesthetic photographic issue apart from implications about the person’s appearance or ethnicity. Could be just more prejudice and assumptions in disguise… and you could certainly question why someone’s hair NEEDS to look “shiny” anyway… but I thought that was interesting.

I’m a biracial woman and have always worn my hair “natural” — because if I can’t have hair like Oprah’s once it’s straightened (and really, Oprah must have AMAZING stylists at her command, because her hair doesn’t look like it’s been flatironed to hell, the way many of us look after straightening), then I’m going curly. Besides, I absolutely hate messing around with my hair; I’m a wash-and-go girl.

I never thought about whether my hair made a difference at work, as long as it was neat (I keep it short) and I looked professional. Then I tried braids once in my life, and wow — EVERYONE in my workplace told me how beautiful I looked! I was shocked, because while the braids looked good, I didn’t look like myself without the curly hair. I worked in an environment that was 95 percent white.

Someone commented on how black men aren’t told how to wear their hair. I beg to differ — men often aren’t allowed to wear cornrows. I live in Richmond, Va., and back in 2000 or 2001, a local high school basketball coach suspended players who refused to get rid of their cornrows. I didn’t get it then, and I don’t get it now.

And yes, it’s interesting how negatively some people perceive short hair. Sometimes I wear my hair in long braids and I suddenly get all these positive reactions and attention. It’s so odd. I’ve also seen people (black and white) criticize parents for the sin of having a girl child wear a short little afro. It’s insane.

It’s growing back now, but I still won’t go anywhere near a salon. The barber who rents his store next to my mother’s cuts my hair for free. And he does exactly what I ask him to, nothing more. No comments about how I’d look as a blonde, how I should get a perm, get layers, etc. Just a neat, simple trim.

Allison Stewart has a Peabody (from her days at MTV) and an Emmy. Yet apparently she got received some criticism for keeping her hair curly.

http://afrobella.com/?p=279

This is where we’re at, people. Still and again. Apparently Emmy and Peabody don’t trump verging-on-nappy.

(Although Allison looks silky-curly to me; I don’t have the energetic wherewithal to get into the intraracial gradients right now …)

Also, what Julia just said. Times about 100. If we added in the “maintenance” allowance to what women, generally, currently make, it would just about bring us up to what men ALREADY make. Quel triomphe.

But it is! You conform, and you get the financial and hierarchical rewards. Sucky but true: corporate life is very restrictive of personal differences, and to do well, black, white, jewish, or asian, that line has got to be toed!

If you assume men, and women are getting paid equally (which I don’t), women have to pay more for appropriate clothing, hair styling, makeup, etc. And, assuming black women are paid equally to white women, you’re mandating black women pay an extra $100 every 6 weeks to maintain their hair. Unless those extra expenses are being added to salaries, people are getting financially punished.