Post #34

A totally different world of hair

18th October 2003, lunch time | Comments (9)

A lady with huge hair

The delightful Sabrina answered a question of mine:

Can white people grow afros? Can I grow one? Is it just big hair, or does it do something special, like go frizzy?

No, they can’t. No, you can’t. It’s special hair that requires special haircare products and stylists. It’s a totally different world of hair, as white people who adopt black children find out when they manage to break — yes, break — their children’s hair. They go to an afro salon after that.

The subject reminded me of my first few weeks living in Brixton, in south west London.

Brixton, if you don’t know, has traditionally been the major settling ground for Caribbean and African peoples in London. It was the scene of some major riots in 1981 and generally scares the pants off of white, middle-class parents whose kids move into its cheap housing.

Whilst there I got my hair cut by a black barber, in a black barber shop, in the blackest neighbourhood in London.

The barber took an hour to do my hair (it normally takes 15 minutes) and used the clippers on my neck with such enthusiasm that he cut me from ear to ear along my hairline.

It’s not often you visit the hairdressers and end up getting sprayed with disinfectant and going home with a towel pressed to parts of your body to stop the bleeding.

Sabrina’s right, it is a totally different world of hair.

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Comments (9)

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  1. Christina:

    White people can have afros if their hair is curly or wavy. I see it all the time at school. Just take a pick and poof it out. Hair spray is not really necessary. :)

    Posted 2 weeks, 1 day after the fact
    Inspired: ↓ Sian
  2. Sian:

    I second Christina's comment. White men and women can have afro's.

    Posted 2 months, 1 week after the fact
    Inspired by: ↑ Christina
  3. Dabigfro99:

    If you have the right hais you can have a fro. There is a diffrence betrween a lot of hair and a fro. A fro has to be round and shaped like mine http://www.buzzlife.com/mssg_brd/member.phps=&action=getinfo&find=lastposter&forumid=24

    Posted 3 months, 1 week after the fact
  4. Philthe:

    White people can have afro's I should know. I am white and have a perfectly round afro. when I meet people on the street they think one of my parents is black, but they are both white.

    Posted 9 months, 4 weeks after the fact
  5. Iwantafro:

    What do I need to grow a fro? Do I wear a wave cap or just let it grow out? I want one bad.

    Posted 10 months, 3 weeks after the fact
    Inspired: ↓ Fros Are Cool
  6. Fros Are Cool:

    Fros are cool. White people and black people, whats the difference. A fro is a fro.

    Posted 1 year, 2 months after the fact
    Inspired by: ↑ Iwantafro
  7. Bubba:

    Im trying to grow a fro.... i don't know how to do it. I'll try what you guys say. --- I may be able to grow one if my parents stop taking me to get my hair cut =/

    Posted 2 years, 2 months after the fact
  8. Dakota Yetman:

    ya i have a huge ass afro i just wash it all the time

    Posted 2 years, 4 months after the fact
  9. Dr.Fro:

    To get an afro, you MUST have kinky or curly hair. White or Black. Go and buy yourself a pick from a Beauty Supply store. I doubt you'll find a pick in a white area. Pick your hair, it's o.k. if some of your hair comes out on the teeth. That's hair that was dead from the start. Wash your hair vigorously at least 3 times a week. Buy hair grease. Again, I doubt you'll find this in a white area. Grease your scalp, and massage it as you apply the treatment. some brands r black magic or african naturals. Make sure your fro is always well-kept, pick it everyday and clean. Never walk around with an ugly afro. It's a pride thing.
    I'm black and my afro has gotten quite large over the past 4 months.

    Posted 2 years, 5 months after the fact

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