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Dems to Win

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21. I wish Michelle Obama would let her hair go natural. For health reasons.

Fri Sep 20, 2013, 11:54 AM

Sep 2013

Not to criticize MO's appearance -- she's lovely, doesn't need advice from me! -- but I do wish she would let her hair go natural, to start a trend.

My Mom has a lot of health problems, particularly bladder problems, and I suspect it is from the hair dyes she used for 25+ years. All these harsh chemicals women put on their hair can cause real health problems -- they get absorbed into their bodies through their scalps.

MO could make it fashionable to reject putting unhealthy chemicals on one's head in pursuit of 'perfect' hair (whether perfect means straight hair or brown (not white) hair).

Of course, it's easy for me to tell MO what she should do with her hair, she's the one who would have to live with any negative reactions. I really don't mean to be critical of her with this note. It's just an idea that's occurred to me, that it is one way she could encourage Americans (especially women) to be healthier.

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Miss Dominica-Natural Hair Beauty Queen (Miss World 2013) [View all] malaise Sep 2013 OP

She's gorgeous. Natural hair or no. But it's refreshing to see nevertheless. n/t winterpark Sep 2013 #1

Yes you have to notice natural hair these days malaise Sep 2013 #2

Yep. She is drop dead gorgeous, PERIOD. nt bluestate10 Sep 2013 #171

Her hair is spectacular. Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #3

Let me ask you a simple question malaise Sep 2013 #8

To be honest, I really wouldn't know what is natural and what isn't. Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #13

Lots of people have problems with natural African hair malaise Sep 2013 #76

Okay, thanks for the info. Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #89

The whole .......... GOOD HAIR ....... thing!!! MADem Sep 2013 #104

"good hair" from Chris Rock: a kennedy Sep 2013 #142

Mrs. Obama could explain it. roody Sep 2013 #130

Ron Glass... AnneD Sep 2013 #24

Ha! I remember that. River and Zoe's reactions were priceless. NuclearDem Sep 2013 #42

Perfect answer Catherine Vincent Sep 2013 #26

You should have seen the look on his face malaise Sep 2013 #77

*SNORT* CatWoman Sep 2013 #49

Ha malaise Sep 2013 #78

Melissa Harris Perry had some nice braids the last time I saw her... MADem Sep 2013 #105

I hate her braids - they are visibly fake malaise Sep 2013 #108

Exactly. I have an issue with braids as well. First, they strain the neck because too many women add Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #111

Susan Taylor from Essence wore braids for decades malaise Sep 2013 #117

That's it! I couldn't think of her name, but yes. Susan Taylor is a great example. Another example Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #127

Now that is self hatred malaise Sep 2013 #129

i remember seeing this and never realized this is what could happen JI7 Sep 2013 #156

Yes. Chris Rock's movie "Good Hair" explains it well. The harsh chemicals in relaxers are actually Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #167

Steve Harvey called braids an "instant face lift" the other day.... MADem Sep 2013 #162

He's right but not all persons had those very tight braids malaise Sep 2013 #164

I know, he was making a joke.... MADem Sep 2013 #175

Well, I dunno--I think they look good. MADem Sep 2013 #131

Damn, she's beautiful! HappyMe Sep 2013 #4

Beautiful madokie Sep 2013 #5

wow leftyohiolib Sep 2013 #6

She's beautiful and her hair looks beautiful cali Sep 2013 #7

Lovely island malaise Sep 2013 #10

I love Domenica. Love the interior and the biodeversity and the black sand cali Sep 2013 #14

Hey, I've been to Dominica too! RevStPatrick Sep 2013 #16

Same here. Hiked up the unforgettable Valley of Desolation. FSogol Sep 2013 #17

I never swam in the sea in Dominica malaise Sep 2013 #74

with a face like that . . . treestar Sep 2013 #9

I'll have a heart attack if she wins malaise Sep 2013 #11

A real stunner, hair and all. I'd say I wish I was 40 yrs younger... Eleanors38 Sep 2013 #133

She's beautiful! Sissyk Sep 2013 #12

she's beautiful samsingh Sep 2013 #15

What a beauty. Skidmore Sep 2013 #18

Why hide who you are? Her hair is beautiful. alfredo Sep 2013 #19

Ask Imus and his gang malaise Sep 2013 #46

Imus is a dinosaur. alfredo Sep 2013 #100

She deserves to win, she has my vote, but I don't follow these either! joanbarnes Sep 2013 #20

I wish Michelle Obama would let her hair go natural. For health reasons. Dems to Win Sep 2013 #21

LOL... BronxBoy Sep 2013 #25

She would get criticized for Mira Sep 2013 #30

Remember when former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney tried it? ecstatic Sep 2013 #32

She was my former Rep, too! In fact, I was just talking about her and natural hair Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #36

Yes, that still makes me angry. Dems to Win Sep 2013 #41

I think Michelle will allow her hair to "go curly" after she's out of the White House. Her daughters Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #112

I agree. But you and I both know why the First Lady can't go natural. Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #33

I agree with everything you've said. AND... Dems to Win Sep 2013 #39

Very Good Post! BronxBoy Sep 2013 #53

I wish more of them did. It was the Europeans who drummed these images into our head since birth Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #113

+1 JustAnotherGen Sep 2013 #124

The men seemed to have escaped entirely treestar Sep 2013 #121

Yep. A sad story... Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #132

IMO Miss Dominica's hair looks nice. treestar Sep 2013 #137

Yes, I agree. It's changing, too. On YouTube, there's misogyny from some popular black male Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #141

A lot of our men and young boys do not associate beauty with malaise Sep 2013 #153

You know why there is a rejection of weaves and wigs malaise Sep 2013 #72

Exactly!! Those edges! GONE!!! Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #114

Yes, remember how little Gabby got a lot of flak for her hair Catherine Vincent Sep 2013 #96

So do I but they would eat her alive malaise Sep 2013 #70

Sometime ago NOLALady Sep 2013 #103

Very interesting, thanks for chiming in Dems to Win Sep 2013 #148

Some will usually NOLALady Sep 2013 #178

Do we know for sure that's her hair? MADem Sep 2013 #106

Good question. Maybe not? Dems to Win Sep 2013 #150

It is one of the most political gender issues and has been long before abolition malaise Sep 2013 #155

Anytime anyone is putting crap on their head that is absorbed into their bodies for the sake of MADem Sep 2013 #161

Agree 100%. I support wash-and-go hair for everyone, fashion can take a hike Dems to Win Sep 2013 #179

Happiness is the ultimate beauty. MADem Sep 2013 #180

stunned with her beauty heaven05 Sep 2013 #22

she made it to the top 12 talent, she is a ballerina, so maybe she has a chance. grantcart Sep 2013 #23

We'll see malaise Sep 2013 #75

Exactly. Here is an example of how European standards of beauty has impacted people of color Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #116

Brazil may have the most problems linked to race in our entire hemisphere and malaise Sep 2013 #119

Exactly!! My friend from Sri Lanka said the same thing. Same problems. Same caste system... Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #122

Decades ago we were discussing Garveyism in a classroom malaise Sep 2013 #128

Wasn't there a similar situation ann--- Sep 2013 #27

That was Gabby Douglas, and she wasn't natural. She wore her hair relaxed, but Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #34

You're right, I didn't understand the fuss about Gabby's hair. Dems to Win Sep 2013 #38

I say, she should let all of it be "curly". :) Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #110

And from women of her own ethnicity malaise Sep 2013 #73

I went natural about 5 or 6 years ago CatWoman Sep 2013 #28

I love it! Don't you??? Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #35

yup CatWoman Sep 2013 #51

I went natural nearly 20 years ago. Nedsdag Sep 2013 #63

Hey. NOLALady Sep 2013 #102

the final straw for me CatWoman Sep 2013 #147

Aw! Iggo Sep 2013 #29

YES!!! My hair looks just like that! Makes me proud. I wish more black women... Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #31

Dayum, she's BEAUTIFUL! calimary Sep 2013 #37

Why is she the only contestant of African ancestry malaise Sep 2013 #91

WOW! She is stunningly beautiful - lynne Sep 2013 #40

and I believe you malaise Sep 2013 #92

Good heavens, she's a knockout! Aerows Sep 2013 #43

my goodness, that face would still look beautiful even with no hair..but I get your point. Jefferson23 Sep 2013 #44

She is strikingly beautiful. Beacool Sep 2013 #45

Mine is also natural but how many folks do you see accepted with malaise Sep 2013 #47

I've always liked Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's hair. Dems to Win Sep 2013 #55

Here's her pic.. I love her hair SoCalDem Sep 2013 #58

I don't like mine that short malaise Sep 2013 #69

There is no option when it's short like that, but it sure would be easy SoCalDem Sep 2013 #80

I cut mine off three years ago malaise Sep 2013 #81

There are a couple of women at work who wear it natural and they look great. Beacool Sep 2013 #64

That is refreshing to hear. I do think things are changing. I wish they would change faster in the Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #118

She's so gorgeous Aerows Sep 2013 #160

That is true but women who wear natural hair are viewed as malaise Sep 2013 #163

I would love to see the BS concept of "good" and "bad" hair put to rest. Solly Mack Sep 2013 #48

adorable <3 La Lioness Priyanka Sep 2013 #52

Thank you, La Lioness Priyanka. Solly Mack Sep 2013 #54

I recommend seeing the movie Good Hair... AnneD Sep 2013 #65

Worth watching. Solly Mack Sep 2013 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author KoKo Sep 2013 #95

Society warped it malaise Sep 2013 #126

OMG.... AnneD Sep 2013 #182

That has changed malaise Sep 2013 #183

My granddaughter Sofia's hair is trending that way, too, Blue_In_AK Sep 2013 #57

Sofia is beautiful and I love her curls. Solly Mack Sep 2013 #59

Beautiful! Dems to Win Sep 2013 #62

That is also my hope. Solly Mack Sep 2013 #67

What a beauty malaise Sep 2013 #71

She's spoiled rotten. :) Solly Mack Sep 2013 #85

Ha -she's adorable malaise Sep 2013 #86

I will. She will be here in November to spend time with me. Solly Mack Sep 2013 #87

She is beautiful. She and I have exactly the same hair texture and style! Wouldn't change for anyone Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #115

I've been reading the thread and I just want to 'Thank' both you and malaise Solly Mack Sep 2013 #157

You're welcome malaise Sep 2013 #165

You're quite welcome. I find it a fascinating topic and hope it helps people understand more. Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #168

so stunning. love her hair and indeed it is a good sign that she is wearing it natural La Lioness Priyanka Sep 2013 #50

So fine... whatchamacallit Sep 2013 #56

Stunningly beautiful. I hope she wins. panader0 Sep 2013 #60

My wife's hair looks like this. kwassa Sep 2013 #61

"I cut her hair for awhile!" Kwassa, my opinion of you just went up about 1000 notches Number23 Sep 2013 #88

LOL malaise Sep 2013 #90

Oh, shit! I need to find a husband like you! You cut your black wife's hair?!?!? PRAISE YOU!!! Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #120

love her hair Liberal_in_LA Sep 2013 #68

I love natural hair! libodem Sep 2013 #79

she would look good Bald also JI7 Sep 2013 #82

She's from Dominica not Dominican Republic malaise Sep 2013 #84

I just noticed she was from the Island of Dominica - lynne Sep 2013 #93

Lovely island malaise Sep 2013 #94

Her hair is lovely. David__77 Sep 2013 #83

Have you noticed de Blasio's kids malaise Sep 2013 #166

Yes. You know Bloomberg made a big deal out of this during the campaign. Accused de Blasio of racism Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #169

Bloomberg is a fugging lunatic -- imagine calling a man malaise Sep 2013 #172

Yeah, I don't understand her hair at all. It's almost gone. It's so thin and lifeless. Why Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #181

reminds me of Chris Rock's docu "The Good Hair" NuttyFluffers Sep 2013 #97

The chemicals are a billion dollar industry malaise Sep 2013 #109

Leslassa Amour-Shillingford is beautiful as is her hair~ Cha Sep 2013 #98

Woweee! woolldog Sep 2013 #99

Nice looking lady, but that pic has been photoshopped way too much. edbermac Sep 2013 #101

YES!! YES!! YES!!! Folks, this is black hair in its natural state. Note: not all blacks have the Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #125

Very beautiful woman. nt icymist Sep 2013 #107

Caribbean Queen ...... now we're sharing the same dream marmar Sep 2013 #123

LOL malaise Sep 2013 #134

Just recently a lovely little girl with neat, not too long hair tblue37 Sep 2013 #135

Well rastas won that argument in Jamaica malaise Sep 2013 #136

That's just ridiculous!!! Beacool Sep 2013 #139

Saw that, and it just broke my heart...... a kennedy Sep 2013 #143

For those who still may need to understand this debate, remember Brown v. Board of Education? Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #138

TV, movies, all the socializing agencies malaise Sep 2013 #140

Yep, yep, I agree! All of it. Our families who can't accept our natural hair. Our churches. Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2013 #144

Both are lovely but I know exactly what you mean malaise Sep 2013 #145

Looks soft, like feathers LittleBlue Sep 2013 #146

Freedom for the Sisters! Dems to Win Sep 2013 #149

Yes attitudes have to change malaise Sep 2013 #152

Hmmm. Black women are still encumbered by awful hair care practices, as Dems to Win Sep 2013 #151

Absolutely gorgeous. JaneyVee Sep 2013 #154

Marry me!! Eleanors38 Sep 2013 #158

She is beautiful. jwirr Sep 2013 #159

Oh my god, an Indian Miss American, now a Black Miss World. Dynamite is surely bluestate10 Sep 2013 #170

Neither has won the contest malaise Sep 2013 #173

She's probably the only contestant there with natural hair lunamagica Sep 2013 #174

i certainly agree with the judges... madrchsod Sep 2013 #176

The final is next week malaise Sep 2013 #177