MTV’S “TRUE LIFE” CASTING WOMEN GOING NATURAL
The producers of the documentary series True Life are looking for African American women who are ready to do the big chop. (For those of you who may be new to natural hair lingo, the big chop is the process of cutting one’s relaxed hair off and leaving only the natural kinky curly hair to become officially natural.) This is a major milestone for the natural hair community. MTV has millions of viewers from diverse backgrounds that will now be educated on what it means for a Black woman to go natural. This is not only a great opportunity for other races to be educated on black hair, but most importantly African Americans. When a woman goes natural, she often receives the most negative comments from Black people, especially those in her family. When I shared that I was going natural, a family member told me, “You know you don’t have good hair so you might not want to do that”. Going natural can be a very difficult and emotional journey. Often times, boyfriends have threatened to break up with their partners when they reveal their plans to stop relaxing or straightening their hair. There are also many women who fear having a difficult time gaining employment and not being viewed as attractive if they were to go natural. Hopefully, this episode of True Life will help African Americans learn to support those who decide to go natural and to embrace their own natural hair.
It is not just hair for African American women; it goes much deeper than that. For years we have been taught that our hair is difficult, unattractive and “needed to be fixed” but many of us have rejected these teachings and have decided to embrace our natural kinky, curly, and coily hair. Many natural women now embrace the word “nappy” and they will no longer allow the word to make them feel shame.
My hope is that MTV accurately illustrates what it means for a Black woman to go natural. It is not about vanity for most of us, it is about self- acceptance and self-love. I truly stand by Marcus Garvey’s quote, “Don’t remove the kinks from your hair. Remove them from your brain”. I encourage any women who are transitioning to natural and ready to big chop to apply. If you appear to be between the ages of 15 -28 and would like to document your transition to natural hair, send an email to casting@lintonmedia.com and tell them your hair story. You must include your name, location, phone number and recent photos of yourself. It is time an accurate voice is given to this often misunderstood movement.
Chime Edwards is a native of West Point, MS and attended Rust College in Holly Springs, MS where she majored in Mass Communications. In her spare time, Chime enjoys posting videos about natural hair care on her YouTube channel for over 26,000 subscribers.
This is great! I’ve been natural for almost 2 years!
This sounds great for our Big Chop Sisters!
But I also feel not just the big chop people
have negative words said to them.
Most People who have been natural for many years do also.
I feel that I would love to Join a Great movement like this!
I know alot of my sisters that have been natural for a while
feel the same way.
wow! i never thought i’d see this day! i think i’m getting misty…
So happy to hear this I have natural more on than off for the last 30 years on only on for the last 10 years. Now locked for 20 months
Yeah I decided to go natural over two years ago. Don’t get me wrong I still rock my weaves when I am in the mood but it is nothing like combing thru your real hair. My hair grew back thicker and stronger after cutting it off to go natural. Best decision I made in regards to my hair.
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I really think this is a great opportunity for the sistas to support one another and motivate others that want to but have no idea where to start. The only think that bothers me is the age range why not a variety of ages for African American women? Women are going natural young and middle aged its only fair and if you want to get the facts of a true life change.
Unfortunately, I did not do the big chop as most women have done. I took the other route where I just let the perm grew out and continued to trim the ends of my hair as needed . I have been a naturalist now for the past 2 years and I must say that this journey has been one of many trails and errors. I’ve had styles that where great and some that I would say to myself what in the world is this mess you just created. I have to tell you that on those days I had to have extra confidence in myself because I already knew what I thought about the hair style and I could only imagine what the others where thinking LOL…. but, any way I love my hair and I love to see all of my other other natural beautiful sister’s out there rocking their different hair styles. Anyway let’s love and appreciate each other whether we are natural or not. We are all fighting some kind of battle and some days for us sister can be tough natural hair or permed hair but, real love will get us through those day. Love, Peace and God’s best.
From a Black male perspective: The two sexiest women I have ever engaged with were both nearly bald-headed. And, short-haired women seem to have a unique confidence about themselves which resonates much greater than some of those other sisters with lots of long (and sometimes store-bought) extended hair. Personally, I prefer a woman who pays more attention to her hair-care-down-there versus the “lipstick-pig-with-a-nappy-wig”; if you can wrap your mind around what I’m really trying to say. But, what do I know – I’m just another brother without a lover who refuses to operate undercover. I’ll find myself another beautiful, naturally short-haired sister one of these days!
I’m happy MTV wants to dig a little deeper into the lives of our natural beauty but Why is there a certain age limited they are looking for, is it also more lines they wont cross….Why not open this up a lil more like 25 to 40. But guess beauty stops at a certain age ijs. I’m 38 and been natural for 3 yrs and decided to loc my hair. We tend face the same issues all around so if ur gonna do this MTV go all the way
Hooray! The white media is turning some other supposed “oddity” in our culture into a TV show… again! Hooray for us! Now I know how Hawaiians feel when they’re forced to dance the hula again and again and again and again…
I think this is a great idea but I disagree with the age only going to 28. I have locks and have been locked for the past 3 years. I would actually be willing to cut them and do the natural styles just to experience the process and im 41. Locks and being completly natural are a little different because you then have to do different sytles to your hair. I am glad the word is getting out because I have been doing my best to promote natural hair to others since I started my process. Its a lovely thing to be natural!
Congratulations, Black Like Moi! This story seems to have legs which is a beautiful thing. Interestingly, I have started noticing something that I never really paid attention to before your Facebook News Feed. That is, Ethiopian-American women are really into the natural hairstyles (mostly long but sometimes short) and I’m assuming you count them as our sisters, too. I understand the term “sisters” identifying African-American females, deservedly, but I just wanted to place my observation out there for you and your followers to consider. I also like the comment by the sister who’s 41, who was slightly miffed by the age parameters of the MTV project. After all, if you think 28-year olds may encounter some pause after stating commitment to do the “Big Chop” then consider what a beautiful 55-year old women (distinguished for decades because of her hair) would go through in such an event. Nonetheless, all of you sisters keep on keeping on because, as I always like to say, “it’s a beatiful thing!” Peace.
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Silly. Yet another excuse to put Black women under the microscrope, and examine your goings-ons like lab mice, all under the guise of “inspiring and being inclusive”.
The insecure amongst us who constantly weep about not getting enough “attention or recognition” from whites will be happy about this.
But if my child wants ideas or inspiration for being natural, I first educate my child myself based on my own experience. Parents lacking that experience can quickly refer to the millions of blogs, hair albums, forums, and Youtube video bloggers out there.
Sending my child to a white network, to watch a show geared toward whites that puts Black women under the microscope YET AGAIN as if they’re exotic animals in a zoo that need to be learned or studied is just irresponsible and wrong.
Yet another silly show that the insecure masses will support and fight to the death to defend. Fools.