Man fashion hair cut

WHEN civil rights activist Willie T. Barrow did it, she shocked the world. She said she did it because it gave her "a sense of freedom," made her "look younger," and most importantly made her "feel good" about herself.

Today, Beyonce is doing it independently; poet Nikki Giovanni is doing it with grace; and Lil' Kim has been accused of overdoing it. And it's not just a woman thing: Cuba Gooding Jr. and Tiger Woods did it for a moment and, of course, Dennis Rodman has done it so many times that few can keep count. So what do all of these Notables have in common? At one time or another, they've all dyed their hair blond.

Nowadays, many career Women, teenagers, celebrities, athletes and every/other fashion daredevil in between are lightening their locks to various shades of blond. And there's about as many shades of blond as there are complexions; there's tawny, beach blond, honey blond, goldilocks, strawberry blond, ash blond, and, of course, the blondest of the blond, platinum.

Blond hair is one of the hottest beauty trends to strike Black America in recent months, and while some Black blonds say that they are just trying something new, funky and fun, critics argue that sporting blond hair is a denial of one's proud Black heritage.

Obviously, a possible side effect of going blond is a backlash of criticism from your constituents, neighbors and/or family members who feel that you may be conforming to the European standard o f beauty. Hair is still a hot-button issue in Black America, says Princeton University professor Noliwe M. Rooks, author of Hair Raising: Beauty, Culture, and African-American Women.

Dr. Rooks says in the past, hairstyle and texture (whether the hair was permed or worn naturally) spoke to racial identity, but today, hair color is the focus in the Black community.

"One would be hard-pressed to go into our middle-class or working-class Black neighborhoods and not find blond hair or copper-toned hair color," Dr. Rooks says. "Hair color is about adornment, and style, not wanting to be something else." On the other hand, Dr. Rooks says that if the Black blond is "undergoing major changes of their Black attributes, they may be trying to fit the dominant [White] standard of beauty."

Yet another hot hair issue is the age-old question (this time with a twist): Do Black men prefer Black blonds? And do Black blonds have more fun?

"I'm having a lot of fun," laughs Cynthia Holiday-Moore, northeast regional manager of Anheuser-Busch Companies. "It's nothing for me to wear a blond wig with a headband, that's the kind of woman I am. I have to look into the mirror and see something different; that's just my style. My husband is used to coming home and seeing a totally different woman."

Mark Richard Moss, a contributing author of Tenderheaded: A Comb-Bending Collection of Hair Stories, says vibrant hair color will catch a man's eye, but a darker-haired woman will capture his heart.

"While I'm not a gentleman who prefers blonds, I can't say I've totally discriminated against them," he observes. "Once, four Black women appeared at a mostly male gathering to watch a pay-per-view heavyweight fight. One stood out because of her dyed blond hair. Her hair color was of little concern ... but as a product of the Black Consciousness Movement, natural hair color was part of my litmus test in selecting a wife."

Proud, professional, and platinum blond, Holiday-Moore says she's colored her hair every shade on the spectrum (except black) and has worn every hairstyle known to man. Holiday-Moore is also a seasoned jazz singer, and says she cut her hair short and dyed it blond to create a different persona when she's onstage--and her husband loves it.

"The hairstyle and the hair color just evolved, because I knew Cynthia Holiday [the jazz performer] had to have a different look," she says. "I'm blessed with a good voice, but in order to make it in this business, you've go to have something that stands out from the crowd."

There's a time and a place to stand out, and for many professional women,-the work place isn't the best place to be a trendsetter. Holiday-Moore says Sisters should study their work environment carefully before deciding to express themselves by means of an exotic hair color.

"I work in the beer industry, and many of the things that we do involve social activities," Holiday-Moore explains. "For the most part, the work environment is business casual [depending on who we're meeting], and we do have the leeway not to be as traditionally corporate."

Before dyeing your hair blond, take a look around the office. If your work environment is strictly conservative (basic blue suit, no exceptions), perhaps you should nix the idea of dousing your hair with peroxide. Instead, buy a wig that suits your craving for a new mane; wigs come in dazzling styles and colors, and you can change your look in about 60 seconds. If you work in an environment where creativity and individuality are encouraged, and if you are so inclined, find the blond shade that suits you, and do your thing!

COPYRIGHT 2001 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group