Men On Embracing Women of Natural Beauty Continues...
CLICK THIS LINK FOR PART ONE OF MY RESEARCH/INTERVIEWS
Part Two of My Project Below:
A couple of weeks ago, I
conducted interviews on women about their natural hair transition and journey
and decided that it would also be interesting getting men's prospective and
preferences in regards to natural beauty. Particularly, emphasizing their thoughts
and feelings toward women who have or are transitioning from wearing
their hair constantly pressed, chemically-processed or covered under wigs or
weaves-to wearing their naked natural hair
texture.
Conversely, I asked several male friends of mine if
they preferred the wearing of moderate accessorized/ accentuated styles such
as: the wearing of African styles and hair extensions, eyelashes, nail
extension, etc., and why. Finally, I
explained that this interview was not about a right or wrong answer but only to get
their honest thoughts, opinion, and feelings.
Here are the interviews:
Devon's Response:
Q-Nurtured
Naturally ByC: Hi Mr. Devon, thanks for participating and time. I do want to
know first of all if you have family and/or friends within your circle/community
who are natural beauties?
Devon:
I have family members that are
natural beauties when it comes to hairstyles and they wear them well. Also they
are comfortable with their style of choice.
Q:
Overall, are you more attracted to natural beauty or women who wear little to
heavy make-up, and a lot of accessories? Elaborate?
Devon:
I am OK with make-up as long as it's not laid on a woman face thick
- it should not be so noticeable on her face.
Q: Tell me, in regards to natural hair styled women, do you prefer
natural textured-hair women or women who frequently/always wear their hair chemically-treated
(relaxed/permanents) and covered with protective styles as weaves or wigs.
Devon: When
it comes to hairstyles, I really do not like the weave - natural hair is the
best because it's different than the norm, it shows the woman embraces her
culture. Women knows she can be beautiful without it being chemically treated.
To answer the question.. I prefer women to wear their hair naturally.
Q: Would you be supportive if your woman/wife/sister/daughter/mother
decided to go natural, and how?
Devon:
My wife and daughter are already natural when it comes to hairstyles.
Q: What would turn you off about natural beauty or natural textured hair?
Devon:
Nothing turns me off about natural beauty or natural texture hair.
Q: Do you
feel that a woman who wears her hair natural looks better with make-up?
Elaborate.
Devon:
I would say that a woman makeup highlights her natural hair.
Q:
How would you react if when the next time you saw your wife/woman, her is natural
but the last time you were with her, her hair was either relaxed or always straight,
weaved or covered with a wig?
Devon:
My reaction would be caught off guard at first but I love the natural
look on my wife and daughter.
Q:
If you had to choose your favorite natural hair style for a woman, what would
it be?
Devon:
My natural favorite hairstyle for a woman would be the coils. I like
the way the Afro-look with coils look on a woman.
Q:
Do you think some men have difficulty embracing natural kinky or coily
textured-hair due to the self-hatred taught to African Americans…in this
country during and after slavery, and the influence of Westernized views that
correlates with social acceptance of what’s considered beautiful?
Devon:
I really do not think men find it difficult if a woman wears her hair
naturally. Men are more mesmerized with a woman body than her hairstyle.
Q:
Finally, what advice or affirmation would you give a young girl or female teen
to help boost her level of self-esteem about loving her natural hair texture
and image?
Devon:
It would be difficult to give advice to a teen about wearing her hair
natural because she is influenced by her peers who wears a weave. It takes
courage for a young lady to wear her hair naturally. My daughter started at the
age of 15 because her hair was breaking from perming it, so she decided to let
it grow naturally. Three years later she still embraces the natural look.
Andre's Response:
Q: Hey Mr. Andre (aka Dre'). I wanted to know if you have family and/or friends
within your circle/community who are natural beauties?
Dre':
I have many in my family, work, church and
community who are natural beauties and I appreciate their natural flow and the
fact that they are comfortable in their own skin and hair.
Q: Overall, are you more attracted to natural beauty or women who wear little
to heavy make-up, and a lot of accessories? Elaborate?
Dre': I am more attracted to all that is
natural from her nails, to hair, naturally treated skin from oils, spices, and
minerals. I don’t do the heavy make-up, long weave, false eye lashes, nor over
revealing clothes – to me it’s a cry for attention and will attract what it’s
intended too. But be natural being you.
Q: Tell me, in regards to natural hair styled women, do you prefer
natural textured-hair women or women who frequently/always wear their hair
chemically-treated (relaxed/permanents) and covered with protective styles as
weaves or wigs.
Dre': Seeing more and
more sisters shifting into the natural flow is rather exciting to me because
they have to basically start over. So more of their feminine qualities are
released to cover the absence of hair and when the hair catches up, they are
ready to go. Natural not chemically treated preferred.
Q: Would you be supportive if your woman/wife/sister/daughter/mother
decided to go natural, and how?
Dre':
I would be supportive as I have already been
of my baby girl. I encourage her in compliments and in reminding her of how
lovely she is and that’s she’s something on the planet that no one else can
say, My Baby Girl!!!
Q: What Do You like About Being Natural Beauty?
Dre': It’s Natural –
Organic – Self – it’s not rehearsed, made up, or manufactured…
Q: What would turn you off about natural beauty or natural textured hair?
Dre'': If
It’s NOT CLEAN!!!!!!
Q: Do you feel that a woman who wears her hair natural looks better with
make-up? Elaborate.
Dre': Some! As long as it’s soft and blends, and
well as flows naturally. Not caked on!!!
Q: How would you react if when the next time you saw your wife/woman,
her is natural but the last time you were with her, her hair was either relaxed
or always straight, weaved or covered with a wig?
Dre': N/A – when I find my wife/woman she will be
natural out the gate and I would not have to worry about weaves, wigs, nor
relaxed!
Q: If you had to choose your favorite natural hair style for a woman,
what would it be?
Dre': Twist, Locks, Kinki Or Fro - in that order.
Q: Do you think some men have difficulty embracing natural kinky or
coily textured-hair due to the self-hatred taught to African Americans…in this
country during and after slavery, and the influence of Westernized views that
correlates with social acceptance of what’s considered beautiful?
Dre': I do think that some men have this issue
because of the commercial like that we’ve been fed through media and as a form
of self-hate as we don’t embrace our blackness and our natural self. But it’s
shifting daily as the issue is brought to the forefront.
Q: Finally, what advice or affirmation would you give a young girl or
female teen to help boost her level of self-esteem about loving her natural hair
texture and image?
Dre': I just did it today in my
Character Education Class – having to remind a young sister of her beauty in
skin and hair – her smile came forth and her esteem lifted as she heard it from
a man, father, mentor and or teacher that she respected and knew that it was to
build her up in love.
Nurtured Naturally: Thank you Dre'. I knew you were also a good candidate for this project. Good insight Preacher!
Isaac's Response:

Q: Hey Mr. Isaac I wanted to know if you have family and/or friends
within your circle/community who are natural beauties?
Participant:
Yes I do.
Q: Overall, are you more attracted to natural beauty or women who wear little
to heavy make-up, and a lot of accessories? Elaborate?
Isaac: I am more attracted to natural beauty
& someone who wears very little make-up & little accessories. I believe
a woman doesn’t need a lot of anything to make her look beautiful.
Q: Tell me, in regards to natural hair styled women, do you prefer
natural textured-hair women or women who frequently/always wear their hair
chemically-treated (relaxed/permanents) and covered with protective styles as
weaves or wigs.
Isaac: I
think it depends on the woman & what she prefers. As long as she is happy,
I am happy.
Q: Would you be supportive if your woman/wife/sister/daughter/mother
decided to go natural, and how?
Isaac:
I would be very supportive & help her find a style
that we both like.
Q: What Do You like About Being Natural Beauty?
Isaac: Natural
Beauty does not require a lot of make-up, & I prefer a woman that does not
wear a lot of make-up.
Q: What would turn you off about natural beauty or natural textured hair?
Isaac: I would not be turned off by either.
Q: Do you feel that a woman who wears her hair natural looks better with
make-up? Elaborate.
Isaac: It
depends on the woman. Some woman prefer to wear make-up & some do not. I
like it either way.
Q: How would you react if when the next time you saw your wife/woman,
her is natural but the last time you were with her, her hair was either relaxed
or always straight, weaved or covered with a wig?
Isaac: I would
first have to take in the change & understand that she is still the same
woman so I would not react negatively. I would still like it either way.
Q: If you had to choose your favorite natural hair style for a woman,
what would it be?
Isaac: It really
depends on the woman, but I would choose natural curls.
Q: Do you think some men have difficulty embracing natural kinky or
coily textured-hair due to the self-hatred taught to African Americans…in this
country during and after slavery, and the influence of Westernized views that
correlates with social acceptance of what’s considered beautiful?
Isaac: Yes I do.
Most men want their woman to look like what society has conditioned them to
think is acceptable.
Q: Finally, what advice or affirmation would you give a young girl or
female teen to help boost her level of self-esteem about loving her natural
hair texture and image?
Isaac: I would encourage her to first
love herself & don’t let anyone tell her that she is not beautiful.
Thank you Isaac for your honesty and time. I appreciate your participation.
_______________________________________________________________________________