April 22, 2022

"I'm surprised this story didn't mention that Black women have been wearing their hair shaved to the scalp for decades."

"I'm African American and first cut my hair super short in the mid-1980s and quickly went to peach fuzz. I wore it like that until 5 years ago. Back in the 80s I got occasional stares, but also a lot of compliments, especially from men. By the 90s, I was just one in the crowd. This look is nothing new." 

That's the second-highest-rated comment at "Shaved Heads Have People Buzzing/A shaved head still has the power to shock" (NYT).

Third-highest-rated — though a search of the page for "Jada" turns up nothing: "G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it!" 

Top-rated: "Bald and balding people need to resist this egregious form of appropriation."

33 comments:

LordSomber said...

"All hair problems are First World Problems."

-- Johnny Gutts

gahrie said...

"All hair problems are First World Problems."

Not true. Poor Brown and Black people all over the world spend billions of dollars to straighten their hair and whiten their skin. While at the same time millions of White people spend billions of dollars to curl their hair and darken their skin.

hombre said...

'Top-rated: "Bald and balding people need to resist this egregious form of appropriation."'

This is a joke, right? Right?

Trouble is, with NYT readers you can never tell.

madAsHell said...

I shave my head. It cures two problems:

1. I don't have to color my hair with baby-shit-green-black Grecian formula.

2. You can no longer find the bald spot.

Win-Win!!

Jupiter said...

These Black chicks can get seriously exercised about hair;
"The teens called the victim “white bitch with braids” and said she’s not allowed to wear her hair in braids because she’s “not black.”

Yancey Ward said...

She's bald, Jerry!

Darkisland said...

Odetta is the only black (nearly) bald woman I remember seeing before the 2000's.

It is such an odd look that I feel sure I would have noticed black woman with it.

Sinead O'Connor was noteworthy but she was white. Was that cultural appropriation?

Mad as Hell,

I've tried shaving my head a few times. I kind of liked the look and feel but it seemed like too much work, havng to do it every day or two.

I got a Remington battery clipper and clip my hair down to a nub (about 1/16 or less, almost bald) then let it grow out for a couple weeks. Takes about 5 minutes in the shower.

Ditto my mustache. When it gets long enough to annoy me, I clip it back to a nub then let it grow out again.

I like Grecian Formula and Just for Men. I've made a lot of money from them over the years. I'd never use them though. Nothing wrong with the product, I just don't see the point.

Yancey Ward said...

"The teens called the victim “white bitch with braids” and said she’s not allowed to wear her hair in braids because she’s “not black.”

The victim needed to tell them she voted for Biden, too.

Andrew said...

This offends me as a balding person.
You people just don't know. Until you've been through it.
Every day, new hair clogging the drain. Every day, new casualties of war. Every day, new reminders of mortality.
And there's nothing, nothing, you can do about it.
Except weep and despair.
Where's my damn ribbon? What charity speaks for me?
And then these bastards shave their heads intentionally.
That's not appropriation. That's mockery.
Brush your hair, and damn you all to hell!

Iman said...

No bald-headed, down-bellied, daughter of teh Sappho
gonna mother hubbard shave cream me
With just a pocketful of mope
Money for rope
Learn how to cope

Jamie said...

I've always thought this look is very cool... But as a pale woman prone to freckles (and now also other forms of irregular coloring), I won't be doing it because I think I'd look weird and old, even if I could guarantee that my head were attractively shaped, which I can't without actually shaving it!

Christopher B said...

Men of a certain age suddenly unleashing their inner Telly Savalas or Yul Brenner is as obvious as a comb-over.

TheOne Who Is Not Obeyed said...

The story didn't mention that white kids, black kids, asian kids, hispanic kids, indian kids (both dot and feather) have had their heads shaved for years to combat lice.

Also, adults. And inmates until the 60s I think.

It's nothing new nor remarkable.

LordSomber said...

"All hair problems are First World Problems."

Not true. Poor Brown and Black people all over the world spend billions of dollars to straighten their hair and whiten their skin. While at the same time millions of White people spend billions of dollars to curl their hair and darken their skin.


Poor people spending money on frivolities rather than survival ensures poverty. A First World Problem in the Third World. Cargo Cult thinking is nothing new.
On the opposite end, the well-off "romanticizing the other" is not a new neurosis either.

Joe Smith said...

Some of us didn't have a choice : )

Some people that shave their full head of hair should first make sure they don't have Klingon skull...

n.n said...

In other words, a story about a novel cultural choice, a story about nothing. Similar to the story about men who relearned to braid.

madAsHell said...

I've tried shaving my head a few times.

I "shave" with an electric razor. A true razor causes in-grown hairs. Otherwise, I'm on the same schedule as you.

My son once told me "Hey, nice comb over Dad!!". I immediately shaved my head, and that was in 2007.

There were some REAL hideous comb overs encountered during my employment at Boeing.

Quaestor said...

"I'm African American and first cut my hair super short in the mid-1980s and quickly went to peach fuzz."

African American like Elon Musk?

rcocean said...

Very few white people can pull off the bald look. They end up looking like a cue ball.

RNB said...

I saw this article and told my wife she's suddenly 'trendy.' Her hair is starting to grow back in after chemo.

walter said...

A lot of shaved heads under those ornate wigs.

reader said...

My mother’s side of the family had very fine thin hair. My great uncle dealt with it by shaving it off. All of my memories of him are of him being bald. I remember thinking he was quite dapper looking, most likely because my nana told me he was. She adored her little brother.

My son wore his hair in a 2 from pretty much 5 to 12. As far as he was concerned there were so many more important and enjoyable things to do during the day than to brush his hair.

mikee said...

I was going to contribute a story about my post-COVID Viking haircut and how it was misinterpreted by one and all, from hipsters to lesbians, but instead I'll just note that Bo Derrek in "10" would be a target for cancellation today. And she inspired lots of imitators with her culturally appropriating hairdo.

NCWilliam said...

Sade, Grace Jones

Joe Smith said...

'Sade, Grace Jones'

If you look like either of those women, go crazy.

Just because Michael Phelps looks good in a Speedo doesn't mean everybody will...

Mark said...

Sorry, but the Black woman shaved head look -- which HAS been around for a long time -- is NOT a good look.

BudBrown said...

Bald Headed Lena

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Obviously the NYT is racist for not including black women. They should be canceled for their systemic racism.

BUMBLE BEE said...

What? Demi Moore's GI Jane look? That's allright momma!

Narr said...

I've never shaved my head, but I have had some very short haircuts. I was in fact the first long-haired hippy-type individual in my circle to give up on the ringlets.

Short hair is cool. Literally. So much so that after a cut of my never-long hair, my head feels cold for a day or so.

farmgirl said...

https://youtu.be/DwDXrtEQpEo

Pretty lady shaved her head.

Tim said...

Yes, and American soldiers as well as other nationalities have been wearing their hair high and tight for decades. I still keep mine short, and the older I get the shorter I keep it. I like it. Easy to wash, easy to maintain. The only downside is you really have to wear a hat when outside, the sun is murderous on really short hairstyles.

dbp said...

"Top-rated: "Bald and balding people need to resist this egregious form of appropriation."

I assure you, we're trying!