News reporter DRAGGED for her natural hair on TikTok. Is this a professional hairstyle?

[@natura__essie]

I know we promote natural hair as professional and presentable, but let’s acknowledge that presentation matters. There’s a thin line! Simply embracing texture isn’t enough, putting in effort in your hair is essential, especially in professional settings. Even an Afro is professional(long or short) when properly combed or finger combed and arranged. Natural hair is beautiful and I like to see black women embracing their natural hair...lets normalize making our hair look polished without taking away the texture or try to make it look like an other type of hair.

[@900ug]

yeah no cause why are black people the only ones that have to make our hair look slick at all times ?? NATURAL HAIR IS NATURAL. white people go out with fly aways all the time and nobody cares, but somehow on us we're expected to have gelled up slicked down hair at all times ?? NATURAL HAIR IS PROFESSIONAL.

[@tintamanengu]

And this my friends is a summary of this whole video. Thank you Essie💚❤️

[@sohanicridland9116]

Her hair itself is professional. What is not professional is the way she chose to style it. There is nothing unprofessional about her hair texture, which is what those people were really saying. In my opinion, it looks like she styled it more for a chill day at home, than a day at work. It just looks like she didn’t properly fluff and detangle her hair. That doesn’t mean they have to drag her. However, most of these people don’t have real constructive criticism for her. To the commenters it’s just another moment where they can rant about not liking natural black hair. Her hair is beautiful, she just has to learn to style and treat it.

[@sugarzblossom8168]

So more manipulation means more professional. People have different ways to take care of their hair. Some people don't believe in always detangling or at least not trying to detangle your all of your hair. Also properly fluffing makes it seem like there is one way or that it is a need

[@HawaBintYusuf]

Yeah I think she could have styled it better.

[@BionAvastar3000]

THIS IS IT EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!

[@thewordsmith5440]

No, they aren't trying to say that let's stop deflecting nobody who is sane would go to their job with hair sticking and spaced apart like that especially one where they would be on tv. And why not get bantu knots or cornrows braided in an updo style if people are so obsessed with being problack? The issue isn't hating natural hair it's that people are making it into a sideshow attraction by waking up and not doing their hair and then trying to claim its them loving themselves. By that logic let's all stop brushing our teeth and showering because we don't naturally have soap and water and soap is man-made.

[@nandi_m04]

​@@sugarzblossom8168 no. This is a lousy take and excuse to be lazy with your hair and not keep it neat. She could've worn it as an afro, shrunk or stretched and that would've been more professional than what she has on her hair. What she did to her hair is definitely an at home or "I'm just going to the store and I'll be quick" hairstyle not a workplace hair style.

[@Ltlmscrl]

That’s not a black hairstyle. That’s an “I didn’t feel like styling it at all” style. She looks like Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons.

[@BlueVeins-k6b]

Thank you!

[@christinaayers8500]

I agree

[@kimlove4740]

It looks like she took it out of braids and try to fluff it, but keep the curls she looks fine to me if y’all would stop over manipulating your hair it would most likely look the same

[@nandi_m04]

​@@kimlove4740 there's nothing manipulative about watering/moisturizing your hair and picking it a bit. She could have worn it as an afro.

[@PettyJellyfish]

There are plenty of women in that profession that wear their hair natural she acting like she was the first one...Her choice of hairstyle was not professional period.

[@Rosannasfriend]

Maybe it looked good to her in the morning and something happened?

[@tintamanengu]

Maybe but judging from her other pictures shown here, it looks like she wears her hair like that a lot, which is okay if she's totally aware of how it looks and makes a conscious decision to never do anything about it.... I guess.

[@christinaayers8500]

She might be struggling with styles.

[@BornAgain387]

Of all the beautiful hairstyles we have in the natural hair community, I didn't think bird's nest was an alternative ....

[@jamaicafox]

How your hair is when you wake up is not how you go to work, school, or simply outside. One should take pride in their personal appearance, including hair, regardless of hair type. Sorry, she doesn't get a pass of any kind. She and I are both Black with kinky hair. I would never step outside like that. Yes, she looked crazy and I would say the same of any other race who didn't do their hair before stepping on camera. You do the news, baby. Do your hair. Bed head is not acceptable in public.

[@nandi_m04]

True the guy with the locs in the beginning really threw me off with his take on afros

[@adayinthelight7575]

That style was awful. I’m sorry but it wasn’t even styled. Yikes. I’m sorry.

[@zazilicious]

I’m sorry but that ain’t it! We have a rich history of elaborate hairstyles and hairstyles historically in most parts of Africa has a significance. You can’t just go to work the way you woke up sis! If she didn’t feel like doing much, at least do an afro but you can’t be out there looking like Angelica’s doll 😮 Like I said, we have so many hairstyles, tools and a whole community to help us take care and style our beautiful natural hair that looking like this for work is unacceptable!

[@liyahhxo-oc6pj]

You worded this beautifully

[@zazilicious]

@@liyahhxo-oc6pj Thank you 🥰 I feel like not everything is racism because if a white woman went to work, especially as a tv reporter, as she just woke up and didn’t brush her hair or tie or made any kind of effort, she would have received the same kind of criticism. I watched a documentary about the history of black hair and how different African tribes styled their hair and what it represented and they were saying how having unkept hair in some tribes meant that you went mad… There is no way that she looked in the mirror and thought yea that’s a good hairstyle!!

[@heredianna2496]

100% agree. And beyond intricated hair styles a simple bun made in 1min would have looked professional and presentable enough.

[@zazilicious]

@@heredianna2496 Right? Look at the high puff that lady making the video is rocking; simple yet beautiful and presentable. It’s giving F*ck this, I’m not doing anything to my hair and nobody’s going to say a damn thing because it will be labeled as racist smh 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@thewordsmith5440]

I wish all the women who do this weird stuff would just get a nice cornrow updo. Like you said we have so many African hairstyles that would look more professional and put together. It's weird that people stop getting cornrows on their natural hair but complain about limited styling options.

[@Dlanao]

Combing hair and making it presentable is a basic , especially in a workplace

[@CCC9437]

It’s giving Lisa Simpson .. it’s giving side show bon from the simpsons .. looks like she didn’t try

[@nandi_m04]

Even Lisa Simpsons hair is more professional honestly. I've seen afros(shrunk) and styled like Lisa's hair and their very pretty. With the reporter lady it's different, honestly.

[@eyme.x]

SMH I just don’t know how we got to this point in time where black women are fighting so hard to be allowed to look a mess. Literal bed head. She did NOTHING to her hair. I’m getting sick of this laziness that’s plaguing black women today. WASH your hair, STYLE your hair. Don’t sleep with your hair out loose cause it’ll be hard to deal with in the morning. Like wtf is going on? The natural hair movement is just getting out of hand and we need to bring back femininity, good hygiene, etc.

[@faevalentine9187]

Exactly!! Our grandmothers were suffering through segregation and still had the will to look good, I don’t understand.

[@thewordsmith5440]

Yes, it's so frustrating because they will gaslight you and tell you, you hate yourself but it seems like it's them who are acting out of depression or something. We want our plants to grow we water it so why are some so neglectful with their hair. There was another woman Chelsea at work with her hair in a messy lopsided ponytail and a black man commented that her hair was not professional and she was bragging how she puts it in a loose ponytail and it looks like a 5 year old did it. The thing that annoys me is that they always bring up messy buns on white girls but messy buns on the red carpet and in tv shows are a real style and they put real time into doing their hair and it's not a lopsided ponytail. They even put hairspray in their hair to make it stay in place.

[@Naistov]

From what I've been seeing, it started with the comparison to white women and how thei bed head is acceptable. Like, I get it but our hair is largely not the same. It takes a bit more effort.

[@nandi_m04]

​@@Naistov loving this comment and the thread. Why should we be focused on white women's hair when we allknow our hair types are different. Smh people are really pushing it sometimes. We need to learn to focus on ourselves before comparing ourselves to others especially white people.

[@eyme.x]

@@Naistov what’s crazy is white people actually DONT accept bed head. They typically wash, blow dry & straighten or curl their hair either every day or every few days. Black women need to stop being lazy. Every other race does what they can to keep their hair clean and styled on average. We’re the only ones who think it’s ok to go weeks or months without washing. That’s actually insane. A week, fine. But months?! SMH. To whom much is given much is required. We were blessed to have more protein in our hair which means we have to put more effort into maintenance. And we need to stop crying and complaining about it and just do what needs to be done. We can’t be lazy

[@tochi2811]

I love my natural hair and I do a lot of natural hair styles but that particular hairstyle just looks like a bad artistic choice to be honest

[@royalty_bae807]

That “straight out of Africa” comment was meant as an insult. They want American black ppl to look down on continental African ppl and vice versa. We should not give them this satisfaction. Sadly, our people turn on each other and do so quite often. But that’s why i will make sure any black kids growing up around me will be educated and admire the differences amongst all black ppl. They already have all the other races trying to belittle them, they don’t need it from their own.

[@tintamanengu]

💚❤️

[@heredianna2496]

That comment was funny to me as an African. I did not feel offended at all because it's so disconnected from reality that it just sounded so stupid and ignorant. People should take a look at any African news anchor lol. I am Congolese and French. It was funny because anyone who is from Africa ( yes no matter the country, it's in the culture) knows that we always make efforts to look presentable outside the house no matter how wealthy or poor you are especially for events and work. It's not about brands and expensif stuff. It's about taking care of yourself 101 from wearing ironed clothes, to colors that match together, to moisturizing your skin from head to toe, to have clean nails, to good looking cut/styled hair from box braids, cornrows, weaves, wigs, shaped afro, twists, twa or a simple bun. Plus most people know how to braid so you don't even have to pay for the hair stylist. Your sister, neighbor, niece, cousin, aunt or friend can do it for you. I swear in Congo women and men take pride in looking good/presentable. And we learn this at a young age. In Congo she would have been sent home for real and would have never been able to air like this. Now I don't know her reasons and her story so I am in no position of dragging her I just find it sad for her if it's a choice, and she does not see that it does not help her look good, professional or just presentable. Being proud and happy with your natural hair does not mean it's a good idea to wear it outside and especially at work or special events the same way it looks from when you just wake up. Because that's how my hair would look like in the morning if I went to bed with my hair out of a braid out with no silk scarf , no bun and no ponytail for several days which I NEVER do not even for one day. If it's not a choice from her and just a lack or knowledge, time and awareness then I hope she learns from it and focus only on the tips and realize that she can not only get help online but also by Black women around her. Honnestly most random Black women would be happy to give her tips to style her hair in easy and quick ways because that's possible. It does not have to be complicated if that's not what she wants or can do.

[@youllbemytourniquet]

Girl you had me dying towards the end 😂😂😂 but fr that girl definitely could have styled her hair better. I’m still learning how to style my own so I understand how difficult it can be!! I enjoyed the video and appreciate how you didn’t just bash this girl.

[@tintamanengu]

Glad you enjoyed it🤗💚❤️ I'm in no position to bash her I'm still learning too.

[@o_rosey]

Uhmm don't white people also wash and style their hair, if you want to wear natural hair it should look good to the eyes we all have eyes, that did not look put together at all. Every form of love on this earth is conditional.

[@nandi_m04]

Look professional/neat/put together in professional spaces*** if she was at home or went grocery shopping and then headed back home it wouldn't have been an issue but she was at work

[@RDCFemmes]

not the hair, the hairstyle. LOL. I think she is trolling people.

[@ChocolateBabe_]

Her hair could have looked better. I’m a black woman and I would never walk out the house like that. It was ugly.

[@janomesteve3129]

Will not be surprised if the dragging comes from people looking like her

[@tintamanengu]

Not surprising to me neither

[@makeupmental]

Exactly.

[@zazilicious]

@@janomesteve3129 Because if another race says anything about her hair, they will be called racist which is bs because anyone of any race goes to a job like a tv presenter with bed hair, they would have received the same criticism from everyone but because it’s a black woman, it becomes about race smh 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@thewordsmith5440]

@@tintamanengu I don't know if black people don't realize every race or ethnicity criticizes their own. Arabs criticize other Arabs. Indians hold their own to a standard. Yes black people hold people accountable. She could be opening the doors for other reporters who wear natural hair but if she keeps doing stuff like that, it can discourage people from wanting to hire black women with natural hair because they think they will pull those type of antics.

[@milky8471]

Even our mom wouldn't let ud go out with our hair like that. It's not about her hair type, it's just unpresentable and some natural girlies are using this natural hair bs resulting in people viewing our hair as unprofessional. Good job to the girl🤡

[@MorningJoySC]

I agree her natural hair could have been twisted into a wonderful coif- IF she did that as a provocative statement she was WRONG… because she is talented & she makes Black women look bad😡😡 she was Wrong Wrong Wrong!!!!

[@User-q8d9j]

Seems like her hair was purposely messy to garnner talk she could spray water and split her hair up so it'd not clumpy your hair dosent look that even if you slept rough

[@talkytabby2878]

So much self hate in these comments

[@nandi_m04]

Where? Be so fr now shielding bs. I agree people could've been nicer to that lady and advised her on how to make her twist/braid out neater but that "style" was not it. It looked more like an at home style rather than a work style

[@thewordsmith5440]

No one should walk out the door the same way they woke up that's poor grooming no matter what race.

[@deborahpollitt7533]

I have no idea whether this “bed head” or how it was styled. In my opinion, that’s none of my business. Her hair her choice. I wear my hair as it grows out of my scalp. I’m unwilling to straighten hair. I’ve learn how to wear it beautifully taking advantage of its natural characteristics. I think for me to spend the time and money on creating a straight appearance.

[@JINSTERPEACE]

that straight out of Africa comment is out of what images were ingrained from class. They only show hairs in braids and all over the place.

[@tintamanengu]

Well it must be unlearned because clearly we are all struggling with figuring out how to wear our hair, in Africa or not. I understand your explanation though and this is in no way directed towards you specifically.💚❤️

[@LK-em2ly]

3:39 Saying you still think her hair could have looked better is the exact problem we have. I love your videos but that comment was filled with ignorance. Saying it looks perfectly fine isn’t saying that’s the standard of perfection for natural hair. It’s saying she looks presentable and ready to work in the hair that comes out of her scalp without having to spend 5 hours putting it into a “style” people with looser curls are allowed to walk out of the house almost just as they woke up and it’s seen as presentable but here it seems like you’re creating an expectation that she should have to spend much more time styling simply because of her hair texture

[@tintamanengu]

This isn't about hair texture, even the examples of others shown styling their hair are ppl of a different texture than her or me. If it was an expectation based on texture I wouldn't have used those examples. Not everything is an actual attack on us.

[@LK-em2ly]

@@tintamanengu I’m not saying it was an attack on us I’m saying your particular word choice was problematic. Is there a list of styles that are acceptable to wear? If not she should be free so where her hair however she wants to as long as it’s clean, healthy, and intentional

[@tintamanengu]

​@@LK-em2lyNot sure what the best word choice would have been but again the hairstyle itself isn't a problem, the other examples used in this video are all wearing the same hairstyle. So I'm not saying she should change the hairstyle or that it's not acceptable.

[@Ehlaar]

👏🏿 I just came across a youtube video of a woman who had a twist out she deemed failed because of some reason beyond me but i think it has to do with this exact subject we have to be perfect all of the time especially with short hair. The womans channel name is ItsRitaLevon and she is proof that we the pressure from the natural hair community is real maybe mayowas world was right?

[@katzwhite5962]

Too much blackness if you wear your hair natural. Too much blackness if you keep your skin black and dont bleach. So sad😭

[@SunshineState-ou7pr]

For black women, donot straighten yalls natural hair, just wear wigs over it for special occasions and events.

[@Ehlaar]

Then people complain that we hate ourselves

[@SunshineState-ou7pr]

Okay, that reporter is wrong for her hair, reporters are professionals, and those platforms have standards. Hiring authorities have a right to want a certain look. Just because you have natural hair, don't mean every platform wants that image. Natural hair is beautiful, but As long as there are jobs and ways to make income thats suits your look, you can survive . Showing up with your natural hair, don't mean you ignorantly really show up every where with uncombed, unkempt, not neat hair. There are places that accept all kinds of looks. So, know what platforms and spaces are for you. Yall don't belong on every bodies personal platform and personal space. They don't all belong on yours either. People must understand that individual people have preferences. I would not be offended by none of them, at all. So, know the difference. There is a difference between natural well kept hair, professional hair from styles that have an i dont care how i look. Your hair needs to fit whatever environment you qualify for and what spaces you are meant to be. Black women just need to keep investing in nice wigs for special occasions, like keep wearing your natural hair, but for particular jobs and environments, you can wear the wigs, nothing wrong with that. Letting your real hair breath is good. Honestly, rejection for me is protection from God, meaning places i choose that don't accept me wasn't in God's plan for me, but places that openly accepted me with no effort, were clearly God sent. Black

[@monie2514]

They could have accepted it if it was nice and picked out and well-shaped as an afro 💯‼️👌🏼♥️🤎🖤🧡💚 but when it's untamed definitely it may make some people uncomfortable is her hair she has a right to wear it nobody should be bashing her that was wrong. But aesthetically she should have had it professionally done by a barber,