Does Hollywood Have Black Actresses Afraid To Go Natural?

When Viola Davis decided to wear her natural hair to the Oscars last year it caused many tongues and fingers to start wagging. I remember watching Fashion Police and Joan Rivers actually ripped Viola’s look apart because of her choice to rock a TWA. I was shocked because I thought she looked undeniably gorgeous. I was even more surprised when Wendy Williams jumped on the bandwagon and said things that were even more offensive!

Now that awards season has rolled around again those of us that love fashion and beauty have been waiting to see our favorite stars pull out all of the stops. The accessories, the dresses and last, but certainly not least, the hair takes center stage. Yet it seems that the beautiful Black actresses of Hollywood are scared strait, literally!

With the exception of Solange Knowles, Teyonah Parris, Viola Davis and a few others, one can’t help but notice that in the midst of the Natural Hair (R)evolution, Black women on the red carpet are still clinging to relaxers, wigs and weaves when it’s time to “dress-up.” Not that there is anything wrong with rocking the hair extension or chemical treatment of your choice, but it becomes a bit problematic when you have to do so just to conform to the beauty standards of an industry that has historically and consistently portrayed natural hair in a bad light.

It’s almost as if we put on our “good hair” for special company.

It’s long been the norm in many circles that straight hair is “good hair,” and one of those circles just happens to be Hollywood, a space that more and more Black woman are inhabiting – as long as they play by its strict beauty rules. Perhaps we only have to look at 9-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis, star of Beasts Of The Southern Wild, to realize how deep the rabbit hole goes. For a film that takes place in an impoverished Bayou community an Afro is enough, but under the big lights of fame, it seems that only a press-n-curl will do.

I don’t judge any woman for the hair choices she makes for herself or her daughters, but here’s the thing: natural hair should be an option. It shouldn’t be vetoed by an industry that leads the trend on what’s considered beautiful in America. Straight hair should be an option too, but it shouldn’t be forced onto us so that we end up feeling vulnerable and awkward for embracing our natural hair.

It’s already hard for Black actresses to get roles as it is. So I understand why they might be reluctant to do something that will make it even harder to get work. But when will Hollywood get a clue and accept our natural beauty? For the sake of all the women and young girls taking their beauty and fashion clues from their favorite actresses, I hope soon.

Original article by Clutch