African American Personal Presentation

Abstract

A great amount of literature is dedicated to racial identity and self-perception, but very little addresses how hair may play a critical role in how African American women view themselves and others. African American women choose to wear their hair in a variety of styles, including weaves, wigs, dreads, chemically processed, or non-chemically processed (often referred to as "natural hair"). Researchers conducted a study that explored 282 African American females from urban and rural communities, varying in age, socioeconomic status, and education levels and discussed the reporting of the hairstyles they currently wear, what styles they believe are more attractive/ unattractive, what styles they believe are more professional/unprofessional, and what influenced the style they currently wear. In addition, these women completed the Rotter's Locus of Control and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scales. Regression analyses indicated there was a slight but significant positive correlation between a higher internal locus of control and those who choose to wear their hair in a natural state; however, the regression showed no statistically significant predictive value for hair selection. A discussion of the psychological implications for the findings, thoughts of self-perception, and how these findings can be used for future practice is addressed.

“No [Right] Way to Be a Black Woman”: Exploring Gendered Racial Socialization Among Black Women

“…S. Thompson & Keith, 2001). Studies conducted over decades and across multiple fields of study have demonstrated that colorism has measurable consequences for Black women in the United States (Choma & Prusaczyk, 2018;Drake & Cayton, 1945;Fischer & Shaw, 1999;Golden, 2004;Haizlip, 1994;Parham, 1989;Thomas, Hacker, & Hoxha, 2011;Townsend, Thomas, Neilands, & Jackson, 2010).…”

“…Adams et al, 2016;Mathews & Johnson, 2015;Sweet, McDade, Kiefe, & Liu, 2007). Studies also have shown that women with lighter skin fare better in the mate selection market, securing higher status spouses than their counterparts with darker skin (Drake & Cayton, 1945;Hughes & Hertel, 1990;Keith & Herring, 1991). Natural hair has largely been considered to be unprofessional, unattractive, and unfeminine, and is associated with various negative socioprofessional outcomes (e.g., lower incomes, harsher workplace conditions; B.…”

“…For many of the women, going natural was linked to cultural pride, akin to reclaiming one's roots and expressing one's Blackness (Jeffries & Jeffries, 2014;White, 2005). Participants stated that wearing natural hairstyles helped them broaden what society deemed acceptable and beautiful (Ellis-Hervey, Doss, Davis, Nicks, & Araiza, 2016). However, wearing natural hairstyles elicited some conflict, debate, and negative reactions from others.…”

Reimagining Hair Science: A New Approach to Classify Curly Hair Phenotypes via New Quantitative Geometrical & Structural Mechanical Parameters

“…Hair styling plays a significant role in human society by serving as a form of nonverbal social expression, political stance, and sexual attractiveness. 6,7 The development hair cosmeceuticals by the personal care industry is continuously changing in response to current cultural aesthetic trends. 8,9 Hair morphology can be distinguished by overall fiber shape or curl pattern.…”

“…6,8,9 Kinky hair can be further sub-classified into two different morphologies: corkscrew shape or zig-zigged, Z-angle shape. 7 Kinky hair is sometimes referred to as coily hair and people with this hair type often possess a mixture of these hair morphologies on their scalp.…”