Showing posts with label black girls and their hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black girls and their hair. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Why Black Teens May Feel Pulled Between Health and Hair

Cultural pressure surrounding hair is so powerful that some African-American adolescents say they avoid sweating because it could mess up their tresses.

Gym class, school sports and other exercise routines bring important health benefits. But sweating also means potentially bad hair days and ruining time-consuming and costly hairstyles.

So Woolford, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, along with her sister Carole Woolford-Hunt, Ph.D., of Andrews University in Michigan, and David Williams, Ph.D., of Harvard University, studied this cultural phenomenon. The researchers asked: Are lower levels of physical activity among African-American teens related to hair care?

The small study, which was recently published in BMC Obesity, included 36 African-American girls ages 14 to 17 in three states. The authors found a consistent theme among participants: Adolescent girls preferred straightened hair, which was viewed as the most “attractive” style, and said they avoided getting wet or sweating during exercise because they worried it would ruin their hairstyle.

Four main themes emerged from the study:

When concerns about hairstyles began between ages 8 and 15, participants changed from “juvenile” (natural) styles to “adult” (straightened) styles.

Participants avoided getting wet or sweating during exercise because their straightened hair became “nappy.”

Braids with extensions and natural styles were viewed as better for exercise, but not viewed as attractive.

Participants almost universally selected long, straight hairstyles as most attractive. Some thought short, natural hair was OK but that it “only looks good on some people.”

Read more about the study here: Why Black Teens May Feel Pulled Between Health and Hair

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The reviews are in for NAPPY, a book for little black girls.


The reviews are in for NAPPY!

NAPPY a short picture book letting young black girls know how beautiful both they and their hair are. 99¢ for kindle: NAPPY FOR KINDLE

5.0 out of 5 stars Nappy! October 2, 2013
By Cinnamon Curly Girl
Format:Kindle Edition
In a society the heralds a standard of beauty contrary to those of African Americans with highly textured hair; Nappy by George Cook III, promotes positive self image for young Black girls. This book reaffirms that we are indeed made in God's perfect image!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read October 15, 2013
By Sammie
Format:Kindle Edition
My granddaughter enjoyed the story, I had to read it 3 times. This seems to be our nightly bedtime story. I loved the story line and how it let the reader know that it's ok to wear natural hair and as a woman that also has chosen to be natural, this book is long overdue... Thanks George for inspiring our young ladies of color!

4.0 out of 5 stars Important Message for young black girls: September 30, 2013
By Larry Sputnik
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is very short (only 5 pages) but carries a big message for young girls. While we all know that girls of all races eventually are faced with image issues, one particular issue that is typically unique to black girls is that of their hair and coming to terms with the fact that it does not necessarily look like the hair on their dolls or the hair on most female models in magazines or on TV. The short poem and child-friendly illustrations introduce self-awareness and pride to young children who may be confused or unsure of the beauty of their inherited attributes.

Also available for Nook: NAPPY FOR NOOK

Smashwords: NAPPY FOR SMASHWORDS