Hollywood actresses discuss hairstylists issues

A discussion about hairstylists not being prepared to handle black or natural hair on Hollywood sets was started on social media. The discussion was started by the model, Olivia Anakwe, on Instagram. She shared several disappointments she has faced on set due to lack of trained hairstylists who could handle black hair.

She talked about her Paris Fashion Weekend experience. She said she was billed to rock cornrows but there was no hairstylist available backstage able to style her hair. This attracted comments from several other black female actors. Gabrielle Union, Natasha Rodwell of “Insecure,” and Yvette Nichole Brown were not left out.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

This message is to spread awareness & hopefully reach anyone in the hair field to expand their range of skills. Black models are still asking for just one hairstylist on every team no matter where your team is from to care for afro hair. I was asked to get out of an empty chair followed by having hairstylists blatantly turning their backs to me when I would walk up to them, to get my hair done. If I am asked to wear my natural hair to a show, the team should prepare the style just as they practice the look and demo for non-afro hair. I arrived backstage where they planned to do cornrows, but not one person on the team knew how to do them without admitting so. After one lady attempted and pulled my edges relentlessly, I stood up to find a model who could possibly do it. After asking two models and then the lead/only nail stylist, she was then taken away from her job to do my hair. This is not okay. This will never be okay. This needs to change. No matter how small your team is, make sure you have one person that is competent at doing afro texture hair care OR just hire a black hairstylist! Black hairstylists are required to know how to do everyone’s hair, why does the same not apply to others? It does not matter if you don’t specialize in afro hair, as a continuous learner in your field you should be open to what you have yet to accomplish; take a class. I was ignored, I was forgotten, and I felt that. Unfortunately I’m not alone, black models with afro texture hair continuously face these similar unfair and disheartening circumstances. It’s 2019, it’s time to do better. || #NaturalHair #ModelsofColor #BlackHairCare #HairCare #Message #Hair #Hairstyling #Backstage #BTS #AfroTexturedHair #Afro #POC #Braids #Message #Spreadtheword #Speak #Awareness #Growth #WorkingTogether #BlackGirlMagic #Melanin

A post shared by Olivia Anakwe (@olivia_anakwe) on Mar 7, 2019 at 9:07am PST

They all said they usually hade to come on set with their own supplies as the stylists were not always prepared for black women. Check out Anakwe’s lengthy post below:

In Union’s post, she pointed out that untrained stylists could damage their tresses leading to permanent hair damage.

Check all the posts below:

The pressure to “just be happy they picked you & you got a job, don’t ask for the SAME things every other actor/model gets on GP…” Listen, if u stay quiet, u WILL have bald spots, hair damage, look NUTS (tho they will tell u its cuuuuuuuuute ?) https://t.co/vBMFla2cQ2

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) March 11, 2019

Most black actresses come to a new set w/ their hair done (me) or bring their wigs & clip-ins w/them. It’s either that or take a chance that you will look crazy on screen. Many of us also bring our own foundation. One too many times seeing no shade that matches you will learn ya! https://t.co/mGAzpuoKtb

— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) March 11, 2019

See also:

Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union open business for Kaavia

Octavia Spencer and Gabrielle Union to produce “Coffee Will Make You Black”

Union, Hough, and Crews get on “America’s Got Talent”