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I was planning to ignore this because it can be a good debate or it can easily slide into a big fight. However, it’s been discussed quite a bit in the comments and it could make an interesting discussion post. Newsweek ran a controversial op-ed piece regarding – of all things – Zahara Jolie-Pitt’s hair and the state thereof.
In the piece, the woman claimed that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie aren’t taking proper care of Zahara’s hair. Actually that’s not even true, naturally the blame is falling on Angelina’s shoulders because she’s the mother and should apparently take full 100% responsibility of everything parenting-related.
It says that because Zahara is a young black girl she needs to have her hair cared for in a traditional way. Because Zahara is usually seen with her hair flowing free there is a lot of criticism thrown the family’s way. The author of the piece says that although Zahara doesn’t need to have her hair processed, it should be oiled and either braided or maintained in a traditional style. Since her hair is left to do its own thing, it’s seen by the author (and others who criticize Angelina over it) as a form of neglect, because it’s not being cared for “properly”.
I hesitate to get into it since I’m not a black woman and don’t know a thing about how to properly care for Zahara’s type of hair. However I’m going to say that in the past Brad has mentioned a particular line of hair care that they use on Zahara’s hair, a product that is intended for black hair. Obviously they’re maintaining it in some way. However I fail to see why people are so upset over Zahara’s free hair. All you have to do is look at the clothing each child wears (Zahara in her girly clothing, Shiloh in her tomboy outfits, Maddox and Pax in their quasi-skater styles) and you know that Brad and Angelina let their children express themselves in what they wear.
It seems to me that perhaps Zahara prefers to not fuss with her hair. Yes, she likes frilly dresses and all things pink but that girly preference doesn’t necessarily mean that she wants to sit to have her hair done. My oldest loves to wear skirts and dresses but she won’t sit for more than a minute or two to have me brush her hair without fidgeting. If Brad and Angelina allow freedom for their kids to choose their outfits, why wouldn’t they also let them choose their hair styles? Remember Maddox and his little “faux-hawk”?
Obviously there’s a race issue that comes into play but it’s hard for me to believe that Brad and Angelina would do so much to incorporate the different cultures that represent their children’s heritage and yet ignore the hair issue. If they’re letting Zahara’s hair be free and unstyled I highly doubt that it’s due to neglecting it. It wouldn’t be that difficult for them to learn how to manage it in the way the Newsweek writer demands if that’s what they all wanted. And even if they couldn’t figure it out on their own, Brad and Angelina have language tutors; do people honestly think they wouldn’t hire someone to help them out with Zahara’s hair?
I think that Zahara is an absolutely beautiful little girl and I love her hair. People can scream about how her hair needs to be tamed all they want, but when I look at Zahara, I see that her parents are letting her just be herself instead of mainstream.
Besides, Tyra Banks just did an entire show all about losing her weave and being natural. I wonder what her opinion is.
What’s yours?
Image: Splash News Online
Well, I read the Newsweek article, and I happen to agree with it. I am totally against relaxing young girls hair, but you do not have to relax it to care for it. Black hair is more fragile, that is why it is necessary to COMB it. If you all think it is torture to brush a childs hair, imagine how hard it will be to brush out Z’s hair when it hasn’t been combed for days? If they don’t comb her hair, it will begin to lock up. I understand the comments about black women being ashamed of their hair, etc, but that hate is a problem incited by a society whose standard of beauty looks nothing like black women. Furthermore, it is not good hygiene not to comb your hair, how will Z ever learn how to manage her hair when she gets older. And yes I do agree that when Z starts to hang out with other black girls her age, she will be the odd one out. I also believe that interracial couples often have the same problems. I see no one mentioned the part of the article talking about how vital it is for a black child to understand race,and the part that their race plays into how society will treat them. These things are all connected. Hair is a sense of pride for black women, and has been that way for centuries.
I wish i could say it’s ok to let it go but as a black woman with mixed heritage it is vital for her to manage it. I think they are attempting to manage it but she does need it combed out and you can tell in some pictures that it hasn’t been combed. She is a beautiful girl either way – however, when she gets older she will look at her sisters and brothers and feel as the odd person out if she damages her hair at a early age. I can tell that they are using something on her hair – it just needs to be combed out daily and probably braided. I believe it should be left natural as relaxers are not good – she seems to have a good texture to it as it is a “nice curl”. For a black girl if they their hair locks up after not being combed for a long time – it will start sheading and will have to be cut out….it is obvious they are not letting it get that far – i don’t think it is that serious but it might be a good idea to braid it up and/or put it is pigtails
there is nothing wrong with the way zahara’s hair is being cared for. first of all people should realise that she is ethipia and the type of hair is not the same as those of other africa. zahara’s hair is not naturally cured in a way similair to heidi klum sons.