Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, US Surgeon General and a black woman who might know a thing or two about relaxers, had a few choice words for the attendees at the Bronner Brothers International Hair Show.

“Often times you get women saying, ‘I can’t exercise today because I don’t want to sweat my hair back or get my hair wet. When you’re starting to exercise, you look for reasons not to, and sometimes the hair is one of those reasons.”

She ain’t neva lied. It’s absolutely true that some women exercise less (or not at all) due to a fear of sweating out their hair style.  There’s nothing controversial about her statement and in fact it’s nice to see such a high level person directly address issues that impact black women’s health. But according to a New York Times article, some health analysts question whether Dr. Benjamin should be speaking out on such a “niche” issue (their term, not mine).

“The role of the surgeon general is traditionally, and appropriately, to take on big issues,” said Jeff Stier, a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank. “I don’t know whether the surgeon general’s role is to engage in smaller issues like this. It strikes me as bizarre.”

Bizarre, eh? Government studies say that 50 percent of black women 20 years old and up are overweight or obese.  Addressing any topic that could help lead to increased physical activity and healthier, longer lives seems pretty reasonable.  It’s not about addressing a “small issue,” it’s about tackling a major health issue in an informed, comprehensive way.

All that said…have you ever skipped the gym so you wouldn’t mess up your hair? You have? Well, cut it out girl! Oh and be sure to check out Michelle Obama’s hair stylist Johnny Wright in this video where he gives tips on keeping the do tight while you get your body right.

Here we go again! We had so much fun giving away goodies over the weekend, we decided to do it one mo’ gin!  We’re gifting three  more lucky Madame Noire readers with products from Soft-Sheen Carson’s Optimum Care Salon Collection. We hung out with SoftSheen at this year’s Hoodie Awards in Vegas, so you know we put in the good word for you. We MUST hook up our fans!

Log on to our Facebook page today August 17, 2011 at 4:00 pm EST to find out how to win!

Winners will receive the following products:

-Relaxer (Regular)

-Replenishing Shampoo

-Fortifying Conditioner

-Whipped Oil Moisturizer

-Heat Protection Polisher

-Mineral Oil-Free Sheen Spray

Good luck!!

The best tresses will have you wondering, “Well, is or isn’t it?”  Advancements in hair extension installation, including lace fronts wigs and fusion, are becoming so good that the weave wearer may be left wondering if that virgin remi is actually growing from their own scalp.

Celebrities wear weaves for a variety of reasons that don’t always include additional length.  Weaves are worn for thickness, color change and to endure heat styling and other processes that would otherwise damage their natural hair.  The best weaves require time, skill and a good amount of money and the following list of celebrities ladies have access to all three which explains why their wonderful weavaliciousness.

This is a good time of year to get a good laugh. Seriously, there are so many people out in the good, warm weather for events and just moving around, showing out with towering updos, hair dipped in more than three colors, and enough gel to hold any baby hair down. But there’s a difference between doing something unique and/or innovative with your coiffure and just trying to be seen, and by being seen, I mean being seen looking a fool. These eyesore kind of styles are conversation pieces, so lets get talking. Here are a few looks and hair mishaps that I beg of you, to avoid to save face, and your hair.

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Earlier today, we were talking on Twitter about about article on celebs who have hair industry side hustles. We asked our dear Twitter followers a couple questions about that topic including asking them to name their fav natural hair rockin’ celebs who always look on point. The answers ranged from people like Chrisette Michele to Jill Scott, Solange and even Monica and Tiny.  Obviously our readers have different ways of defining natural hair.

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I’m a big lover of music and natural hair. And I love artists like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott who proudly and confidently rock their natural beauty in the form of lovely locs and gorgeous afros. Not that I’m knocking other mainstream artists that don’t wear natural hair. But for me, it’s always refreshing to have something different and unique.

And speaking of mainstream artists and their hair, I recently read about an interesting exchange between Rihanna and one of her Twitter followers. Apparently Rihanna had just released the official cover art for her new single. And after seeing it, one of her fans asked this “interesting” question via twitter: “Why does her hair look so nappy?”

Now the fan didn’t verbally ask this question directly to Rihanna. She tagged her in a tweet.  She ended up getting a very straightforward response. And here’s what Ms. Rihanna had to say: “Cuz I’m black Beyotch!”

Now honestly, I couldn’t help but chuckle. The moment took me back to the much missed days of Dave Chappelle and Rick James skits. But I don’t want to get sidetracked. So let’s get back to the original topic: “Nappy hair.”

I think this Twitter exchange (as funny as it was), was also a serious insight into how some black women, even in 2011, are still very much consumed with fitting a “standard” and not embracing their natural beauty. Personally, I’m glad that Rihanna responded so matter-of-factly. Because honestly, her hair is the way it is because she is black. And what’s wrong with that? I know so many black women that are so afraid of their hair being called or thought of as “nappy”. It’s really sad because it just clearly shows how some black women have an inferiority complex when it comes to how they think they “measure up” to other races of women.

Where did this come from? Well I speak from personal experience, when I say that “social conditioning is a hell of a drug.” I hid behind relaxed hair for years because I didn’t want “nappy hair”. Fortunately, through a lot of self-examination and self-love, I was able to shed those insecurities. Now I have “curly,” “kinky,” “coily,” “nappy,” whatever you want to call it hair. My hair is natural and I love it. It’s gorgeous, long, and most important of all, it’s healthy. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

It always saddens me when I hear black women try to distance themselves from their “nappy” hair. I even know some black women who’ve been relaxing so long that they don’t even know what their own natural hair looks like.

The reality is that black people constantly feel a certain level of pressure to assimilate into mainstream culture. And I would imagine that the pressure is even more profound for artists like Rihanna who want mass appeal. The concept of “fitting in” is so deeply engrained in many of us. And we try so hard to be someone or something else- all at the expense of hating on ourselves. It’s truly a shame.

But overall, I’m glad Rihanna is accepting of her race and her hair texture. And I’m glad she confidently and unapologetically proclaimed it. It should be a lesson to many of us. Black women, and women in general, need to own who we are. Because we have to first be beautiful in our own eyes, before our natural beauty will ever be acknowledged by others.

What are you are thoughts on Rihanna’s response to the “nappy hair” comment?

Why do you think some black women have an issue with their hair texture?

Want to leave a question/comment for our writer Dr. Phoenyx Austin? Well head over to her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter. A phenomenal mix of brains and beauty, Dr. Phoenyx is a physician, writer and media personality who’s all about natural hair, health, and happiness. And she has been featured in Essence and has also appeared on popular shows like The Russ Parr Morning Show and The Warren Ballentine Show.

Black women spend half a trillion dollars to keep our hairstyles tight, our weaves looking good and our “kitchens” tamed. Why do we do this? Our sister site the Atlanta Post explores the mind-boggling business side of the black haircare industry, but also the psycho-social impacts behind spending goo-gobs of money on appearance in such a way.

Very interesting read!

Do you think there is any type of psychological reason or impact behind black women buying weaves?