Men With Natural Hair

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Women of color are embracing natural hair, but what about men?

Natural hair styles are just as "bold" of a choice for men as it is for women -- after all, most dudes have systematically gotten haircuts since they were toddlers. Maybe natural hair styles are an even bolder choice for them, because they also have to deal with a length stigma that men aren't "supposed" to have long hair because it is too feminine.


Men and the Natural Hair Debate

Natural hair styles for men are still one of the last natural hair "taboos." When it comes to black men and men of color, a tight faded cut has been a universal, go-to style since the 1990s. But things are changing.

Sure, celebs, singers and creative types like my Detroit homie and singer, Dwele, singer Eric Benet, actor Michael Ealy, singer Maxwell, rocker Lenny Kravitz, and comedians D.L. Hughley and Ricky Smiley and others rock natural hair.

Yet, around the way? It's still uncommon to see dudes rocking natural hair styles like freeform afros. (Locs have been popular for years, especially in areas like the South.)

But I'm starting to see more rocking natural styles beyond locs and that's a good thing. Men are redefining natural hair styles and what it means for them. For women, there's a bonus: There's just a certain sex appeal with men who wear natural hair styles, especially long, flowing locs IMO.

Natural hair styles for men -- YouTube

Resources for Natural Men
Just like women, men still face huge battles when it comes to natural hair  -- remember the controversy surrounding the 2011 Nivea ad that showed a Black man flinging the masked head of a man with a thick beard and afro with the words, "Re-Civilize Yourself?"

Sadly, there aren't a whole lot of natural hair resources made specifically for men. That's got to be difficult considering all of the online blogs, communities and forums about natural hair that cater to women. CurlyNikki.com, BGLHOnline.com and other sites have male bloggers, but their perspective seemingly gets lost among natural women.

And if you want to get technical, most men do have natural hair, as long as they don't have texturizers.

Male Bias?
Still, when it comes to natural hair and men, it's usually from the perspective about how men feel about OUR natural hair. But what about THEIR hair? They face the same natural hair prejudices -- if not more -- than women do. Suggest growing out a toddler boy's hair and not cutting it and let me know how that works for you; it's still largely frowned upon, especially in the Black community.

Men can be just as biased about natural hair as women, considering that growing up they heard the same messages about natural hair as we did. Men who rock natural hair styles need our support too! As long as they aren't buying up all the natural hair products, we're good (LOL)!

What do you think about men who wear natural hair styles? Do men face the same natural hair challenges as women? Who is your favorite natural hair male icon?