Wendy Williams Disses Viola Davis' Natural Hair

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Y'all already know: I'm team #Viola.

I'm uber happy that Viola wore her natural hair on the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday. Was super disappointed that she didn't win along with her co-star, Octavia Spencer. But hey, she wore her natural hair out on the friggin' red carpet. That made the the loss just a little bit easier to bear

And you know what? That was enough for me (as if I'm the one all up in her hair, lol).

So, count me as clueless when I heard the collective gasp in the natural hair community about Wendy Williams' comment that Davis' hair wasn't "formal"  for the red carpet. While doing red carpet commentary, Williams said this about Davis:

“You know, a lot of people used to say that natural hair wasn’t formal.”

For reals?

Though she usually rocks short wigs, Davis debuted her natural hair publicly a few weeks ago for a LA Times Magazine cover, then at the Black Women in  Hollywood Awards for Essence Magazine and finally, at the Academy Awards.

Why Wendy Was Out of Line

You could have kept that Wendy, cause most of your audience (read Caucasian folks) really don't understand what you just said. And they give less than a damn. But trust me, boo boo, I hear you loud and clear -- this from a woman who I've never seen wear her natural hair out under all those wigs and who I've heard say that she has "good" and long hair.

Not knocking that in the slightest, but why knock someone else's hair  -- even though it's the cattiest, most perceived slight, that way? You mad because Viola has the courage to wear her natural hair out -- and you don't?

What's The Real Issue?
We all know: Natural hair can be formal as any other style. You can do updos, formal, elegant styles, anything you choose. We all know this based on the styles shown on HairNista.com, CurlyNikki.com and countless others

Wendy really needs to educate herself about natural hair, and I'm sensing hate-tinged comments. Show me your natural hair once, Wendy, not a peek of it on your show, and then your comments will carry a bit more weight with me, K?  

Say you don't like her dress? OK, I'm cool with that. But her hair? From another black woman? That ain't cool, because I don't hear any other commenters talking about Angelina Jolie's straight hair as not being appropriate. 

Because that ish won't ever happen. 

Wendy could have kept that mess of a comment, because clearly millions of YouTubers, natural hair bloggers, natural hair fans and even Madison Avenue brands like Kmart, Allstate, Yahoo, eBay (and the list goes on) think entirely differently about natural hair -- enough to keep natural hair in heavy rotation on TV, the Internet and in magazine spreads.   

Why Davis' Hair On the Red Carpet is More than Just Hair

I'll be glad when we're at a point where wearing natural hair on the red carpet isn't special.  

But for right now? It is. Ditching the wig meant everything -- that she and countless other women of color are unashamed, unapologetic and unafraid to wear our natural hair. Davis' natural hair was the spotlight -- and, with the exception of Williams' comment, in a good way.

Natural hair, in all its textured glory, was on display.

That's huge, because in a society where the message in our community is to get rid of the kinks and curls any way possible -- Davis took a bold stance: natural hair means something.

HairNistas, you know I call it as I see it. And I don't make any apologies for it. I was surprised that it was a black woman -- a wig wearing black woman no less - who tried to check Davis. I was always taught that drama stays within your own household -- you handle your business there before you expose it to all the world to see.

That didn't happen.

Her comments played right into the hands of folks who could give less than a damn about our natural hair. That's some crazy internal black folks' ish -- and now it's easy to see why Viola felt skeptical at first about wearing her natural hair. And that ain't cool.

Hair Ettiquete, No?

Count me as a Davis fan. And I'm a Wendy fan, too. But I'm so disappointed by her comments about natural hair. Negative comments about your hair is one thing. But another woman's natural hair? That's crossing the line. 

Because unless you wearing a ratchet weave, I'm pretty much keeping my mouth shut -- whether you're relaxed or natural.

Really, tho, how can I be surprised by this. This is from the same woman who last month told Brandy that if she mated with a certain celeb, the baby would have "good" hair in front of a national TV audience. 

Really, Wendy? Really?

What do you think of Wendy's comments?

Viola Davis Wears A Copper Colored Coif at the Academy Awards

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She did it!

Viola Davis showed the world her natural hair on the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards!

I. am. so. excited!

Some folks may not understand what the big deal is. Hell, Viola may return to her wig tomorrow, but guess what? Today, at the friggin 84th Annual Academy Awards, she stepped out in natural hair. And that's all that counts!



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Reportedly, she told host Ryan Seacrest that her mother did her hair -- a short natural crop died a bright copper -- a brigher shade than the natural hair she revealed last week. Her hair and emerald gown by Vera Wang are the perfect match.

Davis, 46, is coming to her own after decades of working in Hollywood -- and you can feel it.

This is what she said about her natural hair, to InStyle Magazine:

"My husband wanted me to take the wig off,” she said. He said, ‘If you want to wear it for your career, that’s fine, but in your life wear your hair. Step into who you are!’ It’s a powerful statement.”

I agree. I hope Davis wins the Best Actress award for her role in The Help. Whether she wins or not, she's already won!

Actresses Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis at Essence Magazine's Black Women in Hollywood 2012 Awards

My fingers are crossed that actresses Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer will grab gold Oscar statues today at the 84th Annual Academy Awards for their respective roles in the blockbuster movie, The Help.

Davis is a contender for Best Actress and Spencer is up for the Best Supporting Actress' Award.

If they win, they'll join an elite group of Black actors that include Hattie McDaniel, Denzel Washington, Monique and others. Of course, I'll be watching for the fashions -- lovely gowns, plenty of sparkly diamonds and fab outfits -- on the red carpet. Natural hair on the red carpet will be an added bonus (maybe Davis will wear her natural hair?), but maybe I'm setting my expectations too high?

Stay tuned to HairNista.blogspot.com for the latest in Academy Awards' fashions and styles on the red carpet.

What do you think about the Academy Awards? Will you be tuning in? Who do you hope wins?

Viola Davis Says Natural Hair Makes Her Feel "Powerful"

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Viola Davis' chic, cropped natural coif caught everyone by surprise during a recent LA Times' Magazine photo shoot.

Davis' natural hair is absolutely stunning -- and enhances her beautiful features. So I was suprised when she sported a chic short wig at the NAACP Image Awards last weekend. Where did her natural hair go?

blank stare

Davis stepped out in natural hair at Essence Magazine's Black Women in Hollywood 2012  awards this week with a bold TWA. She told Essence about her reluctance at times to wear natural hair.

When asked if she breaks out her natural hair for special occasions, Davis replied, "No, there hasn't been any occasion that I felt brave enough to do it."

We've all been there, and I totally get it. Swag is mandatory with natural hair. You just have to know that you know you look good. Even when your twist out failed, your curls plopped and you are having a bad hair day ... you still are on point.

And it takes bravery to do that.

Viola Davis wearing her natural hair in an LA Times' Magazine photo spread 

But there are days when, admittedly, we just don't have it. Even as naturals, our confidence about how we look is very much tied to our hair. I know that feeling good about myself on those not-so- good hair days is something that I struggle with. 

Davis was honest, and I respect her for that. I know I've been there are and after four years of wearing my hair curly, doubts still creep in. (I just make sure that on those days, I wear big earrings, a cute outfit and do other things that make me feel good).

Add the weaved up, wigged up pressures of Hollywood -- which, unless you are an actress, we really don't understand --  and I get Davis' reluctance to give up the safe bobs she's always worn. While all our natural hair journeys are different, we all have similarities: Davis is learning to step into her own and I think it's something most of us can relate to or at least identify with.

How many blogs do you see about wearing natural hair in the workplace, dating or relationships. For a long time, my post about natural hair and marriage was one of my most viewd osts. When you think about it, blogs about natural hair, careers and relationships almost always are inevitably tied to our insecurities about our natural hair. 

Let's support Davis' journey and others that are on the natural fence. I know that when I'm having a bad hair day, a compliment means the world to me.

 "I feel very powerful, I really do," she said. "I feel more powerful every day, more secure in who I am, and I've waited so long for that.... It feels so divine." 

Amen.

What do you think? Can you identify with Davis' struggle? Have you ever been reluctant to wear your natural hair? Does natural hair make you feel more powerful?