Songstress Melanie Fiona Talks Hair: Really Mel, that’s how you feel?

The interview started with ‘what’s the secret to your gorgeous long hair’. Melanie answered correctly by basically saying ‘being mixed and having good hair genes’. The focus (it seems) was not on hair care, but on having long ‘good’ hair. I hate that term too, even though I was raised to believe that my sisters and I have ‘good’ hair. My daughters feel their hair won’t grow because they don’t have ‘good’ hair. I correct them every time they say this. I tell them there is no such thing as good or bad hair. The difference is hair that is healthy and hair that is not. If you nurture your hair, it will be healthy and grow. I read your blog often to pick up tips and learn about products. My daughter’s had healthy hair when they were younger because I did their hair. Now they want to do their own and their hair has suffered. They don’t want to admit they have victimized their hair through poor hair habits and lack of nurturing. If you nurture something or someone one (in love) it will blossom, it will grow. You can talk about ethnic heritage until the rapture and it will not change the status of hair. You ever notice those that wear locs and how fast their hair grows. I know a Jamaican who has worn locs for most of his adult life and his hair is almost ankle length. Our hair is our glory. It is a living thing, nurture it, love what God gave you, it will grow.

E, I don’t think you were tripping too hard, and I do agree that she could have said the exact same thing in a more diplomatic, tactful manner. On the other hand, I am still amazed at how your post brought out the passions on the issue.

Here’s my opinion – they say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I disagree, BUT admittedly it takes some serious doing. Many of us grew up with the “good/bad” hair mentality and I admit that since going on my journey I consciously remind myself to not think in that manner and to appreciate and nurture what I have, and there are some days that it is not an easy task. Unfortunately, there are many women out there who are not as fortunate so as to have received the additional education regarding how wonderful EVERY type of hair is.

On the flip side of the same argument, I feel that it’s unnecessary to lambaste the woman for speaking of her mixed heritage. We do not know whether she lives out each bit of her heritage, and thus who are we to judge. I am mixed race (although the mixing already happened many generations ago, lol) and in my day to day life I live out many many aspects of my roots, but at the end of the day I’m just a girl trying to make the best of what life has to offer.

LOL are you looking for another twitter response like with Solange?[http://blackgirllonghair.com/2012/06/solange-takes-to-twitter-to-rant-against-natural-hair-police/] Her twitter name is @melaniefiona [https://twitter.com/#!/MelanieFiona]. Maybe you could tweet her!

I think we all are products of where we come from and how our etnical identity has been seen while growing up. I think only those of mixed race can fully understand what that is like. My mum is white and my dad is black. my mum had the longest blond, super straight hair when i grew up my dad had short tightly curly hair. On special days I was allowed to comb my mums hair and it was like heaven. My mum was my idol and rolemodel and beautymodel. Til this day, the picture I had of my mum when I grew up, is the most beautiful woman I know. Im sure you all have the same picture of your mums. The difference is, my hair will never be anything like my mum while people with the same etnical set as their mums will probably have much bigger chances of that. I love my dad of course as well but the parent of the same gender is always the strongest influence on a child.

when I was born mixed marriges was not considered ok by everybody. Me and my sister were looked upon as exotic and a bit odd. My parents always told us that mix and diversity is the best. To give us confidence and be happy about who we are, not to talk any other race down. I think a lot of parents of mixed race do that. For us, it is important to remember that we are of mixed race as just putting us into one of the cathegories, would neglect one of our parents and that part of the family. We will always look different. when we go to my fathers country, they look at us and think we look different, same here in Scandinavia. In US, people of mixed race are often called black but half of my family and my maternal grandparents were the ones being most present in my life, I could never call my self black (or white either).

If somebody asks me why my hair has so lovely curls as people often ask, I would answer, my dad is black. Not meaning that white peoples hair are less lovely but my curls I have definately got from my dad and if people appricioate them I want to tell them that they came from him. I dont see anything wrong in appricioate good things from your parents. I came with built in skinprotection as well, something my friends here in Sweden have been very jealous of.

I dont know this person, Melanie, but I think she just wanted to acknowledge her background and the good things she think it has given her being of mixed race. I can definately say I got my thick hair quality from my mum, the curls from my dad and the colour is a mix of both. What is consider good or bad is in the beholder of the viewer but I can say that I am happy for what both my parents have contributed to my looks and if somebody asks me I am going to say that my look is a result of mixed race, because that is the truth.

//Maria

What a hot absolute mess! Last time I checked, being mixed did not equal better. So she really needs a better PR system to make sure she doesn’t publicize rubbish..and as well she needs a good schooling on today’s natural hair, relaxed hair and black hair care in general.

I wonder why do we have to always find fault and something negative to point out. She never said she had good hair. She said she has a good mix for growth. How many of you purchase indian or some other foreign hair instead of rocking your own? I think shes right, she does have easily growing hair. Its not that deep. If we all have different textures on our head, why cant she say that she does? I dont find one thing offensive, she is answering the questions they asked her. omg. nothing else to talk about huh

Dont forget that being mixed was not a good (sorry if that Word offence someone) thing before. It didnt only mean that you parent mght had messed with the master you were also a prodct of an illegal act. Black and whites were not allowed to not allowed to interact in any romantic way until the 60′s. Mixed people were seen as bastards and in history, keeping to you race or trade was always valuted higher. Even though most people today knows that there are only one race on earth.

Yes, black hair is just as beautiful as any other etnic hair. But to get black har to look smooth and long as her requiers a lot of effort. If you turn the question around and ask a person like for instance Judith Hill, japanese/african how se does to get such a huge afro. What if she would answerto a japanese magazine saying “im of mixed race, My dad is black, so i have a good mix for afro”. Would that be just as irritating? If not take a moment to think about why?

Personally, i think it is good that she is honest and open with that she is only 25% black because making people thinkthat their hair can look like that if they just take care of it properly is like when mixed people do ads for natural hair products and make black people think that they Will get those ringlats if they just moisturize and use the right products.

Embcare your on personal mix and dont let any body tell you that your mix isnt good enough! I love. My mix and i think it is a good mix for happiness:)