Dear TypeF,
A friend sent me one of your recently launched videos by stylist JoAnn Robertson on how to style and care for naturally curly hair. The first video I watched “How To Lay Your Afro Down” was pretty innocuous at first, but then the stylist-vlogger whipped out a paddle brush to “smooth” her hair and I cringed as I watched her brush the surface of her dry, kinky hair.
Why?
Because one of the most basic practices of quality curly hair care is that the detangling and smoothing of natural hair should be done with extreme care, using a specific type of tool (preferably a wide tooth comb or a specific type of brush”>, on well moisturized hair so as not to break and damage the hair.
Highly textured natural and curly hair needs to be treated with with particular attention in an effort to minimize any potential damage. Unfortunately your videos preach the exact opposite.
I sat in absolute shock as I watched your stylist put direct heat on her hair with a curling iron for a recommended “60-seconds,” use a fine-tooth comb to tease her hair to cover up a “noticeable part,” and completely ignore all fundamental mention of moisturizers, conditioners, and protecting the integrity of natural hair.
As a hair blogger and vlogger, I spend a lot of my personal time dedicated towards educating people about curly hair care, specifically QUALITY natural hair practices. Unfortunately your video series on “afro hair” — featuring a stylist who has obvious hair damage to begin with along her edges, which is likely caused by longterm wearing of weaves, braids, and wigs — is seriously misguided in providing quality education to a growing community. What is more is that your videos could actually be extremely detrimental to those attempting to learn about natural hair care because many of the practices demonstrated in them could cause serious, irreparable damage to the hair.
I strongly suggest you to pull the videos, educate yourselves about quality curly hair care, and re-shoot the series. There is a wonderfully wide world of high quality curly hair stylists, practitioners, and manufacturers who could help you. I would personally be happy to connect and guide you to key individuals in the natural hair community who could assist you in creating a quality production.
Sincerely,
Cassidy
Founder + Editor
Editor’s Note
Since this post, Tyra has released the following statement:
“Just like many of you, when I saw the videos that contained some inaccurate material about how to treat natural hair, as an African-American woman, I was immediately concerned. The typeF team has removed the videos in question and is reviewing all related videos to ensure accuracy. Bankable and typeF are looking into how to avoid this situation from happening again. Thanks to everyone who spoke up. I encourage you to always share your views with me. In this case, your feedback allowed typeF to connect with new experts who are now part of the team and who are helping create more appropriate content.”
Want More?
Join the CurlTalk conversation about the TypeF mishap!
Final Thoughts
The videos have since been removed. However, plenty of natural hair women are coming out with their own parodies of the “educational” series. Watch sistatv’s below!
