The Hairy Truth

“You Can Touch My Hair”…???

Everyone knows you do not touch a black woman’s hair…right? Well 3 women agreed to allow strangers to touch their hair all in the name of social experimentation. One natural, one loc’d and one relaxed. They stood in Union Square NYC holding up signs that read “you can touch my hair”. This experiment was orchestrated by fellow hair blogger, Antonia Opiah. Her purpose…

“We’re not specifically looking to aid black women; our goal is to start a dialogue around the fascination of black hair as well as to reduce the unfamiliarity of black hair to non-blacks.”

In an article in the Huffington Post …

However, Opiah said it’s important to understand the exhibit simply as a social experiment, not a movement inviting the world to reach out and touch the head of the next black woman they see.

“I’m seeing a sense of discomfort and disapproval of the exhibit, which is exactly what I hoped would come to the surface,” Opiah told HuffPost via email from Paris. “It’s easy to disapprove of something so literal, but when you get the question ‘Can I touch your hair?’ in your everyday life, it goes unnoticed. I just wish more non-blacks would partake in the discussion. At the same time, I’m loving those people who are welcoming the discussion.”

I’m curious to know what you guys feel about this. Personally, I’m all for social experimentation! I think it’s an awesome idea. Humans are visual learners and grasp ideas better when we can get a first hand look or in this case…feel. African American Hair is indeed different in fact it’s fascinating. Even we have questions about our own hair and are sometimes confused by it, of course our other racial counterparts will be curious as well. I like this way of educating. I don’t know if I would put my hair on display simply because I don’t like people touching me LOL but in the name of HAIR…why not?! I think the purpose behind it is great. The reaction from people is fascinating; it’s forcing the african american woman’s hair to be addressed. Kudos to Antonia, despite the many negative comments the exhibit received. 

xoxo The Hairy Truth

I’d love to know what your thoughts are…