Our perceptions shape the way we interact with others. After hearing negative stories about people’s attitudes on hair, I couldn’t help but think about what natural hair perceptions could be revealed in present society.
Well, we asked; and you answered! We had almost 350 responses to the Natural Hair Nysa Natural Hair Perceptions Survey. I feel we collected enough data to examine attitudes about natural hair.
We definitely uncovered some negative attitudes directed toward natural hair. However, you could characterize most people’s perceptions as overwhelming positive when it comes to this topic.
So, as we look at the 6 natural hair perceptions revealed by the survey, I hope your acceptance and ownership of natural hair flourishes. As you’ll find, the majority of people already accept it, even though a few may feel differently.
Before we dive in, I have to thank my mother, Debra Jones, for all her help and support in creating this survey. She was the first person to nurture my immense inquisitiveness, and she continues to do so to this day.
And, of course, I give my continued appreciation to everyone who took the time to participate in the survey. Our respondents made all this data possible!
Disclaimer: Please be aware that this blog post may contain affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for Natural Hair Nysa (at no extra cost for you). Feel free to visit our Disclosure of Material Connection page for more information.
Natural Hair Perceptions Revealed #1: African American Hair Described
The very first question of our survey read as follows, “If you could describe Afro-textured (African American or Black) hair in one word, what would the word be?” Responses to this question are shown in the chart below.
Some the descriptions in the “Others” category included “Unique”, “Versatile”, “Black”, “Diverse”, and “Eclectic”. Of the 345 respondents, approximately 6% answered with a description which may be categorized as negative. The negative characterizations incorporated words such as “Disgusting”, “Rough”, “Ugly”, “Hard”, “Woolly”, and “Nappy”.
The Takeaway
The ways people describe Afro-textured hair number just as many, if not more than, the different hair textures that could be assigned to African Americans. Even though some negative adjectives found their way into the descriptions, 94% of respondents had neutral or positive impressions of natural hair.
Natural Hair Perceptions Revealed #2: Texture Preferences for Your Own Hair
The next survey questions we will explore were presented as follows, “Do you have a preferred hair texture for yourself” and “If you responded “Yes” to the previous question, what is your preferred hair texture for yourself?”. Refer to the following two charts for the data collected on these questions.
As you can see, the majority of survey takers indicated no texture preference for themselves. Of those who did have a preference, 56% (25% of the total) would choose a straight or wavy texture, ones more attributed to Eurocentric hairstyles, for themselves. Only 7% of total respondents indicated a preference for curly or kinky hair.
The Takeaway
When one has a preference on hair texture for themselves, it is more likely the texture desired more resembles Eurocentric hair. However, the majority of respondents showed no preference. This seems to indicate that texture may not matter so much. Hair may not define us a much as we perceive it does.
Natural Hair Perceptions Revealed #3: Texture Preferences for Others
The next two questions in the survey were “Do you have a preferred hair texture you like to see on other people” and “If you responded “Yes” to the previous question, what is your preferred hair texture for others?”. Check out the charts below to have these natural hair perceptions revealed.
I found it very encouraging to see people judging others less stringently than themselves. Twenty-four percent (24%) more respondents indicated no texture preference for others than expressed not having a desired texture for themselves.
Moreover, for those indicating a preference, the percentage of respondents preferring Eurocentric textures for others came out to 38% (8% of the total). This signified a drop from the percentage of survey takers desiring a Eurocentric texture for oneself (56% or 25% of total responses).
The data also shows that the percentage of those choosing Afro-centric textures only decreased slightly to 5% for others from the 7% we saw for oneself.
The Takeaway
Generally, people tend to be more tolerant in their hair texture preferences for others than for themselves. This tends to suggest the vast majority of individuals largely accept any hair texture worn by other people.
Natural Hair Perceptions Revealed #4: Feeling Ashamed or Embarrassed by Your Own or Other’s Hair
Moving on, we next asked “Have you ever felt ashamed or embarrassed by your natural hair texture?” and “Have you ever felt ashamed or embarrassed someone else’s natural hair texture when he/she was in your presence?”. Take a glance at the data collected on these responses in the chart below.
As with the texture preferences, the survey takers appear to be more critical of their own natural hair texture than the texture of others. The respondents were three times more likely to feel shame or embarrassment over their own natural hair.
Nevertheless, the vast majority of individuals expressed never having experienced shame or embarrassment over natural hair texture, whether it was their own or someone else’s.
The Takeaway
The data again seems to suggest a view of natural hair texture tolerance and/or acceptance among the majority of people. Additionally, it would appear that feelings of shame or embarrassment are far more likely to be instigated against one’s own natural hair texture. This shame or embarrassment may start from an individual’s own internal perceptions or come in response to a comment or an attitude from an external party.
Natural Hair Perceptions Revealed #5: Facing Hair Discrimination
A little over midway through the survey we asked, “Do you feel you have ever been discriminated against at work, school, or other place of business because of your natural hairstyle?”. The response data chart appears below.
From these results, we find that a moderate percentage of respondents reported experiencing discrimination due to a natural hairstyle. Based on the other data shown in the survey, the level of perceived discrimination is not at all surprising.
Nonetheless, when we examine hair discrimination within ethnicities, the results sway towards surprising. When asked about discrimination against natural hairstyles:
- 25% of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander experienced it
- 26% of those identifying as Black or African American reported facing it
- 11%% of those identifying as Hispanic or Latino felt it at some point
- 60% of those identifying as Native American or American Indian experienced it
- 15% of those identifying as Other or Mixed Ethnicity reported facing it
- 9% of those identifying as White felt it at some point
The Takeaway
Discrimination against natural hairstyles can present itself regardless of ethnicity. People can experience it whether their hair is curly, kinky, wavy, or straight. This seems to suggest discrimination may present itself more out of a sense of perceived differences (i.e. the “us” versus “them” mentality) rather than the underlying characteristics of the natural hair itself.
Natural Hair Perceptions Revealed #6: Derogatory Statements About Ethnic/Afro-centric Hair
One of the last questions from the survey asked the following, “Have you ever heard others make derogatory statements about ethnic/Afro-centric hairstyles in your presence?”. See the results to this query in the following chart.
Almost a third of survey takers had heard some sort of derogatory statement about ethnic/Afro-centric hair. Given the discrimination data in the previous section, it seems that people are much more likely to hear disparaging hair comments from others than to actually experience discriminatory actions, such as being fired, asked to leave, looked over for promotion, bullied, etc.
However, you should note that derogatory comments about ethnic/Afro-centric hairstyles could be considered a form of discriminatory speech.
From reviewing responses to the question directly following this one in the survey, we can assume for the most part that the derogatory statements heard were largely about other people, not the survey respondents themselves. This was of some interest to me in particular.
The Takeaway
Even before this survey’s creation, I wondered how prevalent negative commentary on natural ethnic/Afro-centric hairstyles may be when the person about which the comments were made was not part of the conversation. The data suggest that my initial suspicions may be correct.
I do not feel I have faced discrimination for my natural hairstyles as an adult. However, there is a good chance that disparaging comments concerning my choice of hairstyles have taken place outside of my presence. In the larger scheme of things, I now realize that the answer to this particular question doesn’t really matter. Why? . . . Because this knowledge won’t affect my decision to remain a natural.
Natural Hair Perceptions Revealed: The Demographics
Related Posts of Interest
Natural Hair Curl Patterns Explained
Wrapping It Up
Our Natural Hair Perceptions Survey definitely produced some surprising results at times. Still, the revelations, for the most part, were positive. Some of the respondents’ survey comments really moved me. The comments showed people are aware problems continue to exist around perceptions of natural hair.
One respondent wrote, “I’m aware comments made about black hair can be offensive and [derogatory] — I’m white myself and am attempting to be mindful of how I’m wording my responses.”
Another individual commented, “I felt [by taking the survey] I had to confront some prejudices of my own that I would rather not have.”
Still, another expressed, “No one should be judged for their natural traits.”
In today’s society, where increasing polarization seems to have become the norm, this survey has renewed my faith. I have faith now that people can see more connects us than separates us. Regardless of ethnicity or hair texture, there is one description common to us all . . . Human.
I love hearing from all of you! Be sure to like, share, and comment if you found this post helpful. Don’t forget to follow Natural Hair Nysa on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube!
Has this post inspired you in your natural hair journey? If so, we’d love to help! Signup for the Natural Hair Nysa Newsletter below to gain access to the Free Resources page. You’ll find DIY recipes and other materials to assist you in owning your natural hair.
2 thoughts on “Awesome Survey Results: 6 Natural Hair Perceptions Revealed”
Comments are closed.