I can't go back an quote...well, let me rephrase, I will not go back and quote. I made it 6pages and that will just have to do.
ANYWAY..on topic.
The 'best stylist in the world' being available to you doesn't necessarily mean squat if those supposed stylists know little to nothing about healthy hair care. Some celebrity stylist get/got to where they are by word of mouth, by connects, by chance, or simply being able to hook up a fly arse weave...no mention of healthy hair practices in any of that.
Based on some of the comments made, Tyra's stylist looks to know not what he doeth; and in turn, Tyra seems to have litte control over the situation. So, we have the blinder leading the blindest. Some of us, maybe not all, but some of us were in that EXACT same position before we sought out solutions (this board) and remedies (hair discussions and blogs) to counteract the bad we were doing to our hair. Truth be told, some of us are still learning to this day (myself included). I actually commend Tyra; we have SO MANY black celebrities that talk of their "natural" hair (for all intense and purposes natural here means without weave or extension), but we know good n heller well, its enhanced. Tyra stands up and says: Here I am.. and we ask her: Where's your hair...
As for the 'difference' in hair progress, we are talking about two totally different women, with two totally different set of hair goals, with two totally different levels of hair knowledge, with two totally different stylists, with two totally different hair histories and journey's....get my point? I think that this board is notorious for revealing that what works for one, doesn't always work for another. So, yes, it would suffice to say that both these women in recent times have worn the weave and the lacefronts, but whose to say that 1) They cared for their "natural" hair undernath the same or at all during this time and 2) That their hair even embraced being left in the weaves and lacefronts.
IMHO, if there IS a difference, I don't think it has anything to do with Trya being Relaxed or Oprah being Natural...its really in how they are individually caring for their hair (with or without the help of a stylist). We all see crazy rapunzel length heads on this board everyday...we also see chic short styles..both relaxed AND natural...and they are all beautiful. No need to stir the pot.