What an interesting topic.
To me, the real issue is not whether or not some black women
can pull off blonde hair depending on their skin tone, the shade of blond, etc...Because some can.
But why
that color of all the ones available? Why do so many black women
feel more attractive even though many people would find them unattractive with light or blonde hair? Yes, whether or not someone looks more attractive with lighter colored hair is a matter of personal opinion... but we can't ignore where that standard of beauty came from. And it didn't come from Africa, Asia, India, or the indigenous Americas.
Someone in another post raised the possiblie hypocrisy in calling out black women with blonde hair if you straighten your hair using chemicals, wear contacts, etc. I have to say I can agree with her on some level. Why do so many of us (myself included ) prefer to/
feel more comfortable and attractive when we alter our natural hair (and other characteristics). The Euro-centric standard of beauty--light skin, lighter hair, straighter hair--has definitely been popular for years. I don't think that we are sell outs if we chose to do this. But maybe we should look at this phenomenon as yet another step in Euro-centric beauty standards gaining a stronger hold in our community (and worldwide).
I do find it frightening that so many women of color in general (black, hispanic, asian, indian) falsely adopt physical traits (like blonde hair and green/blue/gray contacts) that are clearly not cute on them... They obviously think they look good, which is why they do it...and perhaps a few other people find them more attractive too because of their own beauty standards.
Maybe black women going blond is just the next step from chemically processing your hair to become straighter. It's obviously a growing trend. If indeed the next step in this Euro-centric standard of beauty is for most women of color to lighten their hair, it is scary to me. Where do we stop, or where should we have stopped?
I dont know...Maybe our ancestors would have as strong a reaction to thinking we looked "stupid" if they saw many of us with our altered hair textures and eyes...or maybe some of them would think only a few of us could pull it off depending on our skin tone, skin undertones, facial features, etc....maybe its all about our perception
I don't know...I'm thinking out loud here.
p.s. Maybe I'm crazy, but Halle Berry does not look cute to me with blonde hair. I think she looks much better with darker hair.