Dear Everyone Hating on Gabby Douglas’ Hair, Have A Seat.
Three weeks ago, I didn’t know who Gabrielle Douglas was. I had never heard of the 4 foot 11 inches 16-year-old from Virginia with an infectious smile and a love for the Lord. Now, I know and love Gabby, as if she was a little sister or cousin. I root for that girl’s success and I can’t help but get all verklempt when I see images of her on my TV screen. Even before she won that individual gold medal, I became a HUGE fan of Gabby Douglas.
However, what I’m NOT a fan of is the conversation going on about her hair. In fact, I hate it. So I am here for write a sternly-worded letter to those who have been focusing on her follicles instead of her achievements.
Dear Gabby’s Hair Haters,
Hi haters. You’ve been doing a lot of talking about Gabby Douglas’ hair during these Olympics and I don’t understand why. And I’m a professional hater. I wake up in the morning and roast people for sport and even I’M like “But why?”
Here’s the thing and the truth: Gabby’s hair is perfectly ordinary. When I look at her, it’s the last thing I notice. It’s just there. Nothing about it is superbly cute or superbly messed up. It’s just there. Look at the hair of the other US gymnasts and you’d see they’re all rocking the same slickback style with ponytail. Yes, Gabby’s the only person of color and she’s the only one whose hair grows out her head kinky so she needs extra help to get that sleekness. Hers, no doubt, is permed and gelled back. And her ponytail is phony. The end.
So I ask. What’s the big deal with her hair again? Help me out. As much focus that people have been putting on Gabby’s hair, you’d think it looked like this:
It doesn’t. By the way, that’s Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria. THAT is hair worth talmbout. Because it looks like a two-tone helmet made from pony tail. That hair is everything but a blessing. And I’m mad her teammates and my fellow countrymen let her represent us in this way. But that’s besides my main point here.
A lot of the conversation about her hair has been driven by Black women. We’ve been the ones at the front of the criticism and that puzzles me because most of us have been at this stage with our hair. Before we joined the RAH RAH natural hair movement and wore tshirts saying how natural is everything, a good amount of us went through the gel down phase. Especially at Gabby’s age. You know when you were young and you’d go to sleep with your night scarf on SUPER tight so your hair could lay right when you take it off in the morning. And you’ll have a mark on your forehead from where your scarf left a dent? Remember that? I do.
Or if it didn’t lay down enough, you’d get your tub of brown gel and slather it on and then use a brush to slick it down. And then put your scarf back on so it can set. Yes. I am pretty sure that’s what Gabby’s been doing and I have been there. So I can’t even judge or come for her.
If you’re a Black woman talmbout her hair, I’d love to see what yours looked like at 16. If you’re a Black man talmbout her hair, what did your sister’s look like? If you aren’t Black at all talmbout her hair, you don’t know our struggles. (-___-)
Also, folks have been talmbout how Gabby ain’t got no edges. I see nothing wrong with her edges at all. Y’all are just grasping for straws. Besides, edges are overrated anyway. Maybe NOT having edges is the key to greatness. Look at Naomi Campbell and Stevie Wonder. They’re legends. ICONS. My edges are weak. Does that mean I’m on the cusp of epicness? Lemme go ask Ms. Cleo.
Olympians do NOT need to have edges or nice hair. Their talent trumps alladat. I’d give up MY edges for a medal and you would too so stop acting brand new.
Honestly, Gabby Douglas’ hair should be the last thing we’re talking about right now. We should be giving her ALL the props for leading the USA women’s gymnastics team to gold and then being the first African American woman to win an individual gold medal in the sport. We should be talmbout how she shows more poise than some adults at the tender age of 16.
According to Huffington Post, Gabby said:
“I don’t know where this is coming from. What’s wrong with my hair? I’m like, `I just made history and people are focused on my hair?’ It can be bald or short, it doesn’t matter about (my) hair.”
YOU TELL EM, GABBY!!!
Besides, while folks are talmbout Gabby’s hair, she keeps winning medals.
We should be so proud of this girl for proving she’s a champion among champions during these Olympics. And for also giving a shoutout to the Lord. She is EVERYTHING.
Either way, leave Gabby alone. If your only concern with her is her hair, you’ve earned yourself a seat in the corner. And this letter. Yes, your hair’s probably wayyyy nice than Gabby’s. But I bet you haven’t done as much and she’s half your age. OOP.
GO GABBY!!!
What do you think about this Gabby hair issue?
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46 Comments
Nice post, Luvvie. I’m with you, I never saw anything but a cute, talented girl…until the hair thing came up. I still don’t see anything and don’t get it.
I found out on the interwebs it was an issue. I just wanna know what these folks did with their hair the last time they competed for and won an Olympic gold or two.
Okay, this might be the funniest hair blog entry about her hair, because I when it comes to sports i’m thinking okay people don’t care haha, but when i saw that blonde mess i was like OH… okay girlfriend out of all of your choices you picked that one.
It is always the folks who don’t have no life and live their Second Life on Twitter that find the time to hate.
I wouldn’t have given this issue anymore shine than it is because it takes the way the grandeur of this historical moment that this young lady has brought upon Black America.
When I saw photos on the profile of the ones that was hating when their Twitter handles was displayed on various blogs, I am like “Really Bitches? Please have a seat and don’t get back the fuck up”
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, those talking THEE most shyt, has a gold medal in snatched back edges…
LMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
If your edges look like my Barbie doll’s did when I was a kid brushing it bald, then you cannot critique another persons edges or kitchen.
Dear People hating on Gabby,
She’s and Olympic athlete
She’s an Olympic gold medalist
She’s now tweeps with Obama, Justin Bieber and all the other celbrities 16 year olds are into
And you are….hating on a teenager on twitter. *slow clap* for your life.
Say. That.
Her hair is such a non-issue. What is an issue is that She won the gold in the all-around competition. The 1st African-American to do so. And at 16 years old.
People in glass houses…
I completely agree Luvvie. But umm…that last .gif? Why does it make me happy as hell?!?! It makes my day!
All I know is that when I was 16, I had a pixie cut but I swear that I couldn’t have gotten more than 3 relaxers that year. What was myyyyy kitchen lookin like???
LOL. “That hair is everything but a blessing.” I didn’t see her hair until this. I think as women we will always be obsessed with hair. Seeing Gabby reminded me of my own hair styles when I was 16 brown gel, fake ponytail and all.
I was going IN on Blessing’s hair. I am glad you said something. Her hair looked like a two toned Quick Weave that she got on the corner of Rachetville and Hoodratistan…I am not for it. And LEST we not talk about Sanya RIchardson-Ross’ “all theQueen’s horses” hair she had on. She stole that skrait outta the good Elizabeth the queen’s stables…
Folks who aint ran a mile…let alone did a flip taumbout that girl’s hair. I want them to have a smooth choir stand of SEATS!!!
Bahahahaha! This is too much…dudeee
This comment gave me LIFE.
Holds stomach, bends over hands on knees wiping tears….You hits all the nails!!!
You know what confuses me about the whole thing? Let me say I’m speaking to the women here first…. Whatever your race is “black, white, asian” at 16 your punk asses is standing in the mirror in booty shorts, making ugly duck-faces for facebook pictures to see if your azz can get more likes than the next woman… sooooooooooooooooooo before you begin speaking about a (Young woman’s hair) who’s achieving things in her life that are beyond the physical stereotypical views of life…. shut your mouth and get an education or a gold metal, either way.. at this point.. You’ve got NADDATHING to comment about…..
For the men….. Shame on you it’s because of men like you that young women turn into whoredom instead of doing something great..
as for me.. sending all props to this young lady. keep on keeping on
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I appreciate everything this sternly worded letter represents. I am foaming at the mouth mad about how they’re doing this baby. Gabby is fabulous and amazing. The haters can kick rocks with open-toe shoes!
So, while you are clowning folks for talking about Gabby’s hair you clown BlessIngs about hers? Why? Cause she is not 16? Because she did not win the good and become America’s sweetheart? Becuase gelled slick backed hair with a phony pony are ok, but blonde weave is just a bridge too far? Ohhhh the irony…
the answers to your questions are in the first 2 paragraphs in the letter
1. Luvvie is a professional hater
2. Gabby’s hair is perfectly ordinary – Blessing’s is not
I disagree – loved this piece for the most part, but taking time out to throw shade at yet another world-class female Olympic athlete for her hair left a bad taste in my mouth.
Policing is still policing if hair has to be within some sort of standard (looser or tighter) to not get snatched on the internet. Then again, Blessing probably doesn’t give a shit because again: she is in the Olympics, and everyone else is on the internet throwing shade and not repping their country.
So is it that we can’t poke fun at ANY Olympics athlete? NOPE. I disagree with that. Their talents at sports does not make them untouchable. My point with Gabby is that her hair doesn’t even look bad enough for all the uproar it’s caused. She looks like a normal 16-year-old. And that’s that. Blessing’s hair is awful. And that’s that too.
lawd. i never gave one thought to Gabby’s hair but when i saw Sanya RIchardson-Ross’ head, i was all “what the what??” – then i wondered if she knock a second or 2 off her time if she wasn’t carrying that dead horse on her head – Gabby is all kinds of adorable and anyone who has anything other than something positive needs to have a seat and reassess!
ME TOOO… I said the same damn thing.. I mean granted she knocked it out the park running with the hair handicap but my word that was an impressive pony tail.
Gabby’s hair was just fine, she is an athlete. When your in any sport that sweats it is extremely hard to maintain your hair. I played b-ball in high school, and sweated a lot. I would end up wearing cornrows (O_o) the entire b-ball season. You sweat everyday, and you feel like you wanna wash your hair everyday, unfortunately you can’t. I was blessed enough to have a little girl who has nice hair, but that nice hair will not get her a medal, and I can only pray that my daughter will make half the acomplishment Gabby has mad…Besides half the women commenting on her hair were grown a** women….. Umm excuse me miss but while Gabby was winning medals, your daughters were probably twerking at the nearest Wal-Mart…..people be doing the most, and accomplishing the least.
Really Nice to see you describe your fellow countryman’s hair (Blessing Okagbare) as a “hair worth talmbout and a two-tone helmet made from pony tail”.
Beneath the borrowed american accent, you remain Nigerian, always remember that. Pure Rubbish!
#Stones her with Rotten Eggs
Hell yeah I’ll ALWAYS be Nigerian. NAIJA for life. But that doesn’t mean I’ll accept such foolery as the hair on Blessing’s head. Abeg go somewhere with THAT nonsense and rubbish.
How dare you imply that Luvvie is not showing pride in her country. Luvvie has always represented her country and fellow countrymen. However she has made it clear the she is not bias, and everyone can get the wig snatched, especially when they look a mess, ( as does Blessings hair). Now with that being said, it takes a great athlete to make it to the Olympics and like Gabby, Blessing is a good athlete, so kudos to her (quickweave and everything)..!!..!!
Would love to see your own hair darling! I bet that wig won’t last one minute in the Sun. Guaranteed to melt! 😛
Never in my 27 years have I worn a wig #fail try again sweetie
You better TELL HIM! Doing the most.
Okay lemme tell you, I gave myself a stern talking to because I did look at her hair and was like she need to get something done to it and then I moved on. Because I remembered when I played basketball when I was young and my hair was a hard crustacean like shell of gel when I had to get on that court.But I did not feel as though I had to call anyone up or comment on the internet about her hair. I wanted to see her win and that’s all. If this was going to occur I agree with Gabby that should have taken place after she was done with her competition. She did not need to think about what people are thinking about her hair when she is on the balance beam. Not only that now we are hearing stories about her family struggles, golly gee leave her be so she can win some more. Having all this controversy around her probably played a factor in her coming in dead last in an event that she is a master in. Come people get off it, and have an effin seat.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t notice her hair at all! It looked fine.
Real talk.
Anyone who has an issue with Gabby’s hair should let her come critique their overall muscle tone and total body fat.
O_o
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/c0.0.843.403/p843x403/217696_10151024442269877_1130313636_n.jpg
By the way, *lol @ “…I’m a professional hater. I wake up in the morning and roast people for sport…”
I agree. This hair stuff is just bizarre. The first time I heard about this girl is a media clip in relation to her hair. So I expected it to be REALLY bad. But it just looks like the messy ponytail I used to wear all through university. I know that if I was in the Olympics, I’d french braid my hair or do something to make it looks “put together.” And I also know that if I was Hilary Clinton in her high-powered position, I’d be getting my hair styled nicely before speeches. But these high-powered, high-achieving women choose not too and I say — good for them! And shame on us for focusing on their farking hair!
I came here to talk about how Gabby’s hair was an IMPROVEMENT, but then I see folks going on Luvvie. I see nothing wrong with her comments. Everybody has that cousin (uncle, parent, sibling…hell relative) that don’t act right. The one doing the most at the family reunion. Luvvie was just pointing out someone doing the most. It does NOT equal lack of pride in her home and heritage.
Back to my original comment. Gabby is a gymnast, and if folks thought this was bad, they should have seen her at the qualifier meet. I talked about THAT weave ponytail (I’ll look for a pic and post a link if I can). I was hoping someone would do her better for the Olympics, and they did!!! They all wear ponytails! Had she worn colorful hair with fingerwaves and glitter, folks would have talked about her then! She’s a gold medalist, and you are…?
Luvvie, you win at life for that Sephiroth gif at the end. PURE hilarity.
Everybody hating on Olympians need to sit down and shut up. Only the very best in the whole world can at the Games. Then after they get there, they have to be the best of the best to qualify for finals. So whether they medal or not, they are still the very best on the whole planet.
People who can’t do more than doggy paddle complaining about swimmers.
Folks who can’t remember the last time they touched or even saw their toes, ragging on gymnasts.
Fools who can’t even walk too without wheezing (from laziness, not asthma), saying horrible things about runners, long jumper, hurdlers and pole vaulters.
_ _ _ _ <— Allyuh know what to do.
Just wanted to point out that while Gabby was the only black girl on the US team, she wasn’t the only black female gymnast at London 2012, there was also Yamilet Pena Abreu competing for the Dominican Republic, and [at least according to the Olympic website] Daiane dos Santos of Brazil.
I suppose as they weren’t in the public eye as part of the American ‘Fab Five,’ no one cared about the fact that they were also black female gymnasts competing in the Olympics, much less their hair.
People that judge others are insecure. When we are able to embrace all people and can stop seeing them for their looks, we can one day put an end to the hate. Kids are bullied in school because their parents and adults in their home make comments like these in front of their children that allows the hate to continue.
If the hate was removed from our hearts, our vision of others would be of acceptance and nothing more. How can you not open up your heart and embrace this beautiful young woman that just won Gold medals in her sport representing our country. My father always taught us to love all people no matter what they look like on the outside, and because I have this wonderful loving role model my entire life, I am able to accept people for who they are.
We abuse our freedowm of speech by publishing such hateful comments. It promotes hate and should not be tolerated. Our youth that are the majority of those on social media sites read mostly everything. We set such low standards in their lives when we allow them to absorb this hate. Hate should not be able to be published.
When continued hate and negativity becomes a constant visible image in our children’s lives, we should not be surprised when hate crimes in our world continues to be on the rise.
Doesn’t everyone want this hate to end?
Thank you for allowing my comment to be posted here. I usually do not post comments, but I am so absolutley proud of Gabby Douglas as a young American woman athlete representing our country and a positive role model to young women everywhere.
I think the problem women are having with Gabby’s hair is that it doesn’t look bad enough. It’s just plain and ordinary and women are so used to wearing 2ft high lace fronts and 4ft long wet look hair pieces with scraped down crispy edges that they have lost sight of normality. This is what normal 16 year old girls look like!
[…] Dear Everyone Hating on Gabby Douglas’ Hair, Have A Seat. […]
I thought it was utterly stupid of people to talk about her hair the way they did. As an African American myself I know the struggles that us women go through to maintain our hair. Not only am I an African American I am also an athlete. If a person is training everyday to accomplish something that people like me can only dream of I think their hair is not their main concern. She may have seemed like she was holding it together after learning about all those comments but I know she had to have been hurt. Especially by the fact that her own people over looked her success and only looked at something as menial as hair. She probably balled in her room. It is a different feeling when your being talked about by 1 or 2 people but by millions and millions world wide, that would definitely leave a scar. If I was able to sit her down and talk to her I’d tell her, “Gabby, there is always going to be people who have something negative to say about you the key is to not let words get to you. As long as you are comfortable with how you look then nothing else should matter. Keep on going for gold!”
Wow. Her hair seems completely unremarkable to me. It’s not distracting, it’s not superstyled… it just looks like hair, you know?
All I see is a pretty girl who is super-talented, and BTW is OVER-splitting in that top photo. Like 180-degrees wasn’t hard enough! Amazing.
Because I’m from Des Moines, Iowa and Gabby’s adopted fam is from the suburbs, I did have a comment about Gabby’s hair. At one point my mommy and I were discussing how mean folks were about the hair and I suggested that Gabby’s white mama should have taken her to Sheila (awesome stylist). Yep, I said it. The meanness was unnecessary but I blamed the adult female in her family, not the kid. I know, I’m still a hater.