This post is something I’ve discussed with a friend, spent a night looking over on Youtube and felt the push to say my piece since Halloween and Black Girls Rock. 

What is the issue? I’m asking myself all the time: “Where are you my black ladies?!”

I have to say I’m exposed to different makeup products because of where I currently live – a city where there are about 5% black people and it’s mostly (in this order) Asians, Indians and Caucasians. I don’t see it as much of an excuse and it is also why I try to post my thoughts/reviews of products I come across for my color – because there are so few of them.

I saw a black lady on Benefit Cosmetics website once going over how to use a product and I was so happy because I knew that the product would be ok for me. It wasn’t going to make me look pasty because my skin tone wasn’t considered when it was made. That’s how I feel – my skin tone doesn’t matter. When I search on Youtube for a review of the Hello Oxygen Foundation, about 5 reviews pop up on the first page and more than 5 are on the second… and I’ve added the shade Nutmeg which is their darkest. 

Am I the only one feeling this? Every time I watch make-up videos, it’s either MAC or Black Opal or other brands that I only have online access to. I’d have to cross the bridge into Seattle or go South of Seattle to find those products (not MAC obviously). Why is this? Is it a cost issue? I think MAC and other brands targeted for women of colour (I don’t like this term but I’m trying to be somewhat politically correct) are pushed in cities and countries where they are. Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Make-up is another product that has a wide range of shades for black women and I love that foundation. But when I bought it, finding reviews were sooo sparse. 

It also goes to stores like Sally’s Beauty Supply. The “Ethnic hair” section is always so small. Target as well. It could all go back to me not being in an area with a significant black community, that is growing, but the products aren’t. I was fortunate to get the last bottle of the 6 Week Anti-Reversion cream from Dark & Lovely in Walgreens of which they probably only had 6 total. 

My husband asked me if I’d ever go natural and stop with the chemicals. I have considered it in the past, but honestly, I would have to travel too far to get it done (I won’t be dealing with that alone!) and the lack of products available is not going to cut it. Luckily Dark & Lovely has stepped up to the plate with their new line of affordable natural hair products and Carol’s Daughter is more pricey but also has lovely products as well. I like options, and I’m open to trying things not targeted for my hair type and seeing how they work for me. But I don’t and won’t always have time for that. 

When I shop for my husband online, I’m not allowed to show him any items unless a black man is wearing it. As you can imagine, that doesn’t happen often, I just go out and shop for him. When I shop for myself, I always have to see tall, skinny girls and try to mentally compensate for my rear end when I see something I like and would like to get. If there are any black girls on Forever 21, they’re so clear and their weave is so long and wavy, I spend more time trying to figure out if they’re black or not than looking at the item. Petty, it may seem, but then why do we have so many young black girls trying to lighten their skin? Why do we have so many girls and women with receding hairlines from constantly wearing weave and not taking a break or treating their own hair with better care? It’s always the extremes – natural or weave or super short hair. Did you watch Good Hair by Chris Rock? If you didn’t go watch it, it’ll be easier to see now anyway since it was only shown in select theaters when it was released in 2009… To add to this, hair is personal. Very personal. Therefore, unless someone has expressed that they’re not sure what they want to do with it, you shouldn’t push them in a certain direction or even make suggestions. I relax my hair because when I think of going natural, I want to cry reminiscing about when my mother used to do it as a kid and those aren’t fun memories. I had a jerry curl for a few years and I’m glad I made the switch to where I am now. I’m very happy. 

What are your thoughts? I am alone in my thoughts? Please discuss below.