Activists are furious a recent issue of Allure magazine has the audacity to instruct white people how to use hair curlers and diffusers in order to achieve the Afro look.
The August 2015 special edition issue of Allure, dedicated to “Amazing Hair,” features a section on retro looks from the '70s. One of the retro hairstyles emphasized is known as the Afro.
The article describes the Afro as being a “powerful” and “confident” hairstyle. In order to achieve a “loose afro,” the section notes, individuals can wrap their hair using a curling iron or opt for a diffuser.
For those who wish to to opt for “corkscrew curls” instead of “loose curls,” Allure provides a tutorial. The magazine includes an article titled, “You (Yes You) Can Have an Afro*” with the asterisk noting “even if you have straight hair.” It features a white model, actress Marissa Neitling, showcasing the style. It also provides a step-by-step list of instructions in order to achieve the Afro look for people who happen to have naturally straight hair.
People took to social media to express their views on white women sporting the Afro:
According to the Huffington Post, teaching white women to style their hair in this certain manner constitutes “cultural appropriation.”
The article states, “Had Allure referenced its adoration for the Afro, perhaps this feature wouldn't be coming under quite as much fire.”
However, a spokesperson from Allure explicitly told the Huffington Post,
“The Afro has a rich cultural and aesthetic history. In this story we show women using different hairstyle as an individual expressions of style. Using beauty and hair as a form of self-expression is a mirror of what's happening in our country today. The creativity is limitless -- and pretty wonderful.”