Microsoft Word - September 2020 - COMP 952 - proof.docx


SKIN 
	

September 2020     Volume 4 Issue 5 
 

Copyright 2020 The National Society for Cutaneous Medicine 483 

COMPELLING COMMENTS 
 

 

Falling in Hair Love Comes Naturally 
 
Emmanuella Oduguwa, BS1, Danyal Tahseen, BS2  
 
1University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 
2University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 
 

 
 
Afro-textured hair refers to the spectrum of 
naturally curly hair occurring in African-American, 
Afro-Caribbean and indigenous African women. 
The retro-curvature of the bulb and elliptical shaft 
in Afro-textured hair contrast to the straight shape 
of hair follicles common among Caucasians.1 
Although wearing Afro-textured hair in natural 
styles, such as afros, protects hair from potentially 
harmful chemical treatments, social stigmas 
discourage natural styles.1,2 An example of 
discrimination against Afro-ethnic hair in popular 
media occurred in 2015, when a fashion critic 
compared Black actress Zendaya’s dreadlocks to 
the smell of marijuana. Discrimination against Afro-
textured hair may lead Black women to seek 
chemical hair-straighteners more than women from 
other racial/ethnic groups, contributing to burden of 
hair and scalp dermatoses.2 The dermatology 
community should be aware of these concerns, 
because our efforts may motivate Black female 
patients to seek dermatological care. 
 
In recent years, mainstream media, such as 
Disney’s 2020 film Hair Love, Issa Rae’s Insecure, 
COVID-19-related Instagram hashtags like 
#quarantinecurls, and dermatology-related 
accounts like @Brownskinderm have increased 
visibility of Afro-textured hair. Although there is 
heightened awareness for natural hair, Black 
women report dissatisfaction with the degree of 
knowledge that physicians specializing in hair have 
about the complexity of Afro-textured hair.3 
Dermatologists play an integral role in Black 
women’s journey to disentangle social stigmas and 
clinically treat indications that impose barriers to 
maintaining natural hair styles. 
 
The dermatology community has the unique 
opportunity to advocate for hair equity among 

Black patients and dispel common misconceptions 
(e.g. increased clinical research, certified 
dermatologist-led Twitter accounts), following 
precedents set by experts in the field including Dr. 
Crystal Aguh. Medical schools and dermatology 
residency training programs may augment 
instruction on Afro-textured hair in their curricula. 
Dermatologists may partner up with Black hair 
stylists to conduct educational sessions for clients 
on haircare management, perhaps including 
medical students for dermatologist-supervised 
cultural competency training. Our increasingly 
diverse population requires that dermatologists 
adapt to the unique needs of Black patient and 
highlight the beauty of healthy, Afro-textured hair. 
Rather than perpetuating the damaging belief that 
Afro-textured hair is too different or difficult to 
manage, we should empower Black women to 
embrace their natural curls and acknowledge the 
diversity in all variations of Afro-textured hair. 
 
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None 
 
Funding: None 
 
Corresponding Author: 
Danyal Tahseen 
McGovern Medical School 
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 
6431 Fannin St 
Houston, TX 
Email: danyal.tahseen@uth.tmc.edu 
 

	
 
References: 
1. Tanus A, Oliveira CCC, Villarreal DJV, Sanchez FAV, Dias 

MFRG. Black women’s hair: The main scalp dermatoses and 
aesthetic practices in women of African ethnicity. An Bras 
Dermatol. 2015;90(4):450-467. doi:10.1590/abd1806-
4841.20152845 

2. Zota AR, Shamasunder B. The Environmental Injustice of 
Beauty: Framing Chemical Exposures from Beauty Products 
as a Health Disparities Concern. Am J Obs Gynecol. 
2017;217(4):139-148. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.03.040 

3. Gathers RC, Mahan MG. African American women, hair care, 
and health barriers. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(9):26-29.