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Curly Nikki

Are You a Natural Hair Party Pooper?

By January 27th, 202161 Comments

Are You a Natural Hair Party Pooper?

by Onyx Rose of Onyxroseonline

Ever since the Tangle Teezer became popular in the natural hair community I’ve noticed that there are people who really take the “fun” out of having a hair journey. A lot of us are prone to jumping on bandwagons and trying all the products that everyone is raving about. Some of these products work for the majority of people that try them, and some don’t. What I don’t like is someone reviewing a popular product that didn’t work for them and then saying things like, “Don’t believe the hype!” or “I knew it was too good to be true” as if those who love the product are crazy or senseless. This definitely does not apply only to the Tangle Teezer–I’ve seen these kinds of comments for many haircare lines and products.

When it comes to product reviews, honesty is very important; if you don’t like a certain product, then by all means say how you truly feel. However, just because something doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean that it won’t be someone else’s miracle worker, and doesn’t mean that you should state your opinion in a way that discourages people from wanting to try the product for themselves. While I understand that many of us are anti-product junkyism (is that a word?) and anti-bandwagons, we still have to keep in mind how much influence our reviews have. I don’t care if you only have three hair products that you use; at one point or another everyone has read or watched a review and thought, “Ohh, I might try that!” Isn’t that part of the natural hair experience–trying new things and finding out what works for you? I can’t help but think about ladies transitioning/newly naturals who read/watch some of these reviews and are discouraged because of some people’s blatant negativity. As silly as it might sound, I’m sure there are many people missing out on certain products because they took someone else’s experience to heart. There needs to be a balance between giving truthful reviews and respecting other people’s journeys.

Weigh in!

61 Comments

  • Anonymous says:

    I think the comments on here prove the author's point. Some people just feel the need to be overly negative and mean, and then try to justify it by saying,"I can say whatever I damn well please."

    Food for Thought: Remember your own words when people randomly and negatively react and comment on the simple fact that you have natural hair.

    Don't expect tactful, polite, or courteous comments when you are not willing to give the same. Speaking your mind is one thing; being rude does not have to be applied to that.

  • Ashley says:

    I completely agree with the poster. If you look on youtube (or any other site where people give reviews), the best reviewers are non-biased reviewers, these are the naturals who's review I actually consider when buying a product. When someone just states that they love or hate something, or tell me not to buy something without giving me reason, I move right on to the next review because I can't take your review serious. You don't have to down others to get your point across. To me, its childish and ignorant. People need to learn tact.

  • K says:

    I'm going to have to disagree with the sentiments of this post. If someone truly hated a product, they have the right to say so in their review. That's the point of reviews: to give your opinion of a product. If you're going to get upset with people saying "I hate this product, it was awful!", without saying why, then shouldn't you should be equally mad at people who say "this product was amazing, best money I ever spent, everyone try this!"? They're both sharing their opinion without saying WHY they loved or hated it. You're hating on someone because their experience wasn't what you wanted to hear, and that's not right.

    Whether you listen to a person's review or not is up to you. You don't have to take all of them equally if you don't want to, and if you want to try a product, go ahead! No one is going to come after you for it. But trying to tell people to tone down their feelings when they're saying something you don't want to hear? It makes no sense.

  • Anonymous says:

    I agree with Onyx Rose, Lanisha, and Anonymous 9:57.

    Personally, I am not a big fan of product reviews for I realize what works for someone else is not necessarily going to work for me. I think more people should look at reviews as a resource and not the final word. When I have a negative experience with a product, I may tell people the reasons why I have decided to remove the product from my routine, but I never tell them they shouldn't try the product.

    Trial and error is the best teacher, yet I find that people want an easy solution to a challenging issue that requires time and patience. Curly Nikki's article "Be Your Own Guru" truly helped me embrace the fact that I had to figure out how all the information I had gathered – from Chicoro, Curly Nikki, MopTopMaven, KinkyKurlyQueen, and the list goes on – applied to me. I had to learn to be my own best resource. It is not easy, but anything you truly want in life is worth working for.
    LLP~OGC
    P.S. I love my tangle teezer, and only use it once a week with conditioner in my hair after a long detangling session. The reason why I say this is because sometimes you have to figure out how to make things work for you or be okay with letting them go. Completely your choice.

  • Anonymous says:

    Great follow up Onyx.

    I take issue with the implication some have made that only negative reviews are honest reviews. Positive reviews are honest too. Likewise, just as bloggers, youtubers etc can be paid to promote a product, they can also be paid to discourage interest in/dampen enthusiasm for a product that's competing with one they're paid to promote. Over the top negative reviews should be viewed with as much suspicion as the gushing positive reviews.

    But at the end of the day people are sheep and will follow the crowd, whether its to buy a bad product based on a good review or pass over a good product based on a bad review.

  • Maria says:

    I better get the good, bad and the ugly! Because I would be very upset if I read 100 great reviews on a product only to find out 50% of them were false.
    Is this in regards to Curly Nikki not liking the Tangle Teezer? Because there are similar blogs out there giving the Denman brush the same review. Some people like it, some hate it. Unless Tangle Teezer paid you to lie I don't see the point of making the product sound like its the best thing since the hot comb.

  • Anonymous says:

    I agree. Some people are not good reviewers. It seems like they are trying to make you feel stupid or gullible for trying out a new product or tool. Or even for following a certain blogger or youtuber. The viciousness I'm seeing these days is really sad. I understand everyone's freedom of speach rights, and when I feel like you don't provide me any valuable reviews or opinion, I exercise mine and tune you off.

  • Anonymous says:

    It's not rocket science nor worthy of debate and discussion among intelligent women. Moving on and doing as I please, as always.

  • Anonymous says:

    OMG Lanisha I totally agree with you. I was about to write the same post. LOL.
    Its like everyone completely missed the point of the article.
    I've felt the same way as the writer. I'm transitioning and sometimes it feels like people are Debbie Downers when it comes to any new products or tools. Isn't hair supposed to be fun!
    -Brittany

  • adrienne says:

    i agree to a certain extent with what the poster is saying. it is not productive to say things like "don't believe the hype." when i am reviewing a product, i don't need to be told what to believe. just because a product does not work for one person, does not mean it won't work for someone else. to that end, it is also not productive to get caught up in someone's negative review. if the product didn't work for them, that's too bad for that person(s). the product might work quite well for others. what you can believe is this: you won't know if a product will or won't work for you unless you try it for yourself.

  • Lanisha says:

    I think people missed the point of this post. The author wasn't saying to censor oneself and sugarcoat your true feelings about a product, bit that there are some people who will down the product completely and call it garbage just because it didnt work for them, and then twll everyone else not to "waste their time," because it was just another bandwagon thing. Furthermore, why DOES everything have to be labled as a bandwagon? If a new thing becomes popular and people try it, what's that too you. The author made a good point in saying so what if you only use three products. I quite frequently pick up the tone from many naturals who seem to have an attitude of arrogance and all-knowingness just because they feel impervious to trying new regimens an products once they gain attention amd popularity. They also make the assumption that if you do try a new trend that you must have just BC'd yesterday and therfore don't know squat amd your opinion about the product doesn't count jack diddly. People nees to check themselves, including those coming on here saying this article is "pointless". Rude much? How about saying you disagree. Because if this article is pointless, so is everything else that's been posted on CurlyNikki. And if you think it's irrelevant just because it's not news to you then you really need to deflate your ego.

  • Anonymous says:

    A review is simply your experience with a product and your opinion about its performance. Many positive reviews are meant to encourage people to try an item so I don't see a problem with negative reviews actively discouraging people to try it. There's no need to by nasty, but sometimes a strong reaction is warranted if that was your experience. And it may help someone just to say bluntly how you feel.

    ~CurlyBlasian

  • Anonymous says:

    I agree that honesty is the best in what products work or don't work for us. Sometimes people don't want to hear the negative comments, and I'm like wow everyone is not going to agree all the time for someones products/hairstyles/clothing. You just take it with a grain of salt and figure out what works for you and keep it going. Not every head is the same, so of course not all products will work whether their for white or black people.

  • Anonymous says:

    I agree with the poster. We are running out of hair topics. I'm more interested in the style tips.

    Thousands of products. Who has time to try them all? just give me the damn hair grease.

  • KC says:

    I should clarify– Elle declined to name the product because it is a conditioner that she tested to be way more acidic than necessary and will probably contact the company.

  • KC says:

    One of my fave bloggers (Elle of questfortheperfectcurl.com) has done tons of reviews. One of her most recent posts was about how to restore your hair when a product or technique that has gone completely wrong. She has declined to name the product she used, and I have a great deal of respect for that.

    I think that it is CRUCIAL to remember, above nearly all else, that:

    1) Any one product cannot be guaranteed to work for everybody.
    2) You can review a product and be completely objective, whether it was effective for you or not.

    So yeah–you don't have to go on and on about how much you hate the Tangle Teezer (although I'm still not curious enough to try one–that's just me). But of course, it's not really a REVIEW if one does not share the results of their experience.

  • Onebydesign says:

    Great Post Onyx Rose and very well said follow-up comment; I agree completely!

  • Anonymous says:

    I appreciate those that bring some honesty and sometimes even a sobering reality check to the product madness that can take place on these hairbaords. While I like reading sites like this, I am concerned with the ways people are chasing a new miracle product/tool that frankly, they don't need. Natural/curly hair does not need all the bells and whistles that theses sites promote and I don't believe we are doing ourselves any favors by supporting the product junkyism. In my opinion, that syndrome is rooted in the same hair drama that keeps black women attached to the perm. I guess Im a partypooper.

  • Tester says:

    This is Onyx Rose.

    Thanks for responding ladies. As I stated in the post, I'm not saying that people should sugarcoat their opinion. I'm simply saying that people should be tactful– whether the review is positive or negative (for this post I chose to state my opinion on the negative). Many of you who have responded seem like you're in a secure place with your hair journey, but many women who are newly natural or transitioning are not as confident. I've seen so many women on forums and even some of my friends and family members who are so unsure of what to use…they're basically lost, and the negativity in some reviews can be discouraging (not for all, but some). There is a difference between a negative review (which is helpful) and a person just going off on a product…and I have seen plenty of both. The reason why I emphasize this issue with the natural hair community is because many of us are already hesitant to go natural…criticized for even thinking about transitioning, and I just think that the "This product is crap!" type reviews/attitude is unnecessary. Does every reviewer need to praise a product? Of course not, but no need to BASH the product/company when the product simply didn't work for YOU. In no way am I trying to be the natural hair police. I've just realized that going natural for many women can be frustrating, and there are certain things we can keep in mind to make everyone's journey a little easier and more pleasant.

  • Monarchland says:

    I agree with your statement but I can see how someone can post a harsh review about a product if they had an aweful experience. It can become a helpful reviw when someone details why product X gave them aweful results and tell how they used the product. I have been natural off and on for about ten years now, so the best advice I can give is to be mindful of the ingredients that are effective on your hair instead of how much buzz or fanfare that a particular product receives. For example my hair hates glycerin and a hair product has to have glycerin way down the ingredient list in order for it to work on my hair.

  • Anonymous says:

    Here's my take on leaving a negative review on a product. In the end, I say it doesn't matter how rude, disrespectful, or respectful & tactful a negative review you leave or make about a product because SOME people only hear what they want to hear. I've seen this happen many times on boards, forums, Youtube, etc. For example, if a natural hair person made a vid about the tangle teezer and said these words: "that it didn't do a thing for my hair and I don't like the product, it was not for me, I used it for 3 weeks following the package directions and tried other ways to use it, and the product was no good for my hair." You know what will happen? That person will get a lot unnecessary critism from the some of the promoters or fans of the tangle teezer. And if the fictional above person has any subscribers or fans? Most of them probably won't buy the product based on the review even though in the fake review above, it clearly stated the words: "that it didn't work for ME, it didn't do a thing for MY hair, I followed the packaging directions". In my opinion when you go against the norm or majority, no matter how respectful or tactful your review is, you're going to have to expect some sort of backlash. So in the end, I cannot help but wonder if the fictional reviewer went and said something like this: "Don't buy this tangle teezing sh*t unless you want to de-mat your pet's hair because it's a piece of hair pulling crap", what would be the problem (besides the harshness)??? In the end, the results of the situation would be the same. Some people will not buy the product based on the review and those who loved the product will most likely verbally attack the reviewer no matter how nice the negative review was for the product.

  • Anonymous says:

    Everyone is different. I have 5 daughters and make a homemeade shea butter cream for their hair to style ponytails and twists but I don't like it for my hair at all. My hair is very thick and coarse and loves glycerin, castor oil, olive oil and water. You just have to try out stuff on your hair. Go cheap and work your way up. I know onyxrose does not like to co-wash but I love it. I think you just need to use tact but I just think it is funny how most of the the people talking about "I DO WHAT THE HE$$ I WANT!" are anonymous lol

  • Anonymous says:

    so we should all agree with the majority and not have a negative opinion..because if we dont we're being a party pooper? please..i see so many people hype things that really shouldn't be hyped but i don't write an article on CN's blog about how over hyped it was….if you dont like someones opinion ignore it..don't complain and say someones being a party pooper because they disagree with the majority..from my experience negative comments are more important than positive opinions because most of the time people dont just say i hated it..they give details on why they didnt like..such as the tangle teezer..everyone says it detangles well but one negative reviewer said that it will pull your hair out..which no one else mention or disproved

  • CurlyBee! says:

    I totally agree with you!!! I like to read reviews not to get a personal opinion of the product but to hear how it worked on different hair types! I'm not saying we have to sugar coat our reviews but just stick to reviewing the good and bad qualities of the product's effect on your particular hair. I like to read the positive and the negative reviews because it helps me to decide if it might be worth a try but reviews that simply downplay a product without giving reasons as to why it wasn't worth it, don't help at all!!

  • Jeannette says:

    I totally agree

  • RoSi says:

    i say review things how you wish. people speak on things in different manners. and most people dont even post their bad reviews from what i hear. so it would be nice to hear why someone dislikes something to see if it's something that does not pertain to you. and these days esp with yt alot of things seem to gather trends. so when someone says dont believe the hyper, i dont think they are trying to insult anyone or throw shade. but moreso rather say that what everyone is raving about just isn't all that special to them.

  • Anonymous says:

    @11:06
    "I think that we as reviewers have a responsibility…"
    I meant to say that those of us watching reviews have that responsibility.

  • Anonymous says:

    I think that we as reviewers have a responsibility to not only gather and check information but watch with a discerning eye. That's for good and bad reviews. If you're mixing 9 parts everything in your kitchen cupboards to 1 part of a product, I'm going to be skeptical about you as a reviewer whether you give a glowing or scathing review of that product.

    I don't care if a review is positive or negative, I just care about the honesty i.e. if you're reviewing a method and completely deviated from it, just say your crazy deviation didn't work, not the method itself. I see that too often.

  • Anonymous says:

    "discouraged because of some people's blatant negativity"??? it might be mean to laugh, but if someone is that easily discouraged after listening to a negative review, being a natural is going to be one rough road…

  • Anonymous says:

    I agree with OnyxRose. We need to be fair and balanced when reviewing a product. Too many are too quick to label a product as "crap" when it doesn't work, which isn't appropriate.

  • Sharmer says:

    Lmao at this post! So there are really that many people out there that can't think for themselves? I mean there is no way I am going to let someone else's opinion determine whether or not I decide to try a product or not. Its not that serious, unless you are the honor of the company that makes the product.

  • Annie L. says:

    This is my last post on this 'topic' – promise, Lol!

    @ Anonymous 9:39 "you're criticizing the people who like the product and essentially calling them liars…It's how the immature handle buyers remorse" – you seem to invalidate your own point about others' negativity and do no better to keep the discussion positive.

    @Lori – I don't think that adults with 401(k)s and mortgages need to be scolded, despite the good intentions. I personally think open dialogue is the best way for Black women to engage, challenge and 'uplift' one another as you wrote. Incidentally, someone could challenge your statement, suggesting knowing how and how not to use their freedom of speech, as offensive. I respect the dialogue on this board, including yours. I strongly disagree with the perspective of the article.

  • Anonymous says:

    all the comments prove that people will be people whether you like what they say or not…you gotta do you in spite of the criticism, negativity, bitterness or whatever…who cares. If a product didn't work for someone else I don't let her influence my decision because my hair is not theirs and vice versa. And if I happen to love the product they previously dogged out so bad…who cares. I do me and keep it movin. Granted nobody ever has to be nasty about it, but whatever.

  • Anonymous says:

    I am new to the "natural" world but I have been around many years in the world. My experience has been that if you dislike a product that everyone else is raving about, you will get pounced on. It seems to me that if a hair "guru" gives the stamp of approval, that product is good as gold and vice versa for a negative product. As soon as someone gives an honest opinion that is contrary to the popular one, the claws come out. That happened to me with the Tangle Teaser. Most of the big names on the hair boards gave it a thumbs up. It didn't work on my transitioning hair. I got accused of not using it right, not reading directions, not trying hard enough to make the darn thing work. So, I am suspect of any positive or negative reviews. Sometimes I wonder if people are being so aggressive in their views because they are being paid/not paid for product endorsement. I would love an honest opinion of a product, whether they be nice or come out swinging. But I guess money talks 🙁

  • Anonymous says:

    I don't see how the "Wag of the Finger" is any different. In fact, I thought "WoF" was pointless negativity b/c, as you say so rightly above, what works for some will not work for others. To say this is being "let down" is the same kind of overstatement.

  • bowsweetie says:

    I've recently reviewed The Tangle Teezer and my review was less than pleasant =) But I agree with LaMaraVilla. If I dislike a product or item, I am not going to sugar coat how I feel about it just so I won't "ruin" another natural's experience. I am not responsible for what another grown woman decides to do to her hair and I am not going to hold anyone else accountable for what I do to mine.

    I do admit that I can sometimes be influenced by an opinion or review but at the end of the day, it's going to be MY decision whether I want to try it or not and I am not going to blame anyone else for the results I get. I have been swayed by reviews, all positive ones might I add, and after realizing I didn't like the product, I've jokingly said "I shouldn't have listened!" But it was my decision to do so and I own up to it, without blaming anyone else. I'm my own person.

  • Anonymous says:

    I did not interpret the article to mean that people who review products should sensor their comments. I intrepreted it to mean that product reviews might want to just acknowledge that "no two heads are alike" and what works or does not work for them may be different for someone else.

  • Anonymous says:

    LOL @ anonymous 9:39- well said!

  • Anonymous says:

    As i said:

    I agree with Moni. To give a negative review of a product is one thing (THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE ISN'T SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T CRITICIZE A PRODUCT) but when you call the positive reviews hype or say it's overrated, you're no longer criticizing the product, you're criticizing the people who like the product and essentially calling them liars…It's how the immature handle buyers remorse.

  • Anonymous says:

    Honestly, I think this has to do more with the quality of review writing in general. Saying things like "Don't believe the hype!" or "I knew it was too good to be true!" isn't helpful to someone reading the review. It's better to just describe the product and how it worked for you.

  • Anonymous says:

    What is so disrespectful or cruel about saying "don't believe the hype" or "i knew it was too good to be true"? – any natural who is offended because someone used these words to describe a product this said natural liked has issues that run deeper than products.

    people with natural hair should
    1. stop being so darn nit picky with semantics
    2. grow some skin. nobody is going to tiptoe around you for life to assuage your feelings over some non-issue.

    besides – all sunshine makes a desert. yep.
    there will always be positive and negative reviews, some blindingly positive, others blindingly negative. it is the way of all other things in life. i would be more skeptical if EVERYBODY had nothing but good things to say about a product.

    sigh.

  • Anonymous says:

    Oh Lord. Since it won't EVER come out that half of the "bad reviews" are from folks delusional about either hair type, humidity, or hard water, I'm putting it out there. Those are USUALLY the three causes of drama. I'm aware that there is a lot of attention now to natural hair, but we already have enough "popping off" that's unnecessary on hair sites as it is. Can we not create imaginary drama?

  • Lori says:

    I scold naturals because…for the most part…natural curlies are women of color. So for me, when we criticize each other so harshly, it is a form of division. We should see this by now! If we don't uplift each other and give words of encouragment to each other, don't expect anyone else too. I'm not trying to make it a race discussion, I'm just offering my answer to the question of "censory". It is so important to express love to each other on every level. We seem to be the only group of people who doesn't and we're not yet to the place where we can afford not to. We can leave the put-downs to everyone else who offers them mindlessly each and every day. No one is trying to strip anyone of the freedom of speech, but if you are going to exercise your freedom then know how to use it!

  • Anonymous says:

    As far as the reviews go, I don't have any problems either way. It's not that big of a deal to me.

    But when I saw the title, I automatically thought of something else. When I think of "natural hair party poopers," I think of people who take the fun out of going natural in general. Criticizing people for what they decide to put in their hair, judging people for being a little "too concerned" with how their hair looks (talking about that article not too long ago about the lady with the TWA who was always worried about it looking lopsided), judging you for how many products you own, what your reasons for going natural were, etc etc.

    I think I just have a problem with the general negativity that I'm finding from some naturals who are just being critics.

  • Annie L. says:

    @Anonymous 8:51

    Why should I or anyone else have to censor a review to placate you? Skip the review you don't like. I don't read articles and posts on other boards going in on their members and insisting they're "angry" for exercising their freedom of speech. 'If you don't have anything nice to say…' – why do I need anyone other than the site owner to restrict what I say?!
    Would you attack Amazon's diverse reviewers the same way? Why are naturals scolded all of the time? I don't want to write a Stepford review, I want to write mine! And at least I put my name, Annie Lang, behind it!

  • Anonymous says:

    I agree with Moni. To give a negative review of a product is one thing (the author of the article isn't saying that people shouldn't criticize a product) but when you call the positive reviews hype or say it's overrated, you're no longer criticizing the product, you're criticizing the people who like the product and essentially calling them liars. That's when feathers start to get ruffled. It's a passive/aggressive shot at the positive reviewers. It's the reaction of an immature person who doesn't want to take personal responsibility for their purchasing decisions. They're not just angry with the product but angry at the people whom they blame for influencing them to buy the product. It's how the immature handle buyers remorse.

  • Anonymous says:

    "No offense, but are people running out of natural hair topics?"

    Yes. Yes they are.

    Domino

  • Anonymous says:

    No offense, but are people running out of natural hair topics? Now we're complaining about how people write reviews of products? If someone is that immature that a silly product review can sway their path to healthy hair THAT MUCH, then they have bigger issues. The "natural hair policing" is really starting to get on my nerves.

  • Moni says:

    I think there's a huge difference between saying that a product doesn't work for you and implying that everyone else who does like it is brainwashed or lying or exaggerating. Good reviews do the former, bad reviews do the latter.

  • MsChris8 says:

    I agree with Lori. I think that the message in the article is to be tactful with whatever you have to say. There is definitely a way to review a product you don't like without being rude while still getting your point across. In my opinion, those of you who are knocking this article could also use a little more tact. Instead of calling Onyx Rose's article "silly," why don't you just say you disagree with her point of view? Would you honestly feel nothing if someone said something like that about an article you posted? We are all adults here, so we should act like it. Remember the golden rule…

  • Anonymous says:

    emotional a tad?? why can't the writer speak her opinion? wow…sigh
    When a person reads or listens to a product review they should expect either a negative or postive opinion/result.

    What I don't ( me personally) understand is how being natural which is supposed to promote individuality and a sense of self can turn a lot of us into followers. I listen to advice and watch turorials just like everyone else, and they are extremely helpful and educational most of the time, but i'm not going to dismiss a hair product until i've tried it myself.

    Product junkism or whatever is part of the journey because you have to find what's right for YOUR hair, it's just like shopping for anything else. I think a point that should have been stressed is that an epic fail with a product or style is also a part of it,but don't be afraid to try something just because so and so said it sucks. Thanks for the article!

  • april says:

    The most important factor for me when purchashing a product is price, and then comes natural ingredients, and lastly comes what others with my hair type have said about the product. I won't only reject trying a product because of what someone else says about it. But I've pretty much found my staple products so the likelihood of me trying any others is slim right now. When I did write negative reviews on products I simply stated what it didn't do for my hair, what it actually did for my hair and that's enough to say that I won't purchase it again, and that I didn't like it. I don't curse anybody out lol, or bash the designer, but if someone does that, that's fine. It has no bearing on what I'll do with my money. At least not totally.

  • LJ says:

    I don't know how to say this without sounding mean/cruel, but this is a very silly article, period. i can't say too much more without sounding even meaner, so lets let it rest there.

  • Anonymous says:

    I'm with LaMaraVilla if I do a review I will say just whatever the hell I think about the product. If I don't like a product and I say I don't like it then it is up to the readers whether or not they decide to purchase or not purchase the product. Ugh da

  • Annie L. says:

    "As silly as it might sound, I'm sure there are many people missing out on certain products because they took someone else's experience to heart"

    With all due respect to the writer of this article, I think the sentiment is silly. Perceived negativism can be applied to a review of any product ever created. Others could conversely point to perceived sycophantism (or 'bandwagonism') as destructive to the buying choices of the public. We're all guided by constantly changing criteria to evaluate and purchase products. It may sometimes be based on widespread approval of a product, curiosity about a lesser-known product or the desire to go against the grain and try something widely disliked.

    I read good and bad reviews on everything from eyeliner to hotels realizing that companies may post glowing reviews, competitors may post negative ones, spoilers may concoct fake reviews just for fun and that some reviewers may love or hate the entire brand so much that their post could be subconsciously skewed by that perspective. Independent decision-making processes are a sign of maturity, confidence and ongoing practice in my case. I value, and am undoubtedly influenced by the good, bad and ugly of reviews but pick and choose on my own. If I come up with a winner, or a loser or didn't take the plunge at all, I'm ultimately the only one behind that choice, no biggie either way.

  • Unknown says:

    I'm newly natural and what I have noticed has been more in the comments section of reviews. If a review of something is great, then there are always a couple negative reviews that are obnoxiously negative. If the review is bad, then there are always a few that claim the reviewer didn't use it right, or enough, or too much, etc.

    In both cases, I think if you don't have anything nice or constructive to say. Don't say anything at all. Everyone will have a different experience. I learned in the first month that just because it worked on someone with similar looking hair does not mean it will work on me. That doesn't mean that I didn't use it right. If it does work, it is not automatically the worst thing in the world to use because it didn't work for someone else.

  • sarah says:

    i agree with the article too.

    i've noticed on certain blogs, some naturals take pride in being product cynics. and i get it… you should never blindly believe the hype. BUT, to the point where your review of something is biased because you "already knew it wasn't going to live up to the hype," are you giving an honest review or are you just so pressed to report something doesn't perform as hyped just like you thought… it's called being a contrarian and it's kinda sad, if that all you've got.

  • Lori says:

    I'm totally with you Onyx Rose. People should never compromise their level of honesty, but learn to state things in a tactful and respectful way. Many of the natural lines we support are operated by small business owners who are doing their own research and designing their own line from scratch. Feedback is crucial…but there is never a reason to be cruel (cough, cough…LaMaraVilla) In my humble opinion, this article is relevant and well done. I goes back to the old saying "If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all." No two heads of hair are alike and we owe it to ourselves to respect the opinions of others, but do what works for us in the end. Not only is it each individual's responsibility to uphold this, but to those giving the reveiws- JUST KEEP IT REAL. Say what happened to your hair and let the audience make their own conclusion on whether or not those results are desirable…EXTRA negative commentary is not needed.

  • Anonymous says:

    This goes both ways. I should not have to sensor my reviews to make someone else comfortable. If someone is raving about a product, it may not work for everyone else, would you tell them to back up on their raving because it may not work for everyone? Reviews are completely subjective (good and bad ones).

  • LaMaraVilla says:

    When it comes down to it, every woman has the responsibility to decide whether or not she will try the next hot thing in natural haircare. If it's other people's reviews that influence her decision, then she runs the risk of never truly knowing whether something would in fact work for her or not. EVERY HEAD OF HAIR IS DIFFERENT!

  • LaMaraVilla says:

    O_o If *EYE* were giving a review, *EYE* (yes I'm placing emphasis on I) would say whatever I damn well pleased to get my point across. This article was so pointless. I'm starting to see what other hair board women and bloggers are saying about the naturals that complain too much.

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