Hola Chicas,
Earlier this week, a casting agent (who had been all over the site and had clearly done her research) reached out to me in hopes that I could lead her to someone having psychological and practical difficulties with their hair… someone in the throws of a rocky transition or early in their journey. Or a curly dealing with disapproving family members, hair loss, or things of that nature. You get the gist. Although the casting call is wide open, it’d be nice to have #teamnatural represented!
Interested? Check out the casting call and submit your story and tell them CurlyNikki sent ya!
Casting call for MTV’s True Life documentary episode currently titled “I Hate My Hair”:
Is your hair your obsession? Do you have unwanted hair, or not the “right” hair? Are you someone with a hormone imbalance that leads to hair loss, or facial hair growth? Culturally are you told your hair should be one way, but you want it another? Or perhaps you suffer from a condition known as “smelly hair syndrome?” How does it affect your social life? Does your hair make you feel unattractive and affect how you interact with members of the opposite sex? Are you undergoing a procedure to alter your hair or do you go to great lengths to manage it? Are you digging yourself into a financial hole just to manage your hair?
If you appear to be between the ages of 15 -28 and have hair that’s making you unhappy, email us at casting@lintonmedia.com and tell us about your story. Please include your name, location, phone number and recent photos of yourself.
For more info on the True Life series, you can take a look at the website, but the synopsis is below:
Since its first episode in 1998, True Life has provided a window into the struggles, hopes, and dreams of young people. Narrated solely by its characters, each episode documents the unusual–and often remarkable–circumstances of real individuals, whether it’s about soldiers returning from Iraq, deaf teenagers, or people living with autism. We’ve given all of them–and hundreds of others–the opportunity to tell their own stories directly to their peers in this powerful, Emmy award winning series that uniquely reflects the experiences and cultures of this generation.
Nikki, although I dislike the title "I hate my hair" yet, i think that this is a great way of having the young generation(Africans/Africans) to come up with ways to go natural or get ideas. When I was younger, people always praise my hair "you have such a nice hair" but thats when my family used to take care of it as a child. I didn't really understand what they meant by "nice hair". At the age of 12, my Father won a lottery for us to come to the us. In 2000, I was in the US with just my Father and sibling. My sisters and i had no one to do our hair.It was really hard to walk around especially in Junior High School so, We decided to relaxed our hair trying to fit in with everyone else besides, we needed to manager our hair anyways. Ever since, I've been relaxing my hair but little did I know that with my kinder hair, relaxer does not agree with(it brakes my hair like crazy!). I soon came to realized that about two years ago than, i switch to weaving my hair to cover my broken hair. that did not go well ether cause all i was doing is covering my hair and not letting it breath. So I went to quick weave thats when i starting loosing my hair especially on the front sides of my head(lots of baby hair around my hair). This is when I lost it. I started to "hate" my hair because I don't know what to do with it anymore. Nothing seems to work well for me anymore because my sides are bold and my hair type is "fine hair)? in Augusta of 2011 I decided to cute it and start all over but the sides are still bold. I really need help taking care of my natural hair. I even wear wigs now to cover my hair. also i would be a great fit for the show "I hate my hair" because as of now I really do "hate my hair!!!!" Please,please help me Nikki! #teamnatural
P.S please give me more info on the show
They should look into how the military regulations and culture effect black military female and their struggle to be "natural."
Yah, I'm not really with this. These shows usually highlight problems, but for the viewers it can be the only experience they have with these issues and it can be a skewed image. Also, they often leave the person still struggling some by the end of the show because the problems are deep. If someone is willing to go on TV and say they "hate" their hair that's something deep. Many people have had "wow my hair is acting crazy!" moments early in their natural journeys, but you don't hate it when you know you just need to learn, even if it gets ridiculously frustrating.
Nope. I kinda don't see anything good coming out of this. Also, my vote is against himay10nece. She's funny, but she's past 28 and her behavior would perpetuate the already bad stereotype we black women have.She's a little loud and ghetto. Just my 2 cents.
I think using a natural-haired black woman to declare she "hates her hair" will only fuel negativity concerning black women and their hair. Bad idea. The only way they could make it worse is to have her get a weave and relaxer at the end of the show and have her smiling and gushing about how she loves her hair afterward.
Maybe it will be like Intervention 🙂 Lots of ppl struggle with issues,hair included. Until you've been or seen the girl who struggles to get a comb through her hair or has so much hair thhat it literaaly can take 1/2 a day to style you'll never know. What about young ladies whose textures completely differ from the rest of their fam,so they can't rock the same styles. It's mothing to us now as adults, but a lot of young ladies go through it. I can't help to think how much more confident i would have been in HS and college if my hairand had been on better terms :-).
I don't hate my hair by any means but I do hate that I have aloepcia which causes hair loss and bald spots. It really limits how I can wear/style my hair.
I totally agree with all the comments before mine. I am weary about how this would be presented. Anyone that signs up should know they would have no say in how their image is presented.
I agree with AFESHA. it was the first thing I actually thought. And yeah, there is a chance they might paint it a postive light but it really only depends on the person they are documenting so it's fairly risky. Most naturals don't hate their hair although we do struggle with it sometimes during the learning process. Those that do, well they don't stay natural for long..we know how our society eats up whatever the media shows to them so people might walk around thinking most naturals HATE or have serious disdain for their hair at least AT SOME POINT just like the particular individual featured.
I agree with the first comment…..that " I hate my hair" title can go to the birds!!
You don't know if they're going to put it in a bad light or not. I think its a good thing because contrary to the belief of many of you on Curly Nikki, everyone doesn't love their hair! I think its a story that should be told it may help someone.
I agree with AFESHA. Smells like a set up to me that could possibly cast natural hair in a negative light without balancing it with the positive side. Tread carefully with this one. Once you are in the hands of the producers, etc., they have FULL control. The main interest for most TV reality series is to make "good television" (i.e. something that will keep the audience tuned in). Whether it reflects negatively or positively on you and/or other parties involved is not their concern. I use to work in television (for a nationally syndicated talk show) so I'm speaking from experience. Not trying to throw salt on MTV, just wanted to give a friendly heads up to fellow curlies who may be interested in responding to the casting call. Be blessed.
-CurlySwan
I think they are barking up the wrong tree with this one. I've seen the show and that is not the kind of ATTENTION the natural hair community need to have right now. There are soo many people out there with negative feeling and comments that try to throw us off track and make us feel like our hair is not acceptable……Having someone on the show that feeds into their madness is not a good look. The show needs to be about embrassing our hair, I LOVE MY HAIR….then We'll show up. PASS….NO THANKS MTV
who is himay10ence? What's her story?
yes, i agree w/gs "himay10ence" comes to mind.
Dang. With the way my hair has been acting up lately, I should be on this. Can you believe my hair has decided to start falling out in one spot in the back for NO REASON (I can think of)??? But alas, my mom would probably karate chop me before she let an entire film crew into our house to put our business on blast lol.
I'd love to see Youtube vlogger Himay10ence on the show… somebody please share this with her:)…
RIGHT!
@curlynikki they need to do a Made for a natural hair journey, then you can be a coach lol!
Tianna, I think it's more like 'teen mom' style in that they just follow the individuals with no narrator. So I'm just helping (although I'd love to be on, lol) in hopes that they can do an intervention on screen… I want our hair celebrated. The 'i hate my hair' title sucks, but I'm hoping, if we can get a natural on, by the end of the episode, she'll be ready to rip the runway, lol.
Nikki, I can't remember exactly how the show flows, but you should be one of the hair "coaches" that helps the person through their issues with their hair and show them how to style it and stuff. I would freak out if I saw you on MTV!!! I'd get cable for that one!!!
tiannamae.blogspot.com
we need someone like DaeDream… but 2 years ago, lol
I hated my hair BEFORE I cut it off and went natural. Love it now!!!!
I was asked to personally think of individuals that 'hate their hair' or ones that are going through it, but I don't know any… even with all the emails I get from y'all!
If you have a story of interest, definitely let me know and I'll personally flag the agent for you.
I know, right?! Far fewer of the 'i hate my hairs' hanging out on this site. However, it is my hopes that they can find someone early in their journey and follow them as they discover just how awesome natural hair is, despite the societal pressures to straighten. It'd be great to get this natural hair revolution up in front of the masses… in a respectful and classy way of course!
i agree with Miss Medi DiJah
LOL
If it was True Life: I Love My Hair, i'd sign up, but it's not, so I'll pass…