The beautiful and talented Yvette Nicole Brown of NBC’s Community, is back on The Couch with tons of updates and words of wisdom!
CN: What’s your current state of affairs?
YNB: My hair is a bit in flux right now. So much so that I don’t really know what it’s doing. I’m wearing a wig on “Community” this year and my hair in a ponytail on the weekends. So I won’t truly know what’s really going on until March when the season ends and I can get back to deep conditioning, carefully detangling and generally taking care of my curls. Wish me luck, everybody!
Any new fave products?
I also love the new Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner by Creme of Nature. I’m learning that my hair adapts to products very quickly. If I don’t switch it up from time to time my curls look at me like, “what’s that supposed to do?” I use the Creme of Nature line from time to time to keep my hair guessing.
As for the best thing I’ve “discovered” lately, that would be WEN. The ENTIRE line. It really does moisturize and soften your hair on contact. It makes detangling so much easier. The WEN line is pretty much all I use these days. I know other curly girls who swear by it too. Holly Robinson Peete initially introduced me to it. She loves it and put it in a gift bag. I’m hooked!
What’s your current routine?
My routine…when I have the time…is exactly the same as before. I’m a little long-winded so I’m not going to subject your readers to a long re-hash, but I’m doing pretty much the same stuff when I wash my hair as before. And I still haven’t started sleeping with a satin pillowcase or bonnet. That is my greatest shame.
How are you keeping your situation moisturized and healthy?
I don’t really know that I am, actually. Again, I won’t know until March when we finish this season of the show. Fingers and toes will be crossed until then. The awesome hair department on “Community” takes excellent care of my wigs but I don’t really stick around after our 16 hour days to let them tend to my actual hair, though I’m sure they wish I would. Janet, the head of our hair department, cut a couple of inches off my ends about a month ago and my hair looked fluffy, healthy and happy to be free. But March will tell me for sure.
Any message for the CurlyNikki community?
I recently had a conversation with my cousin, who’s been growing her relaxer out for about 3 months now. She’s seeing her natural hair for the first time and she was being really hard on herself and her hair because it wasn’t doing what she thought it should be doing. She was concerned with doing it all “right”. I had to tell her that there’s no right way or even one way to go natural. It’s all about individual preference and what you and your lifestyle can handle on your journey. I think we, as black women, already put too much pressure on ourselves in other areas of our lives. The decision to go natural and how we do it shouldn’t be another point of stress. I told her that there’s also no inherent “virtue” in going natural. I didn’t want her to think that if she chooses to go back to a relaxer someday or even use a texturizer now during her transition that she’s failed in someway. And that’s the same thing I’d say to your readers. Going natural or not is a personal decision. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for anything you do today, next week or next year to your hair. If natural, awesome. If relaxed, good for you. I think we all need to make the decision that works best for us. Own your right to “do you” and allow others their right to the same. And please go easy on yourself in the midst of the natural transition, if that’s your choice, and every other transition in life. That’s my two cents!
Do you ever feel like you’re over looked or not given the recognition that you deserve? You’re a gorgeous curly, on prime time television, on a popular show… I just feel that I should hear your name a lot more often. What are your thoughts?
No, I don’t feel overlooked for a couple reasons. One, I don’t need or want a lot of recognition. The amount I get is more than enough. I’ve always just wanted to make a living doing what I love and I’m doing that. Being a household name was never the dream or goal. Shoot, I’m series regular on a network comedy! For a girl from East Cleveland that’s like winning the lottery! And two, there’s a lot of talented black women in Hollywood. I learned that the industry is designed to only let one or two of us in any genre through at a time. I made my peace with that long ago. I celebrate everyone as they have their moment and thankfully, they kindly do the same when it’s my turn. But that said, there’s always been enough work to go around and that’s all that has ever mattered to me. I’m grateful.
Any new projects in the works?
I’m finishing up the third season of playing Shirley on the comedy, “Community” on NBC and the second season of voicing Cookie on the cartoon, “Pound Puppies”on the Hub Network. I also recur as a guest-star on the sitcom “Victorious” on Nickelodeon. All of that keeps me pretty busy.
Thanks so much for letting me catch your readers up on what my hair is doing now. It’s always an honor to be featured on “Curly Nikki”! God Bless!
Yvette says, "I learned that the industry is designed to only let one or two of us in any genre through at a time."
We don't just accept it. We have to change this.
Yvette says, "I learned that the industry is designed to only let one or two of us in any genre through at a time."
We have to change this!
pecan, how can you love Yvette's hair. We havent ever seen it. She wears wigs –which is fine and totally understandable given her 16 hour work day. I think if Yvette is to be featured on this and other natural hair sites we should SEE HER HAIR.
she's mixed and she doesn't really have the coarse hair texture of a black person
I can't speak for Yvette but I think she means that in Hollywood, only a certain amount of Black actors get the stand out roles whether they are comedians or drama actors.
Great interview. I'm on this journey called, "transitioning," and I won't lie, it is painful not knowing what the future holds and trying to hold onto my length. I'm learning though so please keep the interviews coming.
When Yvette says, "I learned that the industry is designed to only let one or two of us in any genre through at a time."
I really wish she explained. That type of thing gets said so often and so off-handedly, but no one ever bothers to explain the nature of this "design".
OMG great interview! I love Community and I love Yvette. Very cool to see her being interviewed on bere 🙂
Can't wait to watch the rest of the season!!! Tell Joel, Gillian, Allison, Donald, Dani, Ken, Chevy and everyone else I said 'Hey :-)' teehee
Yvette introduced me to my hair! Well not literally but as I drooled over her hair on Communty I tweeted her to ask if she was natural and what products does she use, and by a miracle she tweeted back!!! She introduced me to products and this site and now I am one year and 2 months naturally grown out!! I just wore a fade for over five years because I knew I didnt want a perm but didnt know what to do with my hair, now I'm loving my kinks, thanks Yvette!!
Yvette, you are awesome!! We have a mutual friend, Etoile, and I read your interview on her site too! I LOVE Community (I am a fan of quirky, tongue in cheek and smart shows like Scrubs, Pushing Daisies and Community is right up that alley) and I hope that it stays on for another 6 years! The fooz (sp?) ball episode was AWESOME!
I'm also a big fan of cartoons, but most of the fare out there is a pretty lackluster nowadays. However, Pound Puppies has quickly become part of my Saturday and Sunday morning line-up! It is so clever and the voice cast is amazing. I love that it follows that Hogan's Heroes type of plot!! You are great as Cookie and I'm a huge fan of John DiMaggio as he's been voice acting on some of my favorite series for decades! I keep trying to get some of my cartoon loving friends to tune into it, but they are more fans of superhero cartoons (which are my thing too), so I haven't quite gotten them there yet. But, I'll keep trying;)!
As to your advice at the end, preach … no, teach;).
Shelli
1.Refreshing to read that someone is content with what they have and where they are. Gratitude and humilty often gets you further than blind ambition.
2.High five,body slam and fanny pat on the advice to do you boo. This curly haired awakening is eliciting way too much drama and negatvity and judgment over a personal decision.
3.Low maintenance rules. Like Yvette it takes a hiatus,usually summer vacay, for me to get serious about my hair. It's usually ash,condish,throw a wig on. Had it nor been for the holidays i might not have "done" my hair til summer.
I love YNB! "Community" is my favorite show on the air, right now. It's great to see a hometown curlie on my TV every week and I'm praying NBC does right by them.
#sixseasonsandamovie
Always nice to see Yvette! Good interview!
What a lovely breath of fresh air! I really enjoyed this interview.
OMG i wish she was my aunt or sister or something…such a wonderful woman and interview!!!
I loved this interview! I love her hair. I agree — do you whether it is natural, relaxed, weaved, wigged, etc. Those "two cents" of wisdom can be applied to every other aspect of your life.
I had always wondered about the Wen products — the ads pop up while I am surfing. Now my inner PJ is awakening. 🙂
Love!!!! your two cents. Thanks so much. "There's no inherent "virtue" in going natural". Priceless words. Thanks again.
Yvette said: "She's seeing her natural hair for the first time and she was being really hard on herself and her hair because it wasn't doing what she thought it should be doing. She was concerned with doing it all "right". I had to tell her that there's no right way or even one way to go natural. It's all about individual preference and what you and your lifestyle can handle on your journey. I think we, as black women, already put too much pressure on ourselves in other areas of our lives. The decision to go natural and how we do it shouldn't be another point of stress. I told her that there's also no inherent "virtue" in going natural. I didn't want her to think that if she chooses to go back to a relaxer someday or even use a texturizer now during her transition that she's failed in someway. And that's the same thing I'd say to your readers. Going natural or not is a personal decision. You don't owe anyone an explanation for anything you do today, next week or next year to your hair. If natural, awesome. If relaxed, good for you. I think we all need to make the decision that works best for us. Own your right to "do you" and allow others their right to the same. And please go easy on yourself in the midst of the natural transition, if that's your choice, and every other transition in life. That's my two cents!"
**HIGH FIVE**….anyone who is transitioning needs to hear this advice, I havent relaxed in 4 months and some days I do feel like relaxing and if I do thats MY BUSINESS & I have nothing to explain to ANYONE!
Thanks, ladies! 🙂
And to answer "Anonymous' " question, I was being a bit facetious. Yes, I wash and condition my hair while working, dear. But no, after a 16 hour day, another two or so hours tending to my curls is not high on my list. 🙂 I've learned not to judge myself over that. I save my shame for the satin pillowcase thing. 🙂 You take care!
Love her. I think she is hilarious on the show and in these interviews. Always a good person to hear from.
Okay. Never mind. She works 16 hour days.
I'm confused by the first paragraph. Is she saying she can't deep condition her hair until the season ends? She can't detangle it? She can't take care of it?
I just love her! So unintentionally hilarious! I love it when celeb's use items from a regular ol' BSS! Theres nothing wrong with taking it back to the basics! "Oh girl I just left the NBC studios, let me jump in the Maybach and head to the Beauty Supply" lol