This story was originally published in the Bear Witness February 2025 print edition.

With the rise of the ‘natural texture’ hair trend, many women have started to confidently sport their wavy, curly or frizzy hair in everyday outings and the workforce. However, while society has come a long way in embracing natural beauty, the stigma against textured hair remains deeply entrenched, particularly in the workforce and media. 

Women in the workplace are often advised to wear their hair straight to come off more serious and no-nonsense, as those with curly hair are seen as wilder, unprofessional and frazzled, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Bell Magazine.

During a job interview, women wearing their naturally curly hair are more likely to leave a negative first impression, which can impact their chances in getting the job. According to a research study done with the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act in 2023, 66% of the 1,000 Black women surveyed said they changed their hair for job interviews and 25% said they were denied job interviews or sent home from work because of their hair. Because of this, women in the workforce risk serious hair damage simply to be taken seriously. 

These statistics reflect broader systemic issues of bias by showing how appearance-based discrimination can affect professional opportunities. Although white women with textured hair are affected by these standards, women of color face additional pressure to conform to such Eurocentric beauty standards, which prioritizes straight hair and other features historically linked to European ideals, due to preexisting racial biases, according to the Legal Defense Fund.

This expectation from women with textured hair is not only felt in the corporate world, but also extends to political settings. 

For example, women make up around 28% of Congress, however, only few congresswomen sport natural hairstyles. The women who do wear their natural hair face intense backlash and scrutiny, even though they are accomplished political leaders. 

For example, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat, has been mocked by the conservative media for her natural curly hair. Conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh said her hair “looks like mayonnaise.” She has also been called “Frizzilla” and “She of the Angry Perm” by Fox News commentators. Rather than discussing her political actions, they simply fixate on her hair. Due to it not conforming to the hair standard of a leader, which typically is neat, straight styled hair to reflect professionalism, her authority is undermined, and she is constantly demeaned for how she looks rather than what she does. 

No matter a woman’s achievements or qualifications, their appearance—specifically their adherence to Eurocentric beauty standards—plays a significant role in how they are perceived and treated. This creates a double standard, where women in the workforce feel the need to alter their natural appearance to avoid criticism and be treated like a professional. 

Beyond the workforce, the media plays a prominent role in influencing perceptions of women with curly, wavy or frizzy hair. 

There is an assumption, perpetuated through the media and by society, that straight hair is more attractive than natural textured hair, as most protagonists are portrayed with straight hair or perfectly curated curling iron waves, while the crazy or evil characters have a mane of naturally bushy, curly hair. Additionally, a transformation of a female character emotionally also seems to involve their hair going from frizzy to a perfect, straight blowout.

A classic example of this is the movie “Princess Diaries,” where the main character, Mia Thermopolis, starts off as an awkward, frizzy haired teen. When discovering that she is a princess, she undergoes a physical transformation that takes place alongside her emotional growth, and involves a blowout. Her initial curly hair was part of the “before” makeover pictures, while the “after” was the conventionally attractive straight hair. 

Additionally, in “Harry Potter,” an antagonist, Bellatrix Lestrange, is portrayed with frizzy unkempt hair to make her appear more evil and deranged. 

The list goes on. From hair ads on TV to celebrity hairstyles to classic runway looks, the media degrades women with curly hair and makes them believe they have to conform to the standard of straight hair in order to feel beautiful. 

Hair is a major part of personal identity, and being constantly pressured to change it to fit beauty standards is demeaning to women with textured hair. Society has treated naturally curly and frizzy hair as something that is not beautiful, professional, or acceptable, and has made many women feel bad about their hair and identity.

However, regardless of what is said by others and the media, women should continue to embrace their natural beauty. Thanks to the rise of the natural textures trend, more and more women are learning to take care of their textured hair and feel proud to go out in it.

Illustration by David Tran/Bear Witness