The Resurgence of Natural Hair in TV, The Last Five Years

 

Natural hair is slowly picking up the pace, especially on most streaming platforms. 

Lately, natural hair has been having an incredible renaissance. 

Shaved heads, teenie weenie afros (TWAs), full blow outs, locs, box braids, cornrows, and more are being worn by many Black women characters on television. They are showing off their versatile creative expression of beauty— head first. This thrilling ride gives Black women viewers the extra courage to celebrate themselves in the mirror, to value what’s already there, and also provides immense inspiration for hair salon visits. For so long, the audience had to settle with the ironed image— the straight haired Black woman fitting in with her non-Black counterparts, hiding her roots to impress the masses. Although the straight hair image remains prominent today, actresses are letting their preference shine bright. In the past, nappy, coils, kinky hair was viewed unkempt, unprofessional, unruly— and this would be included in a televised storyline. 

Taylor Bryant’s article, The Problem With Natural Hair On TV, closes with this:

“Hopefully, these shows will act as inspiration for more Black actresses to feel comfortable shedding their wigs before the camera starts rolling. With more women embracing their natural hair IRL, it’s only right that this be accurately — and positively — reflected on the shows they regularly watch.”

One show Bryant highlighted was How to Get Away With Murder. Annalise Keating originally took her makeup and wig off after a hard day’s drama in earlier episodes. This stress related unmasking revealed a secret few were privy to know about her. Except the hair she hid from her workplace was gorgeous— always well moisturized and trimmed. Why cover such perfection? By the final season, however, Annalise wore her natural afro with pride and power; enhancing the strength and dignity of her character’s phenomenal growth. Natural hair is beautiful, resilient, and authentic. 

While characters like Florida Evans in the classic Good Times are still remembered, modern contemporary shows such as Insecure, Black Lightning, Queen Sugar, Greenleaf, and Blood & Water feature the flawless elegance of Black women’s natural hairstyles, a limitless range that was historically vilified (still is in some instances). This new wave of a positive intentional approach to Black women’s beauty— a validity growing from small screen to film— seems a form of activism that speaks volumes— “this is me, this is us!” 

Let’s keep the momentum going so that the next generation will continue seeing themselves reflected onscreen. The color of their skin and their texture and style of hair deserves recognition. 

Here are Black women television characters from various series in the last five years sporting natural hairstyles:

Our Kind of People’s Angela and Nikki Vaughn (played by Yaya DaCosta and Alana Bright from 2021-2022). 

How to Get Away With Murder’s Annalise Keating (played by Viola Davis from 2014-2020).

Black Lightning’s Lynn Pierce (played by Christine Adams from 2018-2021).

Insecure’s Issa Dee (played by Issa Rae from 2015-2021).

Insecure’s Kelli Prenny (played by Natasha Rothwell from 2015-2021).

Queen Sugar’s Nova Bordelon (played by Rutina Wesley from 2015-present).

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Sarah Wilson (played by Adepero Oduye, 2021).

Wandavision’s Monica Rambeau/Geraldine (played by Teyonah Parris, 2021).

Cherish the Day’s Gently James (played by Xosha Roquemore, 2020).

I May Destroy You’s Arabella (played by Michaela Coel, 2020). 

A Black Lady Sketch Show various characters (played by Ashley Nicole Black from 2019-present)

All Rise’s Lola Carmichael (played by Simone Missick from 2019-present).

Random Acts of Flyness’s Najja (played by Dominique Fishback, 2018).

Star Trek:Discovery’s Commander Michael Burnham (played by Sonequa Martin-Green from 2017-present). 

Van Helsing’s Doc (played by Rukiya Bernard from 2016-2021, also presently recurring on Yellowjackets).

Blood and Water’s Thandeka Khumalo (played by Gail Mabalane from 2020-present).

Blood and Water’s Zama Bolton (played by Cindy Mahlangu from 2020-present).

Blood and Water’s Wendy Dlamini (played by Natasha Thahane from 2020-present).

Greenleaf’s Kerissa Greenleaf (played by Kim Hawthorne from 2016-2020).

Greenleaf’s Zora Greenleaf (played by Lovie Simone from 2016-2020).

Run the World’s Ella (played by Andrea Bordeaux 2021-present, image is from her guest starring on NCIS, 2013).

P Valley’s Mercedes (played by Brandee Evan’s from 2020-present). 

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’s Farah Black (played by Jade Eshete from 2016-2017).

Harlem’s Tye (played by Jerrie Johnson from 2021-present).

Harlem’s Dr. Elise Pruitt (played by Whoopi Goldberg from 2021-present).

Harlem’s Angie (played by Shoniqua Shandai from 2021-present).