USE YOUR BRAIN When Watching YouTube Vloggers
I’ve been reading some negative comments about youtube and the hair “gurus” on youtube. I’m a youtube vlogger and just wanted to say a few things about the whole niche.
Firstly, despite the amount of for profit and obviously sold out vloggers out there, I TRULY BELIEVE that most natural hair care youtube vloggers are there to help others have healthy hair practices, and help teach others how to do certain hair styles/techniques etc.
I know there are some who want to get famous or something, but I am SURE more just want to help out and spread the natural hair message/mission/culture.
That said….
I urge you to use your brain when watching youtubers, which will help you determine which youtubers are more legit and will likely help you the most. Definitely look for inconsistencies.
For example:
- If the vlogger claims to be about healthy hair care practices and has had her channel for 2 years and is still the same length now as she was when beginning her channel (without trims) you can bet this person is not the one you want to go to for help
- If the vlogger claims to be about healthy hair care and you see her put a smoking flatiron to her head for 4 passes over the same strip of hair….c’mon
- If the vlogger makes claims such as: “my home made snake oil made my hair grow 2 inches in 2 weeks, buy it at my site www.imaliar.com” you’d likely want to go elsewhere for info/products/help.
The last example is one that really gets my goat.
There is a youtuber I used to watch who recently made this switch. She was informative (despite being SUPER rambley) and has great healthy looking natural hair. Suddenly she’s selling her homemade products and advertising on youtube….NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS TO ME…EVERYONE HAS THEIR HUSTLE and like Jay Z I can’t knock it….. but Her approach was: “This Oil I’m Selling Made My Hair Grow…”
ARGH!!!!
OK.
We know the truth and myths about hair growth and healthy hair care
We know black women have a “thing” with hair.
We know black women have a deep desire for that magic pill that will grow their hair to great lengths in one month (just like the whole world wants that magic pill that will replace a healthy diet and consistent exercise)
It hurts my heart that companies try to exploit that desire, and I get it, but when a just-like-you-and-me youtube vlogger does it, it’s even more painful.
It’s just…..why? You can make product sales without deceit.
ANYWAAAAAYYY….
I say all this to say, please have an open mind, and an engaged brain when watching youtube vloggers, reading blogs and when reading product claims, looking at advertisements etc.
Like India Arie says: There’s no substitute for the truth, either it is or it isnt…..you know it’s the truth by the way it feels…..
Yall remember that song?
Here you go:
lmao!! My homemade snake oil!
I totally agree with everything you said. We need to get those disclaimers to show up before all youtube videos. LOL.
great post i agree with you 100%. How can you claim that something grew your hair? Hair grows regardless you can take measures to help retain length but the oil thing is straight up hustling…lol i take what anyone says with a grain of salt if i want to try it i will if i dont i wont. Natural hair is a process of trial and error but again great message:D
I 100% agree with this post. The only caution I would add to point 1 is that depending on their texture and amount of shrinkage, a person's hair growth may not be that noticeable if they don't straighten it. I take any claim of anything growing hair with a huge grain of alt. Black women in particular sometimes do crazy, illogical things (Monistat???) all in the pursuit of growth.
I totally agree with this more than ANYTHING. Me and other YTers always talk abt this. People buy into stuff alot of Youtubers say even if it doesn't even sound right or logical. Bottom line..people are bandwagon jumpers…
I totally agree with you. All that you have said really makes sense.
I must agree with you. I only go to blogger sites because YT is full of it. I suffered listening to a YTuber and now I'm currently suffering with heat damage along the sides and top of my hair. Is there any way to solve this issue? I haven't used a flat iron since and its been about 2 months now. I used the flat iron on extremely high heat which I shouldnt have but I listened to the wrong person 🙁