Is My Hair Holding Me Back?

A friend of mine - an actress - once told me "Working in commercials can be your waitressing job." I was sort of taken aback when she said this. What???

She booked one or two commercials a year, and it helped her stay afloat as she pursued tv shows and indie films. It was her "day job" essentially. No one had put that idea in my head. 

So I've been fervently pursuing commercial representation. First a manager, then an agent. When I met with the manager, she had two words to say about my headshots: "Too old." Those were her thoughts on my makeup. 

Then she looked at my hair and said "Too much." Damn. Please don't tell me I'm going to have to get new headshots again..

Yep. I am. This time, with straight hair. Arghhhh. I think every African American woman has a bone to pick with the straight hair issue. I like wearing my hair in its curly state. But apparently, the industry favors straight hair on black women. And when my manager (who is an actress as well) told me that the year she booked 18 commercials was the year she cut her hair, I knew she knew what she was talking about.

It became even more apparent when I went to see "Think Like A Man." Every single African American actress had straight hair. ALL OF THEM. So I'm wondering, is my hair standing in the way of me being a working actress? 

Truth be told, I have not been able to secure representation over the last year. Is it my headshots? My "look"? I've constantly wondered what was wrong with me. It just might be that people can't quite place me with all that hair on my head. I've even been told it looks like a wig. 

So I will no longer begrudge my straight hair. In fact, it might be the one key to me getting alot of work this year. A year ago, I would've really pushed back on the idea of conforming to what the industry wants. I might've even called  straightening my hair "Selling Out."

But hell - I want to be a working actress!

-- Dominique (www.dominiquetoney.com)

Comments

[Emma K. Harr]

I hope that this new look DOES get you some awesome work, but that makes me sad--I LOVE the look you have in your first headshot. I think your curly hair is amazing. You have such personality and charm! (Not that you don't with straight hair, but it is a different look altogether.) I do hope that this opens a few more doors for you, as figuring out what things are in our control is a key to being in charge of when and how we work, but I hope that you get to use those fabulous curls for something at some point. Because, seriously, they're amazing.

[John B]

Actually, there is room for all types. Both looks work, but the natural look is more versatile. All the first look needed was a shorter bob that could be style up or down. It could be styled less wavy for a look and shot that way. If the call comes for straight hair, you can style it that way. If you only have straight hair, that will will the type cast. Wish you the best. And less eye shadow makes women look fresher in headshots. Simplicity is always best.

[Liz]

A casting director I worked with once told me to go out but some wigs. Straight ones mainly because like you I go au naturale. Saves me the 2 hours in straightening time and saves my hair from damage.

[Misty]

I have a habit of changing my hair frequently. Usually, it's the color. To me, hair is an accessory and I want it to fit my look. However, I've learned that the best thing for me is to have my headshots as a blonde because that's the easiest way to strip the crazy pinks and blues from it to have a 'normal' look, so if I get an audition, I can spend 20 minutes on it and have it blonde again to match my headshots.

Unfortunately, our work selves can't always be a representation of our internal selves. Sometimes, as much as we hate it, we have to conform to what the industry wants.

I think you look beautiful and amazing with the curls, but several of my friends with naturally curly hair (of all races and colors) have seen an increase in both callbacks AND bookings after straightening their hair. I have natural soft curls, but they're loose and wavy so I can blow dry it straight without a problem and that's how I usually wear it for auditions.

[Anelise]

I've actually struggled with this, too. I have naturally wavy red hair. Like, wild child 1968 hippie red hair. And I've been told to straighten it, to color it (strawberry blonde). I can't afford to spend hours on my hair everyday. So I'm kind of stuck as to what to do.

[Wendy]

Interesting. I find the opposite to be true. I watch a lot of commercials. A small percentage of the sisters in them will have straight hair. A very small percentage. I was just planning to shoot some new headshots "au naturelle" myself. Maybe I'll do a little more research before taking the plunge.

[Jonathan Sawiki]

This was pretty true for myself. As a guy, I used to have hair past my shoulders. A couple years ago, I chopped it all off. I've gotten much more work as an extra with my current appearance, plus, if they need to re-use me as an extra, I can alter my appearance with wigs.

[Halima]

You crack me up. Dominique. We should talk. I have had various lengths of long, straight hair. And I can not tell you how often
I get asked by different managers/agents/casting directors if I could do an Afro "or something big" (<--their words not mine)for auditions. I don't have a natural because I find the upkeep too much for my lazy lifestyle. So, I think this: There is nothing wrong with YOU! You're beautiful, talented and versatile (including your hair). When the time is right, you'll book it all!--halima

[Brandi]

I've struggled with this myself and finally decided to keep my hair natural and just invest in multiple straight wigs. I've noticed that for commercials I'm usually called back when I wear my hair curly but for ANYTHING theatrical it's straight, straight, straight! I also intern at a very popular casting office that casts multiple hit shows currently airing and when they recently cast a black girl as a series regular every single woman they brought in while I was there (many of them known) all had straight hair, straight wigs or straight weave. Used to bug me but it is what it is. The kicker? They hired a girl with a natural low fade! So you never know.

[pamela munro]

Wdn't it B easier 2 wear a wig 4 auditions & do the hair straight if you get a long-term job = more versatility

[Kim]

You're so beautiful with both styles of hair, and although I hate to see you lose your curls, I think it's a smart move to try out. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and you may as well embrace the fact that you have such versatility at your fingertips! (Or...hair follicles.)

It reminds me of your blog post about the earrings, and how you can become a totally different version of yourself between auditions just by switching earrings. I think it's fabulous that you can have such different looks that are BOTH so gorgeous!

Love you and kick ASS at your show tonight!

Love,
Kim

[sarah]

I think go with the wig idea. You have the chance to help make a change,grab it !!

[Justine]

Good post and good comments here. I'm Caucasian, but I've shifted away from my naturally wavy hair over the past few years. For my last headshots, I got them done when my hair was blown-out straight, since that's the way I've started wearing it 70% of the time.

I've come to really like my hair straight because (on me) I feel it looks more "modern." I'm also not great at styling my hair when it's wavy. I do love the curly ringlets on other women, but when I go to auditions I feel I do see straight hair much more often than wavy or curly.

[Allie]

I say do your hair the way YOU like it, the way you feels suits YOU best. Sure, change it up for different headshot "looks" if you want, but always make sure you can recreate those looks when you get called in for an audition and want your hairstyle to match your picture that got you the audition. But being yourself will make you more comfortable when you look in the mirror before you step in the audition room. :)

Also, Jasika Nicole's hair is curly and awesome:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm147362816/nm1896248

http://jasikanicole.com/

She is currently playing Astrid on the TV series Fringe. She does a wonderful job on the show. In addition to her work as an actress, she is also a writer, an artist, and a crafty rock star. (She posts pictures of outfits and things she's knitted and crafted on her Tumblr.) Check out her piece in the recently-released anthology The Letter Q, which is a compilation of letters from various authors and artists to their younger selves. In that and in other writings and interviews, she talks about straightening her hair when she was a teenager vs. having it naturally curly now.

[Melinda Augustina]

mmm... wigs would be great - but more importantly - a closer head shot with this hair would probably be called in more. I say keep this shot, crop it tighter and add wigs to the wardrobe. That hair is GORGEOUS!

[Dominique]

OH MY. I never expected so many responses, and so quickly! Here are my thoughts:

---I am a new actress. Not terribly established. If having straight hair for a little bit will help me get in the door, I'm not opposed to it.

Similarily, I think other black actresses might've had to do things when they first got started as a way of easing themselves into the industry. Halle Berry didn't start wearing her hair curly until her later movies. Losing Isaiah - straight hair. Things we lost in the Fire - curly hair.

-- Lastly, thank you for all the comments about my headshots. My self esteem has never been terribly low (thanks MOM!) but it is certainly nice to hear such great things about your photos :)

[ianna]

do it! maybe it is "selling out" but we have to do that until we are successful enough to be in control of our image and what roles we play. you can always go back. your hair is beautiful :)

[Simone]

Gurrrrl, please. I do apologize but your manager is speaking from her own personal experience and that won't necessarily be yours. I was signed with a very popular Commercial agency that had 2 looks for all of their Female AA clients: one with straight hair, one with curly. Commercially, curly hair is WAAAAY more cast-able than straight, just look on TV. Yes, theatrically, people tend to look for more straight hair looks on AA women, but that's not a hard fast rule either. Yes, recognize that if someone is supposed to be a straight laced business woman, most CD's don't imagine her having big, crazy curly hair. Pin it up. But don't hide your "uniqueness" in order to fit into a standard of beauty that makes you just look like everyone else.

[Dominique]

Thanks Simone. I definitely hear what you're saying. I ultimately think whatever I decide to do will be a combination of what I've constantly heard over the years (you look much older in your photos) with what my gut is telling me (get some photos with your straight.) I think having both curly and straight photos is necessary. I never realized how important it is until now!

[PaSean Wilson-Ashley]

Actually, I find curly or natural hair works in the commercial world. Most people who book a lot have curly/natural hair. I've been doing commercials for years. Most of them National. I even had a campaign that ran for a number of years for Yoplait yogurt and my hair was natural. In fact when I've straightened it I don't book. But, the look for TV and Film does appear to favor straighter more conservative hair styles. I always decide based on what I instinctively think my character would look like. Every character that I embody wouldn't necessarily have natural hair. So, I let that dictate how I wear my hair for TV and Film auditions.

[Keisha]

Not sure if you're interested in wigs, but if so check out the Angelica wig made by the Noriko company. It's a style a lot of actresses use because it's kind of a neutral style but glam. Very mainstream (if you know what I mean). When I was doing my wig research, I found this vid: http://vimeo.com/42473443

I thought...if it looks that good on a GUY, then why not me! Plus, check the diva fan test at the end! LOL loves it!

[Michelle]

I'm a tv watcher - far more than I should. I noticed that while films and tv movies clearly prefer Black women with straight hair, commercials seem to want the opposite. I started tracking it to see if I was imagining the difference. My tracking showed, by far, the Black women in commercials have curly, wavey, twisted and other natural looking styles. I found your page while googling the question on why this is. Good luck to you!

[Nicole]

I think getting the right balance to the natural hair is important. For example I am about to test again as I'm in a new market, and I'm itching to debulk my curls. Defining a bit, getting the right hang, curl size...all those things I pay attention to.

But definitely natural leads when it comes to commercial work. I worked for many years in NYC with naturally curly hair, from short to medium length and my hair was always one of the reasons that I booked. I mean that with the right personality!

You look great. Keep it but work to find your right balance.

[Dominique Toney]

Thanks Nicole. I'm actually going to ask a Casting Director next time I go in for a commercial about their preferences for African American hair. Is that too bold?!

[Kopia]

Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences with image in the industry!
I too, am an actress with natural hair and only like to straighten my hair every once in a blue moon.
I'm also not a fan of weave but I'm thinking that I may HAVE to get a weave in order to "make it" in this industry...ugh!