A sweltering bus ride and a barrage of rude comments pushed Simone Biles to take to Instagram this week to address negative comments about her natural hair.
Simone Biles on Her Natural Hair
In the oppressive heat of this Parisian summer, the most decorated gymnast in Olympic history had to pause and address an unexpected criticism: her hair didn’t look “done.”
Biles took to her Instagram story to set the record straight. “Don’t come for me about my hair. IT WAS DONE but bus has NO AC & it’s like 9,0000 degrees,” Biles wrote in the caption.
In a second Instagram story post, she wrote: “Gonna hold your hand when I say this. next time you wanna comment on a Black girls hair. JUST DON’T.”
Biles’ natural hair has long been a topic of conversation. Speaking with Elle earlier this summer, she explained that she’s grown to love her natural texture.
“I used to worry about [my hair being considered] not professional,” said Biles. “But I’m not embarrassed about it anymore.”
Reflecting on the pressures Black women face regarding their hair, Biles acknowledged that much of the criticism she receives comes from her own community.
“I don’t really care if my edges aren’t smooth,” she added. “I never thought about my hair like the way other people see it.”
How Much Olympic Beauty Is Too Much?
Look, we love a beauty moment as much as the next person. The Olympics are an amazing time for these athletes and fans to come together and make statements of unity and personal triumph through things like beauty looks and manicures. Used as a tool of self-expression, statements like over-the-top nails, hair and makeup can also be revolutionary. Sha’Carri Richardson is a great example.
But when does it get in the way of the physical competitions these athletes are there to perform? It seems okay to point out that Suni Lee’s $23 press-on manicure survived her outing, but critiquing Biles’ natural hair and questioning why she didn’t “go the extra mile” with her hairstyle has nothing to do with her skills on the four gymnastics apparatuses.
And the expectation that she must look perfect while doing it seems like a uniquely female burden. After all, you don’t see many articles or X posts dissecting the hairstyles of male athletes competing in the games.
The Extra Expectations on Black Women
This is made even more complex by the specific relationship Black women have with beauty. Due to systemic racism, Black women still face discrimination for wearing their natural hairstyles. Research studies show that Black women’s hair is still two-and-a-half-times as likely to be perceived as unprofessional. Additionally, over half of Black women surveyed report pressure straighten their hair for job interviews.
Aside from the toxic beauty standard of straightening textured hair, those straightening methods themselves are potentially toxic. A 2022 study linked hair relaxers to a higher risk of uterine cancer, and a 2015 study indicated a greater risk of breast cancer in Black women.
Biles Exemplifies Celebrating Natural Hair
That doesn’t mean that things aren’t getting better.
Thanks to initiatives like the CROWN Coalition (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair), legislation to protect natural hairstyles from hair discrimination has been passed in several states. Across the country, salons have increased their requirements for textured hair training and campaigns in workplaces and schools seek to inspire women and girls to wear their natural hair.
As beauty media with an eye on what’s trending and what’s new, it’s our job to keep reporting on these gains and to keep you abreast of the ongoing research into toxic chemicals and products. And when it comes to how someone chooses to wear their hair? When someone like Biles or Megan Thee Stallion wears their hair naturally, that is a cause for celebration and an opportunity to learn more about textured hair, hair care and hair health.
By celebrating natural hair and encouraging campaigns like the CROWN Coalition, we can end hair discrimination and build a more positive world for everyone.
