One of the last things that a black woman can be convinced to reduce is the quality and quantity of her hair care. Yet, our very tough economic times have led many black women to significantly reduce the amounts they spend to keep their hair looking great. An amusing video by The Grio explores some of the reductions in spending on their hair care a few African American women have made given the state of the economy.


In this brief look at black women, the recession and hair care, Nythia Ellie said: "I do my hair at home. I've ventured out but not as much as I would before the economy got bad, so I really do my hair myself or have my sisters do it for me." And she is not alone. According to a survey by Design Essentials, thirty-six percent of African American women have reduced their number of visits to the hair salon as a result of the economic downturn.


One set of businesses that might be benefiting from this trend is the beauty supply stores. As more women are getting their hair done at home, the need for home beauty supplies has started to increase. Also, simpler hairstyles are becoming more fashionable, like the natural afro worn by a young woman in the video, making it less necessary to go to the salons at all. But even "natural" styles require the right beauty supplies for your hair's special needs.

Black women faced with cutting back on hair care and changing to a simpler style may find that altering their hair can positively affect their health. Some women do not want to sweat out their expensive hairstyles, making it less likely that they will engage in physical activity. This can lead to problems like obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure, which affect millions of African Americans at a higher rate than other groups. If a black woman's hair is less of a priority, or is more natural, perhaps more will be willing to sweat vigorously on a regular basis -- leading to a host of health improvements. Of course, saving money is an added plus.

Perhaps it's time for a change in how we view black women's hair, and the amount of money we expect black women to spend on it. Should it really be that expensive to manage? Have you or your friends or relatives considered cutting back on black hair care because of the economy, or other beneficial reasons?

Lawrence Watkins is the Founder of Great Black Speakers. He is also the owner of speakers' bureaus dedicated to Hispanic speakers and Christian motivational speakers. His book, "Frame Your Future: 8 Principles to Effectively Focus on the Future and Not Dwell in the Past", will be released in August 2010. If you would like Lawrence's articles delivered directly to your email, please click here.