Tyra Banks, the diva of the lace-front, is going to open her self-titled talk show’s upcoming season with something viewers may have never thought they’d ever see – her real hair. On the premiere episode of “The Tyra Banks Show” airing Tuesday, Sept. 8, Banks will do her entire show minus any fake tresses.

Banks confirmed this momentous event in hair history via her Twitter feed, promising the real deal: “Guess what? I’m rocking my REAL hair on my talk show on September 8th. No fake hair at all! Will be the real hair coming out of my scalp! 4 all 2 C! No ponytails, no ballet bun head. Hair will be out and free!”

Well, this should be interesting.

First, celebs like Cassie and La La Vasquez shaved off portions of their hair. Then Ciara, never seen in public without a shoulder-length weave or braid extensions, started rocking a short wig. Solange Knowles recently created a wave of controversy on Twitter, when she showed a picture of her newly shorn head. (Alas, responses were mostly negative.) 

Clearly, black folks still have some significant issues around hair. And come this fall, chances are comedian Chris Rock’s documentary, “Good Hair," which explores the still-raging controversy around hair texture and style in depth, will just deepen the conversation.

But after years of celebrity lace-front, wig and weave dependence, could it be that women in the public eye are starting to embrace natural hair more? India.Arie, Ledisi, Goapele, Leela James (though it’s been rumored that the kinky fro is not all hers), like Alicia Keys and Mya, have all worn natural hair, though their natural styles have corresponded to their varying textures. When Lauryn Hill loc’ed her hair, it’s said she inspired an entire generation of women to throw away the comb. But since the “neo-soul” artists have long been celebrated for their alternative looks and styles -- if only as an “alternative” to the required look among mainstream R&B superstars, which is usually straight and long -- can the mainstream stars do it without alienating their similarly weaved fan bases?

We’ll have to wait for the response to Tyra’s unveiling. Will she wear a short ‘fro? A bob? Will it be permed or nappy? Those are the questions we can just speculate on before she unveils the unbeweavable truth. However, if you’ve been considering a move to natural hair, you may feel inspired by her courage to make your own change.

“Natural” generally signifies hair that is unprocessed by any chemical addition (excluding hair color). It can mean locs, twists, afros, hair pressed by a pressing comb or flat iron, or wearing hair in its natural texture. (Which does include those born with straighter hair who choose not to perm it or add extensions or weave to it.) Because of the damage that perms often cause, many women have returned to unprocessed hair, using flat irons, blow dryers or pressing combs.

For those considering going back to your natural-haired roots, here are some transitional tips.

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PERM TO LOCS - If you’ve been interested in locking, you will have to grow out or cut out the permed hair first. You will not be able to loc processed hair. One way to do it is to get micro-braids and don’t take them out, allowing them to lock, and then cutting off the ends as the locs develop. That can be an easier transition appearance-wise, but if you want thinner locs or more groomed ones, you can always just two-strand twist or palm-roll to better control their future appearance.

It’s always best to consult a professional loctician to see what .....

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Hold up! Tyra actually has some hair that IS real, that, like literally gorws from her head?

Honey, clutch the pearls!

by   
Covertrage
August 19, 2009, 2:19 pm
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If she was spor'n a AFRO she might have some credibility

by   
StreetKitty
August 19, 2009, 12:59 pm
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Just another stunt by tyra. Since she started dating white men, she's gotten very stupid. I use to like her until she lost her way. She needs John Singleton back in her life.

by   
Grayzz
August 19, 2009, 11:26 am
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also, KUDOS to you Tonya. Im very glad nowhere in this article did u use 'kinky' nor 'nappy' nor 'dreadloc'. These 2 words have neg connotations. 'I feel afro hair isnt kinky/nappy, but tightly curled or tightly coiled. 'dreadloc' is what the anglo man called our ancestors who let their hair be-no combs-, bc they thought the hair looked ' dreadful '. Yet now many anglo locs their hair! Always imitated, never duplicated ! I LOVE MY PPL !

by   
Lilkunta
August 19, 2009, 8:07 am
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This is nothing but a stunt by Tyra 4 ratings. 4 the rest of the season she'll be wearing her weaves & wigs.

If she really wants 2 make a statement, wear natural looking hair. I get that she has an image 2 uphold, but she dont have 2 wear those lng**** clearly fake anglo ppl hair weave. THAT is y she gets criticism.

by   
Lilkunta
August 19, 2009, 7:51 am
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The article asks: “can the mainstream stars do it without alienating their similarly weaved fan bases?” I believe the answer is yes because we live in a time where life imitates art. Our people have a tendency to want to be what they see on TV. Once celebrities signal that it’s “cool” or “ok” to go natural, the sisters will begin to display their natural beauty again. Black women are some of the most beautiful creatures that GOD made. They should work with what the Father GOD gave’em. If a sister’s hair is short, she should work it short...

by   
Drwill911
August 19, 2009, 6:01 am
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...short is sexy too. Halley Berry, Anita Baker, Nia Long, et al, have proved that beautifully. Long and straight is not how GOD created the original woman who white scientists have proved was a black woman. A black woman’s large eyes, full lips, and wide hips are the lust of every man, the envy of every woman, and the silhouette for sexual power world-wide. A woman’s hair is the crown to her beauty. Once sisters are comfortable with their natural external beauty their natural beauty will radiate internally. Black women are a work of art that they must learn to appreciate.

by   
Drwill911
August 19, 2009, 6:01 am
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Natural hair, whether short or long, and natural nails are a must have for me to be interested in a woman. Wigs, weave, heavy make-up and fake nails are, to me, a cover-up; and indication that a woman is trying to disguise or hide who she really is. A woman who works what GOD gave her naturally appears more open, appears more confident, and is much more sexy than her weave clad counterparts. This is why white men love black women who have that natural kinda straight half bushy look. They understand the power of a black woman’s beauty and want to have what was a gift from GOD to black men.

by   
Drwill911
August 19, 2009, 6:00 am
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