All Tangled Up: Oprah's Hairstylist Andre Walker Clears Up 'Kinky Hair' Comments

by Dana Oliver (Subscribe to Dana Oliver's posts)
Posted Jul 13th 2011 at 4:30PM

Oprah Winfrey and her hairstylist, Andre Walker. Photo: HelloBeautiful.com

There's not too many things in this world that can rile a woman up like a negative comment on her hair. Oprah Winfrey's hairstylist Andre Walker is facing heat beyond the hot comb for his statements from a recent Elle interview where he discussed the styling and care of kinky hair (read: highly-textured, curly strands).

In the article, Walker encourages loving what you've got on top, but then goes on to say, "Kinky hair can have limited styling options; that's the only hair type that I suggest altering with professional relaxing."

Say what?

I wasn't the only natural hair rocking young woman who was taken aback by the professional's statement, especially since Walker has a curly coif himself. As Jezebel Senior Editor Dodai Stewart reported, readers took to Elle.com's comments section to unleash their thoughts.

One commenter wrote:
"I, too, was offended with the statement on natural hair. When I stopped wrestling with my daughter's kinks, a whole new world of styling options opened up to us. It wasn't about making ponytails in different sections and putting on new barrettes. Now she wears an afro, frohawk, twists, straw curls, etc. and we're both much happier. Mr. Walker just went down a notch in my eyes."

Another upset reader revealed:
"I personally do not find that it limits my styling options in the least nor is it any more difficult to manage than any other texture of hair once one is properly educated. *SMH* Maybe Oprah would have embraced her natural hair texture had she had a more open minded stylist."

Walker shortly after took to his blog to clarify his perspective on kinky hair writing:
"When it comes to curly and kinky hair (there is a difference), I leave the political correctness of "going straight" or staying natural to a woman's personal preference. Once again, my advice is based on how to best achieve strong, healthy hair. So for those who would like to engage me in a debate about who has more racial pride and self esteem, based on hairstyle preference and use or non-use of chemical relaxers, know that I believe in personal freedom, and in the use of advanced technology when it yields positive results, which many of today's (versus yesterday's) chemical relaxers do deliver."

As the mane man to a media mogul (whose hair is not naturally straight) and with a plethora of natural hair bloggers like Patrice of Afrobella.com, Mae of NaturalChica.com and the curly-haired duo, Michelle and Gretchen, behind NaturallyCurly.com enlightening us with their tress-formation, you'd think Walker would have enough knowledge to make it clear to Elle that the possibilities of styling kinky hair are indeed limitless and that you aren't bound to short, unhealthy strands because this hair type tends to break easily.

What do you think about the kinky hair "debate"? Do you agree or disagree with Walker's statements?

Leave a comment below and click here to read about my personal journey to love my hair.

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Filed under: Hair Care, Cuts & Style, Hair, News
Tags: Andre Walker, curly hair, Elle, hair care, hairstylist, kinky hair, natural hair

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READER COMMENTS

(11)Add A Comment

Natural Hair Love Affair, 7-15-2011, 7:51PM

Mr. Waler, The quest for straight hair was once an obsession amongst brown skinned folks, now the quest for Natural Hair prevails! Please revisit your statement, thoughts and interjections. Check out the plethora of blogs, hairtubers and natural hair companies dedicated to the MOST versatile hair on the planet. You truly lost points with me and the natural hair community. Kinky Hair Rules!
Proudly re-claiming my goddess-descended tresses, Natural Hair Love Affair!

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Nik, 7-14-2011, 2:37PM

That is so ignorant because her hair is beautiful! Kinky does not equal bad hair. The part that blows my mind is how someone lacking any hair texture comparable to african americans, hispanics and even caucasians (?) with course (kinky) hair could call someone's hair NAPPY. You wouldn't know unless you tried to style it anyway! Jealously only helps foster the ignorance.

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Zorro25, 7-14-2011, 4:19PM

Remember: Jesus hair was kinky,nappy, or as the Bible said "As the texture of wool"
So, if your hair is woolly,nappy,kinky, you are a direct descendant of Jesus Christ and if Jesus Christ is the son of God, then those that carry this trait are descendants of God. So be proud of your features for you are made in his image. Some one once said . God don't make mistakes, so why are you straightening your hair?

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babkatt, 7-14-2011, 5:06PM

"Descendants" of Jesus Christ? I think you're going with faulty logic here. Just because someone has a similar genetic trait as someone else doesn't mean they're related, it may just mean that they're of the same "race." Most Christians believe that Christ did not have any physical children, so a physical trait wouldn't be appropriate to attribute to being descended from Christ.

I'm not going to get up in arms about Walker's statement. He has his opinions about hair-styling. Perhaps saying that "kinky" hair has "limited styling options" was an unfortunate wording, but I agree that hair relaxers should only be used on "kinky" hair if they are used at all.

Janet, 7-14-2011, 3:51PM

Zorro-- The Bible says nothing of the sort about Jesus having kinky/nappy hair. The only time Jesus' hair was compared to wool, was when John the Revelator saw him in vision after his ascension. In John's vision he said that Jesus' hair was WHITE as wool/snow. Besides, Jesus was a Galilean; Galileans were known for their fair complexion, soft wavy hair, and blue eyes.

Revelation 1:14
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

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fowlerno1ins, 7-14-2011, 3:57PM

That's impossible without a wig.

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babkatt, 7-14-2011, 5:50PM

What, exactly, is impossible without a wig?
WHO has "got to be kidding"?
Who are you calling a racist?

Random comments detract from the conversation.

fowlerno1ins, 7-14-2011, 3:58PM

You've got to be kiiding.

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fowlerno1ins, 7-14-2011, 4:00PM

Talk about being jealous it's oozing from you,you racist.

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PEGGYROBINSON, 7-14-2011, 4:50PM

I SWITCHED FROM CHEMICAL TO LOCKS A YEAR AGO AND IS LOOVVIINNGG IT. IF IM GOING TO A WEDDING OR SOME AFFAIR I GO TO THE HAIR DRESSER SO MY HAIR COULD REALLY LOOK EXTRA DRESSY. IF NOT MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DO MY LOCKS AND SHE DOES A DAMN GOOD JOB. I ALSO USE THE WEN SHAMPOO ON MY LOCKS AND I REALLY LOVE IT. SO I DONT KNOW WHAT THE HELL OPHRA GIRLFRIEND IS TALKING ABOUT. (HOW YOU DOING)

babkatt, 7-14-2011, 6:21PM

I think the comment that Galileans were known for blue eyes is inaccurate. Could you be confusing Galilee with Galatia? Galilee was in what we now know as the "Middle East," so it is unlikely that blue eyes and fair skin were common.

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