A Distorted Reflection: African-Americans and Beauty Products

Even when African-American companies marketed products to their own community, these early products emphasized changing one's appearance to match the accepted Caucasian norm. Straight hair was valued over kinky, and whiter skin was more prized than the varied hues that comprise the African-American race.

Advertisements for bleaching creams and hair straighteners filled the pages of African-American magazines. Opinions about hair and complexion are still " hot-button issues" for many African Americans. Movies, books, and even lawsuits have been praised, reviled and fought as African-Americans explored the options available to express their cultural heritage. More frequently than in the past, American media has made attempts to represent the wide spectrum of African-American, African and Afro-Caribbean life. Hopefully, current consumers feel at little less pressure to conform and find more freedom to experiment.