# Did Condoleeza Rice ever have a "natural" black, unstraightened hairdo?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 18, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722 "2005-02-18T15:26:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/1 "2005-02-18T15:26:47Z")
Just curious.
Did [Condoleeza Rice](http://estaticos.elmundo.es/elmundo/fotosdeldia/2004/04/08/1081437712_extras_fotos_del_dia_0.jpg) ever have a “natural” black, unstraightened hairdo? Any pics?
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### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/2 "2005-02-18T15:30:33Z")
Well, she isn’t exactly ‘conked’ out like Malcolm X described but it is straightened. Given her african ancestry I’d be astonished if it wasn’t straightened.
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/3 "2005-02-18T17:21:27Z")
I’m not sure what you think a black woman’s hair is supposed to look like. Besides looking like a right evil bitch, Condoleeza’s _hair_ looks pretty natural to me.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/4 "2005-02-18T17:26:35Z")
> [@Cisco](#):
>
> I’m not sure what you think a black woman’s hair is supposed to look like. Besides looking like a right evil bitch, Condoleeza’s _hair_ looks pretty natural to me.
“Natural” in the sense of being unstraightened.
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### Author:  [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/5 "2005-02-18T17:29:40Z")
Yea, I think you’ll need to have proof that her hair is naturally very curly/afro like before you can get a real answer. Dark skin doesn’t always equal very kinky hair. People that appear to be 100% black have straighter hair often enough that it shouldn’t be too astonishing.
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### Author:  [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/6 "2005-02-18T17:34:14Z")
It’s definitely straightened (either chemically or hot-combed). There may be some older pics of her with her hair un-straightened, but I’ve never seen any.
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### Author:  [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/7 "2005-02-18T17:52:55Z")
> [@Cisco](#):
>
> I’m not sure what you think a black woman’s hair is supposed to look like. Besides looking like a right evil bitch, Condoleeza’s _hair_ looks pretty natural to me.
Yeah, as natural as that green Powerpuff Girl.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/8 "2005-02-18T18:03:16Z")
I sure hope it looked different the day she was born! 🙂
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### Author:  [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/9 "2005-02-18T18:33:45Z")
She has Cartoon Wife hair. Kind of a cross between Betty Rubble and Jane Jetson. This style absolutely does not occur naturally, no matter what kind of hair you start out with.
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/10 "2005-02-18T18:40:59Z")
I see 0 reason to believe her hair has been straightened, chemical or otherwise.
I’ll ask again: What do you think a black woman’s hair is supposed to look like? Would she look more “natural” with an afro? With Don King’s hair?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/11 "2005-02-18T19:00:35Z")
> [@Cisco](#):
>
> I see 0 reason to believe her hair has been straightened, chemical or otherwise.
>
> I’ll ask again: What do you think a black woman’s hair is supposed to look like? Would she look more “natural” with an afro? With Don King’s hair?
I’m sorry I didn’t clearly communicate my point in the original OP or the follow up. The word “natural” in the context of my OP is not intended to be a value judgement on the hairstyle choices of black women. I am using “natural” as a descriptive term, and by it, I mean a softer, curlier, more unstraightened look that is more typical of unprocessed black hair.
As to your second point of not seeing any evidence that it’s been “straightened” in some fashion, I really don’t how you can come to that conclusion. That it’s been “straightened” is patently obvious.
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### Author:  [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/12 "2005-02-18T19:31:00Z")
I’d say that here in Florida, where I’ve lived for 30 years, more than 50% of black women have straightened hair. How do I know their hair has been straightened? Because I have never in my entire life seen a black man with straight hair. Never, ever, ever. Even my bi-racial nephew has tight “knappy” hair. So unless there’s some biological difference between black men and black women, the womens’ hair has been straightened.
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### Author:  [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/13 "2005-02-18T19:53:15Z")
I just spent some time looking at some of her pictures, and her hair does have a processed look. However, I do know several people (both black and half black) with loosely curled hair that stays straight after a shampoo and adding a bit of gel or mousse. Condelezza may very well have this kind of hair.
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/14 "2005-02-18T20:21:00Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> I’m sorry I didn’t clearly communicate my point in the original OP or the follow up. The word “natural” in the context of my OP is not intended to be a value judgement on the hairstyle choices of black women. I am using “natural” as a descriptive term, and by it, I mean a softer, curlier, more unstraightened look that is more typical of unprocessed black hair.
I know what you meant.
> [@astro](#):
>
> As to your second point of not seeing any evidence that it’s been “straightened” in some fashion, I really don’t how you can come to that conclusion. That it’s been “straightened” is patently obvious.
Why do you keep avoiding my question? What do you think it _should_ look like? Show me a picture if you can’t accurately describe it.
I’m not trying to be a jerk but I really don’t understand what you think a black woman’s hair is supposed to look like. Condoleeza’s hair looks a lot like the hair of most of the black women I’ve ever known.
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### Author:  [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/15 "2005-02-18T20:53:49Z")
That it’s been straightened to some extent is patently obvious. That Condoleeza’s hair in its “natural” state would have tight, close curls which can become an “Afro” hairstyle – is not at all in evidence.
And even if that is its “natural” state, what possible difference could it make if she has ever worn it natural?
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### Author:  [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/16 "2005-02-18T21:03:34Z")
> [@Cisco](#):
>
> I really don’t understand what you think a black woman’s hair is supposed to look like. Condoleeza’s hair looks a lot like the hair of most of the black women I’ve ever known.
**Cisco** , are you telling us that you are not aware that the black women you have seen with straight hair have had it straightened?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/17 "2005-02-18T21:06:07Z")
> [@Cisco](#):
>
> I know what you meant.
> Why do you keep avoiding my question? What do you think it _should_ look like? Show me a picture if you can’t accurately describe it.
>
> I’m not trying to be a jerk but I really don’t understand what you think a black woman’s hair is supposed to look like. Condoleeza’s hair looks a lot like the hair of most of the black women I’ve ever known.
So you’re _not_ being argumentative re some “How dare you judge what’s natural” perspective , you really, truly don’t know. - OK I’ll take you at your word.
Many, many adult black women (possibly even a majority), straighten or process their hair to remove the tightly curled kinkiness that is typical of the vast majority of (but not absolutely all) black hair. Among other things this allows a number intricate hairstyles. This has been going on for a long, long time. In fact black women with unbraided, un-relaxed hairstyles are probably in a distinct minority in western societies.
[Here’s a historical treatment -Hair Story : Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312265999/103-5045343-5469410?v=glance)
Here’s a FAQ on the structure of black hair & how “relaxers” work.
[African American Hair Structure](http://www.treasuredlocks.com/blhacafa.html#structure)
Re examples [Toni Morrision](http://www.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/authors/pictures/morrison.jpg) and [Angela Davis](http://voices.cla.umn.edu/newsite/authors/images/davisa_a.jpg) have/had "natural unrelaxed black hair
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### Author:  [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/18 "2005-02-18T21:08:08Z")
I’m reminded of an article I read a few years back… I believe it was in GQ. It was a dating article, and either was about or had a sidebar about how to treat black women. One of the tips was to compliment her hair - “If a black woman has straight hair, she has likely had it relaxed and will appreciate the compliment on her effort,” paraphrased.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/19 "2005-02-18T21:12:55Z")
> [@Ace309](#):
>
> I’m reminded of an article I read a few years back… I believe it was in GQ. It was a dating article, and either was about or had a sidebar about how to treat black women. One of the tips was to compliment her hair - “If a black woman has straight hair, she has likely had it relaxed and will appreciate the compliment on her effort,” paraphrased.
Out of curiosity, other than the hair compliment, what other differences would there possibly be in how to “treat a black woman” on a date vs a white woman?
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### Author:  [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-condoleeza-rice-ever-have-a-natural-black-unstraightened-hairdo/290722/20 "2005-02-18T21:48:54Z")
Dopers argue over the silliest things. It’s processed hair. Odds are she wore it unprocessed and unbraided at least periodically as a little girl in Alabama, but it’s clearly not her preference. Based on her personality and accomplishments, I feel confident expressing the opinion she never had even a short afro in college in the 60s and 70s.
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