$98 For A Damn Bonnet?!
Have you ever woken up and just prayed that you would find that one “feel good” story in the news that would drown out the rest of the bullshit? Well, I’m sorry to tell you that you’re not going to find that today because folks are out here paying $98 for a damn silk bonnet. Gentrification of neighborhoods is one thing, but gentrification of basic ass hair apparel is another.
Last Friday, Fashion Magazine ran a story entitled, “Meet Sarah Marantz Lindenberg, Founder of NiteCap, the Silk Hair Wrap You Didn’t Know Your Sleep Routine Needed.” Basically, it's a fluff piece toting what we've seen time and time again: a white person appropriating our culture and profiting from it. As I read the article, I couldn't help but to shake my head for several reasons:
1) I'm appalled to learn that y’all hoes are out here directly sleeping on 200 thread count pillows without any protection. Ya'lls mane has to be dryer than the damn Sahara desert.
2) Sarah claims that she developed the wraps after a dermatologist suggested that she sleep with her hair away from her face to control breakouts. I refuse to believe that. It's more believable that Sarah accidentally wandered down the wrong aisle at Target and stumbled into the natural hair care section. From there, she probably saw one of Evolve's many satin bonnets or scarves, tried one, and decide to cash out.
Respect the ones that paved the way for you, young buck.
3) The article totes that NiteCap “...isn’t your grandmother’s silk hair wrap,” but it’s clearly a bold face lie. In fact, the big ass bow on the side of Sarah’s basic ass design looks like it belongs right on the side of my great aunt’s church hat. One could even say that it’s a Church Anniversary-worthy bow. Looking at it, i could swear that it comes as a bonus gift in a box of “Just For Me” and not something worthy of $98. To quote the infamous Reginald from Beyond Scared Straight, "you look dusty, you're not that cute."
4) Bonnets are a very popular part of black culture. They’re so popular that we’ve been banned from wearing them in certain public spaces. More importantly, hair wraps designed for black hair in general have been an integral part of our society. You see, as black people, we are taught that our hair is our crown and glory. We take all steps necessary to protect it. Durags, bonnets, scarves, stocking caps, rollers, you name it. We don’t play games. In fact, I know that without a shadow of a doubt every black woman in America puts on a silk or satin bonnet/scarf every night before she goes to bed. It does not matter if her hair is down to her ass or faded all the way up to her ears. We only sleep on the best. We can be drunker than a skunk and higher than BOB at a spelling bee, but that bonnet will always be put on before we lay our head down on anything. It for all of these reasons that I refuse to buy Marantz Lindenberg and NiteCap's subsequent claims of "forgetfulness".
Shortly after the article was released, the company put out an iOS press release basically saying that they’re sorry they offended the black community and they’re committed to “honoring the historical significance of hair wrapping.” Just say you’re sorry you got caught. Silk and satin bonnets are such an important part of black culture that there’s no way in hell you just “missed” the historical context. How about you miss ME with THAT bullshit? It's 2019, and there are wayyy to many other black businesses that are worthy of our coins when it comes to Satin Bonnets. Grace Eleyae's Slap Caps and other hair accessories are just one of the first ones that come to my mind. However, there are a number of black women who cross my timeline on a monthly basis pushing their homemade caps that come with funky prints and designs. Let's leave NiteCaps right where they belong...in the trash.
Grace Eleyae’s Phenomenal Slap Cap
