NEW HEADSHOTS! & The Opinions Behind Choosing To Wear My Hair Straight

I'm so excited about my new headshots! I went back to Laura Rose. I wasn't happy with my last set and felt like they weren't marketing me in the most effective way. I also wanted to experiment with straight hair to see if it affects my audition/booking ratio. Even just an increase in auditions would be awesome!!

I have a new commercial shot, and three new legit shots, all of which showcase a different look/side of me. I know I'm facing the same direction in all 4, but I know my angles and this one is my best and most flattering. Otherwise, I think I have pretty good range to work with and I'm so excited!! I apologize for the slight blur, I re-sized them to make them a bit larger and more viewable.

The following two comments are from the "CBS Diversity Workshop & Headshot Advice" post I made on July 10th. Apparently my choice to try out straight hair was a bit controversial. While the first post is the only one that was left on my blog regarding this issue, it's not the first time that I've been confronted with it.

Anonymous said...

"Hey, a friend of mine saw you in the 'staremaster' and told me about you - found my way to your blog. We were so excited to see an actress with great hair! Now I see that that you've decided to straighten it.

Now you'll look just like everyone else, it's a shame. I'm sure this woman meant well, but keep in mind that you can hear advice without having to take it!

oh well . . . . . . moving on"

Well.......um.....I'm sorry you're disappointed? I'm not going completely straight, I won't even be straightening my real hair so keep your panties on! I'll be wearing a straight hair wig. I will have a couple of headshot options with my curly hair, and I will have a couple of headshot options with straight hair.

I'm very aware that one can hear advice without choosing to take it. However, when a VP of CBS casting recommends that I have some headshot options with straight hair, I'm going to take her advice. I've been considering trying out straight hair for over a year now. This decision comes from feedback and inquiries from multiple casting directors, as well as discussions with my manager, agent, and friends. My manager was all for it, and my agent was on the fence until he saw my new photos and he loves the straight hair.

I will be honest, I spent a lot of time rallying against trying straight hair because I was afraid that I would look like everyone else. Then I finally realized that I was being silly and dramatic. It's just hair. Yes, there are a lot of social and racial implications when it comes to how black women are portrayed on TV and it's an exhausting debate/discussion. Do I feel that wearing my hair straight will make me a more desirable choice for casting directors and producers? Yes. Is it fucked up that I even have to think this way? Yes. But, I also want to work as an actor and I want more opportunities so right now, it's just another way to increase my casting range. That's all.

Thanks for your post.

Anonymous said...

"I think that woman is wrong. your small chin, button nose, and apple cheeks read sweet and innocent. Especially your eyes. But you definitely convey a grown and sexy element in pictures and on camera.

I see you as the sweet sexy love interest. Maybe even playing the part of a girl who comes on sweet at first but has underlying motives. I think that your hair since it's grown out gives you extra sex appeal and makes you stand out. You would be a major contender for the usual celebrated Hollywood beauties if they would just be fair and balanced. I have seen the stern, take charge, attitudinal role from black women time and time again, and you just don't have that look. :(

But anyway, I wish you much success very soon, and a long career. Good luck."

Thanks a lot for your post!

Sweet and innocent is not really my type, but I DID think of you when I posted the headshot with me wearing the coral shirt. I think that photo conveys that sweet sexiness that you referred to, so I think you definitely have a point! Fern Orenstein was right that my old headshot was reading girlish. If you look at the types of roles that I book, none of them are girlish. Most of my characters are strong, sexy, smart, and opinionated. There's noting wrong with that. I'm not sure why it bothers you to see black women play strong/opinionated/tough roles. Plenty of non-black women play these kinds of roles on TV and film, why is it a problem when black women do it? While I can agree that many times, some black actresses turn their performances into....caricatures, it can be done with finesse too!

What you said about me being a contender for the usual Hollywood beauties is incredibly sweet, but Hollywood isn't fair and balanced! It's just not. And let's be honest when it comes to hair. When most people think of sexy feminine hair, they think of long flowing hair, not a full highly textured afro. That's the truth, right or wrong. I think my fro is sexy, and if I could cast myself in all of my dream roles, I'd be set for life. But I can't.

Not yet, anyway. ;)