While scrolling through my Instagram recently, I suddenly started seeing photos of celebrities in a way I'd never seen before.
Stars I'd only seen with long hair were rocking "The Big Chop" — the name given to the short cut Black women get after lopping off the majority of their hair to go natural.
The thing is, most of these celebs didn't make the Chop. And they aren't — publicly, at least — going natural with their hair. So what was happening?
I had no idea the wild ride I was about to go on.
Turns out it's a major trend right now to photoshop celebrities with The Big Chop — and many Black celebrities, including Beyonce, have gotten the digital makeover. I have a lotttttt of feelings about this.
Honestly, they all look great! With more and more women embracing their natural hair, it's kind of cool to imagine what Black celebs would look like with a cropped 'do. Hollywood is SO tied to the "long hair" ideal of beauty, which affects the way women feel about themselves.
Seeing someone famous making a bold change — like cutting off all their hair and going natural — can inspire other women to take a similar risk. I did the Chop a few years ago, and learned that I CAN rock this style. Style rebels, like Beyonce and Rihanna, should always be open to taking a risk… especially one that can inspire others to do the same.
Nicki Minaj looks FIERCE in her TWA.
Please try this look, Nicki. PLEASE. The universe needs it.
There's Cardi B rocking an ombre Big Chop.
She's not afraid of color, so who knows!
And Ashanti rocking a fade?
YAAASSSSSS.
Lala Anthony would look incredible short and platinum.
Maybe not this color, but she could certainly rock it.
And Alicia Keys sporting a Big Chop with a dash of red?
Hey, why not?
But here comes my mixed feelings: Celebrities who are NOT Black are also edited to have "chopped" hair, and are given textures that they don't possess IRL.
Jennifer Lopez with a Big Chop and very textured hair? HAHAHAHAH NOPE.
And it gets EVEN WEIRDER when Black women's hair is put on a white woman's head. Especially when that particular woman has a history of cultural appropriation.
Note: This is Photoshopped, so I KNOW KIM KARDASHIAN DIDN'T ACTUALLY WEAR THIS, but it's still somewhat weird. And awkward.
Kylie Jenner with a Big Chop and curls? This makes me uncomfortable.
Oh, maybe it's because she culturally appropriates a lot, too. Maybe putting a white woman in Black hair is odd. ALL OF IT IS WEIRD.
Although we'll have to wait and see if any celebs actually rock these hairstyles, we have these photoshopped images to tide us over in the meantime.
