Many of you know that last week, a certain Dr. Miracle’s ad got my blood boiling when I came across it in the Summer 2012 edition of Glamour Hair. In case you missed it, please click here. After a couple of days, I received this e-mail from Glamour Hair’s Editor in which she kindly included Dr. Miracle’s response. Here’s what both parties had to say:
Dear Aisha,
We saw your post on the Dr Miracles ad in the latest issue of GLAMOUR Hair. And because we know how important all issues related to hair are, we went straight to the source for some feedback.
Here’s what they had to say:
Hi Cosmogirl.
First, thank you for sharing your concern; it shows that you care about the messages that target you.
To clarify, this model DOES NOT have a weave; her hair is naturally curly. Nor is her hair enhanced with a weave. Nonetheless, we’re sorry that you’re dissatisfied with our model selection. We do our best to select models that we think consumers will find relatable and appealing.
Finally, we think that ALL hair is beautiful, regardless of curl pattern. By no means do we think that one curl pattern/hair type is more appealing than another.
We will continue to do our best to deliver messages that appeal to consumers and deliver products that help women get and keep healthy, beautiful hair.
Best,
Arnisha Hallett-Jones
V.P. Of Marketing
Dr. Miracle’s
I hope that helps.
We do love getting feedback so let me know what you thought of this issue of GLAMOUR Hair, what you’d like to see more of and how we can make each issue even better?
Best wishes,
Michelle Brownlee Smith
Deputy Editor: GLAMOUR
Editor: GLAMOUR Hair
I was glad to have received Michelle’s mail, it showed that Glamour cared about what their readers think. So I replied:
Dear Michelle,
Thank you for your e-mail and for investigating further by contacting Dr. Miracle’s for a response.
If Dr. Miracle’s insists that the model they used is not wearing a weave, then I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. However, they did state in their response that they do their best to “select models that we think consumers will find relatable and appealing”. I cannot speak for everyone, but as a natural haired African woman, I do not relate to the image they’ve chosen for this campaign nor the images they’ve used on their website. Perhaps it’s a model that other markets can relate to, but I know that others would probably agree with me and say that the hair the model’s showcasing does not reflect something naturally attainable for us African women.
It’s a shame and disappointment that a company of Dr. Miracle’s stature is following the crowd and using the cliche images of how Black women ‘should’ look like instead of being bold and using a woman with thick and kinky hair to represent their naturals line. They said they appreciate all curl types but I see no evidence of that. Additionally, I have not seen other haircare companies advertising in South Africa using a model with kinky, thick and African natural hair and that’s a shame. Dr. Miracle’s had a big opportunity to own that niche in the market, yet has, in my opinion lost it.
With regards to the Glamour Hair Summer issue, besides the Dr. Miracle’s ad, I quite enjoyed it. I applaud you for including a wide group of women, as we of course vary in our hair decisions. I’m going to be biased and say that I think you could include more natural hair articles, styles and products. And by natural, I don’t just mean afros. South Africa is seen by many as the centre of natural hair. As a country that embraces dreadlocks, twists, short afros, big afros, I think it’s important for a magazine such as yours to reflect that. So it would be helpful to see more dread, braid, afro hairstyles etc.
If you would like any personal insights into natural hair, to help your researchers, I’m willing to help.
Thank you again for contacting me and relaying Dr. Miracle’s response. I appreciate that you gave me the opportunity to voice my opinions and concerns.
Kind regards,
Aisha
So after all of that, thought it could be quite interesting to quickly do an ‘ad’ of my own. Of course, you can imagine replacing my image with something a bit more professional looking. But couldn’t it be refreshing see to an ad campaign with someone rocking more kinky African looking hair like this?
Just saying.
I also don't agree with their advertising methods,have you seen dark and lovely bill boards they are even worse!!! they use girls with wigs and weaves
I so agree with you Aisha. Speaking with experience as a former hair designer the model's hair is not natural African hair. They have either relaxed it or put in hair extensions. There is no way on earth natural African hair can achieve a smooth curl even like that, even if we use the curling tongs and styling aids. Not even if you are bi racial. Keep it up! I'm new to the Natural look, but I'm more than loving it so far.Love love your 'ad'.
Thanks for your comment Edna and for further confirming my suspicious thoughts on that model's hair. I figured that they'll never admit to it but I hope it made them think twice about how they'll be marketing their products in the future.
YES! THANK you for posting this! I thought the same when I read the issue of Glamour hair, having cornrows and braids at the time and looking for ideas, I found none! GO AISHA!
http://www.bitchesmustknow.co.za
Right?! I think the best place to look for ideas and inspiration is the internet, like my blog for example lol 😉
*HIGH FIVE*
Thanks!
Aisha,
I love you! Getting a response out of Both Dr Miracle and The Mag's Editor is excellent stuff. As for your own ad! I'd stop and buy!!
How did you create the imagery. Always looking to improve my eSkills.
Heather
Thanks Heather 🙂 maybe I will release my own products and that ad won't be a mock up anymore lol
You go gurl!!!! sooo proud
brilliant article!!!! love it. i hope they do realise that this is pure concern of marketing
Fingers crossed. It'd be a nice change to see
Nnnnnice one Aisha! So candid, and that ad is really appealing. Dr Miracle should sneak a peak of that one!
Lol, thanks
Hi Aisha! So true! The ad may leave other naturals feeling like their hair doesn't measure up. I started following your blog after your feature on Kurly Kichana and I have 1 question: how did your hair grow so fast since your BC? I'm so jealous! Love your blog! What's your current regimen? I am a fellow East African btw, I'm Kenyan and just started my natural hair journey.
http://fromcurveswithlove.wordpress.com
Hi Anita, thanks for your comment and checking my blog out 🙂 the hair growth…I have no secret. It actually grows the average rate for people. I keep it in protective styles like braids when I need a break. You can find my current routine if you click 'natural timeline & routine' in the tabs at the top of my blogi update it whenever the seasons or my life timetable change.
Well done, Aisha. Rukks M.
🙂
Love the ad:-)Well done speaking out for all naturals
It had to be said 🙂
I don't think there is such a thing as more "African Looking Hair", maybe more kinky hair and yes it is poorly represented in the market. In any case curly hair product lines are often intended to be products that make naturally kinky hair have its curl more defined. My hair looks like yours when I dont put gel in it, but once I put gel it has very distinct curls and everybody thinks I did something really phenomenal to it. Not true. Maybe the point is that they are trying to sell getting more curl defined hair as do relaxer ads show relaxed hair to show the results of using the product.
Maybe. I've tried many products that claim to give my kinky 4C hair more curl definition but it can only look a certain way even after using the product. And my hair doesn't 'naturally' look like this. I have to braid and stretch it out first to achieve the look you see in most of my photos. Either way, there's definitely a huge gap in the market and kinkier hair is greatly underpresented in ads and imagery selling the products.
Love it Aisha!
Thank you 🙂
Well done lady! Now, you've given them something to think about. Love it! 😀
Thanks luv 🙂 hopefully they really do think about it
Go Aisha! Around June of this ear I got myself the Drum "hair" issue and have only looked, not even read, it that one evening I brought it home because I feel as a black woman who's not into weaves it had nothing to offer me. The "natural" looks on there looked more like an American style hair show that practical everyday looks. There are a lot of women who've gone natural and are thinking of doing so but are reluctant because they don't have the necessary info and hairsporation that shows that natural can be practical and corporate and stuff.
I truly applaud you for speaking out and agree that Dr Miracle missed a very hungry niche.
Great job on your ad.
x
Thanks Nomali. I too have flicked through Drum and other black hair magazines and get disappointed when I seeonly one page or article dedicated to natural hair and styles. This is why many naturals turn to the internet for help, inspiration and support. And what you said about many women being reluctant to go natural because the don't know how to maintain and style their hair in a practical way is a big reason why I started my Youtube channel. Natural hair doesn't have to be 'difficult' to keep or 'hard' to style. You just need to understand it, and get used to it. Thanks for your comment 🙂