Comments on: Dying to be Light?

By: Dayspring

Dayspring — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:56:04 +0000

Actually, white skinned women sometimes have the opposite problem of wanting to make their skin darker. What white girl doesn’t want that “perfect tan” for the beach in the summer. Tanning can also lead to a negative outcome, that is, skin cancer, yet many do it anyway. I for one have had to change my ideas about beauty, and appreciate my natural color. There is always the temporary fake tan if you really want it.

I think what dark skinned women are doing by using these products is crazy, especially since there are so many gorgeous dark skinned women, especially in Africa. A glowing complexion is so much more important.

What are we doing, here? Trying to stand out in the crowd? It seems like we are demanding the impossible from our women the world over!

If it is evenness you need, which we all want, I know that the Mary Kay brand makes a couple products that even out skin tone while not changing it, and they are of course safe for your skin. They are not $5 a bottle, however.

By: pkmelody

pkmelody — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:07:48 +0000

The idea of white beauty is a global issue. Self hatered is the worst mental illness

By: WALE ADENIJI

WALE ADENIJI — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:12:13 +0000

Me too. I want to know those options to have a even skin colour.I am fair and hate bleaching knowing the after-effect in the long-run. Can you share that with us? I know a lot of people who pass through here will appreciate that piece of information from you,Vivian.

By: black is beautiful

black is beautiful — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:34:05 +0000

I always feel sorry for Lil Kim. What kind of self-hatred does it take to do that to yourself?

By: Tumi Jẹgẹdẹ

Tumi Jẹgẹdẹ — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:00:55 +0000

http://twobeautifulminds.blogspot.com/2009/04/bleaching.html

By: Tumi Jẹgẹdẹ

Tumi Jẹgẹdẹ — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:00:26 +0000

It’s such a shame.. but you know what, it happens. 75% is shocking to me, but I believe it, most women would have considered it. If not for a full change of look, just to lighten those dark knees and elbows, or to ‘even’ skintone. All these are terms that could lure people who initially don’t even want to lighten into the world of bleaching.

I would like to draw attention to asian women, it’s not just black/African women who have this issue. Asian women deal with the same, the lighter you are, the prettier you are considered to be, it’s the same in India, Japan..

Have you heard of nipple pink-ners??

Here’s a blog post relating to this issue that I posted..

By: J

Sun, 31 May 2009 10:24:55 +0000

Could you share those please, because I want an even complexion not lighter, I’m happy with being dark, love it. Black pride!

By: hw

hw — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:57:53 +0000

These days, there seems to be only light and dark, not the in-betweens, like Michelle Obama. She is not dark but of medium complexion and I think the distinction should be made. So-called “Black” people run the gamut of shades and I think that prejudice is morphing again. When people of medium shade are now considered “dark,” one can surmise that the rift is getting wider. Sad, all shades should be celebrated for what they are.

By: hw

hw — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:54:51 +0000

Doctors have prescribed hydroquinone like Eldoquine Forte for years for acne scarring. People are not using prescription drugs and are misusing these chemicals. Hydroquinone does not have to be dangerous…only in misuse.

By: Bridget Oti

Bridget Oti — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:28:02 +0000

so much for black pride! if it aint no black skin

By: ola

ola — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:41:41 +0000

i met a white lady who came 2 naija recently,it wz my 1st tym of bn dt close.d truthz i’l never wish 2 b as white or blue-eyed as she is.v always bn proud of my race,wl continu 2 b.i stand 2 b corrected.

By: Cici

Cici — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:30:14 +0000

The main standard of beauty is still the white skin, then light skin or brown skin. That is the reason in some countries like Asia, they bleach their skin just to fit that pale white color standard of beauty. The white, blonde, blue eyes is what has been considered the standard of beauty for years, and has been put in people’s minds. Unconsciously, many people try to live up to that standard, so they can get the attention or acknowledgement that certain people with these features are getting. Whites have done a good job praising their skin color, texture of hair, shape of nose, and refer to the brown or dark skin, big or flat nose, coarse hair as unattractive, and this has messed up people of color mainly black people so much, that in order for things to change, it’s not physical anymore, black people will have to change their mindsets. When a person of color especially a black person is considered beautiful by mainstream media, it is because they see what they call white features in them, maybe the colored eyes, light or brown skin, or the hair texture. It is very unfortunate that black people are even the ones who hate their negro or African features the most, so we can’t blame it all on the media or whites, even though it goes back to slavery, but we should move forward not backward. If we black people did not buy into the whole standard of beauty,by wanting to fit into what we are told is beautiful, whites won’t have any choice but get used to and accept us the way we are. One of the things that stood out to me about First Lady, Michelle Obama, is the fact that she’s dark skin, has what some people might call the negro features, but her confidence, intelligence, the way she carrys herself, highly educated, and the way Barack Obama admires her made people from all over the world fall in love with her. People who had negative comments to say about her were just insecure and ignorant. All of these standards are just made by people. Certain people who wanted to feel and be superior by putting others down. Remember that God made us, in different shades of skin color, blonde, curly, wavy, coarse hair, blue, brown, hazel, green eye color, it’s not a mistake in whatever skin, shape, you have, and God does not make any superior, or better than the other, because they are all beautiful in God’s eyes.

By: Inez

Inez — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Hello, that should be a personal decision. There’s nothing African or unafrican about bleaching, extensions, contacts, nails and all the other stuff women love to adorn themselves with. White women bleach, use extensions, contacts, fix nails and the like so nobody should make it sound like we’re trying to imitate. Regarding complexions, you’re beautiful if you are beautiful, complexion notwithstanding. I am dark skinned and I still have men tripping. My younger sis is very light skinned, we walk into a place and we have men coming either for me or for her. It’s a matter of what appeals to them. Complexion isn’t all they look for.

By: Michaela Moye

Michaela Moye — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:50:05 +0000

It might be the ‘mammy water’ complex.

By: Michaela Moye

Michaela Moye — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:48:44 +0000

Well said, sister!

By: Michaela Moye

Michaela Moye — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:46:46 +0000

I must agree with you! I grew up yellow and curve less with brown hair! I spoke no pidgin and was constantly teased by my neighbours for not being Nigerian enough! Nigerians have all sorts of skin tones, eye colour and hair textures! Abi what will i say about my Ijebu relatives with green and grey eyes? As far as i know they are not multi racial.

By: Michaela Moye

Michaela Moye — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:43:00 +0000

I feel you! Take Ebony magazine for instance, black power ranting side by side with Vantex bleaching cream and Raveen relaxer ads.

On the other hand, if it’s any compensation, white people are crazy for tans!

By: BridgetOti

BridgetOti — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:47:42 +0000

so much for black pride!

By: vivian o

vivian o — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:26:33 +0000

I am not going to assume that because Adaeze Igwe wore contacts and a blond weave she wants to be lighter or white unless of course she comes out and says so. All I have to say is that I don’t think the blonde weave or blue contacts are working for her. Both clash with her skin’s undertone, which is yellow. The blonde weave and blue contacts makes her look harsh, cheap, and overwhelms her small features. She needs more sophisticated styling. She would really pop with a blended brown/blonde/honey colored straight weave that is sideswept to hide some of her forehead. She should opt for a light brown contact. Just a thought.

By: vivian o

vivian o — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:15:23 +0000

A lot of the comments made are beside the point of the article and very angry. It is one thing to try to enhance one’s appearance, but it is another to rub a potent chemical on one’s body in an attempt to permanently change one’s skin color and in the process do grievous harm to one’s body. Hydroquinone, the active ingredient in skin lighteners, is NOT supposed to be used long-term. Moreover, it is to be used to treat hyperpigmentation and NOT as an allover body moisturizer as some people use it. Of course, people are entitled to their personal choices as to how they wish to look, but when these personal choices seep into mainstream society and are used to marginalize whole categories of people whether light or dark and deny individuals opportunities in various facets of life such as employment and housing, it becomes a universal PROBLEM.

I think that we also need to hold manufactureres accountable. Manufacturers of hydroquinone products should educate consumers on the use of the product and provide formulations that are free of clearly toxic chemicals such as mercury and lead.

I know that a major concern for people of color is discoloration and for some that bleach they are trying to deal with this and not to change their actual color. For those who wish to get an even skin tone (without altering their authentic skin color) there are many options out there that I would be happy to share if you so desire.

Ultimately, if you wish to bleach your entire body then knock yourself out. We’re all adults.