Black Comedienne Sheryl Underwood Slams Afro Hair on National Television

*An earlier version of this post stated that Sheryl Underwood called natural hair “nasty”. After listening to the audio again, we realize that Sheryl didn’t call natural hair nasty, but referred to Heidi Klum’s decision to save her children’s natural hair as “nasty”.

Comedienne Sheryl Underwood, who serves as one of the hosts of CBS’ daytime talk show The Talk, recently referred to afro hair as “nappy” and referred to Heidi Klum’s decision to save her bi-racial children’s natural hair as “nasty”. She also referred to Caucasian hair as “beautiful long silky straight.”

Chantal of the blog Born Again Natural gives the break down:

The topic was about saving your children’s hair, brought up because Heidi Klum revealed that when she cuts her children’s afros, she saves their clipped hair in a sealed baggie. Sheryl Underwood, going for the joke, made a semi-disgusted face and said: “Why would you want to save AFRO hair?” Amidst the mild laughter, she went on to say that women don’t necessarily run to the beauty supply store in search of what she referred to as “nappy, nasty hair”. When Sara Gilbert tried to point out that she, like a lot of mothers, liked to save her children’s hair, Sheryl quipped, “But your child’s hair is silky and straight!” Even though the subject quickly changed (because the joke had obviously died), it apparently didn’t bother Aisha Tyler, the other Black woman at the table, to have natural Black hair described as “nappy” and “nasty”. Really, Ms. Underwood? A child’s hair isn’t worth saving unless it’s silky and straight?

Here is a clip of the incident.

It is very jarring to hear natural hair disparaged so publicly and with such disgust. What are your thoughts ladies?