Today I got an update from YouTube that there was a new video post by Taren916. If you aren't familiar with Taren Guy, she is a vlogger on natural hair and hair care products. She has had a YouTube channel for about 3 years maybe more. I learned so much about taking care of my hair and what products to use from watching Taren's videos. It really was like having a teacher for how to do my own natural hair. Well anyway Taren has come up in the world since her humble beginnings of bringing us reviews of products and hair care techniques from her bedroom. She still does the reviews but the products are a little bit higher level and her reach and access have far exceeded her local Ricky's hair care store and neighborhood salons. She has been to NYC Fashion Week, touted among the most well known of natural hair bloggers/vloggers, and has even participated in private events for companies such as Carol's Daughter. So in the past year or so Taren has really taken her notability and used it to brand herself and become a figure in the natural hair care world in her own right. So happy for her that she is being recognized for her inner and outer beauty and knowledge of natural hair care.
Well today's video featured Taren receiving a custom made wig from the Hair Rules Salon in NYC owned by Anthony Dickey, a hair care expert, author, and creator of his own product line by the same name. Taren had posted a video a few weeks ago where she met with one of the Hair Rules stylists to talk about getting a custom made wig in order to protect her hair while it is growing out from a big chop last year. I watched the video and liked it. As usual I just scrolled down the list of comments to see what people were saying about the video. It seemed like most people enjoyed the video and enjoyed seeing Taren receive the new custom hair piece. Other people were in shock over the price and still others were just hating on Taren because they felt that she was not so much vlogging about hair care and products as she was "selling" or freely advertising for Hair Rules. It was an interesting conversation and an interesting look into what happens when someone receives some advancement or popularity that allows them to do what others cannot do.
First there was the price of the wig. Dailey, Taren's stylist for the previous video and the one showing her receiving the wig noted that the price for this product starts at $850.00. Okay, granted most people are not going to be able to buy a wig that even costs half of that amount, but this wig was apparently a gift to Taren from Anthony Dickey and Hair Rules. There is nothing wrong with that at all. But what I think some of the people who commented on this were upset about was that Taren was doing this review for the product and they may have felt that she was overlooking the fact that most of her subscribers are regular people who cannot afford to partake of this service from this salon. Most of them may not even be able to walk into Hair Rules and get anything done to their hair because the prices start in the $100s for their services. I think some people may be mad at the fact that her bringing them this information is not relatable to their world. It's kind of how when someone might start out singing at the club down the street and you can hear them for free on an open mic night and then they might become more famous and you have to pay to see them. Then they might sign a record deal and then you have to pay a lot of money to see them from the nose bleed seats. I think some people might be upset at the fact that they feel like when Taren started out they could relate to her because she used the same store brand products (Honda Civic products) but now she can afford or is even gifted with high end products (Mercedes-Benz products). I think people feel like Taren has moved up in the world and they have not and so they cannot relate to these experiences that she is having and it also may lead to some jealousy or envy or self-pity. With all the YouTube channels that there are how can we know what makes some popular and some not. Taren has over 70,000 followers on her channel and so she has been able to turn what used to be product reviews and tutorials into a business. There may be some people who are leaving all the negative comments on her channel who have tried to create what Taren has and have not succeeded because they lack the growing viewers and the interest. If it doesn't work out for you then you have to decide whether you will keep trying to do it for yourself or if you will quit and try something else. For Taren it has worked out.
I feel like people are being unfair to Taren because it is her channel ultimately and she can put on it what she wants to. Also in the beginning her channel was all product reviews and hair care tutorials. As with anything over time it is going to grow and change. Taren's channel has grown and changed as her interests and experiences have grown and changed. And she has been fortunate enough to be able to have some experiences that none of us would ever have in life and she has shared them on her channel. So I think it is actually a really cool thing that she has shared these behind the scenes moments with hairstylists, product developers, and other naturalistas because through it we all can learn and grow from the advice and information that Taren has shared.
I just felt the need to comment on the situation because I felt like people were being really petty about the whole thing. I really hope that people will stop the negative comments and be supportive of people who are doing the things that they wish that they could do or who are achieving their own goals.
Here is the video:
Well today's video featured Taren receiving a custom made wig from the Hair Rules Salon in NYC owned by Anthony Dickey, a hair care expert, author, and creator of his own product line by the same name. Taren had posted a video a few weeks ago where she met with one of the Hair Rules stylists to talk about getting a custom made wig in order to protect her hair while it is growing out from a big chop last year. I watched the video and liked it. As usual I just scrolled down the list of comments to see what people were saying about the video. It seemed like most people enjoyed the video and enjoyed seeing Taren receive the new custom hair piece. Other people were in shock over the price and still others were just hating on Taren because they felt that she was not so much vlogging about hair care and products as she was "selling" or freely advertising for Hair Rules. It was an interesting conversation and an interesting look into what happens when someone receives some advancement or popularity that allows them to do what others cannot do.
First there was the price of the wig. Dailey, Taren's stylist for the previous video and the one showing her receiving the wig noted that the price for this product starts at $850.00. Okay, granted most people are not going to be able to buy a wig that even costs half of that amount, but this wig was apparently a gift to Taren from Anthony Dickey and Hair Rules. There is nothing wrong with that at all. But what I think some of the people who commented on this were upset about was that Taren was doing this review for the product and they may have felt that she was overlooking the fact that most of her subscribers are regular people who cannot afford to partake of this service from this salon. Most of them may not even be able to walk into Hair Rules and get anything done to their hair because the prices start in the $100s for their services. I think some people may be mad at the fact that her bringing them this information is not relatable to their world. It's kind of how when someone might start out singing at the club down the street and you can hear them for free on an open mic night and then they might become more famous and you have to pay to see them. Then they might sign a record deal and then you have to pay a lot of money to see them from the nose bleed seats. I think some people might be upset at the fact that they feel like when Taren started out they could relate to her because she used the same store brand products (Honda Civic products) but now she can afford or is even gifted with high end products (Mercedes-Benz products). I think people feel like Taren has moved up in the world and they have not and so they cannot relate to these experiences that she is having and it also may lead to some jealousy or envy or self-pity. With all the YouTube channels that there are how can we know what makes some popular and some not. Taren has over 70,000 followers on her channel and so she has been able to turn what used to be product reviews and tutorials into a business. There may be some people who are leaving all the negative comments on her channel who have tried to create what Taren has and have not succeeded because they lack the growing viewers and the interest. If it doesn't work out for you then you have to decide whether you will keep trying to do it for yourself or if you will quit and try something else. For Taren it has worked out.
I feel like people are being unfair to Taren because it is her channel ultimately and she can put on it what she wants to. Also in the beginning her channel was all product reviews and hair care tutorials. As with anything over time it is going to grow and change. Taren's channel has grown and changed as her interests and experiences have grown and changed. And she has been fortunate enough to be able to have some experiences that none of us would ever have in life and she has shared them on her channel. So I think it is actually a really cool thing that she has shared these behind the scenes moments with hairstylists, product developers, and other naturalistas because through it we all can learn and grow from the advice and information that Taren has shared.
I just felt the need to comment on the situation because I felt like people were being really petty about the whole thing. I really hope that people will stop the negative comments and be supportive of people who are doing the things that they wish that they could do or who are achieving their own goals.
Here is the video:
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