
Hollywood is making an attempt to be more inclusive, but that doesn’t mean the needs of diverse actors are being fully accommodated just yet.
Actors and models, including Yvette Nicole Brown, Gabrielle Union, Yahya Abdul-MateenII, and Malcom Barrett took to Twitter to raise awareness of the issue.
Just because they’ve been cast doesn’t mean production hired a stylist who knows how to work with their hair. And while that might sound inconsequential to some, it's actually a vital signal of the ground that still needs to be gained for true inclusivity and diversity in Hollywood.
“PSA: If you cast a POC— And thank you for doing so!—you also have to hire someone who knows how to do ethnic hair. Not someone who's "comfortable with it" but someone who actually knows how to style ethnic hair types. Congratulations on advancing to the next level of inclusion!” Natasha Rothwell posted on Twitter.
PSA: If you cast a POC— And thank you for doing so!—you also have to hire someone who knows how to do ethnic hair.… https://t.co/XSBM6QLYxK— Natasha Rothwell (@Natasha Rothwell) 1552314402.0
Gabrielle Union seconded Rothwell’s thoughts. “What a lot of non-industry folks don't realize is that u can't just use ur normal hairstylists/barbers/makeup artists on a union job (most jobs are union) Those artists HAVE to be IN THE UNION & getting the min has NEVER been easy or smooth. Ever. Like never,” Union said.
Important Thread! 👇🏾 What alot of non-industry folks don't realize is that u can't just use ur normal hairstylists/… https://t.co/prAevmb3uE— Gabrielle Union (@Gabrielle Union) 1552325902.0
They shared their experiences of having to bring their own products to set, which puts an additional financial burden on the actor.
“Most Black actors get their hair cut or styled outside of set, often at their own expense because Hollywood hairstylists are one size fit all and that ‘all’ does not include Black hair. This has been my experience for the last 20 years in the business & it hasn’t changed at all,” Malcolm Barrett posted.
Most Black actors get their hair cut or styled outside of set, often at their own expense because Hollywood hairsty… https://t.co/xPiZmNJDM8— Verbal The Rapper (@Verbal The Rapper) 1552240525.0
“Most black actresses come to a new set w/ their hair done (me) or bring their wigs & clip-ins w/them. It’s either that or take a chance that you will look crazy on screen. Many of us also bring our own foundation. One too many times seeing no shade that matches you will learn ya!” said Yvette Nicole Brown.
Most black actresses come to a new set w/ their hair done (me) or bring their wigs & clip-ins w/them. It’s either t… https://t.co/xNBtdh9Aly— yvette nicole brown (@yvette nicole brown) 1552274883.0
“Honey I have brought my whole glam kit, flat irons, pink lotion, Shea butter at times during a new set.. I’m tired of looking grey with red lips,” Loni Love added.
Honey I have brought my whole glam kit, flat irons, pink lotion, Shea butter at times during a new set.. I’m tired… https://t.co/FlLW4XR9CG— Loni Love (@Loni Love) 1552323559.0
And actors who don’t fit into “traditional” beauty standards face additional challenges.“#ActingWhileBlack Makeup & Hair in one bag. The other bags are filled with clothes because some wardrobe stylists don’t know that cute clothes exist in sizes larger than size 10. “Here try on this mumu, I know it’s a little big, we’ll just belt it!” #ActingWhileBlackAndChubby”pointed out Yvette Nicole Brown.
#ActingWhileBlack Makeup & Hair in one bag. The other bags are filled with clothes because some wardrobe stylists d… https://t.co/iXyBk8cVvI— yvette nicole brown (@yvette nicole brown) 1552332876.0
The discussion is important, because it raises awareness for an issue that could otherwise go overlooked.
Many stylists aren’t taught how to work with textured hair. Most black stylists learn how to work with different hair types, however the door doesn’t necessarily swing the other way. Stylists of different races should be taught how to do all types of hair.
There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."