Hair What I'm Saying

Kinetra
  • 5.0 (24)
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Weekly

“Hair What I’m Saying” is where healing, beauty, and honest storytelling meet. Hosted by Kinetra, a licensed hair expert, deep thinker, and truth-teller, this show has earned a spot in the top 5% of podcasts worldwide, on Listen Notes. It goes beyond the surface of hair to explore how we truly connect with our hair from within. Whether it’s uncovering the science of hair loss, hair identity, self-discovery, breaking generational cycles, or emotional healing, each episode holds space for vulnerable conversations and unapologetic truth. If you’ve ever found power in your pain or beauty in your becoming, this podcast is for you.

  1. Oct 18 ·  Bonus Video

    Behind the Curls & Content; Inspiration, Comparison, and Expectations

    Send us Fan Mail Natural hair content has become more than styling tutorials and product recommendations. It's a space where inspiration, hair identity, comparison, and expectations influence how we see and experience our own hair. In this episode of Hair What I'm Saying, host Kinetra Stewart sits down with curly hair content creator Tiara to explore the evolving natural hair community and what happens when personal hair journeys become public content. Tiara shares what inspired her to start creating curly and natural hair content, how she navigates brand opportunities, and why authenticity matters in an increasingly competitive digital space. We also discuss her approach to maintaining healthy curls, low-manipulation styling, and why detailed tutorials resonate with audiences looking for realistic hair care guidance. But the conversation goes beyond creating content. We examine how social media has influenced beauty standards within the natural hair movement, particularly the emphasis on defined curls, curl typing, and the expectations surrounding what natural hair should look like. Are we moving beyond the pursuit of the perfect curl? Is the natural hair community becoming more accepting of frizz, shrinkage, volume, and individuality? And how do content creators balance inspiring their audiences without unintentionally encouraging comparison? Through Tiara's experiences and perspectives, we explore the relationship between digital influence, personal expression, and the changing attitudes shaping today's natural hair movement. Whether you're a content creator, natural hair enthusiast, or someone navigating your own relationship with textured hair of self discovery, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at how inspiration and expectations continue to shape the curly hair community. Stay Connected with Tiara on her socials: Instagram TikTok YouTube Support the show Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more. Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing! Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast 💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

  2. Season 7 Trailer

    Season 7 Trailer: The Natural Hair Evolution

    Send us Fan Mail The natural hair movement has come a long way, and its evolution is far from over. From the rise of natural hair influencers and changing styling techniques to emerging trends and a new generation discovering its own relationship with textured hair, the movement continues to take on new meaning. Styles that once defined the movement are evolving, perspectives are shifting, and conversations that once centered on embracing natural textures have expanded into how we choose to wear, maintain, and express ourselves through our hair. But what does this evolution mean for the future of the natural hair movement? In Season 7 of Hair What I'm Saying, host Kinetra Stewart explores the people, perspectives, and cultural shifts shaping the next chapter of natural hair. Through thoughtful conversations, this season examines how the movement continues to grow, adapt, and reflect the diverse experiences of those who are part of it. Support the show Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more. Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing! Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast 💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

  3. Aug 25

    "Is Natural Hair That Deep?" An Interactive Community Experience

    Send us Fan Mail Is natural hair that deep? It sounds like a casual question until you put real people in a room and give them the space to answer with their own lives. In this episode of Hair What I’m Saying, we revisit our first Is Natural Hair That Deep? community event in Austin, Texas, and share real stories from our Story Wall. Attendees wrote about learning to care for their natural hair, protective styles, relaxers, heat damage, dating, self-expression, workplace experiences, and finally choosing themselves. But is natural hair that deep when the way you wear it can change how people treat you? We explore the mental load Black Americans can experience in professional spaces, including stories of straight hair being described as “professional,” natural hair changing how coworkers respond, and stylists discouraging someone from going natural because they supposedly had “bad hair.” And is natural hair that deep when so many of us can recognize pieces of ourselves in someone else’s story? We also revisit the Mirror Reflection, where attendees described themselves with words like regal, vibrant, confident, loved, and free, and the Black Hair Myth Challenge, which turned some of the things we’ve been taught about Black hair into an opportunity to laugh, learn, and question together. After hearing the stories from the room, we're asking again: Is natural hair that deep? Listen, reflect, and decide for yourself. Is natural hair that deep? What’s your hair story? Subscribe to Hair What I’m Saying, share this episode with someone who should join the conversation, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Is Natural Hair That Deep Playlist Are Hair Products Solving Problems for Black Hair or Creating Them? Support the show Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more. Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing! Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast 💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

  4. Jul 28 ·  Video

    When the Dance Team Excluded Curly Hair: Sydney Bresnahan's Story

    Send us Fan Mail When the Dance Team Excluded Curly Hair: Sydney Bresnahan's Story explores what happens when appearance standards unintentionally leave textured hair out of the picture. In this episode of the Hair What I'm Saying Podcast, host Kinetra Stewart sits down with former high school dancer Sydney Bresnahan to discuss the reality of navigating dance team hair expectations with naturally curly hair. Sydney shares how being in uniform often meant straightening her natural curls or wearing straight wigs to meet team standards, the financial and emotional costs of maintaining that look, and the moment she witnessed a teammate being told to straighten a synthetic curly wig before a performance. Together, they examine the difference between uniformity and inclusion, asking an important question: Can a team truly be inclusive if everyone has to look the same? This conversation isn't about criticizing one school or one coach. It's about exploring how beauty standards, performance expectations, and institutional norms can disproportionately affect dancers with textured hair. Whether you're a dancer, coach, educator, parent, or someone who's ever felt pressured to change your natural hair to fit in, this episode invites you to rethink what inclusion really looks like. Connect with Sydney by following her on Instagram! Support the show Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more. Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing! Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast 💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

  5. Jul 5 ·  Video

    Black Hair in Uniform: Who Were Military Standards Written For?

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when your hair won't stay in regulation, your beret rubs out your edges, and the water on deployment is turning your hair orange? In this episode of Hair What I'm Saying, veteran Jacinda Mitchell shares what it was really like navigating Black hair in uniform while serving more than 23 years in the military. From getting her entire squad smoked because her ponytail wouldn't stay up during basic training to cutting her hair just to survive military life, Jacinda offers an honest look at the realities behind military standards that weren't designed with textured hair in mind. Together, we explore the physical and emotional impact of strict grooming regulations, creative workarounds like sewing satin into berets, the challenges of caring for natural hair during deployments, and the quiet sacrifices many Black women made in the name of professionalism. But this conversation reaches beyond military service. Jacinda reflects on entering corporate America, where replacing straight wigs with her natural afro changed the way colleagues perceived her, proving that conversations about Black hair, identity, and professionalism don't end when the uniform comes off. If you've ever wondered who the standards were written for, this episode offers a thoughtful and deeply personal perspective on service, resilience, and authenticity. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear this conversation. Want to hear more of Jacinda's story? Click Here and visit the VA's Make the Connection. It's a free resource where veterans share personal experiences to encourage, support, and help others navigating similar challenges. Support the show Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more. Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing! Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast 💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

  6. Jun 22

    Are Hair Products Solving Problems for Black Hair or Selling Them?

    Send us Fan Mail The hair aisle has a script, and it’s been playing in our heads for years: control, tame, smooth, fight frizz, define curls. When I hear those words, I don’t just think about Black hair products, I think about beliefs and the quiet way beauty marketing trains us to see textured hair as a problem that needs a solution. So I’m asking a bigger question than “who made the rules” about beauty standards. Are Black hair products solving problems or selling them, and what did it cost Black women to believe those messages? I walk through how advertising language shapes self-image, from the idea of hair needing to “behave” to the way straight hair was positioned as professional and presentable. I also revisit the nostalgia and harm wrapped up in kid-focused relaxer marketing, plus the uncomfortable truth behind some of the images that helped sell those products. Then I fast-forward to the natural hair movement and the way the industry pivoted, swapping straightness promises for a new kind of pressure: perfect curl definition, perfect edges, and perfect routines. We also get practical about what hair products and labels don’t tell you. “Anti-frizz” can hide the difference between texture and damage, and many hair growth products ignore the real issue: hair retention, breakage, dryness, tension, or even medical concerns. Black hair products can support healthy hair care, but no bottle can override biology, and sometimes the biggest change is the habit shift a product inspires. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re buying a cream or buying an expectation, hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can keep questioning the narratives we’ve been handed about Black hair products, natural hair, beauty standards, and identity. Support the show Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more. Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing! Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast 💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

  7. Jun 8

    What Ivy Braids Reveal About Black Hair Standards

    Send us Fan Mail Ivy braids are trending, but the internet's reactions reveal a much bigger conversation about Black hair, beauty standards, and the language we use to describe textured hairstyles. In this episode of Hair What I'm Saying, I explore why a textured, boho-inspired braid style sparked debates about what is considered neat, polished, professional, and acceptable. We unpack the difference between personal preference and internalized beauty standards, and why so many of us have been taught to associate certain hair textures and styles with respectability. I also share powerful listener comments, including a story from someone who once asked her bank if braids were acceptable at work. Together, we examine what that says about conformity, permission, and the quiet ways workplace culture shapes how Black women navigate their hair. From the Tignon Laws to modern-day Black hair discrimination and the CROWN Act, this episode connects the past to the present and asks an important question: Who made the rules for professional hair, and why don't we question them more often? By the end of this conversation, Ivy braids become less about a hairstyle and more about identity, self-expression, and the standards we've inherited without realizing it. If this episode resonates with you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. What beauty standard are you ready to challenge next? View the Video and comments on TIKTOK that sparked conversation for this episode! Support the show Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more. Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing! Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast 💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

  8. Jun 1

    Part 1: The Truth About Black Hair; History, Identity, and Industry - Lori L. Tharps

    Send us Fan Mail Click Here to Watch This Episode on YouTube! In this episode, historian and Hair Story co-author Lori L. Tharps joins Hair What I'm Saying to discuss Black hair history, cultural identity, beauty standards, and how generations of misinformation have shaped our relationship with our hair. Black hair gets called “too big” and “too wild” like that’s an objective fact, but it’s really a script and somebody profits from it. We sit down with historian and journalist Lori L. Tharps, co-author of *Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America*, to pull that script apart and replace it with actual context. If you’ve ever second-guessed your texture, your style choices, or what “professional” is supposed to look like, this one is for you. We start with Lori’s personal path and how a graduate school thesis on Black hair was dismissed as not “serious” scholarship, until the research proved otherwise. From workplace microaggressions to the quiet reality that many of us learned more about white hair than our own, we talk about how misinformation becomes internalized and why the language we use about our hair matters. Then we go deeper into Black hair history: pre-colonial African societies where hair worked like an identity system, carrying signals of community, status, and spirituality. We also get honest about cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation, the natural hair movement’s global ripple effects, and how the Black hair industry grew from pre-Civil War barbering and styling into a multi-billion-dollar economy that’s often judged with a double standard. You’ll leave with a cleaner frame: Black hair isn’t “hard,” it’s unique, delicate, and powerful, and it only becomes a problem inside systems that refuse to understand it. Subscribe to the podcast, share this with a friend, and leave a review if it shifts how you see your hair. Connect with Lori L. Tharps: Lori's Website Click here to purchase the book, Hair Story written by Lori L. Tharps & Ayana D. Byrd Support the show Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you! Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more. Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing! Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast 💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

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About

“Hair What I’m Saying” is where healing, beauty, and honest storytelling meet. Hosted by Kinetra, a licensed hair expert, deep thinker, and truth-teller, this show has earned a spot in the top 5% of podcasts worldwide, on Listen Notes. It goes beyond the surface of hair to explore how we truly connect with our hair from within. Whether it’s uncovering the science of hair loss, hair identity, self-discovery, breaking generational cycles, or emotional healing, each episode holds space for vulnerable conversations and unapologetic truth. If you’ve ever found power in your pain or beauty in your becoming, this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Kinetra
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hair What I'm Saying
  • Show Website
    Hair What I'm Saying