Do people ever pet your hair?

[pzychobitch]

It's happened a few times and a death glare is enough to get people to stop.

[BeeMused]

Lol when my oldest was about 2 - 2 1/2, (early 80's) we were walking down the street and there was a lady (I think she was wearing an unusual dress). my daughter was staring at her and the lady asked in a nastyish way "What's the matter? haven't you ever seen a black lady before" in the most indignent tone my daughter replied 'You are NOT black. I KNOW my colors. you are BROWN.' The lady just looked at her a moment, then suddenly relaxed and told her she was right and she did know her colors.

That reminds me of a cute story a friend once told me. She was about 4 at that time and it was the first time ever she had noticed dark skinned people: "Look Mommy! Chocolate people and they have a chocolate baby too!!!!" Of course she used her full lung capacity! Her mom tried to apologise to the couple, but they would have any of it, they weren't offended about being called chocolate people.

[Food Lady]

Lol when my oldest was about 2 - 2 1/2, (early 80's) we were walking down the street and there was a lady (I think she was wearing an unusual dress). my daughter was staring at her and the lady asked in a nastyish way "What's the matter? haven't you ever seen a black lady before" in the most indignent tone my daughter replied 'You are NOT black. I KNOW my colors. you are BROWN.' The lady just looked at her a moment, then suddenly relaxed and told her she was right and she did know her colors.

Best. Story. Ever.

[Amajean]

When my mom was little she broke her arm, so an older kid in her class would brush her hair.
I've had people touch my hair and gush on the length and braid it while I was in class.

[Moirae]

I cannot be the only person this happens to.

At the CS desk today, I was helping a 40ish old lady with a return and she had her arm in a sling. She mentioned that she had just taken some pain meds and then went on about how pretty my hair was and then just reached out and petted me a couple of times. She must have been higher than a kite

Usually it's just little old ladies who like to pet my hair.

I've never had a customer do that, but I have had coworkers do that often in the past if my hair is long.

At the moment it is really long (like the middle of my back) and its naturally very thick. People like to touch it for some reason. Though its a very very personal thing to touch a persons hair (and crosses some boundaries if you ask me), its hard to say no because I love to have my hair stroked.

When I was a kid, my sister and I used to take turns sitting on the couch in the living room brushing each others hair for hours, and my husband often strokes my hair if I'm sitting next to him.

So trust me, it isn't the first time. Heck, at my last job, the owner walked up behind me once and did that. Good thing she's a very old woman, and was at least usually nice to me. If it had been her daughter, I'd have probably turned around and punched her in the face.

[Teskeria]

I'm black or I like to say "brown"

Lol when my oldest was about 2 - 2 1/2, (early 80's) we were walking down the street and there was a lady (I think she was wearing an unusual dress). my daughter was staring at her and the lady asked in a nastyish way "What's the matter? haven't you ever seen a black lady before" in the most indignent tone my daughter replied 'You are NOT black. I KNOW my colors. you are BROWN.' The lady just looked at her a moment, then suddenly relaxed and told her she was right and she did know her colors.

[RootedPhoenix]

I still can't believe people really tug on a stranger's hair! How very mean. Also, owwww.

[Pagan]

nothing to do with color, ginger is hot, or fiery, and red hair was associated with being a hothead or having a fiery temper.

What do mean was? It still is! Men in particular tend to be scared of us redheads.

My hair was strawberry blonde when I was little, but it's darkened over the years. Now I've got these flaming copper streaks coming out.

[XCashier]

I had another one today!

I was helping two women pick out thread from our (very limited) stock. One was standing behind me and asked, "Is it real?"

I said, "Is what reaAAAGGHH!" because she reached out and yanked my braid! She immediately apologized, but still,

[Food Lady]

What is wrong with people?!?!? I have never in my life grabbed the hair of a stranger. You can get hurt that way. You touch the back of my friend's head in any way and she will react immediately and probably violently. Just don't do it.
Now, I have to say that despite the compliments, no one (that I don't know personally) ever actually touches my hair. I probably wouldn't mind at all if someone gently tugged a curl in a conversation about it. People don't, though, because they're polite.

[Kitten in the box]

Oh Ozcatbug I'm sorry that happened to you. I smacked a woman for grabbing my hair last week. It is short but she just grabbed the back to feel if it was real. I jerked away and she pulled back stating she wanted to see if it was real. I told her 3x if she did not let go I'd hit her. Well, I ended up smacking her. (not with a closed fist I just smacked her arm) well this lady threw the biggest bitch fit and stormed off pissed. People started applauding.

[Solacelawlz]

Good gawd yes yes and YES!! I'm black or I like to say "brown" but I've lost count of how many caucasians have asked "zomg can I touch your hair?" or will just rub me especially if I grow a fro or have braids. Then they'll say something like "zomg I looooove your hair it feels so cool!". I even had this one chick in college say she wanted to marry me just for my hair. All I could say was um...

I usually don't mind but it'd get extra weird if randoms were to constantly grab at me. Too many randoms just grabbin at my damn hair would be bad and make me get "the glow" and Bruce Lee'Roy them off a cliff or something!

[Blue Ginger]

The SB just looked and said "it feels so natural. Where did you buy it?"

I completely sympathise. I had this happen to me too. I was on a date in a pretty fancy place at the time.

Stupid woman wouldn't believe that 'yes my hair is naturally strawberry blonde and naturally dead straight'. She made a huge song and dance about me giving her my hair dressers details. Her dinner mates had to take her back to her table.

The second time she started up, the staff moved us to a different table, on the other side of the room. They got a pretty big tip that night.

There was no way in hell I was going to give her my hairdressers details. She is my sis' best friend. They both would have killed her and me.

[telecom_goddess]

Not in my line of work, no, since no customers are physically present. However I have recently met (outside of work, duh) a woman who loves to pet my hair and since I love it when she does, it's all good

I can just imagine I have someone who pets me occasionally and I'm loving it.

[taurinejunkie]

Not in my line of work, no, since no customers are physically present. However I have recently met (outside of work, duh) a woman who loves to pet my hair and since I love it when she does, it's all good