Whether your hair’s long, short, curly, straight, blonde, brunette, candy-colored, or shaven off completely, we’re all faced with the balancing our individuality with the narrow societal standards of beauty. In fact, a study recently found 86% of US women believe that media and society put a lot of pressure on women to have hair that looks a certain way—namely long, silky straight brunette locks, just ask Google.
Now, Dove wants you to break the mold and wear your hair however you want. In its latest Campaign for Real Beauty ad, the beauty brand is celebrating our strands and challenging the so-called style rules that tend to dictate our look. The clip features real women, including a young professional with curly hair, an older woman with grey locks, a blonde Asian woman, and many more about the stigmas they face. “When I tell people I’m a financial analyst, they’re very surprised,” Núria, a woman with sky-blue strands, says in the clip.
The brand has helped women embrace their unique features for years. Most may remember last year’s campaign for curls that encouraged those with spiraly strand to love their texture, marking a serious shift in how brands see their consumers and their perceptions of themselves. Studies show 90% of women agree that they need to embrace their own hair and stop comparing themselves to others. As we all continue to embrace what makes us special, it’s good to know that brands are listening and learning.
Haven’t seen the clip yet? Check it out below: