Granted (not all, as you will see from this list!), many black folks on television back in the day were forced to deal with a crew who may not have understood
black hair. Therefore, some of us were tortured with bizarre hairstyles that look strange today, but were even a cackle then. Many of us said, "What the hell is going on with that hair?" Take a journey down some of the worst black hairstyles in television history...
Coral from The Real World
Yeah, I know the grandfather of reality shows isn't a black show, but how could I leave out Coral? The Real World showed us a real example of what happens after many years of bad perms. Coral's hair is more of a tragedy than her embarrassing stints on the Real World challenges. Her hairline starts in the middle of her head and she always has it pulled back in a tight ponytail that is sucking the life right out of her roots. I'm not an advocate of weaves, but mama definitely needs one. Her hair looks like scorched corn husks! Thankfully, she has been rocking wigs with lengthy bangs.
The Steve Harvey Show - Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey's eighties flat top lasted for two decades longer than it should have. I know he denies he ever wore a toupee, but I’m just glad he let go of the gilda that resembled a black eraser. He looked like he should’ve been a back-up dancer for Kid N’ Play!
227 – Mary (Marla Gibbs)
I've always loved Marla in her natural hair, but when she starred in her own show, 227, the creators must've thought she needed to go mainstream. Instead, her wig looked like a football helmet!
Star Trek - Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols)
Not only did they segregate the ferociously gorgeous Lt. Uhura to the back row of Star Trek, they also jacked her up in a horrendous wig. Uhura rocked a Supremes-like gilda that looked as if it was painted with shoe polish. Well, this was 1966 so Franklin is easily forgiven. I'm sure there were no black people on the set and some out of touch stylist said, "Put one of them wigs on her like the colored girls on Ed Sullivan!"
Good Times – Wilona (Ja'net Du Bois)
Now, I loved Wilona, but mama wore some peculiar wigs that were plucked from the bargain bin section at Woolworth's (Yes, I said Woolworth's for the old school folks!). At times you could tell she even hated the wigs. However, considering all the drama that went on behind the scenes, I am sure she slipped on that wig, sprayed in some sheen and swung open Florida's front door like she was rocking a natural! It's no secret Du Bois was tortured on the set of Good Times. She was forced to stay on a diet to maintain a certain weight and always stuck in between the racist producers and the valid complaints from the other adult cast members about the content of the show.
The Wendy Williams Show –
Wendy Williams 
Star Trek and Good Times have an excuse -- it was the sixities and seventies. In 2008, Wendy Williams needs to be socked in the head with a bag of broken barretts for the dreadful wigs she rocks on her morning talk show. The wigs match her skin with a massive mane that her makes her look like a wet lion. She sports bizarre styles like the “tease and pop” -- I'm all for the camp factor, but each episode she goes from camp to tramp.
The Oprah Winfrey Show - Oprah
We all remember Oprah's terrible hair days and she actively denounces it every chance she gets. Still, who can forget this classic stick your finger in a light socket look?
The Cosby Show – Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe)
Before anyone rants, "Well, this is her natural hair!" No, it wasn't, it was a weave-afro (before Angie Stone did it!) -- topped with a ponytail in the back. Yes, a ponytail! I vividly remembering seeing Vanessa in this do and each time she was in a scene I was completely distracted by what looked like an exploding Starburst! Hands down, this is the most disturbing hairstyle from any black person on television. Excluding Miss Jay from America's Next Top Model of course... but he requires an entire post!
Add your own in the comments!
Special thanks to Apollonia for this post!
