Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
When she was six, Cape Verdean-Dutch Nelly wanted nothing more than long, blonde hair. She didn't recognize herself in her dolls, Barbie dolls or her favorite stars on television. When she was 10, her mother started relaxing Nelly's hair. Now, 24 years later, Nelly is investigating where the aversion to her natural hair comes from. How can she learn to accept her appearance? How can she break through her internalized racism?
Nelly, like many other women with Black hair, has been styling her hair with chemicals for as long as she can remember. She doesn't even know what her own natural hair looks like. She has often suffered burns from straightening, but she prefers that to her own hair. Nelly is now 34 and wants to fully embrace her frizzy hair. In this video she undergoes the transition to her own natural hair and investigates where her aversion comes from.
What influence does western society have on her ideal of beauty? Where did the rejection of her appearance start? How does her own family and community view this? And can she rid herself of her deep-rooted insecurities? This documentary is a personal and emotional portrait of a young black woman in search of self-acceptance.
Direction: Nelly dos Reis
Direction & coach Soraya Pol
Camera: Gregor Meerman, Jefrim Rothuizen, Kasper van Alphen
Sound: Regard Ibrahim, Diego van Uden
Editing: Manuel Rombley, Kasper van Alphen
Dramaturgy: Astrid Bussink
Final editing: Ruby Deelen
Colour correction: Michiel Rummens
Visual effects artist: Marius Kleijn
Finishing: Jan Jaap Kuiper
Audio mixing & music: Benjamin Braasem
Producer Rens Mevissen
Production assistant: Carmen Staneke, Kelly Henning, Julie Scheurink
Research: Aisha Bosnie
Sound engineer for choir: Thijs Nieuwenhuis
Data handling: Thierry de la Mar
Spotter: Emma Magré, Lars Hoogveldt
With thanks to: Aminata, Anoeska, Ashley, Assumpta, Corina, Cynthia, Elysa, Firmino, Francisca, Giselle, Karim, Kiki, Naomi, Natasja, Roxanne, Sima Nos E So Nos, Siya, Tracey, Zoë.
VPRO Documentary publishes a new subtitled documentary weekly, investigating current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics. Subscribe to our channel, and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you!
This Channel is part of VPRO broadcast. Make sure to visit our additional youtube channels:
VPRO Metropolis: youtube.com/user/VPROmetropolis
VPRO World Stories: youtube.com/VPROworldstories (no longer active)
VPRO Extra: youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A
VPRO VG (world music): youtube.com/vrijegeluiden
VPRO 3voor12 (alternative music): youtube.com/3voor12
VPRO 3voor12 extra (music stories): youtube.com/channel/UCtgVYRLGraeL9rGMiM3rBHA
More info at VPRObroadcast.com
When she was six, Cape Verdean-Dutch Nelly wanted nothing more than long, blonde hair. She didn't recognize herself in her dolls, Barbie dolls or her favorite stars on television. When she was 10, her mother started relaxing Nelly's hair. Now, 24 years later, Nelly is investigating where the aversion to her natural hair comes from. How can she learn to accept her appearance? How can she break through her internalized racism?
Nelly, like many other women with Black hair, has been styling her hair with chemicals for as long as she can remember. She doesn't even know what her own natural hair looks like. She has often suffered burns from straightening, but she prefers that to her own hair. Nelly is now 34 and wants to fully embrace her frizzy hair. In this video she undergoes the transition to her own natural hair and investigates where her aversion comes from.
What influence does western society have on her ideal of beauty? Where did the rejection of her appearance start? How does her own family and community view this? And can she rid herself of her deep-rooted insecurities? This documentary is a personal and emotional portrait of a young black woman in search of self-acceptance.
Direction: Nelly dos Reis
Direction & coach Soraya Pol
Camera: Gregor Meerman, Jefrim Rothuizen, Kasper van Alphen
Sound: Regard Ibrahim, Diego van Uden
Editing: Manuel Rombley, Kasper van Alphen
Dramaturgy: Astrid Bussink
Final editing: Ruby Deelen
Colour correction: Michiel Rummens
Visual effects artist: Marius Kleijn
Finishing: Jan Jaap Kuiper
Audio mixing & music: Benjamin Braasem
Producer Rens Mevissen
Production assistant: Carmen Staneke, Kelly Henning, Julie Scheurink
Research: Aisha Bosnie
Sound engineer for choir: Thijs Nieuwenhuis
Data handling: Thierry de la Mar
Spotter: Emma Magré, Lars Hoogveldt
With thanks to: Aminata, Anoeska, Ashley, Assumpta, Corina, Cynthia, Elysa, Firmino, Francisca, Giselle, Karim, Kiki, Naomi, Natasja, Roxanne, Sima Nos E So Nos, Siya, Tracey, Zoë.
VPRO Documentary publishes a new subtitled documentary weekly, investigating current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics. Subscribe to our channel, and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you!
This Channel is part of VPRO broadcast. Make sure to visit our additional youtube channels:
VPRO Metropolis: youtube.com/user/VPROmetropolis
VPRO World Stories: youtube.com/VPROworldstories (no longer active)
VPRO Extra: youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A
VPRO VG (world music): youtube.com/vrijegeluiden
VPRO 3voor12 (alternative music): youtube.com/3voor12
VPRO 3voor12 extra (music stories): youtube.com/channel/UCtgVYRLGraeL9rGMiM3rBHA
More info at VPRObroadcast.com
