Is There Really a Such Thing as “Good Hair?”
Hair is serious business in the black community. I say community because men are just as serious about their hair as women. Men search high and low to find the perfect barber, someone who can cut their hair just right, give them that perfect hairline and the right shave. They will follow their barbers to various barbershops, adjust their schedules to fit into an appointment and often build lasting friendships with this important person. And if hair is this important to men, a woman’s enthusiasm far exceeds that of her male counterpart. A woman will create a ritual around her style days. It is a permanent fixture on her calendar, the one unbreakable appointment. Doctor visits, dinner dates, parent conferences, they all have to made around this date and time. Women love talking with their stylist about new hairstyles, life’s milestones, children, gossip (their own as well as others) and any other topic that happens to come up. Some people have therapists… Well black women have hairstylists. It is what it is and the process has never been questioned, that is, until now. Chris Rock’s new documentary titled “Good Hair” has let the cat out of the bag.
Chris Rock was a guest on The Oprah Show recently to discuss his new documentary and she basically opened by telling him that he had let out all of our secrets. I didn’t quite understand this comment at the time, however after attending the movie’s premiere last night… Oprah, I feel you, honey, I feel you!
Good Hair was Chris Rock’s way of exploring the topic of hair issues in the black community after his small daughter approached him teary-eyed with the question of why she didn’t have “good hair.” This seemingly simple question prompted the “bewildered comic to commit himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl’s head!” Rock provided commentary by famous names such as Nia Long, Raven Simone, Ice-T and Al Sharpton, among others. He traveled to various cities around the country and spoke with hair salon proprietors, hair care manufacturers, show promoters as well as everyday people who have been impacted in some way by the black hair care industry. One of the most memorable excursions in the documentary was Rock’s trip around the world to India to explore the source of the hair used for extensions in this country.
Let me start off by saying that I was quite nervous to see this movie. Since Chris Rock is a funny man who is not afraid to speak freely (to say the least), I imagined a movie that would set us back a hundred or so years. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how the movie raised pertinent points such as the safety of chemicals to adult and minor patrons as well as the stylists providing the service, the exploitation of the black consumers in the product manufacturing and retail sectors of the market as well as learning where and how many products are made. I also enjoyed learning of the showmanship of stylist competing in renowned hair shows, and his mention of the wealth potential of young stylists graduating from beauty college.
View snippet
Needless to say, every group has their little secret and the African American community whispers of what is gone through in pursuit of “good hair.” What I learned from this movie is that whatever “good hair” is, it is different for everyone. The thing is, it has been this way pretty much forever and if you are a black woman you have dealt with the conflicting issues in regards to hair care, style, processes, etc. This is a well-known subject, however, it is one that is often not addressed in circles outside of our own. It never had to be. It’s like that one big family who know to keep their business to themselves.
The documentary as well as my own experiences made me think about how every little girl will experience the frustration and subsequent expert-esque skill of perfecting her own hair ritual. Regardless of race, hair texture, color or length, women are always in search of the perfect serum, straighter, defrizzer, or brush that will make them look better then they did when they hopped out of bed that morning. While a lot of thought is put into our manes, it is equivalent to brushing our teeth or going to the bathroom…It has to be done.
View Good Hair ft. Chris Rock Official Trailer
Yes girl. I felt the same apprehension to seeing the pic. But I will be falling thru on opening night. Love this article.
Hair is serious to black people in countries and places where white people live too. In countries that are majority black, with little to no white people living, you dont see that obsession to hair.
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Hair is serious to black people in countries and places where white people live too. In countries that are majority black, with little to no white people living, you dont see that obsession to hair.
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