GOOD HAIR
It had to happen, Chris Rock’s daughter had to turn to her dad one day and ask the age old question...”Daddy, why don’t I have ‘good hair’? My daughter didn’t use the term ‘good hair’ but as I brush through the mats almost daily, she has lamented not having straight hair that’s not quite so painful to maintain.
Rock’s answer was to set out on a mission to educate the public about the African American women’s answer to this dilemma. He heads to Atlanta, a place he designates has having all answers to questions concerning black people, landing at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show, a huge yearly event that’s mostly about selling supplies to professional hair dressers. But a highlight of the event, and a sort of comic relief anchor to the film is the face off between 4 top hairdressers in the annual hair battle, a combination of performance art and hair cut competition.
But most of the film is spent looking at, with jaw dropping glee, how much time and money is spent by African American women on their hair. We visit the chemical relaxer factory and later discuss the toxicity of the chemicals used to straighten the kink out of the hair. We visit various salons and watch said chemical relaxer being applied to, among others heads, that of a wee 4 year old. We get commentary from men in a barber shop about their hair preferences, the expense involved with the high hair maintenance woman and even the prohibition on touching said crowning glory.
The bulk of the investigation concerns the, not so super secret anymore, hair weave and Chris has assembled a few notable stars to “come out” about their hair deception. Nia Long is by far the sunniest about the whole business and when inteviewed, discusses how she became an addict. Raven Symone of The Cosby Show and That’s So Raven also bares her soul. Salt-n-Pepa discuss kicking off the asymmetrical haircut craze after a brutal encounter with a relaxer left on the scalp too long. Al Sharpton even makes an appearance to educate us about the derivation of his “konk” which is what the guys used to call it back in the day when his hair mentor, James Brown, introduced him to the risks and benefits of the chemical life.
Later on Rock travels to the source: a temple in India where women and young girls shave their heads in a ceremony honoring a Hindu god. (my press notes say honoring God, an unfortunate misunderstanding since I doubt He would approve) A local family, has, since the 1950s, been buying this hair from the temple and industriously combing it, cleaning it, then bunching it and selling it off to the west for wigs, weaves, and hair pieces.
A couple of things are missing from this oh so pleasantly entertaining and often downright hilarious romp through the hair world. First, so much time is spent on processing, there is little left for those women who choose to go chemical free. Actress Tracie seems to be the only person in Hollywood who’ll talk about the pressures to relax or weave and the idea that not doing so is so out of the norm it is read as a political statement. Another issue not discussed is the extent to which non African Americans use weaves, wigs and hairpieces as enhancements, and even the extent to which they alter themselves.
In a funny bit a la Michael Moore, Rock tries to peddle a bag of black hair to various retailers who look at him with disgust. Rock says the film is about black women: he doesn’t know anything about white women and their hair and I guess that’s okay. On the other hand, the glaring issue that’s not addressed really is how much time and money is spent on making all women chase an ideal that is unrealistic be they black, brown, Asian, white, old, fat or any other thing that requires an expensive and constantly repeating fix.
The most disturbing bit of the film involves a group of high school students discussing their hair choices. Of five, one has a natural hairstyle and sits silently while the others judgmentally comment on her job prospects and future. They wouldn’t hire her because they wouldn’t be able to take her seriously: she couldn’t possibly fit into their vision of the corporate world. There are all kinds of things wrong with this picture not the least of which is the talkers will need more than straight hair to ride the elevator to success. Let’s hope that young lady with the ‘fro’ sticks to her guns, saves some money and avoids the cubicle.
Good Hair opens October 9, 2009.
Directed by Jeff Stilson; written by Chris Rock, Jeff Stilson, Lance Crouther and Chuck Sklar; produced by Nelson George, Chrs Rock and Kevin O’Donnell; Director of Photography, Cliff Charles; edited by Paul Marchand and Greg Nash; music by Marcus Miller. Released by Roadside Attractions and HBO Films. Running time: 95 minutes.
With: Nia Long; Raven Symone; Tracie Thoms; Dr. Maya Angelou; Vanessa Bell Calloway; Eve; Meagan Good; Ice-T; Salt-N-Pepa; and Al Sharpton.
