Did you guys know that Chris Rock is coming out with a new movie called “Good Hair”? The movie came about after Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asking, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” (Sundance Festival, 2009). As a result, Chris Rock committed himself to discovering who/what had put the idea, that she didn’t have good hair, into his daughter’s mind. What he discovered was that black hair is a big business – a business that doesn’t necessarily always benefit the black culture. He also discovered that his daughter’s question was part of a greater issue – a deep seeded issue, affecting what is considered to be beautiful or unattractive within both the black community and society as a whole.

So, why is this interesting??

Personally, as a young black woman, I can totally relate to young Lola’s question being that I, too, have had an issue with my hair since I was a child. Naturally, my hair is both thick and wavy. Although healthy, oftentimes my hair was unmanageable due to the fact that it was sooooooo thick. I remember having to sit down (for what seemed like forever) while my mom combed out my hair and slicked it back into a TIGHT ponytail(s) to keep my hair from frizzing up. Needless to say, I’m not tender headed, because those ponytails were firmly grasped and held in place.

Once I became a little older, I no longer had to wear the ponytails, but instead wore my hair in braids. I remember LOVING to get my hair braided, due to the fact that I could do more things with it. I could wear it up, curl it, or even yet….WEAR IT DOWN! (Which was all I ever wanted to do, but couldn’t because my hair would literally frizz up if I tried to wear it down). When my hair wasn’t in braids, it was “pressed.” What is “pressed” you say??? Well, a press is a PAINFUL process. One’s hair is pulled tightly piece by piece and straightened with an object that looks like a comb. What’s so painful about this?? Well, the comb is heated by a stove…. A STOVE. That hot comb is then applied to one’s hair to straighten it. I can’t relay to you how many times my neck, forehead, or ears have been nicked (accidentally) by a hot comb.

Eventually, when I entered high school I was FINALLY allowed to wear my down. However, to ensure that my hair didn’t frizz, I had to get a perm. A perm for a black woman is completely different from the commonly known “curly perm.” A perm (also known as a “relaxer”) is a chemical like paste that is massaged into one’s scalp. A perm keeps one’s hair straight for 3-5 months at a time. However, in order to work, the perm must be left on the scalp for 15-20 minutes. Seems easy right?...WRONG.

Remember when I said the perm is a chemical paste?? Well, often times 5 minutes in or so, one’s scalp can begin to burn due to the chemical reaction, causing scabs to form after the perm is washed out. After the perm has been washed out of one’s hair, one is then directed to sit under the dryer for an hour or is taken to the chair to have their hair blow-dried. Both of these techniques also require high levels of heat, which can also be painful if one’s stylist doesn’t know what they’re doing. After one’s hair is dried, one will then typically get their hair pressed with a hot comb and then straightened with a hair straightener. Normally, the whole process takes 3 to 5 hours, however, one’s hair will look nice and straight for approximately 2-3 weeks, where they will then repeat the process when necessary.

Why am I sharing all of this with you?? I find it interesting to analyze the great lengths that we, as black women, go through to make our hair “look good” – (equating looking good, to having straight hair). I also find it interesting that straight hair, or curly hair is considered of better quality than thick, wavy hair. It’s always been engrained in me that such was so….it’s hard to imagine a day with that not being the case…

Cited Resources

 Sundance Festival (2009). Good Hair.