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Chris Rock is a whole lot of things: actor, writer, producer, comedian. He’s also the devoted father of two adorable young girls—who, at their young age, shouldn’t have a care in the world. But when his older daughter asked him why she didn’t have “good hair,” Rock decided to get to the bottom of the matter of “good hair” among African American women—and the result is his documentary, simply titled Good Hair.
In Good Hair (which was directed by Jeff Stilson), Rock explores the world of African American hair—the perceptions, the styles, the products, the phobias, the regimens, and, of course, the multi-million-dollar industry behind it. He interviews popular entertainers, businessmen, and stylists. He studies the chemical makeup of relaxers and other chemical treatments. He examines the weave—where it comes from, what’s involved in the process, and who pays for it. And, of course, he talks to normal, everyday people—the women (and men who love them) who deal with the hazards, the salon time, and the ridiculous costs that come with having “good hair.”
And it all builds up to the Hair Battle Royale at the annual Bronner Bros. Hair Show in Atlanta, where four of the top stylists of African American hair (including a Botoxed white guy) compete for money, prestige, and a WWE-style belt.
No matter what your skin color—or your hair texture—you’ll be fascinated by this eye-opening (or I suppose you should just bite the bullet and say it already: hair-raising) documentary. In fact, it could be even more fascinating for clueless white chicks like me, who may have seen and heard about these creams and chemicals and processes before but have no idea what’s really involved. Even those of us who have spent hours at a salon, our heads covered in tight curlers and drenched in a pungent-smelling solution, in an attempt to get the perfect perm, will be amazed (and even horrified) by the things that some of these women go through (and the amount of money they invest) just to feel like they fit in.
Though Rock is an awkward interviewer—and his narration does take some getting used to—his wise-cracking style turns an informative (and almost epic) documentary into a rather entertaining 90 minutes. Still, some of the interviewees manage to steal the spotlight away from him from time to time—especially the barbershop full of men who are all too happy to weigh in on the matter of their women’s hair.
It probably won’t change the way women feel about their hair—and it probably won’t shake up the industry, either—but Good Hair is an interesting and often entertaining documentary. After seeing it, one thing is certain: you’ll never be able to walk down the street again without studying the hair of the women around you. Just don’t try to touch it—or you may lose an arm.
