"Good Hair" Review

I've never been happy with my hair. I have almost-straight, fine hair with a slight wave that always looks uneven and is heinous as soon as humidity is a factor. Curly haired girls always scolded my complaints on account of their untamable locks. Stick-straight haired girls always complimented my ability to hold some curl when I wanted too, a feat that they never could achieve. I assumed that nobody was happy with themselves. However, growing up in a mostly white and hispanic community, I never knew just how discontent some people were. Good Hair taught me with zeal.

Good Hair
Starring: Chris Rock, Maya Angelou, Al Sharpton
Directed by Jeff Stilson
My Opinon: Educational and a bit disturbing,
but lengthy.

In Good Hair, Comedian Chris Rock explores the culture surrounding African American women and their locks. His documentary seems to stem from a decision to educate himself as well as others on the lengths that women go to in order to achieve "good hair" (read: white hair). Rock's two young daughters provoke his own interest in the topic. This is a wonderful thread due to the heartwarming snippet into Chris Rock's life as a father.

 The film begins with the Bronner Brothers annual hair convention: a festivity complete with vendors and a very expensive-looking and flamboyant hairstyle competition. We are soon introduced to a couple contending hairstylists and they're all crazy.

The most fascinating parts of the documentary are not the convention, which is merely a sub-par narrative tool that structures the film. It provides very little insight into the culture, aside from stating financial statistics. The most impressive and entrancing parts of the film come from Rock's navigation through the underbelly of African American hair culture. Rock and the audience learn what hair relaxer actually is and what it does when left on a chicken breast - an image I will never forget. Rock takes us as far as India: the hair exporting capital of the world.

Rock reveals the true price behind straight hair and human hair weaves. The lessons are valuable but the film probably should have ended after his return to the states. Once the film navigates back to the hair competition, it begins to get stale. It's a good frame for a beginner documentarian, however, it takes away from the potency of those cold hard facts. The sacrifices these women make to have "good hair" are shocking and upsetting, but also quite remarkable. The reasons they give for doing it are the most disturbing, as racially charged societal pressures seem to hold the key. It's certainly a wake-up call well worth the watch.