Chris Rock's Good Hair Documentary: Something to Talk About

Hair. No matter what ours is, we wish is was straighter, darker, lighter, thicker, thinner, more curly. Whatever it isn't, is what we want it to be. It's a life-long battle, struggle, love-and-hate relationship.

And yet, it's only hair.

And yet, it's everything.

That is why comedian Chris Rocks' documentary Good Hair -- about black women's issues with their hair -- is sure to spark discussion and debate, no matter what color or race the viewer may be.

Rock takes us on a fascinating journey through hair weaves, relaxers and the amount of money black women spend on hair. Eye-opening facts emerge, including that there are practically no African-American owned hair product companies: they're mostly Asian. We're also treated to a scientific experiment showing that hair relaxers have enough chemicals to completely dissolve a Coke can.

When Rock learns that much of the hair used for creating extensions for black women comes from India, he travels there and discovers it is actually one of India's largest exports. He visits a Hindu temple where more than 10 million people -- most of them poor -- sacrifice their hair to God in a religious ceremony. Ironically, once cut, religion goes out the window and a multi-million dollar industry rears it's head: the sacrificed hair is processed and sold to hair dealers around the world who, in turn, sell it to local dealers who, in turn, sell it to salons and hair vendors.

The documentary is interspersed with interviews with such celebrities as Nia Long, Ice-T, Raven Simone, Dr. Maya Angelou, Salt 'n Pepa, Eve, Tracy Thomas, and Reverend Al Sharpton. All of them offer up personal stories and observations about black women and hair. ("Relaxed" hair makes white people feel relaxed, they joke.)

Rock also visits high schools, salons, barbershops and hair dealers in places like New York, Atlanta, Birmingham and Dallas to interview local black teens, women, children and men about black women's hair.

Bottom line -- hair is big business and women are willing to spend hundreds and thousands on it to look good, even if in this flailing economy.

The film's weakest part is a through-line featuring a hair battle at the Bronner Bros. Hair Show. Watching stylists cut and shape hair on a stage with loud music and flashy costumes may be a spectacle, but ultimately uninteresting and not insightful compared to the rest of the movie.

Additionally, Rock's strength is not that of an interviewer and his voice-overs can get a little annoying. He's best taking the viewer into that world and then standing back to let us observe. Still, his name is clearly the drawing power to get viewers to board this fascinating ride because without him, the journey may not have even started.

And with this journey, the conversations about hair begin. At a recent press day, many journalists -- black, white, men and women had plenty to discuss with Rock.

Several journalists in the group wanted to know why Rock didn't explore the flip side of relaxers and showcase more black women who choose the keep their hair natural.

"That would be like doing a story on 'Hey, there's no toxins in the water,'" said Rock. "Or 'Let's do a story on people who didn't get murdered yesterday.'"

When one black, male journalist wanted to know why Rock didn't travel to Africa and show the origins of black women and their "natural" hair," Rock shot back: "That's Soledad O'Brien's job."

Good Hair is not hard-hitting like a 20/20 or 60 Minutes-type of piece. With Rock's name on it, you're bound to have comedy. Yet the film is at its best when it touches on those more serious issues which are then hilariously deflected by Rock.

"I want (viewers) to remember that they laughed," said Rock. "I'm a comedian. I make comedies. If they learn something (from this film), that's great, but I'm here to make people laugh."

Still, after Rock left the interview room, the young black man remained frustrated at the film's message he felt Rock was putting out -- "that black women don't have good hair." He and a black female reporter with natural hair in braids discussed how Rock should have done a fictional comedy film about this issue instead, or a stand-up comedy concert film dealing with hair -- just not a documentary.

Rock's co-star came to his defense.

"This movie is not about the 'natural' part about hair," said Raven Symone (College Road Trip, Cheetah Girls). "It's the fact that we put in fake hair to make it look natural."

Symone also felt that Rock didn't "have to put everything on the table" and whatever viewers feel was not addressed "should be talked about at home."

And talking about this issue is no doubt what Rock intended.

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Comments

[db08]

"This movie is not about the 'natural' part about hair," said Raven Symone (College Road Trip, Cheetah Girls). "It's the fact that we put in fake hair to make it look natural."

This comment by Symone is very telling. The implication is that African American ihair is not natural and must be changed to be so. I, like many African American women, have worn my hair permed and with braids. I even tried the jeri curl for a hot minute. In the end, I wear locs and love them. I get so many compliments by everyone.

I think black women should wear what makes them comfortable but when you are afraid to be seen in your natural hair, do not know how to care for it, can't get it wet, and don't consider it "natural"...well, there is some thinking to do. I am not sure Rock's documentary will do that. Clearly it did not do so for Symone.

His documentary may be funny but it may be at the expense of black women.

[joceeco]

I agree with you!

[ladyfractal]

I'll definitely see this and take my partner (who is white, I'm black) to this. 16 years ago, I still straightened my hair. One day, I was scratching my head and my fingernails (which weren't that long) came away bloodied. That very day, I decided I would *never again* 'relax' my hair. I shaved it all off and let it grow out healthy and now have long(down my back) dreadlocks that I love. My hair is healthy, my scalp is healthy, I don't have to buy a whole bunch of expensive product for my hair and I no longer feel like I'm trying to live up to a standard of beauty that my genes *manifestly* do not agree with.

Cheers
LF

[Suzeaa]

Shame on Chris Rock. When high-level Hollywood types steal other people's ideas, they steal chances, dreams, futures, and usually much needed money. There is no reason a very wealthy man like Chris couldn't have given that other filmmaker some credit for her idea.

[Pippen]

Can a "white" guy comment on this or are we forbidden ? Chris is a damn funny guy and I trust anything he does is the stuff that makes me laugh even after his show is over. He's a true talent.

The topic is vaguely interesting but certainly ANYONE could have done this film. Will I see it ? Yes, but not at the theatre.

Do I care about womens hair and their vigiliance to be who they want to be ? Sorta. But lets face it, womens hair isnt for men, its for women. Because women are viscious to one another. Like appearance jihadists. We men like what we see and we go "Schwing". We dont give a damn if its curly, straight, wavey, blue, red, orange, white, whatever. If we like it we like it.

I dated several young black women when I was younger and their appearance was a big deal but not so much they were consumed by the event or draining their bank account. The only thing I noticed was they didn't want to be caught in the rain and avoided it when possible. Where as white women will walk the length of the parking lot to shop and just put their purse on their head.

Now someone can do a documentary about the untold BILLIONS of white redneck women who sit under a hair dryer in rural small towns making sure their hair looks like a beehive and able to stop shrapnel. Maybe Larry

[PorkyDomesticus]

I like Chris Rock as much as the next pig, but this seems to me the greatest waste of time and energy ive witnessed since that time i tried to get that Jewish chick to go out with me.Can't Rock find some more important black issue to take up his time? How about something on why so many black males end up in jail? How about sentencing disparities?
Hair? Who cares?

[amorvincitomnia]

This is an interesting and informative subject. I first heard the concept of "good hair" as a kid playing at my friends house and it kind of blew my mind that there was a eurocentric standard of beauty placed on many African American girls and women. Its there in the music videos, magazines, everywhere and it's a testimony to a narrow facistic standard of beauty.

[tantan75]

I will probably see this movie. Five years ago I decided not to get any more relaxers, and the experience has been freeing. When I think about the hours I wasted waiting for my stylist who's always late, sitting under dryers. The times I had to get a babysitter, because this could be an all day process. Now I'm all natural, I don't care if it rains, I go to the beach and swim. I can sleep without worrying about messing up my hair. I mean sure there are stylists who can make hair into a work of art. But why? Those poor girls with all the swirls and steps and everything. They probably wake up in the morning with a stiff neck!

[Kisha Coleman]

This was probably the worst idea for a documentary EVER! He stated on Oprah that what he does is geared toward the black community and then he states that he does comedy. When I style my hair, I've never once thought, dang, I got bad hair and I need to make it look good so white people can feel more relaxed around me. I like my hair styled the way I want to style it and I bet 99.9% of black women feel the same way. I have worn hair pieces in high school but now my hair has grown past my shoulders. I don't see anything dark and shady about wearing a weave, a perm or an afro. Totally lame.

[hjo4]

Black people have spoken and Mr. Rock' s film has been widely rejected. After all the PR it didn't crack the top 10 for in the Box Office. This speaks volumes but of course no one has the stones to address that.

[Faraway01]

I think that comment is premature as Rock's film is a documentary (docs are never a 'big' box office hit unless from Michael Moore): I think it will be widely seen after DVD release.
Rock's not going to fail just because you want him to. He wanted to start a conversation and he has. Good for him.

[honoursplendor]

I can't wait to see this film! This is a terrific topic for a documentary and I certainly do not mind a dose of a comedy to help swallow some of the hard truths about the economic and social consequences of black women's hair styling. The truth is despite refrains that "black is beautiful" and the return to more natural hairstyles including locs, fros and other natural hairdos I think the majority of black women and men do not see their hair as "good". The adoration for long silky strands is, of course, a part of a cultural heritage that worships European features incl. hair. Even today if you wear your hair natural as a black woman, outside of a large city, expect odd looks and comments from people within the community. Some would simply call this shallow. However, for many in the black community it is a integral part of self-worth and also to some extent a show of self-loathing. This is not as extreme as paper brown tests or "passing" but certainly is similar to those that bleach the heck out of their skin or feel animosity or admiration towards light complected blacks. What a complex topic is! I am hoping that, despite the comedic foundation from Rock, his film explores this darker side of the black beauty industry.