Just the title of this documentary makes me cringe but I went to see it anyway .  It’s a good movie that takes a humorous look at a subject that has long been taboo in the African American community.  I’m so glad Chris’ daughter asked the simple question, “Daddy, why don’t I have good hair?”  We (African Americans) never talk about this topic in mixed race settings.  Now it’s out there for the whole world to discuss.  In the documentary, he brings out the good, the bad and the ugly.

I was somewhat disappointed that the documentary does not discuss natural hair.  Most of the discussion is about weaves and relaxer.

The Good

Just bringing up this subject and taking an in-depth look at natural hair vs relaxed hair vs weaves.  The movie gives at least a modicum of understanding to why black women don’t want men to touch their artificially enhanced hair (my term not Chris’).  Most black men already understand why most black women don’t want their hair to get wet.  With the rise in mixed race relationships, it’s more than time for this “good hair/bad hair” discussion to come out of the closet.

The Bad

I was totally unaware of the cost of getting a good weave.  Some of the stylists who were interviewed charge $1,000 for the weave – the hair is extra.  One of the stylist lets her customers put their weave on lay-away.  We are not talking about women who make lots of money, we’re talking about women who are students, school teachers and other low to middle income jobs.

Even though I’ve been a black woman all of my life, I never spent a lot of money at the hair salon.  When my hair was relaxed, I went to the salon every six weeks to get my relaxer touched up; got a hair cut every three weeks and styled my own hair in between.

The Ugly

Mothers are taking toddlers to the salon to get relaxers.  Need I say more?

For more than 50 years I’ve listened to people point out the kids with “good hair” aka hair that is straight or wavy.  It’s hard to believe that a race of people still place so much value on the length and texture of hair.

My Hair

As a young child I wore plaits just like every other little girl in the community.  From my  pre-teen years until age 17 my hair was pressed with a straightening comb.  At age 17 I went natural and wore an afro until I was in my mid-twenties.  For at least 25 years I relaxed my hair.  Not necessarily because I thought it was more beautiful relaxed but because of my career and my husband’s career in corporate America.  He was an account manager for a Fortune 500 company and I was an executive assistant for the same.  I don’t know about now, but then natural hair styles were seen as radical or militant and could be a hindrance to your career and your spouses career.

Side note about hair and careers:  S. Epatha Merkerson, Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on Law and Order wears a wig on the television show.  In real life she wears her hair natural.  Also, Judge Maybelline, the former judge from Divorce Court had a dispute with the shows producers about her hair.

Two years ago when menopause hit and hot flashes took over, my hair was out of control.  My solution – I cut it all off and went natural.  Not only is it less maintenance, but it’s much cheaper and less time consuming for me to go to the barber shop and get a hair cut.  I don’t care if it’s humid outside or if I get caught in the rain.  My hair is wash and go.  It’s short, neat and cheap.  I’m finally free of caring how other people categorize me or my hair.