Good Hair

Fascinating and informative. Chris Rock is, as always, wonderful, and I especially loved see the interview with Maya Angelou! The scene where Rock is trying to sell an Afro wig to a Korean wig buyer is priceless. I kinda felt guilty laughing, but I'm certain it was meant to be comedy. Prior to this film I knew nothing about the hair black market in India, so this opened my eyes to yet another form of greedy exploitation. I'd heard of the legendary Bronner Bros. show, and it was fun to be able to see some of the craziness. Also, it was delightful to see Chris Rock with his precious daughters. Even women who are all too familiar with the culture of black hair will learn and probably be shocked when Chris Rock interviews the Chinese and Korean beauty shop suppliers, and visits the sweatshops in India.The documentary deliberately focuses on black women because it's made by a black guy who has a black grandma, a black mama, a black wife, and black daughters.For me, one of the things that contributes most to the comedy parts of the documentary, is that none of the people in the film are playing characters that are supposed to be "stereotypes"; they are all just being themselves. One reviewer here named specific stereotypes and I laughed so hard. That "down white hair dresser" is the elite Atlanta stylist, Jason Griggers, and the "gay flamoyant" guy is celebrity hairstylist Derek J (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), and he's basically an icon. The slick stylist doing deals with the giggly Indian hair smuggler selling human hair out of a suitcase, is Elgin Charles, who has a famous salon on Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. (In real life, to his credit, he has relatively fair pricing within the wanton world of weaves).I didn't think the scenes about relaxers were "judgmental" toward the women who make them, or even toward the manufacturers. Rock shows positives and negatives, I think. And I didn't feel people were being "mocked" as much as they were displayed for an audience through the eyes of a comedian. No, white women weren't mocked for having injected "botox in their face and fat in their lips",(as one reviewer wrote) but that scene where Griggers gets both is absolutely making fun of the bizarre white guy having the procedures done...when Griggers says "Right now I'm not feeling as beautiful as I expected to feel"...It's impossible not to laugh.One thing that I found that was not funny, but upsetting, was showing the everyday, hard working women paying steep sums for hair that might have been literally stolen off the heads of some Indian women. I think this is the most important part of the film. It seems incredibly off-balance that the women in India are "sacrificing" their hair, only to have it taken and sold for sums of which they can't even conceive. Their temple is as rich as the Vatican? Because of selling human hair? I would love to know what this temple gives back to the population that is its goldmine hair-farm. It sure doesn't look like much.I think Rock was being responsible by showing concern at the age of the children getting the "creamy crack" treatment, and he was obviously appalled when he saw the Indian baby getting her tiny head forcibly shaved so somebody could make a wig.Rather than judge or mock I think Chris is urging people to think about what they do to themselves, and why they do it. I think he cares about his audience, and he wants us to know, for example, that sodium hydroxide can be nasty stuff if it's used the wrong way or in excess amounts. He wants people to examine the reasons for burned scalps, hair loss, singed skin, and even baldness, or for paying thousands of dollars for hair that's manually had bugs pulled out of it in Indian slums, to determine whethor or not they are programmed responses that might be outdated.I agree that it's a shame the Natural Movement was not highlighted more, not only because showing natural hair helps little black girls to see how beautiful it is, but also because it would have been excellent marketing for incredible companies like Kinky Curly, Curl Junkie, Oyin Handmade, Camille Rose, Wonder Curls, and so many others that are being built in response to the needs of the community.The scenes with Maya Angelou are treasures, and her perplexity over hair styling methods was both adorable and inspiring. Over all, even if Chris Rock did not seem to be supporting black women's choices for their hair, Rev. Al Sharpton expelled any such thoughts that might arise in the minds of viewers when he proclaimed the African-ness of both relaxers and 'fros, as only he can do... After he finished, I swear I heard a loud, communal Amen, in my head.A very enjoyable and insightful documentary!

Every black man and woman needs to see this documentary. Chris really did an excellent job waking people up to the toxicity that is the relaxer and weave industry. I am disgusted at how many people are slaves to both of those. Do yourself a favor. Watch it, and go natural. You will not regret it. Thank you, Chris for waking some of us up.

In the past week, a 16-year-old African American became the 2012 Olympic women's all-around gymnastics champion. This is an amazing feat for anyone, especially one so young. And while some of the press seemed to focus on her hair, how it should have been "done" before she went out to charm the world, her smile and the smiles of her teammates and little girls everywhere didn't really care. So it was purely by chance I came across this wonderful film, which focused on an issue so many don't know about, or understand, or realize is so important. Good Hair takes us around the world, from Atlanta, to Los Angeles, to India, and presents a humorous and very honest look at the attainment of a "crowning glory" - and complete with occasional agony - in the world of hair for many women. Sprinkled with interviews by the likes of Ice-T, Maya Angelou, Raven-Simone, Nia Peebles, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and many others, Chris Rock explores a world of toxic chemicals concocted to create that "ideal" look, the racial economic chasm of who really is behind this multi-billion dollar industry, and the excitement of over the top and the over stylized "do" at a convention for champions of the black female hairstyling world. With the impetus of wanting to explain to his two young daughters what "Good Hair" really is, Mr. Rock has shown America a peek into a world where sacrifice in the name of "Good Hair" begins at tender young ages, and affects aspects of life from relationships to financial gains and losses. So to all those who feel a 16-year-old should focus more on her hair...watch this and remember that sometimes there is more to life than that good hair.

I liked the film very much; I liked how comedian/actor Chris Rock tries to get to the 'root' (pun intended!) of 'Good Hair'/African-American hair and why African-American women spend thousands of dollars trying to look beautiful. Chris tries his best to answer his daughter's question when she asked him, 'Daddy, how come I don't have good hair?' From the beauty parlors, barber shops, and beauty stores in America to travelling to India, Chris wants to know about African-American hair; he also goes to a lab and learns about hair relaxers and how it can burn your scalp and may cause blindness if not used properly. One woman called relaxer the 'creamy crack' because it's very 'addicting' when women frequently relax their hair which makes sense to me! Chris also asked famous African-American celebrities about their hair, particularly about weaves; there was not a lot about Natural hair and that is where Chris should have asked some of the women as to why they went Natural. I liked the 'Bronner Bros. Hair Show' in Atlanta, Georgia, and wow! The show was impressive and hairstylist Derek J definitely deserved the prize money! The film was good with the exception of some brief language but it was a good film; like comedian/writer Paul Mooney said: 'When your hair is relaxed, white people are relaxed, but if your hair is nappy, white people ain't happy!' Personally, I would never relax my hair or wear a weave and I love my Natural hair, even if it is nappy! So what?! It's my hair, my choice!!! REST IN POWER to the following people in the film: Dr. Maya Angelou (nee Marguerite Annie Johnson) (April 4, 1928-May 28, 2014) and Mr. Andre O'Neal Harrell (September 26, 1960-May 7, 2020): 'You both may be gone but you will never, ever be, forgotten.'

Great movie! Especially if you’re entering the hair stylist career and want to learn a few things.

Funciona bien aqui en España

Ich habe selbst Afro Locken und kann den Film daher gut nachvollziehen. Es ist oft lustig aber auch ernst.Lohnt sich zu kaufen, auch wenn es nur auf Englisch ist.

J'ai adoré ce dvd ! j'en ai entendu parlé sur internet car je m'intéresse beaucoup à la coiffure en général et particulièrement à la coiffure afro. J'ai déjà vu des extraits ce qui m'a vraiment motivé à acheter le film.Chris Rock se montre tout à fait drôle et sympathique, il nous fait découvrir un monde tout à fait incroyable et malconnu, celui de la coiffure noire aux Etats-Unis. Tout en révélant les secrets des stars et autres Madame Toutlemonde (celui de porter des extensions, perruques indétectables...), il réussit à nous surprendre sans porter de jugement sur ces femmes en quête de beauté.Je le recommande vivement !

very interesting to watch, i think its good for women to see it, i think its nice to understand the ethical background and even technical background, of what we use in our hair, as in relaxers (the seriousess of it) where human hair extensions come from etc. i mean, if you are using relaxers and extensions/weaves etc then that means you are an adult (well hopefully you are) but my point is if you are an adult, then you will still be able to make your mind up at then end of the docu, whether you want to take the natural route and leave all that fake stuff alone, or if you still want to use them you will perhaps look at ways of buying ones that provide more certainty of safety with regards the relaxers or morale as far as the human hair goes. anyway its an ok watch, i would rather have watched it on t.v than to buy it because once you watch it, thats kind of it really, i'm not likely to pick this up and watch it again, no need because its not entertainment its just kind of a FYI sought of thing. but i suppose at least i have it in my collection to show my daughter when shes older.