Chris Rock is on a quest of Good Hair

Here is a question that few ever ask. Do you like your hair?

The question has a multitude of answers depending on whom you ask. For many aging men, the answer may be no since many are losing their hair and facing being bald. And there are tens of millions made to make those men feel better by giving them more hair. Ask men that are going grey and the answer provided accounts for tens of millions on coloring additives.

But when you ask women it starts to get really tricky. And then if you are speaking to Black women, you might just get slapped.

Black women are very particular about their hair. Whether its getting it straightened, adding a weave (never ask a Black woman if she has a weave), getting braids, coloring, or maintaining a natural look a majority of Black women have difficulty with their hair. And that adds up to roughly 2 billion dollars every year.

Black women spend between 2 – 6 times as much on their hair as any other group of women. They are the single largest group that the hair care industry caters to. The majority of that money flows out of Black communities and never returns, though you can always find several hair care shops near and in every Black community across America.

Because every Black woman wants “good hair”. Whatever that means to the individual woman.

It’s a subject that Black men rarely address, and most other non-African Americans inevitably end up insulting when they bring it up. Because most do not understand what they are speaking about, nor do they respect the differences they find.

Perhaps this is why when Chris Rock’s daughter asked him about having good hair, he was inspired to make a movie about the industry.



Now I admit I am no expert on the subject. In fact I am saying so little because I know better. But I am interested in seeing this documentary. Because I am fascinated at how so many women are driven to seek out “good hair” to extreme.

In reflecting on the thought I have to say that the media has a coup in this arena. Because it has completely sold the idea that a Black woman should have hair that is reflective of genetics they don’t have. And the rest of us just assume that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Which is stupid not ignorant, because we should all know better at a glance.

The more I think of the topic, the more I want to see what Chris Rock has made. He already is clear that this is his best film work ever. While Puttie Tang is not hard to top (why did anyone let you make that?) it is quite a statement for someone in the industry for over 20 years and 31 films not including this documentary or his stand-up comedy.

I have not seen the film yet, nor any trailer footage. But in general I would say that whatever your hair, it is good. Whether you are going salt-and-pepper, with a bit of thinning, like me or braids, or whatever. The question women, and men, of whatever race ask should never be ‘how do I get good hair’ but ‘why can’t others see how beautiful (handsome) I am regardless of my hair’.