"Good Hair"

This is a phrase I came across whilst researching insecurities within women and the way they look. “Good hair” is a very important part of today’s competitive society where everyone wants their assets such as hair, skin, and body to be perfect. The definition of good hair is hair being healthy; however in today’s society this meaning has changed a lot especially between the American African women. This popular term is used to describe a black person's hair that closely resembles the hair of a typical white/Asian person (i.e. soft, manageable, long, as opposed to "nappy" or "bad" hair). The closer your hair is to a white/Asian person's, the "better" your hair is. This already shows how the majority of women are always comparing themselves to others, and following a “trend” rather than being happy with their own assets. To resolve their problems, Ethnic women use alternatives such as weave (fake hair extensions that are woven, or glued, into the hair from the track) or even chemically straighten their hair, also known as “relaxing”.I found this very interesting, as naturally an ethnic woman would have either coarse or afro texture which can be hard to manage and very dry when touched. However they are not satisfied with this hair, and would rather have “good hair” (described as long, soft and flowing) than their own hair. Through more research I also found out this was not an issue for Ethnic women before they started mixing with other communities and felt as if their hair was not good enough for the environment and society.Whilst watching the documentary film Good Hair by Chris Rock, ( A secondary source of study for American African women’s hair, and their insecurity) I had came across a few things that I found very interesting.

Quotes from doumentary

• “The lighter, the brighter the better”
• “you look at the magazines and you want to be that girl!” – Vanessa Bell Calloway (actor)
• “hair is a woman’s glory and you share that glory with your family” Dr. Maya Angelou (author)
• “good hair is good business” – Chris Rock
• “Name any famous black woman, they either have their hair relaxed or getting it relaxed now” – Chris Rock
• “The first time I got a relaxer, i remember thinking, oh look now im pretty now im beautiful, I can be closer to it at least”
• “The straighter your hair, the better, and weve been coached with that mentally since childhood“- Dr. Melanye Maclin- Carroll (dermatologist)
• “I think you’re trying to blend in, and trying to make everyone comfortable“- Raven-Symone (actor)
• “Relaxing your hair is like a torture session, and you feel this will power inside you saying the straighter the better the straighter the better, and keep it in longer knowing it will make it straighter! Even though it hurts” - Raven-Symone (actor)

Interesting Information

• There is always competition between the African American women that if they have “good hair” they are better than any other brown skinned woman who has afro hair.
• Dudley products have been valued to up to hundred million dollars the plan is worth over 10 million.
• It is proved that a splash of these chemicals in your eyes can lead to complete blindness overtime, and the more of these products you inhale, it can have a more adverse effect on your body, it can slowly kill your lungs- meaning it is a very dangerous thing to do.
• Children as young as 1 and a half year olds are getting their hair permed. Most of these being around 6 years old, who are being bullied in school for having “bad hair”
• A 4 year old girl was asked if another 4 year old girl should get a perm, she answered “yes, because you’re supposed to get a perm”
• Girls get botox done, and it hurts like a thousand killer bees have stung them.
• A weave is like a graduation from a wig
• People in india get their hair sacrificed thinking God will take it, however this hair is then bought from temples where they are sacrificed, and the money goes towards charity, however the hair is then distributed around the world from India to then be worn by American Black Women.
• Sheila Bridges has a symptom which causes hair loss in the body, however she chose not to wear a wig, because she felt that she was hiding underneath something, an looking into the mirror she did not want to look fake, but naturally beautiful.