Yesterday, Chris Rock's film Good Hair opened in select theaters in New York and the rest of America. Finally, I was able to go see what so much had been said about: a comedy documentary about African hair.
Hilarious YouTube clips had already sparked enough online and offline discussions. But also very strong reactions that Oprah had received after Chris was on her show to promote the film had stirred up controversy. Some were of the opinion that Chris shouldn't have revealed all the "secrets," others felt that they were now the "joke" of the work because people would start to consider their hair as fake, but most women thought it was good that this film existed because it has opened up the conversation about hair to the public.
Despite all the discussion, I honestly didn't know what to expect because, as Chris put it, he is first and foremost a comedian. His goal is not to give or impose his opinion, but to make people laugh. Why the subject is close to his heart is clear. One of his daughters once raved a little too long about a friend's long, smooth hair and shortly thereafter came home crying, asking why she didn't have "good" hair. That was his inspiration for the documentary. He went in search of the answer to what Black women have with hair.
You don't have to expect the deeper answer, but a hint of the veil is certainly lifted and enough is shown to at least make Black women think. The film is certainly funny here and there, but for me personally, it was nothing new under the sun. What was a revelation for me, however, was the response to the film.
Anyone who follows kroeshaar.com or has attended one of my lectures knows that relaxers are the most dangerous beauty products available on the shelves. Since the site was set up, I also realize how difficult it is to convey this message, especially to those who choose to continue relaxing. Despite the fact that my goal is to inform people and not to indoctrinate, I always get very strong reactions when I try to make it clear that you can choose to relax your hair, but that it is also essential to realize that it is not a friendly substance. I have actually been attacked a few times when I just tried to make this fact clear, and it didn't always feel good.
Of course, I know that a black woman with kinky hair who is also trying to sell you kinky hair products might not be the right person to convey this message. That I hope to benefit from selling products cannot be denied, but still, the mistrust seems a bit misplaced to me. Why would a vegetarian who sells meat be more trustworthy than a regular butcher?
Fortunately, Chris does not shy away from addressing this issue and making it clear how harmful relaxers are in the humorous documentary. In his typical comedic style, he enters the largest relaxer factory and asks the questions that we should all actually be asking. His grimaces speak volumes as a chemist demonstrates how the basic ingredient of a relaxer burns a hole in a piece of raw meat and then dissolves an aluminum can. Does anyone who uses this stuff for a long time have a chance of going bald, Chris then asks the chemist? Yes, is the answer. It also causes respiratory and other health complaints in people who have worked with this stuff for years and inhale it almost every day.
Although I knew all this, of course, and it had no shocking effect on me at all, the audience's reaction to it was a revelation for me. Even for my husband, it was a shock, even though he was well aware. Seeing the evidence on the big screen, it really dawned on him that I hadn't exaggerated. That he wasn't the only one on whom this part of the film had a shocking effect became clear when we came out of the cinema. Two young women with relaxed hair were completely in shock and said they would immediately go natural.
Whether they will actually stop remains to be seen. It seems like an initial reaction after what must be a shock if you really have no idea how harmful relaxers are. What still surprises me is that so many people really don't know how incredibly dangerous the stuff is, even though they apply it to their hair almost monthly. Many simply ignore the warning on a relaxer's label, but there's no escaping it when it's demonstrated on a big screen.
Some more themes are covered, such as our weave habits, but especially for this part, this film is a success for me. The fact that the film holds up a mirror to us and informs us. I don't think half of America will immediately stop relaxing. I don't think that's the goal either, but the fact that it provokes discussion, releases deep emotions, and makes us think hopefully gives us the chance to discuss natural hair in all honesty.
It cannot be that Black women suffer the most from hair loss while we are in the minority and spend the most money on our hair. There really needs to be a change in how we view our hair and how we deal with natural hair, if not for ourselves, then for our children. Because in two things Chris is very clear, and in both, in my opinion, he is absolutely right: No relaxers for children and what's in your head is more important than what's on it.