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"Hair" has too many kinks

When I first heard about the documentary "Good Hair", I must admit I tensed at the idea of what my mother would consider "airing dirty laundry". What beauty secrets would Mr. Rock reveal? And, ultimately, why would he reveal them? After watching the film I realized that I would've preferred a scathing exposé to this less-than-mediocre attempt at a documentary. Mr. Rock has chosen an interesting topic, yet he meanders without a unifying purpose and opts for the easy joke over true insight. A few moments with great potential are presented (a trip to India, an attempt to sell "black" hair, a black hair care convention showcasing the lack of black-owned businesses) but his investigation feels incomplete.

Even the premise for the film is under-examined. We're told it was all sparked by his daughter's conversation with a friend. But even if Mr. Rock overheard this discussion, at what point did he suggest she consult her mother? That is never addressed. As a young girl, I can't remember a time when my father was the person I ran to with my pressing female-oriented questions. If I did, I'm sure his stock response was "ask your mother". Mr. Rock's wife, Malaak, is both spared and indicted by her lack of presence in the documentary. He doesn't mention her even once. I am to believe that his daughter did pose her inquiry regarding her hair solely to Mr. Rock and he never felt compelled to share with his wife. Shouldn't this be a journey for both parents? And what about his own personal experience? Mr. Rock's mother happens to be a black woman with straightened hair too, yet throughout the documentary, he appears full of wonder as if he had never been exposed to this side of black culture.

The film continues in this superficial exploration of what constitutes "good" hair. Mr. Rock never examines the roots (pun intended) of this concept. He gives us general terms: any hair that is not coarse and resembles, in texture, women's hair of European descent. Does this mean there's a desire to be a white woman or a desire for mainstream acceptance or a desire for something else? Does it mean a disavowal of heritage? Is this only an issue among blacks in the United States? Is this a recent phenomenon? There was an entire decade dedicated to refuting the notion of "good" hair in the black community. For the good or the bad, Mr. Rock skips important milestones (i.e., the escape from "nappy" hair produced the first black/female self-made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker) to the detriment of a full understanding, historically and otherwise, of his topic.

But it's not all bad. In one notable scene, Mr. Rock visits a chemist to display the dangerous potency of the chemicals used to straighten hair. It is educational (finally) and interesting to see the chemist use these very same substances to dissolve soda cans. Further, it's amusing to see the chemist's genuine surprise when Mr. Rock explains that these chemicals are used in processing black hair. The scientist asks, "why anyone would do that?" Mr. Rock's response is simply: "black women want to be white." This is obviously a tongue-in-cheek reaction (I hope) but, from the lack of diversity in the portrayal of black women in the film, it's not hard to be confused. Mr. Rock was raised in Brooklyn, NY, the unofficial natural hair capital of the United States, yet there is a paucity of women in the film to represent the "other" side of the story. Speaking of harmful chemicals, there's a great scene in which a (white) hairstylist visits a dermatologist to receive Botox injections. Mr. Rock doesn't give any witty comments about having a deadly toxin introduced directly into the bloodstream.

Who is Mr. Rock's intended audience? He claims it to be his daughters but the film is definitely not a lesson in "loving yourself". The across-the-board indictment of black women is presented for comic effect but comes off as misleading and often mean-spirited throughout the documentary. I cringed when he ran his fingers through a woman's hair to check if there were tracks, or when he exclaimed in disbelief at a black woman with long hair that was...gasp, all her hair! At least be funny if you're going to be that ignorant. Mr. Rock, hiding under the guise of a documentary, took many liberties with his presentation of information.

There are so many nuances to this issue that it's a shame Mr. Rock chose a quick laugh over a true investigation. Every black female has a hair story. Every one. Whether it's the time someone of another race invaded her personal space by touching her hair without permission, or fielding inappropriate questions about her hair (what happens when it gets wet?), there is an experience based solely on hair. But the concept of good hair is so provocative because its potency lies in the within-race biases and prejudices. Recently a girlfriend of mine who has worn her hair natural (e.g., without any chemicals) for years decided she wanted a change. She straightened her hair (again, without using any chemicals) and the backlash was immediate. She was upset that many of her friends questioned why she didn't keep her hair natural. However, in her mind, it was natural since no chemicals were ever used. It was as if her 'sistahood pass' had been revoked. What's the deal with black women and their hair?

That's the overall question I thought Mr. Rock would examine. Why will black women spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year to maintain their ‘do? Is it possible to create a productive dialogue exposing the social/cultural implications of this issue especially between black men and black women? The major flaw in this Rockumentary is the lack of sincerity and true desire to find out more about an uncomfortable subject. There was a potential for cringe-inducing moments that might have lead to a better clarity on the topic. In other words, the documentary could've been so much better...or worse, depending on your perspective.