“Good Hair” Chris Rocks new documentary
In the documentary “Good Hair,” comedian Chris Rock casts a critical and humorous eye on the Black hair-care business and explores the historical, political and social issues that play into the relationship between African-American women and their hair.
The film follows Rock as he journeys from New York to Atlanta, Dallas, Birmingham, Los Angeles and even India to find the finer points of the story. Along the way, he encounters hair-care professionals, beauty and barbershop patrons and celebrities including Raven Symoné, Ice-T, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Nia Long and Salt-N-Pepa, all of whom offer their hair-raising and candid perspectives.
Meanwhile, on the India trip, Rock visits a Hindu temple to witness a religious hair-sacrificing ceremony called “tonsuring.” A highly-prized commodity, human hair is one of the country’s largest exports, and each year more than 10 million Indians sacrifice hair to deity.
After the hair is shorn, it is processed and sold to international dealers — but what cut religious leaders and government officials receive is something audiences are left to ponder.
“They were very gracious to let us film at the temple, but we had to get out of their fast,” joked Rock when quizzed last week for more detail.
As the film points out, extensions are a big part of the business — it is estimated that hair weaves make up about 65 percent of the $9 billion revenue driven annually by Black hair care. And depending on the length, texture and type (synthetic or human), it can cost anywhere from $400 to more than $4,000.
On camera, video vixen Melyssa Ford, with a hint of embarrassment, admits she has spent around $18,000 in a year on weaves.
“That was the biggest shocker for me,” said Rock, while promoting the film at a Beverly Hills hotel.
“The money being spent is big and another thing we found out is the effect this can have on relationships. I mean it’s like dating somebody with a drug habit. Imagine if a woman was dating a guy and he spent almost $10,000 on baseball cards. It probably wouldn’t work.”
