Last night, I had the opportunity to catch a private screening of Chris Rock’s new docu-comedy, “Good Hair.” After much publicity and online buzz, I must say it didn’t live up to my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it was ok, but after seeing so many clips on TV, it was as if I had seen the entire movie already. I thought that there would be something more that wasn’t shown in the clips, but there wasn’t. Perhaps, he could have included a few African-American women who were proud of their natural hair to give the documentary a bit more balance.
If you’ve seen the trailer, you know that he takes viewers on a journey through African-American women and our hair plight. He delves into the obsession that some of us have with chemical relaxers and weaves. He goes behind-the-scenes to enlighten moviegoers on how both products are made. Rock even travels to India to find out how the most popular weaves are produced.
He also speaks with several celebrities including Nia Long, Raven-Symone, Dr. Maya Angelou amongst others to get their opinions on the aforementioned topics. These snippets are sprinkled throughout the film, which provide occasional funny anecdotes. In addition, there is an underlying story about a celebrated hair show that takes place in Atlanta. Throughout the film, Rock follows four of the hair show contestants around as they prepare for the big show.
All in all, “Good Hair” raises many great points about how we perceive ourselves, the lack of black-owned haircare products, and the lengths we’ll go in order to “look good.”
So I ask, “What’s the most you’ve ever paid to have your hair done?” This includes, weaves, relaxers, cut, color, etc. Are you planning on seeing the movie when it opens this Friday (in select cities) and nationwide on Oct. 23rd? Please share!
I am…I think it will be good either way.
Honestly? No.
Great post BGG!
You didn’t like it?!! Shock horror!! Great review and really good to hear what you thought of it. I cannot wait to see it, the film looks hilarious.
Actually I have plans to see it. I’m on the “creamy crack,” as some people like to call it, so it’ll be cool to see this movie having that perspective.
My natural friends have been trying to persuade me for years. Let’s see what effects this will have on me.
I did plan to see it but I’m not sure when. I’m sorry you didn’t like it. The most I’ve spent was around 300 bucks for tiny box braids and a weave in the late 80’s early 90’s way back when. Those day’s are so over for me. Kids and bills have changed all that.
I’m going to see it. I’m always talking about black hair so I’m interested to see his take on the big screen. Plus just like black owned hair care products suffer partly do to lack of support (and maybe just lack of intentionality) from black folks, I’ll def support it as you don’t see many black documentaries hit the big screen.
Anywho, the most I’ve spent on my hair was about $200–I tried a sew-in for the first time in 2007 because I was tired of combing my fro so I did that for a couple of months. It was cool, and maybe one day, I’ll try it again.
Thanks for the great review! I’ll be covering it in my blog as well! (But prolly not till next week)
Oh I encourage everyone to see it because I’m all about supporting black films/docs/etc. I’m actually a huge Chris Rock fan, so I’d never say, don’t go see it. 🙂
I’ll be seing the bootleg version….just kidding. I know we have to support our people…whatever! Anyhoo, I’ve spent a pretty penny pursuing my pretty but I am now transitioning to my natural hair. I just got tired of the “process” and I just want to be free like “they” are. I don’t know how long it will last because I am clueless about how to manage my natural hair and I don’t like braids, fros, twists or locks! Lord help me…who am I?
I’ll see it if there’s nothing else I am interested in…
Benilde Little’s Good Hair – book turned movie – featuring Halle Berry should be good. She also wrote Nappily Ever After, which was also good. They are light and fun reads…so don’t expect anything near Pulizter level…
The most I’ve spent is $100 on a relaxer at a high end salon…but I really needed to get my hair done and she was available…what was a girl to do…LOL! 🙂
We have got to get over this obsession with hair!
BGG we have talked a lot about me wanting to go natural. I just don’t know if I can do it! What in the world would i do with my hair?! I had planned to see the movie just to support Chris Rock. I was already certain that they had shown all the good parts! I’ll still check it out.
I think the most that i’ve ever spent on my hair was about $300 (includes hair). I got a sew-in a LONG time ago.
I do plan on going to see it. I’m sorry to hear that natural styles weren’t touched upon. I think the most I’ve ever paid – relaxed or natural – is $65.
i paid about $300 including hair a few times for a sew-in. places in ATL charge that w/o hair and im not talking about fusion weaves or lacefronts and stuff. just a regular sew-in install. for my relaxer, i go to this white salon and pay $95. i stretch for about 12 weeks so it doesnt hurt too bad.
idk if i wanna see this movie after ur review. plus i hate the topic. it makes me angry. i do think i saw one of my former professors on one of the previews and i guess i’d only watch to confirm that but it’s not info i just gotta have…
I will see the movie, maybe not on Friday but asap. I am excited aboutthe film. The most I have paid for my hair would probably be about 80-100 bucks for a relaxer/cut. I have never had color etc.
PJD
Sorry for the delay in saying this, but CONGRATS on your pregnancy!!! I was very happy to have read that you were expecting and wish you healthy and morning sickness-free remainder of your pregnancy.
I am VERY anxious to see this movie, but I am a bit disappointed to hear that Chris didn’t cover the natural hair perspective, especially since it was his daughter’s own natural hair that inspired the movie in the first place. I am interested in seeing the footage of his trip overseas and hearing about the “black hair market”.
I am going to support the film. I think his ultimate goal is to educate and I can certainly appreciate that.
Were you at the same screening that I was at???
I hope not because it would have been good to see you… its been a while.
The movie was better than I expected because I had my expectations sort of low being that I’m not a big Chris Rock fan.
But to answer your question the most I’ve spent on my hair is $200. Which included both buying the hair and getting it sowed in.
Oh I forgot to share my most expensive hair-do! I once spent $200 on a relaxer and cut at this high-end salon in downtown Chicago in like 2001. I must say, to this day I have never received so many compliments on my hair! ahahahahah
I guess it was well-worth it, but I have yet to spend that kind of money again on my hair. I doubt I ever will.
@Miss Mika – Thanks so much for your well-wishes and kind words! 🙂 I’m so excited!!
@Eb the Celeb – Yeah, the Dr. Miracle’s/WEEN screening? Too bad I didn’t see you!! I didn’t stay for the panel discussion though. Too tired! LOL
I really don’t know how much I’ve paid. I think maybe $100-$130 for a cut and color (or maybe close to $200 for braids in the 90s).
I don’t spend money at the shop like that anymore, BUT with natural hair I do buy more natural products and $7.99 a week for a bottle of conditioner, $40 Miss Jessies products and $12 hair spray from Carol’s Daughter does add up.
Thanks for this post! I’m going to support the movie, but I’m won’t get my hopes too high.
I do plan to see this film. The most I’ve ever spent in one setting on my hair was $90. This isn’t super, super expensive but it was expensive enough for me at that time (I was in college). This included a relaxer, shampoo, conditioner,wrap, and brow arching.
500$ maybe more? occasionally I don’t like the hair I just did so I do it twice
planning to keep my hair natural no more relaxer or chemical treatments
all natural, perhaps now and than a weave
I’m all grown up and realized I could have bought a lexus with all I had spent on my hair for the past 5 years only lol or put a downpayment for a new victorian house
great post!..this sounds very interesting.
awwww man! i’m glad to hear your take though. i want to make plans to see it on friday, but there was really no balance? i wish solange would have cut off her hair a bit sooner to be involved in the project lol
i’ve probably paid about $150-$180 for extensions (skinny/micro kinky twists).
I am dying to see this movie, hope I’m not disappointed like you were.
Hi there,
I don’t plan to see the movie! Chris Rock is presenting the topic (it seems) to white audiences because no one is mentioning that he is revealing ANYTHING new to black audiences!
A black woman who gets her hair done in the salon every Saturday will easily spend $3,500 per year.
A black woman who has a weave in her hair who gets it done every eight weeks will easily spend $2,000 a year just for the hair (depending on how thick she wants her weave and how long her weave is).
Solange said on Oprah that she spent $20,000 to $30,000 a year on keeping her long weave maintained. I don’t think that the average sista who is not in the entertainment business is putting up $1,800 to $2,500 a month to keep her hair maintained.
Pepa mentioned in the film that a full head weave costs $5,000 but most sistas know that they can get a full head weave for $500 that looks just as good as Robin Givens’ hair in “Boomerang”!!
*LOL*
I’ve worn my hair bone straight and I’ve worn my hair natural and in braids. I prefer to wear my hair chemically-managed.
The most I’ve spent on my hair in one day is probably $300-$500.
Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa
Good point on C. Rock including women with natural hair–would’ve added a new dimension to it. I thought he was really examining the way we have been taught to hair our natural hair and what lengths we go to in order to achieve either a more manageble or acceptable style. I paid 250$ for braids once–PLUS tip–now I braid my hair myself!