Beautiful Black Hair

“As far as neatly and efficiently chronicling African Americans and the importance of their hair, Hair Story gets to the root of things.” —Philadelphiaweekly.com Hair Story is a historical and anecdotal exploration of Black Americans’ tangled hair roots. A chronological look at the culture and politics behind the ever-changing state of Black hair from fifteenth-century Africa to the present-day United States, it ties the personal to the political and the popular. Read about: Why Black American slaves used items like axle grease and eel skin to straighten their hair. How a Mexican chemist straightened Black hair using his formula for turning sheep’s wool into a minklike fur. How the Afro evolved from militant style to mainstream fashion trend. What prompted the creation of the Jheri curl and the popular style’s fall from grace. The story behind Bo Derek’s controversial cornrows and the range of reactions they garnered. Major figures in the history of Black hair are presented, from early hair-care entrepreneurs Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam C. J. Walker to unintended hair heroes like Angela Davis and Bob Marley. Celebrities, stylists, and cultural critics weigh in on the burgeoning sociopolitical issues surrounding Black hair, from the historically loaded terms “good” and “bad” hair, to Black hair in the workplace, to mainstream society’s misrepresentation and misunderstanding of kinky locks. Hair Story is the book that Black Americans can use as a benchmark for tracing a unique aspect of their history, and it’s a book that people of all races will celebrate as the reference guide for understanding Black hair. “A comprehensive and colorful look at a very touchy subject.” —Essence

A book with answers to every question you have about your hair, real solutions that work. Cutting edge information that takes the guesswork out of hair care, showing you exactly what to do, how to do it, and why.

A complete program for improving and maintaining the health of your hair - Identify your hair type and find the products that match - How to shampoo and condition for the best hair possible - How best to use your dryer and keep your hair healthy and strong - How to take care of your scalp to prevent itching, flaking and dryness - How to manage new growth and comb your hair without pulling or pain - and, how to get the best from your salon and stylist

A celebration of family tradition and natural hair, in this adorable rhyming board book! A la pequeña EJ le hace mucha ilusión acompañar a su mamá y a su abuela por primera vez a la peluquería. Quiere encontrar un peinado especial, pero con tantas opciones... ¿cómo elegir? A los lectores les encantará “probar” peinados junto a EJ, quien se imagina luciendo distintos estilos. ¿Deberá llevar moños, con cintas y lazos? ¿O mechones que le hagan cosquillas? Por suerte, su mamá está allí para alentarla: “Tu pelo [...] es rizado como las nubes allá arriba. ¡Es hermoso con cualquier estilo que elijas!”Little EJ is so excited to join her mom and grandmommy for her first-ever trip to the hair salon. She wants to find a special hair style. But with so many options... how can she choose? Readers will love “trying on” hair styles alongside EJ, as she imagines herself in a variety of styles. Should she try afro puffs, with ribbons and bows? Or twisty spirals that tickle her nose? Luckily, Mommy is there to offer reassurance: “Your hair is curly, like clouds in the sky. It’s beautiful no matter which style you try!”

A Kirkus Best Book of the Year Stamped from the Beginning meets You Can't Touch My Hair in this timely and resonant essay collection from Guardian contributor and prominent BBC race correspondent Emma Dabiri, exploring the ways in which black hair has been appropriated and stigmatized throughout history, with ruminations on body politics, race, pop culture, and Dabiri’s own journey to loving her hair. Emma Dabiri can tell you the first time she chemically straightened her hair. She can describe the smell, the atmosphere of the salon, and her mix of emotions when she saw her normally kinky tresses fall down her shoulders. For as long as Emma can remember, her hair has been a source of insecurity, shame, and—from strangers and family alike—discrimination. And she is not alone. Despite increasingly liberal world views, black hair continues to be erased, appropriated, and stigmatized to the point of taboo. Through her personal and historical journey, Dabiri gleans insights into the way racism is coded in society’s perception of black hair—and how it is often used as an avenue for discrimination. Dabiri takes us from pre-colonial Africa, through the Harlem Renaissance, and into today's Natural Hair Movement, exploring everything from women's solidarity and friendship, to the criminalization of dreadlocks, to the dubious provenance of Kim Kardashian's braids. Through the lens of hair texture, Dabiri leads us on a historical and cultural investigation of the global history of racism—and her own personal journey of self-love and finally, acceptance. Deeply researched and powerfully resonant, Twisted proves that far from being only hair, black hairstyling culture can be understood as an allegory for black oppression and, ultimately, liberation.

Don't Touch My Hair: The ABC Book for Loving Your Beautiful Black Hair is book that helps young Black girls love their hair that way it is early in their lives. It helps them understand that their hair may be different but it's still beautiful.

A collection of empowering stories and captivating photos, My Beautiful Black Hair celebrates an aspect of Black femininity—natural hair—and embraces it as a central part of Black womanhood. "A powerful celebration of self-acceptance and sisterhood." – Kirkus Review My Beautiful Black Hair is a book about Black women embracing their natural hair. One hundred and one Black women share their stories of learning to love their natural hair and the immense power in that self-love. St. Clair Detrick-Jules was inspired to write the book when her little sister, Khloe, came home from preschool where a classmate had told her that her hair was ugly. St. Clair wanted to send a message to Khloe and young Black women everywhere that their hair is beautiful just the way it is. The stories she captured reveal both the depth of the physical and emotional damage done to many women by relaxing their hair and trying to make it look "acceptable," and the incredible resilience, self-love, and acceptance they gained by learning to embrace their hair and free themselves from Eurocentric beauty standards. Accompanied by beautiful and intimate photographs of each woman, the book is an encouraging voice for young Black women and the adults who remember their own journeys to self-acceptance. WRITTEN BY BLACK WOMEN, FOR BLACK WOMEN: With powerful interviews and vivid photographs, this book offers an uplifting message to empower any woman looking to love herself just the way she is. It is a love letter to Black women everywhere navigating their relationships to their own hair. TIMELY TOPIC: My Beautiful Black Hair celebrates Black women's ability to embrace their natural hair and let go of toxic thinking and processes around manipulating it. UNIQUE TAKE ON FEMINISM: This book offers an uplifting message to empower any woman looking to love herself just the way she is as well as a love letter to Black women everywhere navigating their relationships to their own hair. Perfect for: Black and Afro-Latinx women from their 20s to 40s, Black and Afro-Latinx parents with young children, fans of women's empowerment stories

A history of the culture and politics behind the ever-changing state of black hair - from 15th century Africa to present-day US - this fascinating book is an entertaining look at the intersection of the personal, political and popular aspects of hair styles, tracing a unique aspect of black American history. An entertaining and concise survey... A book that successfully balances popular appeal with historical accuracy' - Publishers Weekly 'Impressive work of cultural history' - Book Page 'Comprehensive and colourful' - Essence'