We`ve had the gentrification of our neighborhoods, our music and now our hair!

While it was fun combing through the (text)ure of Hair Story, it could have been nappier. Loaded with historical tidbits, like when certain styles came to be and who invented which product or hairstyle, I purchased the book hoping to find information about the beauty of natural hair and how to style it. I also wanted an in-depth discussion about African hair rituals. There is a brief section on this in the beginning-but not nearly enough. Surely I`m not being as harsh as the chemicals used to straighten kinky hair, but after being "lyed" to for so long, I expected a much broader discussion on the roots of Africans, hair and history.

By providing sections on slavery, the antebellum period, civil rights and Black Nationalist movements of the 60’s and 70’s, the authors deal with the politics and psychology of hair during each era of Black history in the United States. They also discussed "African inspired hairstyles" of the present. In particular, I didn’t appreciate the over simplified explanation of the locking process. For the record, Rastafarians lock their hair as a testament to their faith. Dreads do it for style. Many Rastas take offense when whites or "baldheads," (those who lack consciousness about issues affecting African peoples in the Diaspora - black or white) dread for fashion. The authors continue to document how other natural "African inspired hair-styles" became co-opted by pop culture and turned into fads.

All in all, I suspect the book was written for two reasons. To appease whites; the book concludes with a discussion about how wonderful it is that Asians and Whites can wear our hairstyles and not be ostracized. And to restore a sense of pride to Africans born outside the continent about their natural beauty. Many of us continue to weaken our hair, allowing hazardous chemicals to seep into our brains, sting our eyes and burn our skin in order to assimilate. Sure, natural hair has become a fad, but how long will it last? And when whites decide to stop "dreading", or wearing flat twists and cornrows because it ain’t "in" any more, will those of us who have chosen to remain true to our roots, become ostracized again?

Now that I`ve really gotten my kinks into a knot here`s the deal: I was hoping to dig through thick kinky, healthy roots, instead Hair Story was a little more relaxed than I cared for. Now don`t get me wrong, it really does provide a few interesting facts. For example, if you are truly interested in who the real inventor of the hot comb was and other such trivia then this may be the book for you.

Need another reason? Two sisters wrote the book. That’s my story and I’m stickin ‘ to it.