Good Hair is a practical guide to hair care for African American women. Lonnice Brittenum Bonner shares many of her own bad hair times along with her experiments with weaves and wigs and braids and Jheri curls. She goes on to illustrate the text with photos of the results of those experiments along with the healthier alternatives she now recommends.
Bonner's advice is to understand the structure and composition of African hair and find styles that take advantage of its natural curliness instead of injuring it with strong chemicals and heat in an effort to change its nature. She discusses the "science of hair": why hair grows straight, wavy or curly. She talks of the chemistry of how relaxers work and also explains how to best grow out a relaxer.
Good Hair covers grooming tools, shampooing, conditioning, and daily maintenance. While suggesting substitute light texturing for perming, it describes newer wet-set styling approaches. The book also offers pragmatic "lifestyle" advice about coping with humidity, wind, and hot and cold weather.
Good Hair teaches you not to rely on harsh treatments and chemicals. It is a funny, folksy, personal, and very wise reflection on the powerful role that hair can play in creating a positive self-image.
 |