Good Hair

Good Hair (2009) is a documentary comedy you can watch online on iFILM. Chris Rock hosts and guides the whole thing, and it all started with a question from his young daughter — why isn't her hair "good" hair? — that sent the comedian looking for an answer across America and beyond.

Rock wanders through beauty salons, drops in on the wild hairstyling battles of Atlanta, visits chemical labs cooking up relaxer, and even travels to Indian temples that supply hair for pricey weaves. The conversation keeps circling back to money, self-image and relationships: Black hair care is a multi-billion-dollar business wrapped around a thorny story of which look gets called "right." Along the way he talks with Maya Angelou, Nia Long, Ice-T and many others.

Director Jeff Stilson keeps the tone light, but underneath the jokes sits a real discussion of race and identity. The film took a Special Jury Prize at Sundance. Stream Good Hair (2009) online on iFILM.