GOOD HAIR

GOOD HAIR asks serious questions about why African American women may choose hair styles that make them appear more European. It also examines the beauty industry, the damaging side effects of hair relaxants, and the pressure surrounding appearance. Chris Rock’s concern for his daughters gives the documentary a moral center: what matters is what is inside their heads, not what is on their heads.

But the film is uneven and includes foul language, discussion of female anatomy and sexual relations, revealing outfits, simulated sex, and religious material that is sometimes treated seriously and sometimes comically. Its worldview moves between Christian and pagan ideas.

This is not a strong family movie-night choice. Older teens and adults may find worthwhile questions here, but watch it at home, where you can decide whether the content is right for your family.

After one of his young daughters says she does not have “good hair,” Chris Rock begins investigating hairstyles for African American women. He speaks with models, actresses, hairdressers, and contestants at a major trade show for black hair products.

The documentary explores weaving, hair relaxing, beauty competitions, and the industry behind these choices. It also asks why some women want their hair to look more European than African.

Two stars means this documentary has worthwhile material but delivers it unevenly. GOOD HAIR is humorous a few times and investigates a multi-million-dollar hair-product enterprise, including the possible damage and pain caused by relaxants. The trade-show competition, with dancing girls, special effects, and outrageous contestants, provides some colorful material.

The documentary’s strongest element is its central moral concern about appearance and self-worth. Its presentation is less consistent when serious Christian statements are treated comically.

GOOD HAIR presents a mixed bag of worldviews. Its central cultural question is why black women may wish to appear more European than African through their hair choices, exposing the pressure to measure beauty against someone else’s standard.

The film includes one overtly Christian contestant who prays in Jesus’ name and tells his team to fast and pray. Sometimes the film presents this seriously; at other times, it treats him comically. The documentary also includes a temple ritual in India in which women shave their heads as a sacrifice to their god, alongside the filmmakers’ observation that the temple sells the hair to salons in Beverly Hills.

Against those elements, Chris Rock’s stated desire to teach his daughters that what is inside their heads matters more than what is on their heads is a moral message the film gets right. He also references teaching them not to smoke, drink, or have a baby until they are married. The film’s longing for worth beyond outward appearance aligns with Scripture: “man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

GOOD HAIR raises worthwhile questions about beauty, identity, and self-worth, but its language, sexual material, revealing outfits, and mixed worldview make it uneven family viewing. Older teens and adults may find value in its questions; for most families, WAIT FOR HOME is the wiser choice. For a cleaner family movie night, see.