Natural: Black Beauty and the Politics of Hair | ⭐ Flexiology.Store Recommended
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Finalist, 2025 PROSE Awards: Media and Cultural Studies
How Black women celebrate their natural hair and uproot racialized beauty standards
Hair is not simply a biological feature; it’s a canvas for expression. Hair can be cut, colored, dyed, covered, gelled, waxed, plucked, lasered, dreadlocked, braided, and relaxed. Yet, its significance extends beyond mere aesthetics. Hair can carry profound moral, spiritual, and cultural connotations, serving as a reflection of one’s beliefs, heritage, and even political stance. In Natural, Chelsea Mary Elise Johnson delves into the complex world surrounding Black women’s hair, and offers a firsthand look into the kitchens, beauty shops, conventions, and blogs that make up the twenty-first century natural hair movement, the latest evolution in Black beauty politics.
Johnson shares her own hair story and amplifies the voices of women across the globe who, after years of chemically relaxing their hair, return to a “natural” style. Johnson describes how many women initially transition to natural hair out of curiosity or as a wellness practice but come to view their choice as political upon confronting personal insecurities and social stigma, both within and outside of the Black community. She also investigates “natural hair entrepreneurs,” who use their knowledge to create lucrative and socially transformative haircare ventures.
Distinct from a politics of respectability or Afrocentricity, Johnson’s argument is that today’s natural hair movement advances a politics of authenticity. She offers “going natural” as a practice of self-love and acceptance; a critique of exclusionary economic arrangements and an exploitative beauty industry; and an act of anti-racist political resistance.
Natural powerfully illustrates how the natural hair movement is part of a larger social change among Black women to assert their own purchasing power, standards of beauty, and bodily autonomy.
From the Publisher
Publisher : NYU Press
Publication date : October 15, 2024
Language : English
Print length : 296 pages
ISBN-10 : 1479814733
ISBN-13 : 978-1479814732
Item Weight : 1.25 pounds
Dimensions : 5.91 x 1.34 x 9.06 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #989,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1,359 in Grooming & Style #2,993 in African American Demographic Studies (Books) #5,321 in Women’s Studies (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 5 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
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2 reviews for Natural: Black Beauty and the Politics of Hair
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Trina Nycol –
Read it NOW!
Natural by Chelsea Mary Elise Johnson is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of Black women’s relationship with our natural hair. Johnson expertly blends personal narrative with cultural analysis, offering a deep dive into the significance of hair as both a form of expression and a political statement. Her exploration of the natural hair movement is both enlightening and inspiring, highlighting how this movement represents more than just beauty—it’s about self-love, resistance, and the reclamation of agency. Johnson’s insights into the social, political, and economic aspects of the natural hair journey are eye-opening and impactful. Overall, Natural is an essential read for anyone interested in beauty politics, identity, and the power of personal transformation.
The Bourbon-Sipping Bibliophile –
A Hair-Raising Read
Natural by Chelsea Mary Elise Johnson is a fascinating exploration of the cultural and political significance of Black hair. It’s more than just a book about hairstyles; it’s a deep dive into the history, politics, and social implications of Black hair.Johnson expertly weaves together personal anecdotes, historical context, and cultural commentary to create a compelling narrative. She delves into the complexities of the natural hair movement, examining the motivations behind it and the challenges faced by Black women who choose to embrace their natural texture.One of the most striking aspects of the book is its exploration of the intersection of beauty standards, race, and gender. Johnson highlights the ways in which societal expectations have shaped Black women’s hair choices and the impact of these choices on their self-esteem and identity.I particularly appreciated the book’s focus on the economic and political dimensions of the natural hair movement. Johnson discusses the rise of natural hair entrepreneurship and the challenges faced by Black-owned businesses in the beauty industry. She also explores the role of social media in shaping beauty trends and empowering Black women to embrace their natural hair.If you’re interested in learning more about the cultural and political significance of Black hair, I highly recommend Natural. It’s a thought-provoking and informative read that will leave you with a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding beauty, identity, and social justice.Thanks, NetGalley! I really appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.