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Welcome!! This is your
health & beauty books by
African American Women connection. Order from
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 Hair
Raising: Beauty, Culture, and African American Women
Synopsis
This book addresses "the social and political
implications that hair has held for African American
women. The six chapters discuss hair and its connection
to black pride, race, advertising, gender, and women's
magazines. {Rooks} has used advertisements from
different periods to trace representations of hair,
which she then analyzes to show the political
implications for women." (Booklist) Bibliography.
Index.
Reviews
From R.R. Warhol - Choice
{This} excellent book is a welcome entry in the feminist
debates about American 'beauty culture.' In her 'attempt
to unravel the tangled meaning of hair in African
American women's lives,' Rooks (English, Univ. of
Missouri) takes a cultural-studies approach to the
history of hair-straightening products inthe late 19th
and early 20th centuries. She closely examines
advertisements for such products, looking at how African
American women were portrayed and how they portrayed
themselves in ads for product lines they owned. She also
studies African American women's magazines to trace
connections between hairstyling and gender. . . .
Concluding with a consideration of contemporary 'hair
politics,' the book addresses the significant gap in the
treatment of this subject by such feminist scholars as
Naomi Wolf (The Beauty Myth), Susan
Brownmiller(Femininity, 1984), and Lois Banner (American
Beauty). Readable, accessible,and helpfully illustrated,
this volume is a crucial addition to any
library'scollection.
From Charlie Spencer Lackey - MultiCultural Review
Even though the book focuses a great deal on the
psychological aspects of hair, it provides even more
historical information on products for black women's
hair. As a black woman I have always felt the need to
take care of my hair. It has been said many times that a
woman's hair is her crowning glory. I found the book
interesting but was somewhat disappointed that it did
not give more insight into why black women straighten
their hair.
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 Hair
Matters: Beauty, Power, and Black Women's Consciousness
From
the Publisher
Long hair in the 60s,
Afros in the early 70s, bobs in the 80s, fuschia in the
90s. Hair is one of the first attributes to catch our
eye, not only because it reflects perceptions of
attractiveness or unattractiveness, but also because it
conveys important political, cultural, and social
meanings, particularly in relation to group identity.
Given that mainstream images of beauty do not privilege
dark skin and rightly coiled hair, African American
women's experience provides a starkly different
perspective on the meaning of hair in social identity.
Drawing on
interviews with over 50 women, from teens to seniors,
Hair Matters is the first book on the politics of Black
hair to be based on substantive, ethnographically
informed research. Focusing on the everyday discussions
that Black women have among themselves and about
themselves, Ingrid Banks analyzes how talking about hair
reveals Black women's ideas about race, gender,
sexuality, beauty, and power. Ultimately, what emerges
is a survey of Black women's consciousness within both
their own communities and mainstream culture at large.
Reviews
From Library Journal
For this discussion on
the politics of black hair, Banks, a professor of black
studies at Virginia Tech, interviewed over 50 women,
from teens to seniors, to determine how hair shapes
ideas about race, gender, sexuality, beauty, and power.
Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
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 No
Lye: The African-American Woman's Guide to Natural Hair
Care by Tulani Kinard
CUSTOMER
REVIEWS - An Open Forum
Number
of Reviews: 2 Average Rating:
  A
reviewer (cmassey.piedmont@glsp.org), May 11, 2000,
THIS BOOK TELLS NO LYE.
This was
the first natural hair care book that I read. This book
is so informative. I guess that I am just so excited
about what I am learning from the natural hair care
books that they are all outstanding to me. This book
opened my eyes to why I am balding at my hairline in the
front and on the sides. Please let's just get away from
these relaxers and go back to our natural hair. I know
once I go back kinky that my hair line will return. I
highly recommend this book to open your eyes about
chemically processed hair. Natural is the way.
Also recommended: Plaited Glory, Good
Hair, Let's Talk Hair
A
reviewer, April 21, 2000,
A very GOOD guide to basic
natural hair care...
Tulani, what a beautiful name, has achieved what very
few people have managed to achieve in regard to black
hair care. She has managed to present a straight forward
no nonsense book on the management and care of African
natural, chemical free hair. The first half of the book
is the most informative. Tulani gets down and dirty as
she explains how to wash your hair, what types of
products to buy for your hair type and how to maintain
healthy hair. I am tired of reading reviews by some
women who complain that product names were not given.
Product names are outdated before a book even goes to
print. What is even better and is displayed through out
this book is what are the ingredients you need to have
in your products. What are the ingredients you don't
want in your products. Her warnings are clear and
concise and she always tells you exactly what will
happen if you use the ingredients anyway. I appreciate,
what some people might call technical info. Tulani
explains hair structure but in doing so she explains to
the reader why they might be having a particular
problem. The second half of the book is devoted to
braids or locs and how to do them. I was not as
impressed with this section of the book because there
were not enough hands on instructions as to how to
really achieve the styles. She has some beautiful photos
though but I would have liked more step by step how to
pictures for natural hair braiding without extensions.
Regardless though, the first half of the book is more
than worth the price. At the very least you do get great
care and maintenance of your braids and locs that no one
ever tells you about. This is an excellent reference
guide and should be treated as such.
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 Where
Beauty Touches me: Natural Hair Care and Beauty Book
From
the Publisher
This beautifully
photographed book is an affirmation of the African
Aesthetic. Includes over 60 braided and natural
hairstyles, how-to instructions for high fashion braid
styles, and step-by-step instructions on how to give
yourself natural hair styles. Also has information on
the care of locks, hair extension styles, and details on
how to mix natural product for hair care.
CUSTOMER
REVIEWS - An Open Forum
Number of Reviews: 1
Average Rating:
A reviewer, March 20, 2000,
Natural Hair Care...Are you sure?
Though
this book did an excellent job explaining the history of
African hair styles, hair anatomy, etc., it was
disappointing in its lack of attractive, contemporary
styles for natural hair. Most of the styles featured
were weaved styles that require the expertise of an
individual highly skilled in the area of hair weaving.
For those of you who are looking for great natural hair
care styles that you can try at home, No Lye by Tulani
Kinard and Good Hair by Lonnice Brittenaum came through
with flying colors. And if you're coming out of a perm,
Good Hair is an exceptional guide book on what to do to
achieve fun,
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 Plaited
Glory: For Colored Girls Who've Considered Braids,
Locks, and Twists
From
the Publisher
Lonnice
Brittenum Bonner told thousands of black women what not
to do with their hair in her first book, Good Hair: For
Colored Girls Who've Considered Weaves When the
Chemicals Became Too Ruff. Now she'll tell women what to
do with their hair - braid it, twist it, lock it, and
crimp it. In Plaited Glory you'll learn the basics of
maintaining locks, twists, and braids, while you get the
lowdown on everything from choosing braiding salons to
tips for parents with style-hungry daughters. You'll
also find out why so many women put up with marathon
braiding sessions and why they are willing to pay big
money for them. So if you're still wondering if you'll
be able to get a job while sporting braids, locks, or
twists, or be doomed to stand on a street corner with a
sign that reads "I'll work for food and a home
relaxer kit," you'll be reassured. Braids certainly
haven't stopped Senator Carol Moseley-Braun from
addressing colleagues in Congress, and a short-cropped
natural with a flirty fringe adorned former NASA
astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison. As always, you'll laugh out
loud at Bonner's stories about everything from Afros and
Stevie's People, to Peaches and Herb and Solid Gold,
while learning how to care for your braided, natural,
texturized, or chemically relaxed hair.
CUSTOMER
REVIEWS - An Open Forum
Number of Reviews: 3
Average Rating:
A reviewer (cmassey.piedmont@glsp.org),
May 11, 2000,
MY GLORIOUS PLAITS.
I am just
sooo happy to be educated about my natural hair. Since I
have been wearing relaxed/permed hair for maybe more
than 20 years, it makes me happy to learn some things
about my hair. I'm really surprised at the beautiful
styles that I can wear with nappy hair. I enjoyed the
photos of the natural hair styles for my self. If you
are African-American, natural is the way to go.
A reviewer, April 21, 2000,
Entertaining, Funny and Wonderful
Lonnice is clearly someone with
a great sense of humor and she imparts her humor into
this book making it fun to read. If you want just the
facts then don't get this book. I found her particular
blend of anectdotal info with straight forward hair care
facts a quick and easy read. Mind you, this is a book
you should use as a reference guide. It's still worth
buying her other book for a complete guide to natural
hair care. Unfortunately, for me anyway, I found some of
her instructions hard to follow. I couldn't imagine what
I was supposed to be doing. I am not sure it's not just
the nature of the tasks that makes it so complicated. I
suspect the only way I would really know what was going
on is to have someone do a video with closeups. I
suspect there is a large untapped market there....
Lonnice hint hint.....
A reviewer (ethoma3@uic.edu), a 19
year old Black woman, March 5, 1999,
Outstanding!!!
The book covers everything we need to
know about braids, twists, locks, etc. It's especially
wonderful for those who like to do their own hair at
home.
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