Beyond Good Hair
An Act of Resistance to Symbolic Annihilation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21342852 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Daphne Valerius (0000-0002-6706-4987, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, corresponding author), Rokeshia Renné Ashley (0000-0003-0374-6193, Florida International University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pages | 731-758 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-26 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Black Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0021-9347 • E-ISSN: 1552-4566 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00219347261447317 |
| OpenAlex | W7166126862 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 24 |
This study explores how the documentary Good Hair functions as a mediated counter-narrative, influencing the modern natural hair movement among Black women. Using multi-method qualitative approaches—textual analysis of viewer reviews, a focus group with Black women, and an interview with a natural hair care expert—we examine the film’s impact on perceptions of beauty, identity, and health. Findings reveal that Good Hair provided viewers with a sense of awareness, liberation, and validation, prompting cultural dialogue and in some cases, behavior change. The film challenged dominant beauty norms and inspired reflection on hair practices historically shaped by Eurocentric standards. Through these responses, we argue that Good Hair serves not only as a cultural artifact but as an educational tool that catalyzed change within Black communities. We position it within the framework of mediated counter-narratives
Artifact (error) · Beauty · Cultural artifact · Focus (optics) · Focus group · Natural (archaeology) · Perception · Qualitative research · Resistance (ecology) · The Symbolic · Critical Race Theory in Education · Film in Education and Therapy · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
Minoritized Celebrities & Counter-Narratives
Short cuts to safety
Opening to the original contributions
What drives consumers to spread electronic word of mouth in online consumer-opinion platforms
Critical discourse analysis of collaborative engagement in Facebook postings
“Uneasy Lies the Head that Wears a Crown”
Controlling the Crown
Race and Gender in the Media
Triangulation, Respondent Validation, and Democratic Participation in Mixed Methods Research
Centering Perspectives on Black Women, Hair Politics, and Physical Activity
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Grandma’s Hands
In Defense of Textual Analysis
Tangled
| Highly cited | No |
|---|