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Hair: Public, Political, Extremely Personal
Author(s): Diane Simon (Author)
- Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
- Publication Date: June 1, 2001
- Language: English
- Print length: 238 pages
- ISBN-10: 0312278519
- ISBN-13: 9780312278519
Book Description
Brush it and curl it, wig it, pluck it, highlight it, bob it, coif it, dye it. What don’t we do to our hair?
Hair: Public, Political, Extremely Personal is a candid, humorous, and revealing look at America’s hair obsession. Journalist Diane Simon, the curly-haired daughter of straight-haired parents who has suffered much for her locks, uses her own personal traumas as a point of entry into this fascinating subject. Simon visits Harlem braiding salons and Hassidic wig shops, tries every type of hair removal, and even spends an afternoon at the Hair Club for Men headquarters. Through her research, Simon explores the different choices people make to transform themselves through their hair.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Engaging and interesting…entertaining and illuminating.”–Philadelphia Inquirer
“Diane Simon…understands the historical power and prejudices concerning hair….The book is an entertaining trip through twentieth-century fashion.”–
Kansas City Star“Simon explores the racial connotations of hair with admirable candor and sly hipness.”–
Booklist“An amusing and informative cultural history of hair in American society.”–
Library JournalAbout the Author
Diane Simon studied at Columbia University and Yale University and was a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Younger Scholar’s Grant. She has written extensively on books, television, and movies for numerous publications, including The Nation. She lives in New York City with her greyhound, Tille, and is currently writing a book about perfume.
