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Hair... Covering the bodies of every species of mammal, it seems to connect us to the natural world, a reminder of our primate past. But as human beings, with a capacity for abstract thought, we have taken a simple evolutionary adaptation and endowed it with great meaning and complexity. As one of the most important aspects of how others see us, how has our hair become interwoven with issues of race, religion, beauty, and identity?

Sikhism mandates that the hair is never cut. We explore the rationale behind this and the discrimination that Sikhs face today in a post 9-11 world.

Many women of African descent grow up to think negatively about their natural hair. So begins the burdensome, expensive, and often painful process of weaves and chemical straightening, as a however subconscious attempt to achieve a homogenized concept of beauty. We speak to a woman who takes pride in her natural hair and is committed to show others how truly beautiful "nappy" hair can be.

Sometimes what we do with our hair is not a choice. Trichotillomania is a disorder that causes the sufferer to compulsively pull out hair. We will meet a long-term lash/brow puller who describes how people have reacted to her disorder and how these experiences have shaped her.
  • Gurtej Singh 2 years ago
    Good documentary. Thanks.
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  • Siri Nam Kaur 2 years ago
    very good documentary...Is that Sikh guy single? He is cute
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  • Siri Nam Kaur 2 years ago
    how can i become a sikh? do i have to been born into it?
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  • bassline175 2 years ago
    Your health is your wealth, and your hair has a significant role in maintaining a balanced mind and body. Westernization favors an ever increasing shift towards a faster lifestyle. Cutting ones hair eliminates the need to spend time in caring and maintaining it. So people find themselves with more time and feel they are succeeding in life. However i feel that this supposed success is at the cost of a much greater loss. We are all made in such a wonderful way, trying to impose on this and suppress nature is always going to be a action with negative consequences.
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  • sikh swim 2 years ago
    Hey Siri Nam Kaur --

    To become a Sikh, you need only to take interest and begin to learn about the Sikh way of life. The word Sikh actually means student of the Guru -- I suggest reading the wikipedia entry on Sikhism, reading blogs like sikhchic, sikhpulse, and sikhswim, attending Sikh-related events like the upcoming SeattleSikhRetreat.org etc. ;)

    -s
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  • Thanks, Robert, is it?

    Hah.

    This is not to shabby either.
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