Comic Chris Rock tells Oprah Winfrey that his palms have been “thirsty” to the touch ladies’s hair.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Chris Rock investigated the black hair trade after daughter admired white hairSays black hair care trade pulls in some $9 million a yearBiggest moneymaker is hair weaves — as much as $5,000, says RockHe says hair straightening chemical substances are too harsh for small children
(OPRAH.com) — Chris Rock is an Emmy-winning comic, faithful husband and loving father –but it is time to get to grasp a brand new facet of this funnyman. Meet Chris Rock, hair professional.
It is a detour he took after an blameless carpool trip left Rock with an concept he simply could not shake.
“I used to be with my daughter sooner or later, and we are within the automotive and he or she’s with one in every of her buddies within the again seat, just a little white buddy,” he says. “She was once simply more or less raving about her buddy’s hair just a little an excessive amount of for my convenience [saying]: ‘You have got nice hair. Oh, your hair’s so excellent.'”
Now not in need of to make her feedback a large deal, Rock says he attempted to play his them off. “[I said]: “Oh, child, your hair’s stunning. Come on,'” he says. “If I might have actually reacted, then she would have a posh about her hair.”
Nonetheless, Rock could not let it move. “It sparked one thing in me,” he says.
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What Rock came upon is a $9 billion trade that has effects on the day by day actions, wallets, vainness — or even the intercourse lives — of black ladies. As a result of ladies spend such a lot money and time on their hair, Rock says males are compelled to undertake a hands-off coverage.
If you have got a weave, your scalp’s like a beat up freeway
–Chris Rock
“You can not contact a black lady’s hair. You might be conditioned to not even move there,” he says. “When I used to be a courting man, I dated ladies from other races. Anytime I used to be with an Asian or a Puerto Rican lady or a white lady, my palms would continuously be of their hair. Like my palms have been thirsty.”
One of the most first classes Rock realized in this adventure was once that ladies do their hair for one some other. “They are saying it is for the boys, yet it is actually for the ladies. As a result of guys do not care,” he says. “There is no level within the historical past of the arena the place males weren’t drowsing with the ladies in entrance of them. We take what we will get.”
Actress Nia Lengthy, who Rock interviews within the movie, has the same opinion. “There is all the time this kind of power inside the black group like, when you have excellent hair, you are prettier or higher than the brown-skinned lady that wears the Afro or the dreads or the herbal coiffure,” she says.
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Rock discovered the most important moneymaker within the hair industry to be weaves. Black ladies can spend six to 8 hours getting their hair braided into tiny sections. Stylists then delicately connect tracks of hair — which will also be easy extensions or complete wigs — to the braids.
“If you have got a weave, your scalp’s like a beat up freeway,” Rock jokes.
Ladies who put on weaves prevent via the salon for normal washes, conditioning and tightening, yet the true expense lies with the hair itself. Rock says he was once surprised to be told that common ladies spend 1000’s of greenbacks on weaves — or even put them on layaway.
“Janet Jackson spends $5,000 to visit the Grammys on her hair. I did not know Kiki was once spending $5,000 to visit AT&T and resolution the telephone,” he says. “That was once demanding.”
Rock came upon the most up to date hair in the marketplace is located in India, the place human hair is the quantity two export at the back of device. “That is one of the vital worst poverty on this planet,” he says. “I do not believe [people] know they are strolling round with $1,000 on their head.”
Whilst in India, Rock witnessed a tonsuring rite on the Venkateswara Temple. Once a year, greater than 10 million other people lower their hair off as an providing to the Hindu gods. “In India, hair is regarded as an arrogance, and casting off hair is regarded as an act of self-sacrifice,” he says.
“Those other people do not know the place their hair goes or how a lot it is price. The cash made at this temple is 2d most effective to the Vatican. The hair accrued this is auctioned off to exporters who distribute it across the planet.”
Some other staple of the trade is relaxers — also known as “creamy crack” via some. Whilst ladies of alternative races use perms so as to add curl, black ladies use them to straighten their hair. “You identify a black lady, any black lady,” Rock says. “They have both had their hair comfortable, or they are having their hair comfortable at the moment.”
The lively factor in relaxer is a substance referred to as sodium hydroxide. The chemical is so robust it will possibly burn a girl’s hair off — which is why Rock is urging oldsters to forestall the stress-free dependancy now. “This kiddie perm has to forestall, k? They wouldn’t have to fret about that until they are of their teenagers,” he says. “Placing the ones chemical substances in that kid’s hair just isn’t cool.”
Rock says he tells his personal daughters they are stunning each second he can –and has just one resolution in relation to questions of getting excellent hair. “No matter makes you glad is excellent hair,” he says. “Do your hair for you, and you’re going to be at liberty.”
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From The Oprah Winfrey Display ” © 2009
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