If you’ve ever been to the hair salon, then you already know that the experience can be both exhilarating and dreadful. The familiar smell of heat, hold spray, and Pink Lotion is intoxicating. And conversations about issues concerning Black women and Black culture is inviting.
But there’s also the pain that comes with certain styles, and sometimes waiting hours past your appointment time to be seen. It can be worse than going to the doctor, which is often why a hair appointment is actually referred to as a hair day. Nonetheless, we carve out the time because when we leave, we feel reborn.
In the upcoming episode of ABC’s hit show black-ish, we see Diane Johnson (played by Marsai Martin) experience all of these familiar highs and lows, and more. The writers wanted the episode, appropriately titled “Hair Day,” to pull back the curtain on not just the salon experience, but to also explore what it’s like for a young Black girl to embark on a new hair journey.
After Diane has a bizarre dream that her hair burns off from another relaxer, she decides she’s done with them. She then has to decide where to go from there with her tresses. Will it be a press and curl? Better not sweat. What about going completely natural? Better be prepared to big chop.
Martin sat down with writer Marquita Robinson to discuss the takeaways of the episode. A handful of other Black women who work on the show also talk about their own hair experiences via testimonial style interviews.
(Raymond Liu/ABC via Getty Images)
“Are you really going to cover Black hair in 22 minutes? Good luck!” says Heidi G. McGowen, Unit Production Manager and Producer.
The weight of making a hair journey decision is a lot for any Black woman, let alone a teenager. And the episode does a great job exploring this really dense and complex topic with creativity, humor, and sensitivity.
“[I want people to take away] the resounding message that Black hair in any form is beautiful and perfect as long as it’s what you want,” Robinson says. “Do it. And that’s all that matters.”
Jill Scott lends her beautiful vocals and her acting skills to punctuate this message as Diane’s hairstylist Yaya. One of the best parts is the Broadway musical-style scene where she runs through all the different style choices that Diane has available to her. From short and blond to Bantu knots, there’s no wrong choice; they’re all beautiful and acceptable ways to wear our hair.
“Despite what the world tells us, all Black hair is beautiful,” adds Diane’s mom Bow, played by Tracee Ellis Ross.
While these concepts might feel obvious to a Black woman, it’s still a conversation worth having, and worth unpacking from the root. No pun intended. As presidential hopeful Cory Booker takes the CROWN Act up to the federal level, it’s important for us to continue to talk about issues surrounding Black hair. The laws can change, and we need them to, but we know that society doesn’t always catch up quickly.
In 2019, ESSENCE reported on countless incidences around the country in which Black men and women experienced discrimination as it pertained to their hair. But the CROWN Act has only been passed in three states to date. So, to start a new year focused on Black girls—teaching them and everyone else that our hair is beautiful in any form we choose to wear it—is pretty groundbreaking for network television. It adds to the social side of the conversation that often has more impact than legislation on it own.
The personal accounts peppered into the episode from the women who work on the show are a refreshing addition to the storytelling. They feel genuine and relatable. They might not be able to get to everything in 22 minutes, but black-ish does a great job sharing a small piece of how a seemingly minor hair decision can have a huge impact for a young Black girl.
Tune in to see the entire episode and to see what Diane decides for hair when black-ish returns on January 7th on ABC. New episodes air Tuesdays at 9:30|8:30c.