Don't Touch My Hair

by Emma Dabiri
Don't Touch My Hair cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Nonfiction
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  • ID: 6972
  • Added: 2025-12-07
  • Updated: 2025-12-13
  • ISBN: 9780141986296
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2019-05-02
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Don't Touch My Hair delves into the intricate world of black hair, revealing its deep cultural, historical, and political significance. Emma Dabiri takes readers on a journey from pre-colonial Africa to the present day, examining how black hair has been celebrated, stigmatized, and appropriated. The book uncovers sophisticated indigenous mathematical systems in black hairstyles and explores how these styles served as secret intelligence networks leading enslaved Africans to freedom. /n/n Beyond the physical aspects of hair, Dabiri explores the philosophical and cosmological dimensions of black hairstyling culture. She discusses the role of hair capitalists like Madam C.J. Walker and the rise of Shea Moisture, as well as the Natural Hair Movement and the Cultural Appropriation Wars. The book ultimately presents black hairstyling as an allegory for black oppression and liberation, offering a unique perspective on the broader struggle for decolonization.

Reviews
The Race Equality Centre · 2022-05-26
enlightening 4.50

The book takes the reader on a journey from the cruelty and terrors found on slave ships to the beauty and resilience of black hair. It is an eye-opening and enlightening read from beginning to end.

This book is a powerful exploration of the historical and cultural significance of black hair. It starts with a harrowing account of the brutalities endured by enslaved people, using their hair as a symbol of their suffering and resistance. The narrative then shifts to celebrate the beauty and diversity of black hair, highlighting its cultural importance and the resilience of those who wear it. The author's personal experiences and historical insights make this a deeply moving and informative read. It's a book that challenges stereotypes and celebrates the richness of black culture, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the deeper meanings behind something as seemingly simple as hair.

Quick quotes

    It is an eye opening, and enlightening read from beginning to end taking the reader on a journey from the cruelty and terrors found on slave ships to the beauty and resilience of black hair.

    The book is a powerful exploration of the historical and cultural significance of black hair.

    It's a book that challenges stereotypes and celebrates the richness of black culture.

Kara Reviews · Kara Babcock · 2022-02-18
profound 5.00

This book is about far more than hair; it is a story of culture and history as it is written on people's bodies.

Kara Babcock emphasizes that this book is a profound exploration of culture and history, using black hair as a lens to examine broader societal issues. The narrative is rich with personal experiences and historical insights, making it a deeply engaging read. Babcock highlights the book's ability to connect the personal to the political, offering a nuanced understanding of the cultural significance of black hair. The book's comprehensive approach makes it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of race, culture, and history. It's a book that invites readers to think critically about the ways in which cultural identity is expressed and perceived.

Quick quotes

    This book is about far more than hair; it is a story of culture and history as it is written on people's bodies.

    The narrative is rich with personal experiences and historical insights, making it a deeply engaging read.

    The book's comprehensive approach makes it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of race, culture, and history.

The Guardian · Arifa Akbar · 2019-04-23
groundbreaking 4.00

The book is groundbreaking with fresh ideas and a vivid sense of purpose. It is the first title of its kind.

Arifa Akbar highlights that this book is a groundbreaking work that brings fresh ideas and a vivid sense of purpose to the discussion of black hair. It is the first of its kind, offering a unique perspective that combines personal narrative with historical context. The author's exploration of the cultural and political significance of black hair is both insightful and engaging. Akbar praises the book's ability to challenge and inform, making it a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about race and identity. The book's vivid sense of purpose is evident in every chapter, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in these topics.

Quick quotes

    The first title of its kind, with fresh ideas and a vivid sense of purpose, Dabiri's book is groundbreaking.

    It is the first of its kind, offering a unique perspective that combines personal narrative with historical context.

    The author's exploration of the cultural and political significance of black hair is both insightful and engaging.

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