What Really is Good Hair

The condition of a person’s hair is often directly linked to an underlying medical condition or as a direct response to situational stresses

Sept 2010

With the launch of the much awaited film by Chris Rock, 'Good Hair' which explores the controversy and societal attitudes toward natural black hair, many people outside of the inevitable niche the film initially attracts will find themselves asking the question, 'What really is good hair?'.

One man certainly qualified to join the ‘Good Hair’ debate is Iain Sallis, one of the country's few professional trichologists, or 'hair doctors'. Iain looks into the causes and effects of hair problems, examines the ineffectiveness and even damage which can be caused by salon related hair products and examines such issues as the harsh, destructive chemicals widely used by modern day hairdressers.

Iain Sallis commented on the film and its potential to open up the often taboo subject of hair problems, “The ‘Good Hair’ film is an incredible insight into not only the societal attitudes toward black hair, which was all in vogue back in the '60s but which now has become widely unfashionable, but also the wider reach the film has in terms of the perceptions and coping strategies different people and cultures use to avoid the stigma of ‘bad hair’.

The condition of a person’s hair is often directly linked to an underlying medical condition or as a direct response to situational stresses.

Chris Rock’s ‘Good Hair’, looks at hair problems and rituals from devout Hindu women who shave their heads only to have their hair turned into an expensive commodity for well-heeled American women, right through to the male perspective on hair loss and the idea of spending thousands of dollars on extensions.

Iain notes that hair problems including hair loss and thinning as well as scalp issues can be extremely distressing and a cause of embarrassment to many. “What people are often unaware of is just how common these problems are; for example diffuse hair loss in women is the most common complaint seen, affecting 1:3 women at some point of their life.

Whilst it’s easy to hear about a good hairdresser through recommendations and word of mouth, hair problems are often a private subject.”

Iain believes that offering people the opportunity to talk openly to a professional about any worries they have. “The public need to know they can go to a salon, get a fantastic haircut but also an open forum to gain some understanding of their hair health – where if needs be hairdressers can refer them to a trichologist such as myself for further consultation.”

Iain is currently focusing on bringing trichology closer to hairdressers by making his clinics accessible and easy to understand. Through holding seminars up and down the country he’s aiming to get a referral scheme in place which will see salons directly benefitting by referring customer.