Written and directed by Justin Simien
Starring Elle Loraine, Vanessa Williams, Jay Pharoah, Chanté Adams, Blaire Underwood and Michelle Hurd
Running time: 1 hour and 55 minutes
Unrated: contains violence, sexual situations and language

by Audrey Callerstrom

In Bad Hair’s opening scene, we meet Anna Bludso (Zaria Kelley), a young black girl. Her sister, Linda (Corinne Massiah) thinks it’s time that Anna starts looking like the rest of the women in the family. So she decides to try relaxing Anna’s hair at home. “You’re tender-headed,” Linda tells her while yanking Anna’s hair every which way to apply the product. Linda’s hair is long and sleek, while Anna’s hair is natural and short and she usually wears it on top of her head. Up until a year ago, Linda was Anna’s cousin, until unspoken circumstances brought Anna into the family. The girls laugh and joke with each other, until there’s a sound. A sizzling sound. You do not want to hear that sound while you are doing something with your hair. The chemicals that Linda put in Anna’s hair have singed the back of her head. In addition to a severe chemical burn, pieces of Anna’s hair start to spill into the bath.