Don't Touch My Hair explores why Black hair matters, revealing it as a living archive of culture, politics and identity rather than a trivial concern. Moving from pre-colonial African societies to the Harlem Renaissance, Black Power and the contemporary Natural Hair Movement, the book connects hair to race, gender and power.

Drawing on history, philosophy and popular culture, the author examines figures such as early hair entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker and the rise of modern brands, alongside debates about cultural appropriation and celebrity hairstyles. Black hair becomes a lens for understanding social codes, beauty standards and the ongoing struggle for dignity and self-definition.

The book also uncovers how intricate hairstyles reflect sophisticated indigenous mathematical systems and, at times, secret routes to freedom for enslaved Africans. In doing so, it shows how hairstyling can function as both a symbol of oppression and a powerful expression of resistance and liberation.

Key themes

• Black hair as culture, politics and history
• From pre-colonial Africa to contemporary natural hair movements
• Cultural appropriation and beauty standards
• Entrepreneurship, solidarity and community
• Hair as a metaphor for oppression and liberation

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