Hair Wars
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hair Wars is an annual touring event which has become one of the biggest African-American hair shows in the United States. It is a showcase for artists and salons to create unconventional, elaborate, vibrant hair styles and fashion using primarily human hair as the medium. Creations of note include a spider web head piece by Kevin Carter, a flying "hairy-copter" by Mr. Little and a full Vegas showgirl outfit by Lisa B.[1]
Hair Wars was started in Detroit in 1991 by David Humphries (a.k.a Hump the Grinder). The event began touring nationally in 1994 and has a circuit of about ten cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami and New York.[2]
A documentary was made about the event in 1999 by Andrew Dosunmu called Hot Irons.[3] Footage from the events is also featured in a documentary made in 2005 by Regina Petraroi, My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Our Hair-itage. [4] In 2007, a book documenting several years of the event in photographs and interview was released, Hair Wars by David Yellen and Johanna Lenander.
