Hair Wars

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. [http://www.detroitdepot.net/depot/detroit/cityof.php]

"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. [http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6098]

A documentary was made about the event in 1999 by Andrew Dosunmu called "Hot Irons". [http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=179854] 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". [http://www.newyorker.com/critics/atlarge/?040315crat_atlarge] In 2007, a book documenting several years of the event in photographs and interview was released, "Hair Wars" by David Yellen and Johanna Lenander.

External links

* [http://www.hairwarsustour.com/ Hair Wars US Tour Website]
* [http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6098 Metro Times article April 7, 2004]
* [http://www.powerhousebooks.com/books!/HairWars/ " Hair Wars "book website]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19199199&ft=1&f=1008 NPR piece, February 20, 2008]
* [http://www.amazon.com/Hair-Wars-Johanna-Lenander/dp/images/1576873994 Images from " Hair Wars " book]
* [http://www.radaronline.com/photos/2007/11/hair_wars_david_yellen_1.php Radar Online images]