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] Hair Wars is featured in recent 2007 award-winning documentary feature film on Black hair called, My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage. The film featured revealing interviews with top hair entertainers including Mr Little, Big Bad D, Steven Noss, Little Willie, Colors and others and the inspiration of David Humphries. [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.

[edit] External links

• Hair Wars US Tour Website
• Metro Times article April 7, 2004
• Hair Wars book website
• NPR piece, February 20, 2008
• Images from Hair Wars book
• Radar Online images