Hair Tells a Story: Hers, Yours and Ours

by Margo Maine

The body is the canvas upon which women paint their secrets, their hopes and dreams, pain and disappointments. Hair has long played a role in the struggles for power, self-determination and autonomy--serving as a nonverbal language that represents women's lives. However, pain, anxiety, racism, sexism and rigid beauty standards can too often underlie these stories. Modern events like the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed societal barriers that prevent the free and equitable expression of hair.

Although countless books and articles address body image, the personal psychology and the meaning of hair have been missing. This work empowers women to understand complex hair-head-heart connections, and pressures. Above all, the text emphasizes that hair is never just hair.

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2023

About the author

Margo Maine has specialized in eating disorders and related issues for over 35 years. A Founder and former Adviser of the National Eating Disorders Association and Founder and Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders, her most recent book, Hair Tells a Story: Hers, Yours, & Ours (Toplight Books, 2023), explores women’s relationship with their hair, a critical feminist issue and neglected aspect of body image. Dr. Maine is also author of: Pursuing Perfection: Eating Disorders, Body Myths, and Women at Midlife and Beyond; Treatment of Eating Disorders: Bridging the Research- Practice Gap; Effective Clinical Practice in the Treatment of Eating Disorders; The Body Myth; Father Hunger; and Body Wars; and Senior Editor Emeritus of Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. The 2007 recipient of The Lori Irving Award for Excellence in Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, the 2014 recipient of the Don and Melissa Nielsen Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2015 NEDA Lifetime Achievement Award, Maine has served on many clinical advisory and community boards and is a 2016 Honoree of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. She lectures nationally and internationally on eating disorders and maintains a private practice, Maine & Weinstein Specialty Group, in West Hartford, CT. She loves the earth and gets up early every day to celebrate it.

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some non-fiction related to body image, sexism, and gender roles can be a slog to get through but 'Hair Tells a Story' was readable and relatable, from start to finish. I read it months ago but still find myself thinking about it when I see magazine articles about hair, TV commercials about hair products, and social media posts critical of a celebrity's red-carpet hair. More personally, I came THIS close to chopping all of my hair off before ankle surgery last month. Having read Margo Maine's book, I realized how often I've made major hair decisions during times of stress! I didn't cut my hair this time, but I still might - it's still driving me nuts!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a braid of a book!

This hair-story isn't what I expected, but I'm also not mad about it. I thought this would be a salon style read with random stories of clients and hair dressers. What I read was a term paper of facts, love and hate. Maine weaved in the history of hair with stories of real life people. My copy is filled with post-it notes galore. I found myself thinking about my own hair's history and those who I have read all the amazing things about. I even read personal notes on author's whose work was all I knew of them.

I would recommend someone wanting to dive into a hair history, to someone who is having a hard time with their hair, someone who thrives off of knowledge.

[Andrea Pape · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an essential book on hair through the years and includes incredible research and insights from years of observations and connections. I enjoyed the personal reflections of the author as well as the stories of positive impact from the relationships with hair care professionals. This is very well researched and foot noted to support the conclusions. Ms. Maine is an amazing supported of women's issues and continues to post reflections of current events relative to "Hair Tells A Story". Pick it up for yourself or as a gift for your hair professional or a friend.

[Elissa Zelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Maine’s most recent book is a fun and quick read that is incredibly thoughtful and comprehensive. Who would’ve thought that hair could have so much meaning? Similar to Dr. Maine’s approach in her prior books, she takes a deep dive, helping the reader understand that hair is about way more than the way it looks. She discusses familial, cultural and societal factors that influence the way people experience their hair and the way they express themselves. I completely recommend reading this book!

[Sarita Pekary Bartel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an informational book and quite fun to read. I liked to gain more knowledge on the history of hair, and how our hair helps us expressed ourselves. Hair helps us understand more about where we come from, and helps us understand other people as well. This was a really fun read, and I really enjoyed seeing the perspective of different women and their hair story. I don’t think I had ever thought of my hair as much as I did while reading this book and it was quite fascinating.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! “Hair Tells a Story” by Dr. Margo Maine is so informative! I didn't realize how many women struggle with their relationship to their hair. Throughout history and today, Margo tells the stories of what hair can mean. I found it to be a really interesting and an enjoyable read. I learned a lot. I highly recommend it!