Hair Love, a 2019 animated short film directed by Matthew A. Cherry, Everett Downing Jr., and Bruce W. Smith, focuses on the challenges a young father faces when doing his daughter’s hair for the first time. The 6-minute film took home the Oscar for Best Animated Short at the 2020 Academy Awards.

As the film opens, we are introduced to 7-year-old Zuri, the main character, who has long, dark hair trying to do her hair. Zuri, using a YouTube video as guidance, starts to do her hair since her mother, who usually helps with Zuri’s hair, is unable to do so. However, her father steps in to assist when he sees her struggling.

The short film concludes with Zuri and her father visiting the hospital, where they find that Zuri’s mother has completely lost all of her hair as a result of her chemotherapy treatment. Hair Love conveys messages about the significance of Zuri’s hair, the meaning behind her styling, and the love and care Zuri’s father shows while taking care of her.

The family is united by their hair, yet at the end of the day, they can see past their hair to the love they all have for one another. These incredibly moving messages show how something as simple as hair styling may unite a broken family.

Regardless of age, every African American woman can relate to the beautiful cinematography in the film Hair Love. Hair Love’s animation makes the entire story feel very lively and bright.

The film fights against the stereotypes about African American hair and Black fathers, who are frequently represented in the media as being incompetent and negligent father figures. Seeing a happy Black family on film without any of the emotional turmoil that is typically displayed in mainstream media is wonderful.

Hair Love conveys a crucial message. It not only raises awareness of the diversity of hairstyles across other racial groups, but it also emphasises the importance of people feeling at ease in their own skin.