400 Years Without a Comb
The Untold Story
By Willie L. Morrow
 
A study of the history of Black hair care in America, exploring the cultural and psychological impact of slavery and its aftermath on African Americans’ relationship with their hair. The book examines how the forced assimilation of enslaved people led to a disconnection from traditional African hair practices and a subsequent embrace of styles that mimicked those of white people. The author argues that this disconnect resulted in a form of self-hatred and an internalized sense of inferiority, particularly regarding hair texture and other physical characteristics.