Watch Back to Natural

Back to Natural is a documentary film that explores the journey of women of color and their decision to embrace their natural hair. Directed by Gillian Scott-Ward, the film takes us on a journey through the experiences of African American women who grow, style, and wear their natural hair as they navigate their personal and professional lives.

At its core, Back to Natural is a celebration of natural hair, a symbol of self-acceptance, and individuality. The film captures the diverse experiences of women with natural hair as they share their stories of self-discovery, empowerment, and self-love.

The documentary features interviews with everyday women who have gone natural, as well as celebrities and industry leaders who have helped pave the way for the natural hair movement. The film documents their struggles and triumphs, sharing their experiences on how they have come to celebrate their natural hair.

Back to Natural showcases the historic significance of natural hair for women of color. The film explores the cultural and social implications of hair and how hair has been used as a tool of oppression against black women. The film captures the story of the “Tignon Laws” of 1786 that required African American women to cover their hair so as not to be seen as attractive to white men. It also showcases the struggles of black women that were put through beauty standards that were not set with their hair in mind. These practices are why the natural hair movement is so important, challenging and changing the standard beauty norms.

The film also features expert commentary from psychologists, historians, and hair care professionals, including Salamisha Tillet, PhD. As a cultural critic and professor of English and African American and Diaspora Studies, Salamisha Tillet’s research and insights into the significance of natural hair as a symbol of resistance against oppression add a deep layer of analysis to the documentary.

The documentary highlights the way the natural hair movement is seen as both a political and social statement. Back to Natural emphasizes that the natural hair movement is more than just a fashion statement; it is a revolutionary act of resistance against beauty standards and societal norms. The reframing of hair care as an act of resistance has allowed the natural hair community to build a network of supportive, like-minded individuals who have created a community for themselves.

Finally, the film showcases the diversity of hair textures and the community’s acceptance of different hair journeys. It highlights the fact that natural hair is not uniform, and different hair textures require different care and products, and in turn, present their own set of challenges.

In conclusion, Back to Natural is a film is a powerful tribute to the natural hair movement that is empowering women to embrace and love their natural selves. It documents a growing movement of strong, confident women who are standing up against societal norms that have denied them the right to embrace their natural beauty. It celebrates the power of self-acceptance, self-love, and sisterhood, and the ability of women to break the cycle of oppression and establish their own identities. Through the stories of women featured in the documentary, we see a path towards acceptance and love for ourselves just the way we are.

Back to Natural is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 5 minutes.