Hair

December 21, 2015
Stenn, former director of skin biology at Johnson & Johnson, explores the intricacies of hair from biological, anthropological, and cultural perspectives, developing a well-rounded overview of a seemingly obtuse subject. On hair science, he delves into evolutionary theory, the hair growth cycle, and the chemical processes of conditioners, relaxers, and dyes. The director of a barber trade school outlines the rigorous course of study required for the occupation, and a famed wig maker explains his complex work process. Somewhat on the outer reaches are individuals paying thousands of dollars for strands of famous hair at auction, hair as a visual art medium, and hair shirts for religious atonement. Finally, Stenn makes some projections about the future of hair, including robot barbers and the status of hair-follicle forming chemicals to remedy baldness. While there are likely more complete and academic takes on this subject, this is an excellent layperson’s introduction to the vast and compelling story of hair. Agent: Regina Ryan, Regina Ryan Publishing Enterprises.

January 1, 2016

Stenn (coauthor, The Molecular and Structural Biology of Hair), a former professor of pathology and dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, sets out to unravel the history of hair from a scientific, historical, and sociocultural perspective. His history begins with the origins of the stuff covering our heads and bodies, how it came to be, and how it's changed from basic covering to ornamentation. Divided into three parts, the book starts with the science of hair, moving onto the social history of human hair, and ending with the use of hair and fur for the purposes of clothing, wealth, and much more. This is a compact text, with a heavy dose of science from the start, which can pull the reader out of the narrative. The historical aspect of hair is referenced throughout the book, though Stenn concentrates the majority of this discussion in the latter part of the book. VERDICT This short but dense work will be a good read for those who enjoy a little history with their science, or some science with their history. This is not a comprehensive text, but a good introduction.--Gricel Dominguez, Florida International Univ. Lib.

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