New Books Network Johanna Lukate, "(Dis)Entangled: Black Hair, Race, and Identity" (Coronet, 2025)
Jan 16, 2026
Johanna Lukáte, a research leader at the Max Planck Institute, dives into the profound connection between Black hair and identity. She explores how hair communicates social meanings tied to race, gender, and beauty. Through personal stories and ethnographic research, Johanna highlights issues like the stigma of natural hair in professional settings and the intimate rituals in family hair care. Additionally, she discusses access to swimming and the impact of dominant beauty standards on visibility and power. Every strand weaves a unique narrative.
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Hair As Social Identity
- Hair conveys social meaning through texture, color, length and curl pattern beyond biology.
- These features become markers that shape identity and others' perceptions.
Natural Hair Conversations In Germany
- Johanna joined a German natural-hair network and observed discussions about straightening to 'be seen as German'.
- She used those conversations to argue that simple racial labels flatten lived nuance.
Qualitative Triangulation Reveals Nuance
- Johanna used qualitative interviews, ethnography, and social-media/Google Trends triangulation to study hair practices.
- Ethnography in Afro hair salons revealed communal spaces and long conversations shaping beauty norms.
