♪
Jada, I'm so sorry Syd's late.
I'm sure she'll be here any minute.
In the meantime, you know what's always fun?
Helping me choose which bike horn to order.
-Number one... number two... -[honking]
-or horn number three. -[weak honk]
Well, they're all great in their own way.
I know. Lemme honk 'em again.
-Number one. -[honk]
Oh no. He's brought out the bike horns.
Jada, I am so, so sorry that I'm late.
It's all good.
Don't worry. I'll decide myself.
I'm going with number three. No, two.
-Okay, one. Oh yeah! That's a winner. -[honk]
Again, Jada, I am so sorry.
I'm the worst lab partner in the world.
It's just that after fencing practice,
I always have to straighten my hair,
but I forgot my flat iron,
so I had to borrow one from a friend,
and then she took forever,
going over every single...
And I am still making you wait. So, science!
Listen, I get it.
I tried flat ironing my hair once,
and after burning my fingers
and frying my hair, I gave up.
So, I'm team natural and loving it.
And it looks great on you.
And I bet your natural hair would look great, too.
Syd, just curious, have you ever considered it?
As in no flat iron?
Because Clampy and I are inseparable.
Yeah, I named it.
Yeah. That's what I'm saying.
No Clampy, no chemicals.
Your hair in its natural state.
I'm talking Black girl magic cute.
Huh. I don't think I've ever considered it.
Don't get me wrong. Your hair looks great like this,
but there are other styles that would look just as fire.
So, for our science experiment,
I tested the pH...
And you're looking at your hair, aren't you?
What? No, why would I be looking at my hair
in a napkin dispenser?
There's a full-size mirror in the bathroom.
I will be right back.
♪ Doo doo doot doo
[theme song]
♪ Like father like daughter, we don't always agree ♪
♪ But looking at you is like looking at me ♪
♪ The more things change
♪ The more they stay the same
♪ Like father like daughter from different times ♪
♪ Taking all the best from your decade and mine ♪
♪ The more things change
♪ The more they stay the same
♪ Doot doot doo-doo doot doo doot doot ♪
♪ The more they stay the same
♪
Hey. Photo albums?
I didn't know we were taking
a walk down memory lane. Scooch over.
Aw, look!
[lisping] It's your toothless years!
-So sweet! -[laughs]
Dad, can I ask you a question?
[normal voice]: Honey, you can ask me anything.
When did I start straightening my hair?
You have come to the right person.
Mom! Little help, please!
Oh, Max, what did you do now?
Nothing. Sydney has a hair question
that I'm sure you can answer better than me.
And without even knowing the question, I'm also sure.
What's going on, Noodle?
My lab partner Jada asked
why I never wear my hair natural,
and I didn't have an answer. Have I ever worn it that way?
Sure you have.
See?
Here at the state fair,
and here at the Martin Luther King parade,
and here at the first day of kindergarten.
You cried so hard that day.
Oh wait. That was me.
But all of these pictures are with Mom.
Wait.
Did I start wearing my hair straight after she died?
I guess so.
Someone needed to take over hair duties,
so I brought you to my salon.
And that's where they straightened your hair for the first time.
Did I like it?
You loved it.
You even made me buy a flat iron so I could do it every week.
Huh. Well,
maybe it's time I wear my hair natural again. I just...
wish I knew how to do it.
I guess I will have to figure it out.
♪
-What you doing? -Ah!
Gah, I hate when you do that!
I know! That's what makes it fun!
Actually, I'm perfecting
my handsome but humble look for picture day.
Picture day? When is that?
In two days. They mailed out a letter about it.
They did? Oh, this is bad.
Really, really bad.
-Why? -If my mom finds out about picture day,
she's going to make me get a relaxer.
Oh! I always relax before picture day.
I skip my homework, take my time in the morning,
and come in as late as possible.
Wait, I do that every day.
No, Max. I said relaxer, not relax.
It's the stuff that straightens my hair.
My mom always makes me get one for picture day.
So, what's so bad about this stuff?
Okay, imagine being held upside down
and having your scalp dipped into a volcano.
Why do you have to go through that?
My mom says it makes my hair look nice and manageable.
In my experience, these moms know
a lot less than they claim to.
Thanks, Max, but I have to get home quick
before my mom gets a hold of that letter.
I hope you don't have to get dipped into a volcano!
[shudders]
♪
[spraying]
Wavy? Curly? Straight? What do you wanna be?
Make up your mind!
I got your emergency hair emoji.
We haven't used that since Sophia
tried to trim her own hair!
Yeah, that was a rough night.
So, what's the emergency?
I wanna stop straightening my hair and wear it natural.
[squeals] OMG! This is huge! Monumental!
I know, but the only thing is I don't know anything
about styling it natural.
What about online hair tutorials?
Just the other day, I learned
how to crimp my hair with two forks!
Then I had to watch another video
on how to get forks out of your hair.
Well, I found a tutorial,
but I couldn't even get past the first step,
which is determining my hair number.
Hair number? That's going to take a long time, but okay.
-One, two, three-- -[laughs]
No, not the number of hairs, the hair number.
There's this universal hair chart.
Your hair number is based on your natural hair texture.
Straight hair is 1,
wavy to loose curls are
2a through 2c,
uh, curly hair is 3a through 3c,
and tighter curls are in the 4's.
You get the idea.
Not as often as I'd like.
Can I see that?
At first, I thought my hair was a 2a,
but then the back of my hair is a 3a.
I'm never gonna figure out which one I am.
-Found it! -Really?
Yeah. I'm a 2b!
Sorry. Not helping.
I just... I wish my mom was here.
She'd know what to do.
Wait. I'll call Grandma Maya. She'll know!
Yeah! And who better to judge your hair
than an actual judge?
-[beep] -It's her voicemail.
Hi, Grandma Maya. I need to talk to you
about something important.
I mean, not crazy important,
but important. It's my hair.
I wanna go natural, but I'm really confused.
I mean, not crazy confused, but confused. Is this confusing?
Anyway, Grandma, just please call me back.
If you don't hear back from your grandma,
how are you gonna wear your hair to school tomorrow?
The only way I know how.
-With the help of Clampy. -[snapping]
♪
-Alisha? -My life is over!
-What's wrong? -My mom got the letter about picture day,
and already made my hair appointment.
Now, they have to dip you in that volcano stuff?
Yeah! But it's not just about the relaxer.
I don't wanna change the way I look.
I like my natural hair, and I don't wanna look back
at my middle school pictures and think,
"This isn't the real me."
So, what are you gonna do?
Maybe I can just hang out here, so my mom can't find me,
and I'll miss the appointment!
Hang out here? Like all day, just us?
-Is that okay? -Yes!
I mean, if you have to, you have to.
-[door shuts] -Mom? What are you doing here?
Oh, didn't I tell you? I live here.
[phone ringing]
Hello? Oh hi, Maya. Nice to hear from you.
Oh yeah. I've been good. Thanks.
Oh, Alisha? Yeah, she's here.
Sorry, I'm a bit distracted.
Max and Alisha are doing some sort of wave dance.
It must be new.
Alright, sure. I'll see you soon. Bye.
Alisha, your mom's coming over to pick you up.
I'll go fix you guys a snack in the meantime.
Is it just me or am I killing this dance?
♪
Max, why are there
three ladies' heads on the coffee table?
That is not a question a mother should have to ask.
Syd seemed a little worried to work on her hair,
so I got her this to help her practice.
They use them in professional beauty schools. Cool, right?
That is so sweet, Max, but you know nothing about hair styling.
Remember when I was sick, and you had to do my hair?
This piece never grew back.
Check out all the stuff I bought. I got a hair dryer,
a diffuser, rollers, hair milk,
co-washing products-- Oh!
And a comb. For me.
Whoa! What's all of this?
I bought it all at the hair store so we can learn
how to do your hair together.
They even had an entire aisle dedicated
to natural hair.
So, you bought the whole aisle?
-Pretty much. -[laughs]
Dad, do you know how to use any of this stuff?
I do not.
Don't worry, Noodle. My friend Monica
is president of a prestigious Black sorority on campus.
I gave her the download,
and she's sending over all the best natural hair products.
Do you know how to use them?
I do not.
-Guys, this is all great, but-- -[doorbell]
Oh. That must be the silk pillowcases I ordered.
Your mom used to sleep on them
to keep her hair soft and moisturized.
Maya?
I'm not even gonna ask.
Grandma Maya, what are you doing here?
Well, I got your message,
and you sounded kinda overwhelmed.
You called Grandma Maya?
I wish I thought of that before I bought
three un-returnable heads.
I realized it had been
too long since I saw my granddaughter,
so I took a couple of personal days
and flew on out to surprise you.
Well, I am thrilled you are here, Maya.
Are you kidding? This discussion is way too important
not to have in person.
Well, I hate to run, but my friend Monica
invited me to a cookout.
-She did? -Yeah. Barbecue,
old school R&B music, doing the shuffle.
Gonna pick up potato salad on the way.
My, things sure have changed around here!
♪
You okay?
Just taking one last look at myself
before everything changes.
It was nice knowing you, natural curls.
Well, if you ask me,
I think your hair looks pretty no matter what.
Thanks, Max.
How about some more snacks?
Oh, Alisha, you haven't even touched yours.
And it can't be my cooking
because those came straight from a box.
Thank you, Ms. Reynolds. I'm just not that hungry.
Is everything okay?
Let's just say my mom and I have a different opinion
on how I should wear my hair for picture day.
Well, it's not my place to come between a mother and daughter,
but maybe you should just talk to her.
I don't know. My mom's pretty set in her ways.
There's no changing her mind.
It's worth a shot.
You might be surprised at how open some moms can be.
-In that case, can I-- -[scoffs] I didn't mean me.
Maybe you should talk to your mom.
Easy for you to say.
My mom's a powerful lawyer.
She can be really intimidating.
Well, she doesn't scare me. I'll talk to her.
Really? You'd do that for me?
Of course.
[doorbell rings]
You just let me handle everything.
-Hello, Mrs. Webb. -Hello, Maxwell. Nice to see you again.
Alisha, you must've forgotten about your hair appointment.
Grab your things. We need to hurry.
Before you go, Mrs. Webb.
I have something we need to discuss.
Oh really?
Yes. It's about you, Alisha, and her hair.
Is that right?
Well, what about me, Alisha, and her hair, Maxwell?
Well, I think you should know...
I want you two to have a great day at the salon.
Thank you. Come on, Alisha.
Thanks for trying.
♪
Sydney, I love what you've done with your room.
It's got taste, it's got class,
it's got soul.
Yep. You are definitely my grand-baby.
Thanks, Grandma.
Come. Sit, sit, sit.
We've got much to discuss about your hair,
so start from the beginning.
Well, a friend asked
if I had ever considered wearing my hair natural, and...
I realized I only ever remembered wearing it straight.
Oh child, please.
When you would come visit me in DC,
we would have your hair in braids,
curly pig tails, puff balls.
You wanna see? I've got plenty of pictures in my wallet.
Well, that's when I was little.
But, after Mom died,
I started straightening my hair,
and I never thought twice about wearing it natural again.
So, why do you think that is?
You know, I've been wondering about that a lot.
I guess a part of me
wanted to fit in with the world around me.
Dad, Grandma Judy,
my friends.
Maybe I didn't wanna look different.
It's normal to wanna blend in,
but you still have to stay true to who you are.
Honey, you're biracial.
Meaning there's a whole other side of you
that's beautiful, strong, and Black.
And you shouldn't ever have to feel
you need to cover that up to belong.
You're right.
I'm proud of being biracial.
I don't have to choose a side.
You sure don't
because both sides are equally amazing.
But I do think
it's time I get in touch with my Black side.
I love that.
Honey, you know,
there's a cultural significance
in the strands of Black hair,
going all the way back to African royalty.
Our hair is our identity,
self-expression, and liberation.
So you treat that hair like it's your crown.
Embrace it!
-I will. Grandma, you're the best. -[laughs]
I feel so much better.
I can't wait to change my hair, but...
I just don't know how to do it.
[scoffs] I made you a hair appointment
the minute I got your message.
Are you serious? When is it?
Now.
Now? As in now now?
[laughs] Yes! Let's go!
Your new crown awaits!
Oh my gosh!
I'm gonna change my whole look.
I'm so excited, but nervous.
But excited! I wonder how I'll look.
I wonder how I'll feel. I wonder--
How 'bout you do your wondering in the car? 'Cause we gonna be late.
♪
Hey, Nina. Thanks for fitting us in.
Not a problem.
When you told me it was picture day for Alisha,
I couldn't say no. I know how important it is.
So, Nina, how's the little one?
Oh! She is a pistol!
Kellyn is only 3 years old and already a beauty expert.
The other day, she had the nerve to yell at my client,
"Keep that head underneath that dryer, girl!
Or you gonna regret it!"
[laughs] I wonder where she got that from.
[laughter]
So, Alisha, what's it gonna be today?
We're getting a relaxer.
We want it to be nice and straight for picture day.
You got it. I'll go get the relaxer.
Take deep breaths. It'll be over before you know it.
What's wrong with my baby?
You were quiet all the way here.
I'm fine.
Are you sure?
Yes, ma'am.
Okay, I know how tender-headed you are,
so I hope you haven't been scratching your scalp.
We don't want this to burn more than it has to.
[mixture sloshing]
I can't do this!
I'm sorry, Mom, I can't.
Alisha, you are not the only person that hates relaxers,
but it's the price we pay for beauty!
That's the point.
Why does straightening your hair make you look beautiful?
Well, it's not just about the beauty, honey.
It's more neat and professional.
When you say "professional," do you mean
to fit in with white people?
You know? This sounds like an A and B conversation,
I'm gonna "C" my way out.
Sweetheart,
as a lawyer in a mostly white firm,
I have always straightened my hair.
-But why? -It's more accepted.
And looking presentable is one of the many reasons
why a person advances in their career.
And I don't ever want your hair
to hold you back from success.
But what if I don't care about fitting in?
My hair doesn't define me or my success.
Besides, I like the hair
that grows out of my head.
I am who I am.
When I get relaxers,
I feel like I'm losing a piece of me.
I didn't know you felt this way.
I do.
Wow.
I guess I've put my views onto you,
and I am sorry for that.
I know you did it with good intentions,
but I'm proud of my natural hair.
And if that intimidates someone, then they can--
Ah! Ah! Ah! Don't go there, little girl!
[laughs]
I am so proud of you for loving the skin you're in.
And if I haven't said it before,
you are an incredible daughter,
and I learn from you every day.
[giggles]
So, um, is it safe to come back,
or do I need to keep counting all the bobby pins in the back?
I'm up to 452.
Yes, it's perfectly safe.
And you can put that relaxer away.
I want Alisha to get whatever she wants.
-Really? -Really.
Okay, sweetheart. What's it gonna be?
I think I have an idea.
♪
Wow! This place is so cool!
I can't believe Mom used to come here!
Yes, she did.
But it wasn't this hip back in the day!
Oh! Keep that head underneath that dryer, girl,
or you'll regret it!
Hi! I'm Kellyn.
I know who you are. Nina's baby.
I'm Maya.
This is my granddaughter, Sydney.
I'm so excited to meet you.
I love your hair.
I hope you can help with my hair.
That's why I'm hair. Here.
I'm here for hair.
Don't worry. I've got you covered.
Wow. I can't believe Nina's baby
is doing my grand-baby's hair!
How is Nina doing these days?
Loving retirement! Right now,
she's on a disco cruise to Aruba.
Oh. That sounds cool.
[laughs] Girl, no. It's just a bunch of old folks
on a boat trying to convince each other they still got it.
[laughter]
No offense, Maya.
None taken.
I still got it.
Okay, Sydney, why don't you jump in my chair?
Look at all this beautiful hair!
I'm gonna make sure you look fierce.
And just so you know, I have a ton of questions.
Don't worry, love. I'm here to answer all of them. Hit me.
Well, that universal hair chart thing got me really confused.
Why do I have more than one number?
That's normal, boo.
One girl can have a lot of different hair textures.
Curly, wavy, coarse.
Check out these empowered biracial women.
Kamala Harris is between a 2a and 2b.
Alicia Keys is a mix
between 3a and 3b.
And Zendaya? Is a 2c with a bit of 3a.
Wow. So, what am I?
I think you're between a 2a and 2b.
See? Just like Kamala Harris!
So, considering my hair number,
how should I get my hair done?
Well, you have a lot of options.
You can get braids, twists,
curls, waves, a silk press--
Oh boy. There's so many choices.
Honey, remember. Whatever you pick now
doesn't have to be your forever hair.
Choose what feels right for you today.
So, love, what's it gonna be?
[sighs]
I think I have an idea.
♪
-[door shuts] -Is she back yet?
I can't miss my Noodle's new hairstyle.
No, but she should be here any minute.
Wow, that smells good. What you got there?
Oh, Monica gave me a to-go plate.
Barbecue, greens, mac and cheese,
cornbread, potato salad, peach cobbler.
You know, all the good stuff.
Next time, it'd be nice to have an invite to the cookout.
Sorry, dude. Not everybody gets invited. Cool kids only.
Ladies and gentlemen, all rise
for the honorably stunning
Sydney Reynolds!
Wow.
-[door shuts] -Believe it or not, I feel even better than I look.
And I look good.
Good? Don't undersell yourself! You look amazing.
Oh, I just love it!
Sweetheart, you look on fleek.
Oh, this is such a nice moment
I'm not even gonna point out that nobody says that anymore.
Maya, thank you for flying out. We really needed an expert.
I just wish I could've been more helpful.
And I should've taken you to your mom's salon instead of mine
-years ago. -Now, come on. I can't let you two
take all the blame.
I should've been around more,
but I promise to make time from here on out.
Thank you, guys, but it's not about what you could've done.
It's about what you're doing now.
By being here for me.
Your mom would be so proud of you.
She sure would. You know,
she's the one who inspired me to wear my hair natural like this.
-My mom did? -Mm-hmm!
She taught me to be proud of my natural hair.
And embracing my hair
is just the beginning.
I'm excited to keep exploring
the parts of my identity I've been neglecting.
Just know, Syd, wherever this journey takes you,
all three of us will be there.
-Always. -That's right.
Thanks, guys. Wait, what smells so good?
Oh, I know that smell.
I'd say it's barbecue, greens,
cornbread, potato salad, and strawberry...
-[sniffing] No! Peach cobbler. -Yep!
And there's plenty. Come on. Oh!
I'll put you and Syd's on Monica's guest list
for our next cookout.
Seriously?
♪
So, what other water samples did you get for our experiment?
Well, I was going to get a sample
from the water fountain at school,
but then I saw a boy spit in it,
and I thought it might compromise the results.
[phone chimes]
Both: Hair selfie break!
[snap]
I'll be back in just a second.
I'm just gonna return these natural hair products
-back to the store. -Wait a second.
Natural hair products? Can I see those?
Yeah, of course.
Wow! These are the ones I use.
-Take whatever you want, Jada. -Really?
-Yeah. -Thanks, Mr. Reynolds.
A silk bonnet?
Oh, girl, you definitely need this
-if you wanna keep your hair in place. -Really?
Look at you, Dad. You didn't do so bad after all.
I guess I didn't.
Yeah. In fact,
you should come to our next family cookout.
I'm invited to a cookout?
Can you say that one more time in front of my mom?
Mom!
♪
♪ Doot doot doo-doo doot doo doot doot ♪
Man: Oh yeah.