Silver Sparrow

Throughout this novel, hair plays a key role in the way characters are perceived or perceive themselves. For characters with “good” hair, like Gwen and Dana Lynn, hair can be used to tempt and tease, but for characters with “bad” hair, such as Ronalda, it can be a source of deep dissatisfaction and shame.

Both Gwen and Dana Lynn have long hair that they can move to their advantage. Their long, natural hair earns them respect in the same way having a lot of money would, showing how important hair is to their community. Ronalda, on the other hand, has almost no hair due to an accident and thus receives negative attention and is called names. Chaurisse wears extensions in her hair as a way to earn more respect from her peers, since long, beautiful hair is considered more valuable than short hair.

The importance of hair can also be seen in the way Willie Mae changes her hair based on whether she is in the city or the country, showing again how hair is tied to social status, as well as through Laverne’s salon, the Pink Fox. By gaining access to the hair of women in the community, Laverne gains access to their lives.