Why I’m writing a book about hair
Welcome to Hair-Brained

Somewhere between one and two million years ago, our ancestors lost most of their body hair. We kept a bit on our heads, a bit on our faces, and a few other places we’ll get to. And we’ve been making a fuss about what was left ever since.

Biology explains part of it. It doesn’t explain why people have been shaved, shamed, wigged, dyed, curled, covered and crowned over it. Ask a rabbi and you’ll hear about modesty. Ask a historian and you’ll hear about power. Ask a hairdresser and you’ll hear about confidence. They’re all right.

That’s the idea behind Hair-Brained. It’s a book about why hair matters so much to us, told through 27 chapters on evolution, religion, art, gender, politics, fashion, punishment, photography, technology and loss. Each chapter has my take, and most have a second voice from someone who knows far more than I do: historians, scientists, hairdressers and faith leaders.

So why me? I work in marketing, and I’ve spent a good part of my career around hair brands. A brand is what you get when you take an old human instinct and put a price on it. I got curious about the instinct.

The book is due out next year. In the meantime, I’ll be sharing here:

• stories from the chapters, from why we lost our fur to why red hair was mocked

• conversations with the experts who helped

• the messy business of getting a book made

• the odd hair story from the news

If that sounds like your sort of thing, subscribe below.

And here’s a small challenge. Next time you look in the mirror, ask yourself why you do what you do with your hair. Then reply and tell me. With your permission, the best answers might end up in the book.

Subscribe to get full access and to be kept up-to-date with the book launch