Hair Love

Hair Love

movie

G, 2019, Animation, Short

WISE
89%

WISE Score

7.4

IMDb

Oscar-winning short about a dad tackling his daughter's hair for the first time—sweet, funny, and genuinely moving.

IMDb7.4
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

This is the real deal—an Oscar winner that actually deserves the hype. In less than 7 minutes, Hair Love delivers more heart and meaning than most feature films manage in two hours.

The animation is gorgeous, the humor lands, and the emotional core is genuine without being saccharine. It's also doing important cultural work by normalizing Black hair care and showing Black family love in mainstream animation, which shouldn't be revolutionary in 2025 but still matters.

The short format is actually a strength here—it's easy to fit into any day, kids will want to rewatch it, and it doesn't overstay its welcome. Whether you're looking for something to show during a lesson on family, representation, or perseverance, or you just want 7 minutes of quality screen time, this delivers.

Highly recommended for basically everyone.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 3-99. Toddlers will enjoy the visual humor and expressive animation, elementary kids will connect with the father-daughter relationship, and adults will appreciate the deeper emotional layers. This is one of those rare pieces that works across generations.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
95

A tender father-daughter story centered on love, patience, and effort. Models perseverance, care, and family bonding in an emotionally healthy way. The father's determination to master his daughter's hair despite initial struggles demonstrates commitment and growth. Positive Black family representation with warmth and humor.

Imaginative
72

Clever visual storytelling and creative animation sequences, particularly when depicting the father's imagination and struggle with hair styling. The short format limits deeper world-building, but the hair itself becomes almost a character with personality. Solid creative execution within its scope, though not groundbreaking conceptually.

Safe
98

Completely age-appropriate with zero concerning content. No violence, scary moments, or inappropriate themes. The only emotional weight comes from an implied but unstated context (mother's absence hints at illness), handled with extreme gentleness. Perfect for unexpected viewing by any age.

Enriching
88

Teaches persistence, patience, and the value of effort in showing love. Normalizes Black hair care and representation in mainstream animation. Shows vulnerability in fathers and the importance of stepping up. Brief but impactful message about family bonds. The emotional payoff at the end delivers meaningful insight about why small acts of love matter.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Won the 2020 Academy Award for Best Animated Short—it's legitimately excellent craft and storytelling
  • Beautiful, authentic representation of Black family life and natural hair care that's been underrepresented in animation
  • Shows dads being vulnerable, trying hard, and showing love through effort—great modeling for all kids
  • At under 7 minutes, it's perfectly digestible and rewatchable without demanding a huge time commitment
  • Emotional payoff hits hard without being manipulative; the ending reveal adds context that makes everything more meaningful
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What to Watch For

  • There's an implied context (mom's absence due to illness) that's handled gently but might prompt questions from observant kids
  • Some kids might get impatient with the father's struggles, though that's kind of the point
  • It's a short, not a feature—if you're expecting a full movie experience, adjust expectations

Conversation Starters

  • "Why do you think it was so important to the dad to learn how to do her hair?"
  • "Have you ever tried really hard at something and kept messing up? How did you feel when you finally got it?"
  • "What are some ways people in our family show love to each other?"
  • "Why do you think Zuri wanted her hair done that specific way?"
Stills
Hair Love — still 1
Hair Love — still 2
Hair Love — still 3

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