Hair is potent. Its presence and its absence has profound influence upon our lives, across race, gender, sexuality, status, and more. It will grow in places you don't like and it may desert you – suddenly, or gradually. Whatever your experience, you have had a relationship with hair and its power. Kajal Odedra considers how hair has shaped society today, from the 'perfect' blondes in the school playground to the angry skinheads on the streets. Mohawks, wigs, afros, these are just a few of the ways in which hair has been part of history and wider activism. The word 'essay' derives from the French 'essayer', meaning 'to try' or 'to attempt'. This is Odedra's 'try' at hair – part memoir, part observation across history, politics, religion, and culture. Hair/Power explores the power, control and ultimate liberation that hair can provide.

Kajal Odedra is an author and activist based in London and New York. Her first book DO SOMETHING (Hodder and Stoughton) came out in 2019. She has spent over 15 years working in activism and led the strategy for some of the UK's largest online movements as the UK Director of Change.org. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, Independent, New Statesman and The Times.