Hair for Men

The second novel by Scotiabank Giller Prize finalist Michelle Winters teems with hot towel shaves, hardcore punk, and the steady thrum of female rage.

Following a sexual assault and the sudden death of her parents, teenage Louise adopts a life of hardcore punk violence until she stumbles into a job at a mysterious men's hair salon, where her unique relationship with her clientele unifies her with all men--even the one she most reviles. When the salon is busted, she flees to a marina on the East Coast, where she works for the Commodore and develops a close relationship with Rodney, the Commodore's adolescent son. But as Rodney grows into a man, Louise finds him increasingly menacing.

For nearly ten years, she lives free from reminders of her shadowy past. Until, on the emotionally fraught day of the Tragically Hip's final performance, Louise's high school tormentor turns up at the marina, providing a clear shot at revenge that reawakens her violent urges and giving her an unexpected gift: the chance to put things right.

Funny and warm but filled with dread, Hair for Men is a subversive exploration of gender, forgiveness, and chucking convention.