What does Ruby's Hair represent?

Ruby’s hair is an important symbol in the novel. Ruby’s hair is twisted and tangled at first, only to be cleaned and straightened by Ephram. As Ephram cleans Ruby’s tangled and knotted hair, he is able to equate the condition of her hair to the kind of life she has lived. Ruby’s life is tangled and twisted, but Ephram has come along and is not only straightening out Ruby’s hair, but helping to straighten out her life as well.