Afro-Latina Is Beautiful

Welcome to My New Blog!

2011-06-13T00:37:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I was blogging on Wordpress.com, but decided to switch to Blogger/Blogspot instead. I will still be blogging as usual! If you are a previous subscriber to my site, please re-subscribe on this new blog! Sorry if this is an inconvenience to anyone! For now I plan to stay with this site for a while. So I hope that everyone continue to enjoy my blog! :)

5 Benefits of Synthetic Ponytails

2011-06-13T00:18:00.002-05:00

So I can finally fit my hair in a ponytail! Woohoo! There are still a few pieces that are somewhat too short, but the job still gets done! I've been waiting for this moment I will have a lot more styling options! Now that I can do a ponytail, I've been experimenting with synthetic ponytails (aka. phony pony's). So I'll be switching between my natural hair, synthetic ponytails and buns, and synthetic wigs. I probably won't wear my real hair in a ponytail until it grows longer because my ponytail is only like 2 in., so it doesn't look too good to me. I will try to post some pics soon! Here are 5 benefits of wearing synthetic ponytails (or buns!):

1. It's quick- I love the fact that a synthetic ponytail is a very quick hairstyle. It's something I'd do if I was in a rush and still wanted to look cute.

2. It's Cute- I love the style of synthetic ponytails! They are actually very cute!

3. It's a protective Style- Your hair is put into a bun when you wear your phony pony, so your real hair isn't manipulated as much. That means that it can help you retain length.

4. It's great for a change up- When you get bored of your hair it's a quick, easy style you can do for a change.

5. It's great for growing out hair- If you are like me and have a stubby ponytail this style is a great alternative while you grow your hair out.

Tips:

1. Make sure to buy ponytails that are similar to your texture and as close to your natural hair color as possible! It looks sloppy when the colors/textures do not mix. It wouldn't look right if I got a bone straight ponytail, while my hair clearly has a lot more texture than that.

2. Make sure to take care of YOUR hair underneath the ponytail. I think a lot of people neglect their real hair when they wear synthetic hair. Make sure you keep your hair moisturized!

3. Do not overdo it with this style! I think doing this style a few times a week is fine, but any more than that is excessive. I say this because not only will the combs cause friction, but tying up the hair in the exact same spot will cause tension and breakage. If you have thin hair then I suggest that you are very cautious with this hairstyle! If you absolutely have to do it more than a few times a week then I'd suggest not putting the ponytail in the same spot every single day. For example, wear a high ponytail for a few days and then switch to a low ponytail for a few days...ect.

I hope this post helps you understand the benefits of synthetic ponytails! :)

Toddler Friendly Hairstyles- French Braided Ponytails & Shirley Temple Curls

2011-06-13T00:17:00.000-05:00

When I went to NYC to visit some family, my aunt did a couple of hairstyles on her. The first one is the french braid pigtails. I loved this style! I do not know how to french braid, but I really want to learn! Here is how you do it:

1. Part hair in the center
2. French braid each side
3. Secure each ponytail with an cute barrette, or connect them with one barrette like I did!

my Aunt also did Shirley Temple curls on her. It is a very easy style, and it only requires water. It's something I will probably save for special occasions. Here is how you do the style:

1. You throughly wet your child's hair with a spray bottle of water
2. You take different sections of hair in your hand, and twist and twist and twist all the way to the end, and then you just let go.
3. You do a bunch of sections throughout the hair, until you have done their entire head

It didn't really hold up in her sleep though. She wore it home on the 7 hr total of flights that day, and by the time we got home it was a frizzy mess. Its something that would probably only last a day.

Tego Calderon on Afro-Latino Pride

2011-06-13T00:14:00.000-05:00

Tego Calderon is one of my favorite artists! And he actually grew up in my mom's home town of Loiza, Puerto Rico, which used to be a slave town back in the day. I love his stance on afro-latino pride. I agree that we all need to start being proud of being black Latinos. And I can definitely relate to being in the middle. I also felt rejected by both Latinos (the few I lived around), and the African Americans. I felt like no one could really relate to my culture. But eventually I made friends with mostly African American people, because in the end we do relate to each other in that we are both black. But I can truly say that I am the proudest I have ever been of my natural hair, and that I am a black woman (or at least partially black). I am sure you guys will enjoy this essay! Here it is:

"Just this morning, I was listening to radio host Luisito Vigeroux talking about a movie project that I am working on which co-stars Mayra Santos Febres and he was saying, "Her? She's starring in it?"
Questioning her Black beauty.

I remember, too, when Celia Cruz died, a newscaster, thinking she was being smart, said Celia Cruz wasn't black, she was Cuban. She was pretty even though she's black.

As if there is something wrong with being black, like the two things can't exist simultaneously and be a majestic thing. There is ignorance and stupidity in Puerto Rico and Latin America when it comes to blackness.

In Puerto Rico, Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" was only shown in one theater and unlike all the other movies shown here, there were no subtitles. It's as if they don't want the masses to learn.

But it's not just here - in Puerto Rico - where I experience racism. When I lived in Miami, I was often treated like a second class Boricua. I felt like I was in the middle - Latino kids did not embrace me and African American kids were confused because here I was a black boy who spoke Spanish. But after a while, I felt more embraced by black Americans - as a brother who happens to speak Spanish - than other Latino kids did.

Because I am well known, sometimes I forget the racist ways of the world. But then I travel to places where no one knows Tego Calderón I am reminded.

For instance, when I travel first class, the stewardess will say, "Sir, this is first class," and ask to see ticket. I take my time, put my bags in the overhead, sit, and gingerly give them my ticket, smiling at them. I try not to get stressed anymore, let them stress themselves.

And the thing is that many white Puerto Ricans and Latinos don't get it. They are immune to the subtle ways in which we are demeaned, disrespected. They have white privilege. And I've heard it said that we are on the defensive about race.

Those things happen and it's not because of color, Tego, but because of how you look, how you walk, what you wear, what credit card you have. Then, they spend a couple of days with me, sort of walk in my shoes, and say "Damn negro, you are right."

When I check into hotels and use my American Express they call the credit card company in front of me saying the machine is broken. This happens a lot in U.S. cities but it's not because there is more racism there, it's because they don't know me. When I'm in Latin America, I am known, so it's different. That is not to say that there is less racism. The reality for blacks in Latin America is severe, in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Honduras ...

Puerto Rican (and Latin American) blacks are confused because we grow up side by side with non-blacks and we are lulled into believing that things are the same. But we are treated differently.
My parents always celebrated our history. My dad always pointed things out to me. He even left the PIP (Pro-Independence Party) because he always said that los negros and our struggle was never acknowledged.

Maelo (Ismael Rivera) and Tite Curet did their part in educating and calling out the issues. Today, I do my part but I attack the subject of racism directly.

It makes me so happy to see Don Omar call himself el negro and La Sister celebrate her blackness. Now it's in fashion to be black and to be from Loiza. And that is awesome, it makes me so happy. Even if they don't give me credit for starting the pride movement, I know what I did to get it out there.
Young black Latinos have to learn their story. We also need to start our own media, and forums and universities. We are treated like second class citizens. They tell blacks in Latin America that we are better off than U.S. blacks or Africans and that we have it better here, but it's a false sense of being. Because here, it's worse.

We are definitely treated like second class citizens and we are not part of the government or institutions. Take for instance, Jamaica - whites control a Black country.

They have raised us to be ashamed of our blackness. It's in the language too. Take the word denigrate - denigrar - which is to be less than a negro.

In Puerto Rico you get used it and don't see it everyday. It takes a visitor to point out that all the dark skin sisters and brothers are in the service industry.

It's hard in Puerto Rico. There was this Spaniard woman in the elevator of the building where I lived who asked me if I lived there. And poor thing - not only is there one black brother living in the penthouse, but also in the other, lives Tito Trinidad. It gets interesting when we both have our tribes over.

Black Latinos are not respected in Latin America and we will have to get it by defending our rights, much like African Americans struggled in the U.S.

It's hard to find information about our people and history but just like kids research the newest Nintendo game or CD they have to take interest in their story. Be hungry for it.

We need to educate people close to us. I do it one person at a time when language is used and I am offended by it. Sometimes you educate with tenderness, as in the case of my wife, who is not black.
She's learned a lot and is offended when she sees injustices. She gets it. Our children are mixed, but they understand that they are black and what that means. My wife has taught her parents, and siblings, and they, in turn, educate the nephews and nieces. That is how everyone learns.

This is not about rejecting whiteness rather; it's about learning to love our blackness - to love ourselves. We have to say basta ya, it's enough, and find a way to love our blackness. They have confused us - and taught us to hate each other - to self-hate and create divisions on shades and features.

Remember that during slavery, they took the light blacks to work the home, and left the dark ones to work the fields. There is a lot residue of self-hatred.

And each of us has to put a grain in the sand to make it into a movement where we get respect, where we can celebrate our blackness without shame.

It will be difficult but not impossible."

Source: http://www.nypost.com/p/lifestyle/tempo/item_A0DRdN2NxyDhJsGjzGqzVL#ixzz1ONQapvRm

The Best Drugstore Hairdye

2011-06-13T00:10:00.001-05:00

Dying natural hair can give it more personality, and bring out your skin tone. I love Revlon Colorsilk haircolor! While it is not exactly CG, it is the only PERMANENT drugstore dye that does not contain damaging Ammonia! It does have sulfates and silicones in it, but its way better than having ammonia! And sulfates and silicones are ok every once and a while! Plus the color actually does make your hair feel softer! I haven't colored my hair since the big chop, I am waiting to get to my goal length, but when I do decide to it will be with colorsilk! I never noticed any damage before when I used to use it! And my mom uses it to cover her gray hairs, and it does a pretty good job! So for those of you that are looking for a good drugstore color, I'd go with Colorsilk!

UPDATE:

I have learned after dying my hair, that I am severely allergic to the main chemical in permanent hair dyes, PPD (paraphenylenediamine). 24 hrs after dying my hair, my entire face swole up double it's size. After getting a patch test done with an allergist, I learned that I am severely allergic, and can never use permanent dyes ever again. And I never will, because it is not worth my health. Each subsequent applications results in worsening reactions, and anaphylactic shock can result. I may also have cross-reactions with other substances, like those found in dental anesthetics, certain anti-biotics, and a chemical found in some sunscreens. If you decide to use this or ANY other permanent hair dye, PLEASE perform the patch test in the instructions. IF you get any kind of redness, itchiness, swelling, or any other indication of an allergic reaction do not proceed. But I recommend that you try a hair color with less PPD in it to lessen the chances of becoming allergic, such as herbtint or tints of nature, which can be found online or at health food stores. Also, another alternative would be semi-permanent dyes with the chemical TDS (toluene-2,5-diaminesulphate), which carries less of a chance of becoming allergic, or to be completely safe, you can try henna, or henna combinations such as henna and indigo for brunnette or black results. But please only use 100% body art quality henna (can be found at hennaforhair.com), as many of them that are pre-mixed contain things that can harm your hair and have bad interactions with chemical dyes, such as metallic salts.

8 Tips for Buying Comfortable Heels

2011-06-13T00:09:00.000-05:00

Up until recently I rarely wore heels although I love them! My feet are fairly flat, and I couldn't seem to find heels that were comfortable. But then I did some research to figure out what kinds of heels are the most comfortable, and ever since I have not had a problem!

Here are a few tips to finding a comfortable pair of heels:

1. Go for a rounded toe rather than a pointed toe. Pointed toe makes your toes smush together in an unnatural way that can be uncomfortable

2. Pick a chunkier heel or wedges over a stileoto heel. Stilettos force you to support your weight on heels that are the size of a pencil. A chunkier heel gives you better support, thus making it more comfortable. Wedges are the most comfortable type of heels.

3. Make sure that you have at least 1/2 in of extra room in the toe box. Feet swell as the day goes on, so you want to make sure there is extra room in case that happens. Also, shop for shoes in the evening, when feet tend to swell.

4. Choose a heel of 3in or less for daytime, and 4-5 inches for special ocassions ONLY. A height of 3in is about the maximum you can wear comfortably, especially if you will be on your feet all day.

5. If you would like to wear a heel of 4-5 inches during the day, then opt for a shoe that has a 1-2 inch platform. This gives the illusion of you wearing higher heels, but without the pain.

6. Learn how to walk in heels if you don't already know how. When you step, your heel should go down first, then the front of your foot. This way looks most natural, and evenly distributes your body weight, meaning less pain.

7. Break in your heels! I like to walk around the house in them for a day. This also helps to find out if they'll be uncomfortable over time, which will give you time to return them if that happens. When you buy heels they should already be comfortable in the store, so dont buy heels that are uncomfortable thinking that over time they'll get better. Trust me they won't!

8. If all else fails, opt for gel insoles for your shoes. Sometimes the problem is that you need more arch support, which can help your weight disribute better, which will help with the pain. The ball of foot gels also work good as well. I LOVE the Dr. Scholls for her line. They have a gel for the whole foot including the heel, the ball of foot, AND arch support all in one! And they are thin enough to fit in even open toed shoes!

After applying all of these tips, I am able to wear heels pretty comfortably during the day. I hope these tips help! :)

Picture Source: media.onsugar.com

Zoe Saldana: A Beautiful, Strong, & Confident Afro-Latina

2011-06-13T00:08:00.000-05:00

I love love love Zoe Saldana! She is one of the strongest, most confident Afro-Latinas in Hollywood. She has no shame in the fact that she is in fact a black woman, with her ethniticies being Dominican and Puerto Rican. She is an Afro-Latina that is making other people more aware of who we are, and I think that is amazing! Now if an afro-latina such as Zoe Saldana who is so strong could go natural, that would be amazing. It would show Afro-Latinas that our hair texture is beautiful as is! The one thing that upsets me though is that she cannot get roles as a latina, because she doesn't look "latina" enough. Its probably going to take a long time for that to happen, but I'm sure it'll happen eventually.

Here are a few articles about her:

"Afro-Latina actress Zoe Saldana graces the cover of Mujer magazine. In the issue on the inside, Zoe Saldana covers everything from how she obtained success to how people treat her differently because of her race. Of course, we find the race politics very interesting, here's what she said:

“I’m just Zoe. Not a little bit Dominican, not a little bit Puerto Rican, none of that silliness…I am what you want me to be if that’s what it takes for you to overcome your insecurities. As a Latina, I think we should be very proud of our heritage. We tend to look for European roots and reject the indigenous and the African, and that is disgusting. Being Latin is a mix of everything. I want my people to not be as insecure, and to adore what we are because it’s beautiful.”

What's the problem with Latinos being considered a different race anyway? Africans were shipped there and mixed with Europeans and Native Americans just like they did in the US. So, Zoe Saldana's ancestors' slave masters spoke Spanish instead of English - the history is pretty much the same from there."

http://www.dimewars.com/Blog/Zoe-Saldana-Tackles-Afro-Latina-Race-Politics.aspx?BlogID=939184b8-3302-4d4c-bcc7-b6623cfc9e6c

"*In the hit film Avatar, Zoe Saldana is the color blue. No sooner than the film, premiered the world wanted to know more about the lead female warrior character in the James Cameron film. People are learning that the talented actress, Saldana is Afro-Latina.

Born and reared in the United States until she was 10 years old, her multi-cultural heritage includes her father being of Domincan descent and her mother Puerto Rican. She lived in the Dominican Republic until age 17.

Believe it or not, some parts of the world are not aware of the Afro Latino or the identity of the Latino image bearing Black skin too. It is great that Zoe’s success is shedding more light on culture.
She embraces her physical identity as Black and her culture as Latin. She never let Hollywood’s typical ideal leading lady concept be a hurdle for her. She has simply jumped over the hurdles."

http://www.eurweb.com/?p=11384

"When I go to the D.R., the press in Santo Domingo always asks, "¿Qué te consideras, dominicana o americana?" (What do you consider yourself, Dominican or American?) I don't understand it, and it's the same people asking the same question. So I say, time and time again, "Yo soy una mujer negra." ("I am a black woman.") [They go,] "Oh, no, tú eres trigueñita." ("Oh no, you are 'dark skinned'") I'm like, "No! Let's get it straight, yo soy una mujer negra." ("I am a black woman.")"

Sources:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0757855/bio

Baggying to Retain Moisture

2011-06-13T00:05:00.003-05:00

Most of you have probably never heard about baggying. Baggying is a technique that helps to retain moisture if you have chronically dry hair. It's best to baggy overnight to keep the hair moist. Some baggy their whole head, and some with longer hair baggy just their ends.

All you do is moisturize your hair with water and/or a little conditioner, and put a plastic baggy over your hair/ends, put on your satin bonnet, and go to sleep! To secure the baggy on your ends most put their hair in a loose ponytail, and put the baggy over the ponytail, and then put a rubber band around the baggy to secure it. In the morning your hair will be moisturized and ready to style, no rinsing required!

But be cautious not to over do it with the baggying! I have heard of ladies who keep their baggies on for like a week, and just put a wig or a phoney pony over it. To me that is just not sanitary and I would think their hair would grow mildew. In my opinion a baggy should not be left on more than 24 hrs!

"Black in Latin America" Series

2011-06-13T00:05:00.000-05:00

There is finally a series on being an Afro-Latino! It seems like lately there has been more of a focus on Afro-Latinos, and that is how it should be! We are severely under-represented, so this is really good to shed light on how we are treated unequally compared to other latinos. In the series, Henry Louis Gates Jr. explains the history and inequalities Afro-Latinos face. It comes on every Tuesday on PBS, and every week he explores a new country!

Here is more info:

http://latina.com/entertainment/tv/henry-louis-gates-jr-explores-what-it-means-be-black-latin-america

Latina Magazine is a Great Source for Afro-Latinas!

2011-06-13T00:04:00.000-05:00

I have to say that I am very happy that Latina Magazine really represents ALL Hispanics. Whether you're a White Latina, a Black Latina, speak Spanish, or don't speak Spanish, they represent you! And that is very hard to come upon these days! Other medias such as Univision, Telemundo...ect need to step up their game! You still don't really see Afro-Latino's as anchors, and in the Novelas they usually play a MAID! But I have slowly seen more Afro-Latinos on their award shows, so I guess that's a start.

Anyways back to Latina Magazine, a few weeks ago they had "Afro-Latina Beauty Week" which features several articles on beauty for US! The articles include finding the right red lipstick, finding the right foundation, and how to lighten your hair at home (featuring an afro-latina with natural hair!!).


A picture of the Afro-Latina featured in the article "How to Lighten up Your Color at Home!"

Here is a link to the articles:

http://latina.com/search/node/afro-latina%20beauty%20week

And I also stumbled upon an article called "how to keep your hair shiny once you go natural". I am ecstatic to find an article on afro-latinos with natural hair! It's hard to find stuff about afro-latinos, let alone us with NATURAL hair! While I am happy that the article was written; the advice is not very good because they recommend Miss Jessie's products, which are filled with cheap ingredients such as mineral oil that are bad for your hair, and are very overpriced being that the ingredients are cheap. Also, the girl in the picture looks like she did a flexi-rod set or something. There is nothing wrong with that, but I love to see our hair as is, frizzy and all! But once again, that's a start!

Here's the link:
http://latina.com/beauty/ask-kate/how-keep-your-hair-shiny-once-you-go-natural

I hope you enjoy these links! As I come across articles about Afro-Latinas I will post them here!

The Most Comfortable Wedges Ever!

2011-06-13T00:02:00.002-05:00

Oh my gosh! I bought a pair of Sonoma Life + Style wedge espadrilles from kohls, and they are SO freaking comfortable! I bought them to replace a pair of espadrille wedges I bought from Old Navy that didn't have enough support to properly stay on my feet. These look very similar to the old navy ones, except that it has a a strap that keeps them on. The other ones were slip on, and it just wasn't enough support! Well they are so comfortable, and they actually stay on my feet! I can wear them anywhere, even with my toddler in tow! They come in black, brown, natural, and a blue floral print. And I also have a pair of wedge flip flops, and they are also very cute and comfortable! And not to mention affordable! This may have to be my new go to brand for heels! Sorry there isn't a picture of them, the Kohls site wouldn't let me save the picture. Maybe I'll post a pic of me in them later!

Heres the link:

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/shoes/womens/wedgesespadrilles/PRD~722752/SONOMA+life+++style+Inez+Espadrilles.jsp#

Compliments From Unexpected People

2011-06-13T00:01:00.004-05:00

Lately I have been getting compliments from people I would have never expected to compliment my hair. The other day an elderly Caucasian woman was raving about how pretty my hair was. I was shocked! Here we have a lady who probably once had long silky hair, complementing my tightly curled, course hair. I also didn't see it coming because I seem to be cautious of older Caucasians because SOME of them seem to be racist. I'm not saving ALL, but I have had some pretty bad experiences in the past. But anyways, this made my day! Knowing that my type of hair can be considered beautiful from all different kinds of races. I also caught a typical looking Hispanic guy checking me out. That was also surprising because most Hispanic men go for Hispanic girls who have long flowing hair. And yes I know I'm married, and I wasn't attracted to the guy, but it's still a major ego booster when you get checked out! Come on now, we all love to get checked out! :)

Getting the Stink Face

2011-06-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

I try not to let it bother me, but every time I go out together with my family I get the stink face from a lot of women. Most of the time it's Hispanic women around my age giving me the stink eye. I know it's because they see a girl who appears to be mixed, and who is married and has a child with a Mexican man. It kind of irritates me because these people are ignorant. If they knew me without making assumptions, they would learn I'm Hispanic just like them! But even without them knowing that, it is completely wrong of them to give the stink face to someone just because they are with a man of a different race.

And when the Hispanic girls aren't giving me the stink face, I get a lot of African American girls giving me the stink face too. I don't know if it's because I appear to be mixed (from my experience, African American women don't seem to like mixed women), I have an Afro, or that I'm with a Mexican man, or just all of the above!

I also get a lot of other natural women who give me the stink face, it's the kind of face like "why is she jocking my style?". But little do they know is that I have been natural pretty much all of my life, so if anyone is "jocking" someone's style, THEY are probably "jocking" MINE! But I would think that instead of giving me the stink face, we could admire each other's hair and swap suggestions.

Ignorant people are just a very big pet peeve of mine! I really don't go around judging people, or "hating" on people, so that's something that really bugs me. I guess I can never win, but that's just life!

Second Day Hair for Short Hair

2011-06-13T00:00:00.002-05:00

I hate having to do my hair everyday! Not only would it take less time to do second day hair, but less manipulation would mean more length retention! When I sleep I crush my hair, and its very hard to get its shape back in the morning unless I douse it with water! It's so hard to find a way to achieve second day hair at my length! So here's what I've been doing:

1. Wet hair until damp (with a spray bottle)
2. Put in as much conditioner as I use to style my hair.
3. Put 2 top sections in loose scrunchies.
4. Put one scrunchie in the back (you can use as many as you'd like)
5. Put on a baggy (Keeping the hair moist allows it to keep its shape for the most part!).
6. Put on my satin scarf,
7. In the morning take down the sections and spray my hair with some spray gel (I'm currently using Tresemme Curl Spray Gel.)
8. Smooth any frizzy sections there may be with fingers.
9. Style your hair.

I got the idea from demipixie's youtube channel, but I made a few modifications. I tried it dry but it was too frizzy and held the shape of the pineapples, so I did it damp with the baggy and it came out so much better!

6 Benefits of Wigs

2011-06-12T23:57:00.000-05:00

I used to be the kind of person that shuddered at the thought of wearing a wig or any other kind of extensions. I guess you can say I was stuck up about it. My family never wore wigs or weaves, so I never really knew much about them. And I always had long hair, so I felt that they were unnecessary for me. I also didn't like how a lot of them looked stiff and unnatural. But then a few weeks ago for some random reason I thought I might do some research on them. I then read about lace front wigs, which are supposed to look more natural at the hairline. I also came across muffinismylovers's youtube channel. This girl is amazing with her wigs! After watching her I immediately ordered my first lace front!


My 1st Lace Front Wig

Here are the benefits of lace front wigs:

1. They are a protective style- You can do twists, braids, bantu knots...ect, and wear them under your wigs. That is a major plus for me because I hate to wear twists or braids out in public, and twistouts/braidouts don't really work well for my length yet.

2. They are quick- All you have to do is take the time to do your protective style (most take 30-45 min), and then put on the wig and style. This is a major plus for me when I want a quick new hairstyle. Even when my hair was long I never took the time to rollerset my hair or anything because it just took 2-3 hours to do. But with a wig I can have great looking hair quickly!

3. They are Versatile- Even though I don't like to take the time or spend the money to do much with my hair, I get bored of it quickly!! Its great to be able to quickly change your hairstyle or hair color when you get bored of it! You can wear a subtle wig to work, and then throw on a trendier wig for a night out with the girls!

4. It's cheaper than getting your hair done- I ordered my wigs for $35, and from what I read they last about a month of daily wear. To go to the salon twice a month would cost $200+ (at least for what my length was). That is a hugesavings!

5. No damage to your hair if worn properly- Wigs are great because if you have natural hair and you feel like wearing it straight, you can easily get a straight look without having to put heat on your own hair, potentially damaging it. Plus I'm known to straighten my hair, and then get bored with it and wash it out 2 days later. I have also heard that the combs in the wigs can damage your hairline, so many people use bobbypins to hold them in place. And please do not use the glues or tapes, it can damage your hairline as well!

6. No commitment- Lace front wigs are also helpful to test out different colors or styles before you commit to that style or color on your own hair. Or if you have long hair but love the short look, you can rock a wig in that style without having to commit to chopping all your hair off.

I hope this post was helpful to you. Other extensions that qualify as a good protective style would be a sew in, or clip in extensions (maybe if a rollerset is done first). Even though I have never gotten extensions, I'd advise against braid extensions or "quick-weave". Every time I see girls with those braid extensions I see bald patches on their temples. And I do not like the idea of glue on my scalp and my hair. Sew-ins would be ideal for someone who wants to have their extensions for a couple of months at a time. And the clip-in extensions might be ideal for someone who'd like to just wear them for a week or two. But for someone like me who would only want to wear extensions for a very short period of time, wigs are beneficial!

My Hair Goals

2011-06-12T23:55:00.001-05:00

I have several hair goals that I want to try to accomplish so that I can retain length. My hair is still in that awkward in-between stage that its not as short as a TWA, but its still to short for many different styles. There are a lot of things I have to change if I want to be able to get my hair into a bun or ponytail, or many other protective styles. So here they are:

1. Reduce my denman usage. I just found a different method that works just as well, but is better on my hair, so I don't think I'll be using it much anymore (see my product rotation and routine page).

2. Have my hair in a protective style for at LEAST 2 weeks out of the month.

3. Moisturize my hair at night at least every other night! My hair is REALLY dry, and if I don't moisturize it before bed it'll feel dry when I wake up, even if I use a satin bonnet. Sometimes I get lazy and I don't do it, but I really want to try to do it at least every other night.

4. Stop using headbands (with the combs) so often. I usually use these about 5 or 6 times a week, and I don't want too much tension on one section of hair, so I'm trying to stop that so much. So from now on I am going to either use a headband that doesn't have combs, or just part my hair and style it that way.

5. Limit shampooing to 2x/mth. I will still co-wash in between of course! Even though I use a very gentle shampoo my hair is very dry so I will try to limit it.

It's really good to have goals when it comes with your hair, everyone can usually benefit from a goal of some type.

Fuego- Que Buena Tu Ta'

2011-06-12T23:54:00.000-05:00

I freaking love this song! It has a very good beat and it's very catchy. And of course an Afro-Latino sings it! Once again I don't really like what he's talking about, but the beat and everything is good. It's kind of hard to find songs that don't talk about sex in this day and age, because sex sells! Anyways, here is the video:

"LaLa Vasquez: Puerto Rican can be "Black" too!"

2011-06-12T23:51:00.000-05:00

This is an old article, but I enjoyed it because it was very well said. I am glad that a famous Afro-Latina was able to speak out on what it means to be an Afro-Latina. I can definitely relate to everything that she discussed. The one things that bothers me is when people TELL me that I am not Puerto Rican. It usually starts as someone asking if I'm mixed, and when I tell them I'm Puerto Rico they go on to say that I must be also mixed with African American. Okay yes I am mixed with African blood, but the African they are referring to is African American, not Afro-Latino. I feel like by them saying that, I am being perceived as being less of a Hispanic, in comparison to someone else who looks like your stereotypical Latina. But what is even worse is when I am accused of lying about who I really am. Anyways, here is the article. I added a snippet from an article as well:

"A lot of people don’t realize that I’m Latina, which is fine. One thing about being Latina is that there isn’t one look that comes with the territory. I don’t expect people to know my cultural background just by glancing at me. I do, however, expect that when I tell people my family is from Puerto Rico, that I will be believed and not accused of trying to be something that I’m not. It usually goes something like this: a person having a conversation with me discovers one way or another that I’m Puerto Rican and fluent in Spanish. That person then expresses their shock over these realizations for any number of reasons—common responses are, "You don’t look Latina" and "I thought you were black!" I never said I wasn’t black. And since when does being black and being Latina have to be mutually exclusive?

In my experience, people tend to have an uninformed and rather narrow view of what it means to be Puerto Rican. For me, not looking like some people’s idea of a typical Latina has been challenging and often painful. I constantly find myself trying to justify who I am, and why should I? I’m proud of my heritage and my family. Both of my parents are from Puerto Rico. They raised two kids in Brooklyn and later in New Jersey, where we ate arroz con gandules and pasteles and listened to salsa music. I feel just as at home in Puerto Rico, where I still have tons of family, including aunts, uncles and cousins. Puerto Rico is in my blood. And that has nothing to do with the color of my skin.

I’m not angry with anyone who doesn’t understand the complexities of race and culture. And I’m also not interested in having long, drawn out conversations about how it’s possible for me to look like this and speak Spanish. In fact, sometimes I make it a point not to mention my parents’ birthplace because I don’t always feel like having the inevitable discussion that follows. Instead, I let people look at me and come to their own conclusions. As I start to get my feet wet in Hollywood, I already know that there are certain parts I won’t even be considered for. The character can be Puerto Rican and speak Spanish just like me, but Hollywood defines Latina as Jennifer Lopez and Sofia Vergara. As beautiful as they are, we’re not all one race in Latin America. But I don’t go to auditions so that I can give history lessons to film executives. I’d rather skip the entire process.

I’m raising my son to understand who he is, and it’s my hope that he’ll never let others define him. It reflects poorly on us when we don’t educate ourselves about the rest of the world and what it looks like. I encourage people who are interested to learn more, do research and ask informed questions. If you’re lucky enough to visit various countries in Latin America, you’ll be baffled to see the blackest of the black and the lightest of the light living together. And I dare you to ask one of them to prove their latinidad."

Also, here is a snippet from an article she had with Latina Magazine:

"Bossip: So, some of our readers felt a little shunned by the comments you made in the January issue “Latina” magazine this year. Pretty much, you were trying to justify your Rican to people.

La La: I don’t know why! I am a Black-Puerto Rican.
Bossip: Well, a lot of Afro-Latinos don’t want to be recognized for being “Black,” only Latino (Sammy Sosa, Daddy Yankee, Even Fat Joe Unless He’s Rapping,):
La La: Not me, I embrace being a Black-Puerto Rican and think we are plentiful and do exist! I am more “black” than people think. I would never shun that part of me and my marriage and the way I conduct MYSELF in public should speak volumes for what I stand for. I speak fluent Spanish as well, so why deny that intricacy of my makeup?
Lala: Since I don’t look like J-Lo, it’s hard for me to get the Puerto Rican/Latin role in a movie. I speak fluent Spanish, but get cast as being black long before they put me as the Latino.
Bossip: So, what do you say to the readers who sort of “rode with us” on saying “why not just say you are black?”
La La: I feel they should relax first of all. Look at the person for who they are despite their race, but also embrace that person of color because we come in all types. People do not question a Trinadian person that is black if he says… “I am black… my parents are from Trinidad.”

Sources:

http://latina.com/entertainment/celebrity/personal-essay-yo-soy-boricua

http://bossip.com/318524/exclusive-lala-vazquez-settles-controversy-is-she-black-or-latino-v69691/

O-Mega "Si Te Vas, Que Tengo Que Hacer"

2011-06-12T23:48:00.000-05:00

Here is my current favorite song out right now, performed by a fellow Afro-Latino! I am new to his music, but I LOVE it! It sounds a little like traditional Merengue with a modern twist to it! There is also an Afro-Latina in it as well! I know I always have something negative to say, but I am not a big fan of the video. I hate videos that have a bunch of women walking around half naked, who obviously have breast implants! It's just very trashy to me, but other than that the song is really good!

Latina Magazine "Black is Beautiful" Article

2011-06-12T23:45:00.000-05:00

I ran across this article (yes it's old!) that talks about how being an Afro-Latina is beautiful! It lists several famous Afro-Latina's to celebrate black history month! Since there are a few more days left in the month, I thought I'd post this article! It really does inspire you to see famous and success Afro-Latinas. There are many on the list that you might not even know are Afro-Latinas! The article even features "La Reina de Salsa", Celia Cruz! Oh how I love Celia! It also includes famous stars such as Zoe Saldana and Christina Milian.

Anywho, Here is the Article:

"In honor of Black History Month, we decided to tackle a subject that comes up again and again in our community; the issue of racism. It has long caused controversy among Latinos, and it’s important to illuminate what it really means to be Afro-Latina. We will shine a spotlight on some beautiful Afro-Latinas in the process.

Wondering what the term "Afro-Latina" means? Miriam Muley, an Afro-Puerto Rican and CEO of The 85% Niche, says being Afro-Latina is, "Not just defined by skin color, because the Afro-Latino experience is such a mixture of different ethnicities. I see being an Afro-Latina as someone whose roots are primarily of African descendant." On the question of racism Muley adds, "There’s an undercurrent of racism, there’s no question about that. There is definitely a ranking that occurs in our community based on skin tone, as well as our hair type and our facial features."

Kafayat Aromashodu, of Nigerian and Honduran descent, also highlights the difficulty of finding acceptance, "People don't really know how to act. Around fellow Latinos, you're seen as the morenita. Around Blacks, you are seen as 'The one who speaks Spanish'. I am raising my children with the understanding of both of our rich cultures. Latin-America and Africa are not different, they go hand in hand."

We've noticed, in our efforts to make the magazine and website as diverse and representative of the whole Latina experience as possible, how truly difficult it is to find prominent Afro-Latina actresses and models to grace our covers and fashion shoots. In that spirit, we gathered a group of notable Afro-Latinas who have made inspiring contributions to our community."

http://www.latina.com/entertainment/celebrity/black-beautiful-celebration-afro-latinas

Sulfates, Silicones, & Dry Skin

2011-06-12T23:44:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I am sure by now you have read about the Do's and Don'ts of Sulfates and Silicones with your hair. But those of you who have dry skin like myself might benefit from cutting sulfates and silicones from your skincare products. After my dry, damaged hair (before the big chop) improved after cutting out Sulfates and Silicones, I decided to try to see if those ingredients could be causing problems with my SUPER dry skin that is prone to Keratosis Pilaris (also known as KP, which are flesh toned bumps that usually appear on the upper arms or legs).

Well ever since I stopped using sulfates in anything that touches my skin, my once dry, flaking skin has improved drastically! I stopped using sulfates and silicones on my face, and my once acne prone skin is clear for the first time in my life! I get the occasional pimple, but it's still much better than before. I really believe that silicones have the ability to clog your pores, and break you out if you're sensitive. I didn't stop using silicones in my body lotion until 2 weeks ago, and ever since then my KP has cleared up for the most part. I also scrub my upper arms and legs twice a week, and that combo helps to keep to keep the KP at bay. The only thing I won't change is having a sulfate-free dish soap, I feel that something sulfate-free won't clean well enough. So for now I just leave a cone-free lotion by the sink and apply some after I do the dishes.

Here are the products I use:

-Dove Beauty Bar for my body. Since it's very hard to find a sulfate free body wash, I went back to the classic Dove Beauty bar!

-EcoTools Mango Body Butter ($7 @ Ulta). This is cheapest body butter I could find that doesn't have mineral oil or cones!

-Nuetrogena Redness Soothing Cream Cleanser. I'm not really sure if it helps with redness, but it gradually cleared up my pregnancy pimples in about 4 weeks. And the ingredients are are of pretty decent quality!

-Yes to Carrots SPF 15 Moisturizer. This is the cheapest face moisturizer I could5 find WITH sunscreen it in, that doesn't contain mineral oil or cones.

-Ponds Face Wipes (I LOVE these. These are great in a pinch to remove makeup when you're tired and just want to get to bed!). They are the only ones I can find without all the bad stuff in them!

Tips:

-Silicones may be okay to use in makeup, if that means that you'll be washing it off before going to bed, I think that it's probably the products with silicones that your skin absorbs more, like moisturizers which are more problematic. But I still use a mineral face powder. I'll update you on the one I use soon!

-Washing your face TOO much can strip it of oils. Many people like to use the Oil Cleasning Method, which uses oil to clean your face (oil is the only thing that can dissolve oil), while leaving your skin's precious oils behind. It broke me out a little, but many people have success with it. It's one of those things that isn't for everybody, so the only way to know is to try it out. I currently use the Water Cleansing Method, which is where I just splash my face with water, blot dry, and add moisturizer. I only use traditional cleansers or cleaning wipes if I have make-up on to remove.

Chino y Nacho- Tu Angelito

2011-06-12T23:42:00.000-05:00

I love Chino y Nacho! They are from Venezuela, and they show a few Afro-Latinos here and there. In this video there is one girl in a dancing scene that is Afro-Latina AND natural. And it's not to where her hair was styled that way, you can tell she is wearing it in her natural state. If I had to say anything negative, it would be why do they always have to show the stereo-typical hispanic girl as the girl they are going after/with? But I guess it could have to do with them be more attracted to girls who look similar to them. We probably wont ever see an afro-latina in a video as this type of girl, but I am happy to see that more and more Reggaeton/Bachata singers are putting Afro-Latinos in their videos.

Tego Calderon- Cosa Buena

2011-06-12T23:41:00.000-05:00

This song is an oldie but goodie, and I must say, it should be a tribute to afro-latinas, lol. It not only features ALL afro-latinas, but 2/3 are natural! Its very hard to see Afro-Latina women in videos, let alone with natural hair! When I first saw this video back in 2007 I believe, I had to take a double take. Both of the women are stunning with their natural hair. I love Tego Calderon because he is from my mom's hometown Loiza in Puerto Rico. A little history on Loiza: it was a slave town back in the time when Christopher Columbus was sending slaves all over the world. Here is the video:

Calle 13- Vamos A Portarnos Mal

2011-06-12T23:39:00.000-05:00

I am posting this video since Calle 13 has included some Afro-Ricans in their video! It makes me feel so happy when countries who have afro-latinos include them in their videos! We need a real representation of each and every color of each country.

Baking Soda Scrub & Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse...Natural Clarifiers

2011-06-12T23:36:00.000-05:00

Baking Soda Scrub and Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses can be used as natural clarifiers. Baking soda scrubs can also be used to open up the cuticle in low porosity hair, or close the holes in high porosity hair. Whenever a baking soda scrub is done, it MUST be followed by an ACV rinse to get the hair's PH back to normal. Here are the recipes:

Baking Soda Scrub:

1 Tsb of baking soda
1 palm full of co-wash conditioner
Scrub this mixture on your scalp as you would when co-washing. You can also put it through the length of your hair.

ACV Rinse:

1 Tbs Vinegar mixed into 2 cups of cool water.
Can be used after a Baking Soda Scrub (a must), OR on its own after a deep treatment to close the cuticles. You take the ACV Rinse and you pour it down your hair. You can scrub your scalp for 30 seconds if being used as a clarifier. A lot of curlies don't rinse afterwards, but I prefer to rinse for a few seconds with cool water after.