Pelo malo Archives

I’m Afro-Boricua And Didn’t Know I Had Naturally Curly Hair Until I Was Nearly an Adult

elynorcolladoDecember 7, 2022

by elynorcolladoDecember 7, 2022061738

As a kid, I had no idea that my hair was naturally curly. I grew up in a Puerto Rican household in a mostly Black and Boricua neighborhood in New Jersey in the late 1980s and ‘1990s. My mom always...

Beauty

How Natural Hair in Media Has Helped Me Embrace My Curls

elynorcolladoDecember 5, 2022

by elynorcolladoDecember 5, 2022037039

For women and girls, hair has been such a major part of self esteem and identity, and especially for Black women and girls, it’s been a crucial relationship in our upbringing. That was the case for me, a young Latina...

Culture Family

11 Children’s Books Combatting the Idea of Pelo Malo

Shayne Rodriguez ThompsonSeptember 28, 2021

by Shayne Rodriguez ThompsonSeptember 28, 202107691

We are so sick of hearing about people who continue to perpetuate the idea of “pelo malo,” especially since some of us now have children with beautiful crowns of curly hair. For years Afro-Latinx and other Latinx people with naturally...

Beauty Culture

Afro-Latina Hair Stylist Ona Diaz-Satin Talks Demystifying ‘Pelo Malo’

Virginia IsaadSeptember 7, 2021September 9, 2021

by Virginia IsaadSeptember 7, 2021September 9, 2021015986

In the last decade, the curly hair movement has dominated the beauty industry with the rise of diverse influencers and curly cuts being the latest trend. Yet despite this sudden urge for consumers to fully appreciate and embrace their natural...

Culture

These Afro-Latinx TikTokers Breakdown Afro-Latinidad and History

Virginia IsaadFebruary 4, 2021February 4, 2021

by Virginia IsaadFebruary 4, 2021February 4, 2021011107

Afro-Latinxs have a history of marginalization in the U.S. and throughout Latin America that’s often lead to their erasure in history and in their communities. Afro-Latinxs make up such a large portion of the population in parts of Latin America...

News and Entertainment

Jarina De Marco Addresses Latinx Colorism Issues in New ‘Identity Crisis’ Video

Johanna FerreiraJune 21, 2019August 5, 2020

by Johanna FerreiraJune 21, 2019August 5, 202002197

Latin America has a very long and complex history of colorism, a practice of discrimination where those with lighter skin are treated more favorably than those with darker skin. Dominican-Brazilian indie pop singer Jarina De Marco decided to address it...

Culture

Natural Hair Is Still Under Attack in the Dominican Republic

Johanna FerreiraMarch 28, 2019August 12, 2020

by Johanna FerreiraMarch 28, 2019August 12, 202006047

Pelo bueno and pelo malo are terms that get thrown around with such frequency that it’s surprising they aren’t the first words to roll off of every Dominican baby’s lips. Textured hair is often viewed as unruly, unattractive and almost certainly...

News and Entertainment

7 Books Proving The “Pelo Malo” Mindset Wrong

HipLatinaFebruary 6, 2019August 13, 2020

by HipLatinaFebruary 6, 2019August 13, 202004326

If you’re a Latina with naturally curly hair, chances are you’re familiar with the toxic term “pelo malo” which translates to “bad hair” in English. Not only are those words harmful and inaccurate, but they also speak volumes about...

Culture

Hause of Curls “Pelo Malo Where?” T-shirts Are Opening a Pop-Up Shop in NYC

HipLatinaNovember 28, 2018August 25, 2020

by HipLatinaNovember 28, 2018August 25, 202002544

Back in September, Dominican stylist and founder of Hause of Curls, Sherly Tavarez launched her “Pelo Malo Where?” T-shirts that have since gone viral. Her mission behind the line was to encourage women of color to embrace their natural hair...

Culture

This Dominicana Launched ‘Pelo Malo Where?’ T-Shirts To Help Latinas Love Their Curls

HipLatinaSeptember 7, 2018August 31, 2020

by HipLatinaSeptember 7, 2018August 31, 202004288

Eurocentric beauty standards have been around for centuries but we’ve definitely come a long way when it comes to challenging those standards and redefining and diversifying what beauty really means. The world has finally began to rethink how it sees...

Fashion

Massy Arias Is Doing Away With The “Pelo Malo” Mentality

Johanna FerreiraJuly 25, 2018September 23, 2020

by Johanna FerreiraJuly 25, 2018September 23, 202002401

We’ve been socially conditioned to believe that European beauty standards are the ideal for centuries. It’s only been in recent years that women of color have really gone out of their way to challenge them by embracing their ethnic beauty...

Culture

Afro-Latina All-Natural Hair Care Line Does Away with “Pelo Malo”

Virginia IsaadJune 30, 2018October 1, 2020

by Virginia IsaadJune 30, 2018October 1, 202017609

Adassa Ramirez wants young women to know that the texture of their hair does not determine whether they have good or bad hair. The 38-year-old owner of the hair care line MicMas Remix is promoting more than all-natural products, she’s...