From Latina icons Frida Kahlo to modern-day superstars like Lucero, curly hair is synonymous with Hispanic and African American women. There’s no longer a stigma around so-called “pelo malo,” or “bad hair.” In fact, this phrase is being reclaimed by curly haired women everywhere. Unfortunately, big hair has a tendency to cause even bigger issues. Check out these common hair problems that every Latina can relate to, ranging from hair loss and thinning hair to dry hair and, of course, frizz.
1. You Spend All Day in the Salon
If you’re planning a trip to the salon, don’t arrange to meet friends for lunch. Actually, don’t arrange to meet friends for dinner, either. Latina women know that a salon trip can take all day. Got thick hair, color-treated locks, greasy hair, or curls you want straightened? Latinas will invest in their hair, and if that means a day at the salon, so be it. Oh, and you definitely don’t want to cut too much hair, unless you're ready for a whole new look (the next problem will tell you why).
2. It Takes Forever to Grow
Curly hair takes longer than straight hair to grow. When you think about it, this is pretty obvious because the hair is growing curly, not straight. It may be the same length as your bestie's straight hair when you pull it straight, but it’ll appear much shorter. One way to help your hair grow faster is to condition it properly whenever wash day arrives. A conditioner’s main purpose is to add moisture back into the hair after cleaning, restore sebum removed by shampoo, tame hair cuticles, and keep your mane healthy enough to promote healthy hair growth. Use a conditioner that works with your hair, like Lu’s Control Conditioner. Apply evenly on the ends of your hair to prevent product buildup on the scalp. If you have long hair, a good place to start is from chin level down. Finally, let the product sit in your hair for at least a couple of minutes before rinsing it out.
3. People Want to Touch It
We’ve all been there. You’re out and about, and your curls are looking on point. Up comes an acquaintance who notices the voluminous locks glimmering in the light. They ask if they can touch it. Why? Isn’t looking enough? At the risk of making things awkward, you’re going to have to tell them to keep their hands to themselves. There’s a strong possibility that those dry hands will steal important natural oils from your hair, and counteract all the hard work you’ve just put in to make it look so good. Playing with hair between washes can actually spread around the oils and leave it looking greasy, transmit dirt from fingers, lead to breakage, and may even cause hair thinning due to weakening of the hair follicles.
4. Humidity Hates Your Hair
Much of Latin America boasts a hot and humid climate. Humidity can be great for our sinuses and can be good for the skin too, but can cause frizzy hair when hair absorbs too much moisture and cuticles expand. Lu’s Rescue Collection will start your journey toward restoring your perfect curls after a day exposed to humidity with its powerful blend of Shatavari-infused glycerin and Impossible Keratin™, which improves moisture retention, reduces frizz caused by humidity, and strengthens every hair strand.
5. Your Hair Gets Everywhere!
Latinas and anybody who lives in the same house or comes into contact with them will be aware that their hair gets everywhere. The drain will get blocked up as soon as you’ve finished unblocking it, and your meals will always have the added secret ingredient of a curly strand. It may seem that we shed more than everybody else, but it’s actually another quirk of curls. Due to the texture of curly hair, it will trap hair that sheds rather than releasing it throughout the day, so when you come to shower or run your fingers through it, it’ll all come out at once.
6. Next Level Bed Hair Is a Thing
Everybody is familiar with bed hair. However, Latinas will know that if they skimp on any part of their nightly hair care routine, they’ll wake up in the morning looking like their hair spent all night partying. Fortunately, there are hacks to make sure your beauty sleep lives up to its name in the morning. The easiest remedy is to switch your showers to the morning so you don’t go to bed with wet hair. You should also invest in a silk pillowcase to cut down on friction at night. If you prefer showers before bed, try a plop instead. Start with your usual hair care routine, applying your favorite Lu shampoo and conditioner in the shower, and scrunch a Lu styling cream carefully into your wet hair. Then, spread a cotton T-shirt on a flat surface and bend over to gradually “plop” your hair onto it.
7. Mo Bangs, Mo Problems
From curtain bangs to micro and layered bangs, this fringe look is a hairstyle that almost every Latina will covet at some point. But, it’s not always easy getting bangs that make a bang with curls that refuse to be tamed. If they are too short, your bangs will bunch up and leave too much of the forehead on display, and if they are too long, your hair will look choppy and chunky, like you’ve cut it yourself in front of a mirror. To prevent a bang disaster, ask your stylist to cut your hair dry and go longer just to be safe - you can always cut off more if needed.
8. Hair Loss
Alopecia areata, or patchy hair loss, can affect all women, but it's particularly prevalent among Hispanic women. In fact, a study by Science Direct found that Latina and Black women suffered a significantly greater lifetime incidence of alopecia areata as compared with white women. While there's no shampoo out there that can regrow your hair, Lu;'s Rescue Collection is the gold standard for giving your locks added strength and elasticity -- two qualities that are essential to healthy hair.
What's the hair problem you relate to the most? Let us know in the comments!
