Hola y Bienvenido!

Today, I want to share with you Boricua hair and the products we use. Because hair is so entwined with our perception of beauty, it is the most easily manipulatable element of our physical self—one that best helps manifest also our internal self. This is perhaps why such a simple thing like hair matters to discussions of one’s personal identity. It’s been a serious issue for some Puerto Rican women whose confidence has been affected by society’s ideas of beauty. It’s been a powerful tool for others whose love for their hair grew hand in hand with the love for themselves.

Some women like it and some women hate their hair. And some learned to love their hair and found in that transformation a freedom worth sharing.

I interviewed two good friends of mine Jess and Chrissy, who are Puerto Rican. We talked about hair, about their personal stories, about loving their hair and about loving themselves. Here are their stories…and mine will be last.

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I’m going to start by sharing Jess’s story.

Please meet Jess

Getting started lets get to know her, she is a talented inspiring entrepreneur who lives here in the US she is also the owner of Jess Designs Jewelry. (Which I did a previous post on.) Jess’s hair texture is wavy- not straight or curly like mine or Chrissy’s hair. She believes we have an opportunity now to redefine the concept of Puerto Rican beauty and aesthetics to include all of our colors and textures, especially our grifas.

Jess’s go-to favorite hair care products are Living Proof and Pantene Pro V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner. She says both give essential hydration from root to tip which is extremely important for her and her hair type.

This is what she had to say about using Living Proof hair products:

“Ever since I saw Jennifer Aniston backing up the product like 3 yrs ago, I knew it had to be good because her hair always looks great and she really takes great care of herself. She’s a beauty,”she said.

“What I like the most is that Living Proof carries a line of products to aim & fit every hair texture.”

She say’s that even though Living Proof maybe a little pricy, it works wonderfully for her and her hair type. Jess, is now using the newest product called Living Proof T.B.D. Multi-Tasking Styler.

T.B.D. = Tame Blowout Deconstruct

She commented that she is absolutely hooked on their products and it is her absolute favorite and would definitely recommend it.

Here is what she had to say about using Pantene Pro V hair products:

Jess says that she also loves using Pantene Pro V Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner. She especially likes how it holds up during the Fall and Winter months.

“It really leaves my hair feeling super hydrated, soft and manageable,”she stated. Here’s the thing about shampoo: it’s all about taking away (dirt, oil), not so much about giving back (softness, shine). And I’ve accepted it. We lather, we rinse … and we put all our nourishment expectations on our conditioner. Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo, however, has long been one of the least stripping of hair-cleansing options, which is probably why you like to give it your votes — and praise. Your hair stays hydrated, in all weather, until your next wash. This is truly a one-bottle-fits-all product!”

Now, moving on to how she takes care of her beautiful hair.

“After, I wash my hair, I blow dry it with a regular blow dryer and use a round roller brush then brush it section by section – like at the salon,”she stated. “Thereafter, I apply my fav styling product.”

• Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-1 Styling Treatment

Jess told me,”It’s the best styling cream.” “It leaves my hair so soft, shiny, less frizzy, bouncy and manageable.”

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Now, I’d like to introduce you to Chrissy.

Please meet Chrissy

Getting started I’d like for you to get to know her, she is a talented actress and singer who lives here in the US. She is a fine example of a brave and proud Boricua with big curls. Her hair texture is curly like mine- not straight or or wavy like Jess’s hair. She believes natural hair, whether curly or not, is beautiful and part of who we are. Teaching our young girls to love their hair as they love themselves is fundamental to raise a new generation of proud Boricuas.

Chrissy’s go-to favorite hair care products are everything Deva Curl. She says it  gives perfect curl definition and essential hydration from root to tip which is extremely important for her and her hair type.

This is what she had to say about using Deva Curl Buildup Buster:

“If your hair has lost its mojo due to buildup from products, hard water, or environmental stressors, this rinse-out cleansing serum will bring all curl types back to life,” she said. “I used to straighten it but it created so much damage that I had to cut it.”

“I use the Deva Curl Buildup Buster as the shampoo, I do the curly girl method except for I wash my hair a little more.”

Here is what Chrissy had to say about using Deva Curl One Condition:

“If your hair needs a dose of essential moisture and you want soft, frizz-free curls, you’ve come to the right conditioner! One Condition Original works great for all curl types.”

“It’s helped my heat damaged hair from using blowers and planchas,” she told me.

Now, I’d like to move on to how she takes care of her beautiful curls.

“My hair routine, is I wash it with Deva Curl Buildup Buster then soak it with water and conditioner. After which, I comb it section by section it takes about 20 min to do my hair.”

When, I asked her if she’s ever struggled with her locks she said,”no.” She did however say that it did have a little bit of shrinkage so she would straighten it.

Chrissy says the best thing about her gorgeous locks is the color. “It looks dark like black but it’s actually a brown-blonde color….when people see me in person they are shocked.”

She commented to me that she is absolutely hooked on their products and it is her absolute favorite and would definitely recommend it.

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And now for my story which is the last to give.

Please meet Me

Getting started I’d like for you to get to know me, yes I’m pretty sure you know me lol since this is my website. I am a talented Administrative Assistant and aspiring Entrepreneur who lives here in the US. My hair texture is curly like Chrissy’s- not straight but kind of in between Chrissy and Jess’s hair textures. I believe when life got complicated, my own beauty routine simplified and I learned to love myself just as I am. My hope is to learn and share some inspiration and guidance to help raise a new generation of confident Boricua women who love their natural hair.

At this point, I’ve left the years of hating my own hair behind. I’ve been the girl with long hair in ponytails, then the adolescent with a perm and later the young adult slaved to the blow-dryer. Many Boricua women still wake up in the morning, stand in front of the mirror and ask the Shakespearian question: To be or not to be grifa? Do we really look better with straight hair? That’s what I thought all adolescence long.

Many of us have gone through this, struggling to define the best way to wear our hair that may or may not fit with what we imagine perfect beauty to be. The issues of whether to wear hair naturally or manipulate it to conform to some ideal, to make it look like somebody else’s, be it the prettiest doll, the telenovela’s lead actress, or the hottest Hollywood star, still remains.

Because let’s be frank here, I’m talking mainly about curly hair, and all levels of it from wavy to Afro. If you have straight hair, you are already a level closer to that “perfect look” society celebrates. For me, and I’m sure other Puerto Rican sisters, the issue of whether and just how to embrace hair has long been a question to grapple with.

My go-to favorite hair care products are everything OGX Coconut. It gives perfect curl definition and essential hydration from root to tip which is extremely important for my hair type.

This is my review on OGX Coconut:

Why I Love It…It’s like a trip to the tropics in a bottle.

Why You Want It…The luxuriously creamy, foamy, hydrating formula leaves your hair feeling clean, glowing, softly scented and super soft.

What’s In It For You…Coconut milk and ultra whipped egg white proteins along with weightless coconut oil to hydrate and nourish your hair as gentle cleansers wash away impurities.

What It’s In…Organix bottles are eco-friendly, manufactured from materials containing recycled post-consumer resin. All labels are printed utilizing environmental inks and compostable label film made from annually renewable resource corn, no from petrochemicals.

Now, I’d like to move on to how I take care of my beautiful curls.

“My hair routine, is I wash it with OGX Coconut Line (I switch up from time to time but stick with the same line.) I then soak it with conditioner let it sit for like 10 min and wash it out. After which, I comb it section by section it takes about 20 min to do my hair.”

“I apply my fav styling product after I comb my hair.”

• OGX Coconut Curls Hair Butter

(Or)

• OGX Coconut Curls Nourishing Conditioner
• TRESemme Mousse

“People call me for my reputation, I’m honest and I believe in haircare. Once you apply a chemical treatment and seal it with a flat iron, your hair will never be the same. It could look beautiful, but it is not healthy. Being beautiful is taking care of you. Caring for your hair from the root, not only the surface.”

In my opinion we all count on different things to help us feel confident. Hair is one of those things. Almost all of the women remembered hair care time during their childhood as bonding time with their mothers or grandmothers, some hold sweet memories and some painful ones. Natural hair, whether curly or not, is beautiful and part of who we are.

These interviews gave me a trove of tips, inspiration, and guidance for a decade of raising a beautiful, confident young lady. In spite of the diversity of opinions, backgrounds, and hair types the women I interviewed had, we can all agree on the need to respect and honor our heritage. We have an opportunity now to redefine the concept of Puerto Rican beauty and aesthetics to include all of our colors and textures, especially our grifas. All the women I interviewed agreed that a beautiful woman is a confident woman. Confidence makes a woman beautiful from the inside out.

As always, I’d love to thank my readers for reading this. I hope this has inspired my Boricuas to love their hair more. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this post my friends and I have put together for you.