15 Things That Will Make Sense If You Are a Latina With Curly Hair

Updated on 6/24/2018 at 10:45 PM

Everett

If you have naturally curly hair, you likely grew up just like me: People (ahem, your tías, perhaps) were constantly offering unsolicited advice on how to make it "less puffy." You spent half your allowance (and now paycheck) on styling products to keep it under control and even occasionally broke a hairbrush or two, immediately entering a state of frustration no straight-haired woman could ever understand.

Growing up, I hated my curls. But then I learned how to properly style them, and that was it; I never looked back. Don't get me wrong, the struggle is still very real most days, but sometimes there's nothing left to do but laugh. Read on for 15 common struggles we're sure you can relate to if your hair is curly.

When someone says, "Of course you have curly hair, you're Latina."

Ugh, for real? Do you know anything about anything?

Or when someone goes the opposite way and calls you "exotic."

I'm not an animal at the zoo.

When someone asks if you're "as wild as your hair."

Yep, I'm just going to walk away now.

When women with straight hair tell you they wish they had your curls.

Oh, really? Tell me more about how you want to deal with constant frizz, please.

When a total stranger asks if she can touch your hair.

Not only is this a weird request, but I need to keep the frizz at bay, so hands off!

Or worse, when they don't even ask!

Um, what?! No. No.

The fact that a morning shower is always a must for your curls to look just right.

I don't know about you, but there's only so many times I can hide behind an unwashed messy bun.

But for those days when there's no time, you have a million hair ties in your purse.

And you know the words "emergency ponytail" all too well.

Humidity is your worst enemy.

No, it doesn't matter that we grew up in a humid place. Our hair doesn't just "get used to the weather."

But sometimes, no matter what you do, your hair looks puffy either way.

And you rock it!

When people constantly tell you how great your hair would look straight.

Oh, wow, really? Thanks?

The struggle to find a hairstylist who "gets" curly hair is real.

It's like spotting a unicorn, I tell you.

When you spend all your paycheck on hair products.

That's us at the beauty counter up there.

But also DIY every hair recipe Abuela ever gave you.

Someone pass the honey, a raw egg, and an avocado.

When your longtime go-to styling product gets discontinued.

This is a huge problem! Call 911! What am I supposed to do now?! Gotta go.