Introduce yourself!
A: My name is Ana Iris Santos Batista and I’m from the capital of the Dominican Republic.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
A: I’ve been a natural for around 2-3 years. I didn’t really decide to become natural. At a certain point, I just stopped using relaxers and hair dyes. It wasn’t until I started searching for ways to care for my natural hair that I realized that transitioning to natural hair was not something as rare as I thought.
How would you describe your texture?
A: I would describe my hair as mostly 3b with some 3c characteristics. My hair is very thick and sometimes it can be coarse despite what it may look like. It rejects water and doesn’t really like doing what I tell it to, but I do have ways to tame my mane.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
A: In one month I try to wash my hair only 4 times. Most of the time it ends up being about twice a month. It really depends on if I’m going out or if I have nothing to do. The ideal would be for me to deep condition every time I wash my hair, but my wash day is long enough. The way that I keep my hair moisturized is by dampening it every day with a mixture of water and Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioning Cream. Most of the time I have my hair down with its natural texture. I also love to “fro-out” my hair. This requires for me to use heat, so I also limit this to only 2-4 times a month. The styles that I keep going back to are protective styles. My protective styles are a bit different. Protective styles are supposed to last days or weeks so that you’re not touching or dealing with your hair every day. This is however something that I just can’t do. Due to the length and thickness of my hair…leaving any style for a week or longer will give me dreads. My hair coils into itself and just doesn’t let go. If I decide not to do a specific style, I do an updo for about 3 days and then change it up into another protective style.
What does wash day look like for you?
A: First, I begin by finger detangling my hair. I then shampoo and condition with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. After I’m done detangling (after 1-3 hours) and have washed out the conditioner, I remove excess water and add the Garnier Fructis Leave-In. I then apply some Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plop my hair, and I’m done! Unless…I decide to do a style. How long the style takes depends on what it is. A coil out is an extra 40 minutes. A braid out is about 2 hours extra (I don’t braid close to the scalp, and I do medium sized braids). A froed out look is only about 10-20 minutes. A wash and go is about 5-10 minutes. The halo updo is only about 10-15 minutes. This is usually the most tempting, but the one I choose the least.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
A: My favorite go-to hairstyle for days when I’m more lazy than usual is definitely any updo or my froed out look. The halo updo works for pretty much any situation. The fro look just makes me feel free and it goes with my “I don’t really care what you think about my hair” day haha.
How do you combat shrinkage?
A: I’m one of the people that belongs to the very elite group of naturals that like shrinkage. I don’t fight it. I wish I had it. My hair shrinks to some degree, but I don’t consider it shrinkage. If it was up to me, my hair would be hip length and shrink to above my shoulders. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
A: My hair and I are nearly always in battle. My main problem is dryness. My hair literally repels water, but once it soaks it in it doesn’t want to let it go. It’s very emotionally confused. When I’m in the bathroom, I have to literally hurry to put on my shampoo and my conditioner because by the time that happens…my hair has dried. Once I’m out though, my hair takes an entire day to dry completely. It makes it very hard to plan to go out. I tell everyone that they must give me a day’s notice or I won’t be able to go.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
A: Do moisturize your hair daily and do deep condition as much as possible.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
A: Do not use heat daily and do not tug on your hair while detangling.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
A: I can be found on:
Twitter: @dominicanmerida
Instagram: @alisvolatpropiis36
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DominicanMerida (recently started it)
105 Responses
I am from the Dominican Republic myself and I can totally relate to Ana. Yes, we might be light skinned and not Americans, but we turn to these “black” websites because we too want to learn about our hair and how to embrace it. We also grew up with the idea that “Good hair is straight hair”, so we’ve been fighting our curls all our lives.
I have learned SO MUCH from these beautiful black women about loving and caring for my hair.
Girl, that HAIR!
http://onelittleblackdress.com
What the actual fuck is wrong with some of you people. I know this is old, but gosh this made me sick to my stomach. Leave her alone… we are all on here for a reason…race didnt bring us together. A need of knowledge did. Fuck off if you seriously need to be the person to tell “whos black and who isn’t”. Again, i know this is old but i needed to vent,also maybe some ignorant person will see this and itll stop them ;)).
I want your curls!
Its so long!
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/640x517_5530_Hairstorm_2d_wind_girl_hair_storm_ethnic_hairstorm_portrait_fantasy_beauty_picture_image_digita.jpg[/img]
BLACK = Descendants of African enslaved brought to the continental UNITED STATES during the transatlantic slave trade. Ie. the Black Experience. Creators of most things trendy in the modern world from fashion, music, language, inventions. **Black Pass given to some who fully adopt our culture 😉
AFRICAN DESCENDANT = Persons with African ancestory inclusive of the African Diaspora (Latinos, Blacks), Africans, African immigrants, Bi/Multi-racial first generation.
I’m assuming that the creator of this website (who appears to be Black) initially intended for this site to be a resource & community for BLACK women with natural hair; as this natural hair movement was started by BLACK women once again embracing their natural hair in an American society which shuns it. I’m assuming she soon realized that African women, bi-racial women, and Latino women (those who identify as Afro-Latino) had an interest in this movement and could benefit since they have the same hair types as Black women. I’m assuming she never changed the name of the site since it gained popularity. I think this site later became a resource for ALL women of African descent exchange ideas. Okay cool, I have no beef with that.
BUT my issue with Ana as a Hair Style Icon is not whether or not she looks as if she’s of African Descent, but more of the fact that she does not embrace her African descent. Most Latinos who embrace their African descent identify as Afro-Latinos, most Latino’s who call themselves mixed, are referring to the Native American and European mixture. I am offended by the cruelty imposed against Afro-Latinos in Latin America. And it bothers me that someone like Ana is makes posts talking about her “struggle”.
To me, a hair icon is someone who fully embraces their natural hair. Not some please-pity-me, I’m with you when it benefits me chick from the D.R. who identifies as mixed or Latina posting, on a Black Hair site for women who embrace their African descent.
I agree with other posts in the sense of yes, we need to keep some space where Black women can come and relate. But I don’t think this is the site. So if this site is now for all women of African descendant, my only request is that we limit it (yep I said limit it!) to women who have pride in their hair and African descent because that’s the only thing that really connects us all.
Disclaimer: No disrespect to the owner of the site, my assumptions of your intent were just that.
– Side Note: It would be nice for BGLH to chime in with their thoughts, it got a lil heated on this post! But in the spirit of being PC and unbiased, I respect your silence 🙂
Hi shelly,in regards to your recent comment are u saying BGLH should ‘limit’ their members or bloggers to only African American black woman?
Hi Etain,
Absolutely NOT. I enjoy seeing the natural hair movement in other countries, and on other nationalities via this site. However, I believe this site has evolved from its original intent which was probably for Black women with natural hair, to African descendants worldwide with natural hair. I’m cool with that. **I’ve been making distinctions of what is considered Black because there seems to be confusion about Black people versus African descendants. As a Black person, I can’t go to Eritrea talking about I’m Eritrean and we’re all the same. It’s the same for other groups talking about they’re Black when they’re not.
I believe BGLH SHOULD LIMIT the “icons” to people who embrace their African roots (since that’s really the only thing connecting us) and embrace their natural hair.
I believe Ana really posted for controversy and attention. To me Ana is not the type of person that should be considered an icon based on her previous articles; not because she is not Black.
Side note: My bad, I’m late replying. I’m on here like once a week or so. But hopefully this clarifies my stance.
Hi shelly! I understand where your coming from, but ana’s article about her hair regimen really helped me and im shure lots of other naturals. She may be struggling with excepting her natural hair, but didn’t we all? Im also mixed with 3b/3c hair. And like I said I do understand what your saying, But she’s just trying to share what she Knows.
I’m not sure I understand how African Americans are “black” and have traditional “black hair” and Africans do not…Eritrea and Ethiopia being the only two countries in Sub-Saharan whose hair texture and origins are different..
Are you Latina? Please stop speaking for us you sound ignorant.
I love your hair! How long did it take to grow that length?
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/02a96f657c08f6733538f88d05e7c932.jpg[/img]
petty…your hair is gorgeous…looking at your HAIR your input is definitely warranted. One of the first things you learn as a cosmetologist is that hair is based on its texture, not the person that has it. (fine, course, curly, straight, oily, etc..) If anyone actually read some of the products she uses are used by many of us and the time she has to put into her hair exceeds the amount of time Ive ever had to put into my hair. This aint no private party..this is hair. Get over it.
petty…your hair is gorgeous…looking at your HAIR your input is definitely warranted. One of the first things you learn as a cosmetologist is that hair is based on its texture, not the person that has it. (fine, course, curly, straight, oily, etc..) If anyone actually read some of the products she uses are used by many of us and the time she has to put into her hair exceeds the amount of time Ive ever had to put into my hair. This aint no private party..this is hair. Get over it.
I totally agrea!
petty…your hair is gorgeous…looking at your HAIR your input is definitely warranted. One of the first things you learn as a cosmetologist is that hair is based on its texture, not the person that has it. (fine, course, curly, straight, oily, etc..) If anyone actually read some of the products she uses are used by many of us and the time she has to put into her hair exceeds the amount of time Ive ever had to put into my hair. This aint no private party..this is hair. Get over it.
petty…your hair is gorgeous…looking at your HAIR your input is definitely warranted. One of the first things you learn as a cosmetologist is that hair is based on its texture, not the person that has it. (fine, course, curly, straight, oily, etc..) If anyone actually read some of the products she uses are used by many of us and the time she has to put into her hair exceeds the amount of time Ive ever had to put into my hair. This aint no private party..this is hair. Get over it.
petty…your hair is gorgeous…looking at your HAIR your input is definitely warranted. One of the first things you learn as a cosmetologist is that hair is based on its texture, not the person that has it. (fine, course, curly, straight, oily, etc..) If anyone actually read some of the products she uses are used by many of us and the time she has to put into her hair exceeds the amount of time Ive ever had to put into my hair. This aint no private party..this is hair. Get over it.
I wish I could say I’m shocked by all the racist (I don’t why black people think we can’t be racist; get your life), segregationist, and plain ignorant comments getting multiple +1’s while those who make valid, intelligent points get several negative votes, but this had been a festering and intrusive plague on this site for some time now. You claim to embrace the broad spectrum of skintones and backgrounds that make up the natural hair community, you claim to accept all curl patterns, you claim to be oh so enlightened in your thinking, yet you clearly show your hypocritical @$$es by telling this young woman she isn’t ethnic enough to be part of your little black girls club.
She is mixed, meaning she is BLACK AS WELL AS another race, but the trolls and natural nazis have taken over and decided to completely disregard that crucial fact. You claim you just want a space where black women of all types are accepted, but try to pull out the brown paper bag test, as some have referenced, just because she doesn’t fit your PERSONAL definition and criteria for being black and/or having natural hair, which just so happens to directly correlate with the natural nazis POV. Well fine, if we want to go that route, we can look at pictures 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and the last two on the photo grid to see her hair has some kink to it, but you all are too hung up on her skintone and facial features, which btw clearly denote some black ancestry, to see that. Last I checked, having natural hair meant not altering your curl pattern with chemicals and had no official connotation in regard to skintone, type of curl pattern, or having a certain racial background.
Someone brought up a white style icon from Algeria and how readers were so unaccepting of her and her hair that the comments were shut down. First off, her skin doesn’t matter, her hair does. She has the EXACT same curl pattern that I have seen on NUMEROUS black and mixed race style icon featured on this site. Second, at no point should comments have to be shut down because the ignorant and immature can’t control themselves. I am ashamed of you all and your behavior as well as racist and segregationist attitudes. “Get the kinks out of your mind…”
For those claiming, “Oh well, this site is for black women only, because the site is clearly called ‘Black Girl Long Hair’,” you point is invalid as well and to prove you and all these other hateful females wrong, I will include a direct quotation from the BGLH About page, written by Leila (the creator) herself:
“Black Girl with Long Hair is a website dedicated to the ever-growing community of black, Latina and multi-racial women who choose to wear their hair naturally — with minimal or no use of chemicals, heat, weave or extensions”
Bam. NOW HAVE THE WORLD’S GRAND TOTAL OF SEATS. Now, you can -1 the hell out of this comment all you please, because I’m out. -deuces-
actually now that i am aware it’s for “everybody” in short, perhaps i’ll relent. i was operating under the assumption that it was a site aimed at black women almost exclusively, but reading the statement you quoted, i suppose i’ll hafta take a seat. which is fine by me, because i wasn’t making comments out of an attempt to be a nazi or divisive. I pose my comments out of a general concern for black women. it’s as simple as that. if this isn’t the site for it, then there will be others. So long as my intent is understood and people take the time to actually read what i’ve posited instead of jumping to inane conclusions like “you’re insecure” or “hateful” etc. when nothin could be further from the truth, I’m good.
It’s not even how Ana looks that bothers me but it’s an article that I read of hers.. could be the same one from last week, or on CurlyNikki … I just don’t remember her saying out right “I’m Black,” and it’s not that she even HAD to. I just remember her saying otherwise.. like: “i’m such and such,” but not Black (I could be wrong though). So if she acknowledges her roots (no pun intended) then cool… but don’t be like certain Hispanic and mixed people and say you’re not Black until it benefits you, that is wack as hell. If this site isn’t for Black women then the name wouldn’t exist or maybe needs to be changed, or offer a disclaimer for example: “although the site is titled Black Girl with Long Hair, we will actually be showing women that aren’t Black as well” lol. This is a comfortable place where I can relate to other women, I don’t want to view a bunch a women that emphasize how they don’t relate to me as if my characteristics aren’t worthy, psssssh. *cue neck & eye roll*
and that’s exactly what i was arguing, that there should be a disclaimer because the site name is then misleading lol but people wanna call me an insecure “biatch”, which isn’t nice and pretty elementary, but okay haha
Couldn’t agree with you more,Getalife! This place is so hateful! And insecure biatches like Casey disgust the hell outta me! This site used to inspire me but now I have had enough. Peace
Ana your hair is beautiful. Take no notice of the ignorant comments. Thanks for your story 🙂
I love your hair.I LOVE SHRINKAGE TOO! because it helps me to shape and style my hair as i wish but somedays,i just wish i had perfectly defined curls like yours.
Anybody see the TRESemme advertisements in the background with smiley Caucasian women with their silky straight here…perfect place to advertise right…talk about that… “blackgirllonghair”
I followed this site for years..it is time to exit. My sister has the same exact hair as the young lady featured. I guess this site is not for her. WHEN DID BLACK WOMEN BECOME SO HATEFUL! INSECURE AND BITTER? LOOK AT THE COMMENTS ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA? WE ARE THE ONLY ANGRY HATERS? IT’S JUST HAIR! WILL THIS site soon be PAPER BAG BROWN OR DARKER ONLY MAKE YOU MISERABLE LADIES FEEL LIKE YOUR WORTHY? THAT’S WHY I HATE THIS SITE? CURLY NIKKI FEATURES ALL TYPES OF CURLS AND SHOWS EACH OTHER RESPECT AND LOVE? FIRST U BITCH ABOUT OTHER RACES TAKING YOUR MEN! NOW THEY ARE TAKING YOUR CURLS! LOL MAD INSECURE? HAVE U EVERY SAT BACK AND THOUGHT ABOUT WHY THE WORLD SEE YOU AS ANGRY INSECURE WOMEN BC YOU ARE. I FEEL SOLANGE FOR DROPPING CAROLS DAUGHTER CAMPAIGN! SHE CAN LIVE WITHOUT BLACK BITCHES TELLING HER HOW TO WEAR HER HAIR TO BE A HAPPY NATURAL! YES SOME CHICK ON THIS SITE SAID THAT? IT’S JUST NOT THAT SERIOUS! IT’S ONLY HAIR AND IF YOU FEEL THAT HAIR RULES YOU! YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE AND STOP BEING SO DAMN ANGRY AND INSECURE? TAKE THE STICK OUT YOUR A$$.
Curly Nikki is white owned.
I am mixed and before you start thinking I ‘don’t belong’ my hair is 100000% BLACK and way kinky enough to obviously be accepted here. I have a very similar hair texture as my Dominican hair dresser, so some of these comments are not only ignorant but inaccurate. One thing I use to admire about these sites is respect for not following what is ‘expected’ and the diversity of all different types of hair. Love and support, not all this negativity – everyone’s hair journey is different and many Dominicans also fell victim to relaxers. But these comments remind me of my childhood jealousy of typical ‘mixed girl’ hair I wished I had instead of my unmanageable fro. Until I grew up, now I love it! It is not ok to criticize those you feel have too ‘good’ hair grade to be on this site, or they use heat, or straighten or anything else not natural enough for some self proclaimed know-it-alls.
I am so heartbroken by some of the comments here. When did this site become so hateful? This young woman is merely sharing her hair routine and people are acting like she it setting kittens on fire.
I’m a black latina woman and I enjoy coming to this site and seeing a variety of different types and flavors of other black/biracial women explain their hair and styles. It’s beautiful and the fact that some of you have a problem with that is really pathetic…And honestly, on a site as expansive as this one, would not it be just as easy to simply NOT READ the posts that did not interest you?
Half of the folks posting rude, segratory comments on Ana’s post probably have not even complimented some of the beautiful other curlies under the Style Icon tab.. Why not use your energy for something more positive than filling this lady’s comments with bad vibes?
That being said… THANK YOU for sharing Ana!! Your hair is lovely and looks super healthy! I could never maintain all that length 🙂
I couldn’t have said it better!
if you’re talking about me i pretty equally praise the hair of most of the women on this site with no thought of their texture. pretty, beautiful, well-maintained hair knows no colors/textures.
What I’ve learned from being with a mixed race boyfriend(his mom is white from colombia and dad is black from haiti) is that being “black” is an experience. It’s not directly linked to skin color. My bf is probably just a shade darker than her with kinky hair like hers and thick lips and a broad nose but he is constantly being told he’s not black enough because of his skin color(i’m afraid to admit that I even thought so when i first met him)
I’m afro-latina as well but i have dark skin so no one questions my “blackness”, in fact if it wasn’t for my spanish name no one would have any idea my parents were cuban immigrants.
There are things that connect people to the black experience that aren’t related to skin color or music, but from their own experiences. Maybe in this case it’s her hair. I’m thinking of the lovely Michaela Angela Davis, who can pass for white but she claims to have two black parents and she has the craziest natural hair. Who gets to validate her blackness just because she doesn’t fit the criteria of dark skin?
She is not black….plain and simple! My supervisor is white and has the same texture, thickness and curl pattern as Ana and she is fully white. I dont understand why other race are trying to be like us…
OMG, she’s NOT fully white, she’s dominican!! we (dominicans) are NOT fully white, unless our family is immigrant and is never mixed with a black person. I can’t understand why there’s so many people telling Ana what color she’s or what race, if they don’t even know what dominicans are.
So if she was a brown skin Dominican with the exact same hair would she would you consider her black then??
Nope, she’d still be a Latina….to herself and to the world. We might consider her as Black, if she considered herself as Black.
The most amusing thing to me is that Ana posted last week about “The Struggle” with regards to her hair, but posted a very simple routine here…
Reading these comments make me laugh; this website features many mixed race people.So its okay for mixed race people who have dominantly black features to be featured on this site but not someone who was born with european features? Where is the line actually drawn? There is a form of double standard that is going on here; you diss her for being featured because she “looks white” which suggests some form of ignorance to the idea of genetics;Not all mixed race people have black features.Heck, two half black and half white people can conceive “white looking” offspring and offspring that have african features. These comments are showing me that many of you guys accept mixed race people who look like they have some black in them but don’t accept the girl who looks white. Paha I would not be shocked if the people who have an issue with the tone of her skin did the brown paper bag test whilst looking through her pictures.
Now I don’t know the writers parents or what they look like; I don’t know her family tree at all. But she has something in common; natural hair. I am sure she has helped many readers of this site with their hair from her story; whether their hair is the same or a tighter coil. And for many of you to say she should not be featured as this is a site for “black women only” should therefore go and complain about the many mixed race people who have featured on this site also; even if they do look black.
Wow!!! You laid it Down!!! I couldn’t have said it better!
I find it odd that the very people who want for their hair to be accepted can not accept another’s hair. Curly hair..even the ‘manageable’ kind is seen as undesirable or odd compared to straighter hair the world over..if non-black women embrace their multi-texture hair it will help to change what is thought of as ‘normal’.
This is sad.. Dominicans are mixed people described as Hispanic however they are predominately of African decent. She’s a beautiful daughter of the diaspora and it’s nothing wrong with her being featured here. If she was mixed with less European features there would be no problem. Our biracial beauties are still a part of our Black community.
i think those questioning whether or not someone like ana should be featured HERE is pretty valid. My question for those of you who say why not is this: there are quite a few youtube girls who have posted videos of themselves coming out and saying “i’m mixed black”. but guess what, guys? A LOT of those ladies looks straight-up white. One or two even had red hair, straight as all get-out. or curly or wavy but silky.
My question then is, to what extent are people who are not “obviously” black allowed on the site? I’m pretty sure that if we were to start posting pictures of white women, then we might as well change this site to “Naturally Curly” or “British Curlies” or something other, reflecting that it’s no longer about “Black” women with long hair. Of course the real question is what is black? But honestly, featuring someone who doesn’t identify with black and black alone is kinda pointless to me because there are a HOST of other outlets for them to post pictures of themselves and voice their concerns over things that are in line with their experience of being not black or not solely black. all i’m arguing is that this should be a space for black women, those who look like us and have characteristics more in line with what you’d find on your average black women. i dont’ think that should be too much to ask for or hard to comprehend given that the need for a site like this came about precisely BECAUSE of the lack of adequate or accurate representation of US in the media. Why invade our space here, just when we’ve been going strong? i’m not against ana, but i dont think it’s fair to showcase her and her hair on a site like this, unless we’re willing to go all the way and start showcasing even say, white women with loose silky curls, because if we’re going to argue “well she has a struggle on account of her hair”, then, damnit, even WHITE curlies do too. where do we draw the line?
The bottom line is that if Ana hadn’t actually said she was mixed black to ME i would not have made that connection. I only see it because she pointed it out but otherwise, her hair and features and skin are almost entirely european. if i want to see european, all i have to do is get off this site and go on any random pick of google offerings to be bombarded with european images, without even trying to find them.
I advocate for black women’s space to be maintained, and if i catch flack, oh well. And for those who might rush in to say “but she’s black, like us”, i would urge you to consider that she said she’s not black, but mixed, which is not the same identity as far as i’m concerned.
If you Google Dominican women, most of them look just as black as any other chick in here! It is what it is, we are Hispanic but our race is BLACK!! this “She’s not black enough to be posted here” is dumb! so what are we doing now the paper bag test to see if someone belongs on this site?! as much as we complain about racism and not being treated equally (some) black women are the most racist of them all!! this girl just said that her features are European! girl please! Dominicans are mixed, black, white, and other! But mostly black! This girl is here to share her journey and maybe we can learn something from her story! So learn something, and stop being so prejudice!
you didn’t even answer my question, which was pretty valid. who is to be a style icon on a site aimed at black women, and who isn’t? i’m not prejudiced. and i think her story should be shared. i just wasn’t under the impression that a site aimed at black women with predominantly kinky hair should have been the venue for that sharing. My question was should we hold up as style icons people in GENERAL who do NOT look “black”? if that’s the case, why not just go on ahead and feature white women? if i’m not mistaken, curly Nikki did just that. If that’s the direction this site is headed then that’s fine but i think that BGLH should acknowledge that this is their intention. I believe you quite misread me. personally i don’t want to see european examples for hair, skin or whatever, as i stated previously because it does nothing for me. And on top of that, it’s pointless, because those very images abound all over the place. There’s nothing wrong with wanting one’s space to remain one’s space, and that’s the purpose of blogs of whatever kind you can imagine- is to streamline their topics according to their target audience/viewership. But the reality is that most black women don’t have hair, features or skin like Ana’s, especially the farther away you get from European admixture. You can misconstrue my point as much as you want but it detracts not from what i’m actually saying.
Why are you int the 3b aisle then mmm if you do have kinkier hair than go to 4 aisle damn. I’m dominican too and I have 3b hair my hair is long and thick like Ana. She is just trying to give us information about what she does on her curly hair was the BIG DEAL!!! I agree 100% of what poster girl said
I am 3b myself, actually, (it’s almost identical to Ana’s, judging by the pictures) and i would still respect the need for sisters with tighter curls to have their own separate space, because i’m not in denial about the fact that going natural for them tends to be a helluva much bigger deal than it is for those with looser curls. growing up i was always questioned on my ethnicity and still am, and continue to have to try to get black women with relaxers who say “you’ve got that good hair. chile i couldn’t go natural” to see their own hair as beautiful. which is why i’m particularly sensitive to this topic. growing up, i never heard “bad hair” directed at my hair (i almost never heard it at all); it was quite the opposite. so i would look pretty strange coming on here looking for solace when i never had the kind of hair that blacks deemed as worse to begin with. therefore, like i said, i’m not hating or trying to come across as discriminatory, but i feel as though this space ought to remain as such that primarily showcases and highlights type 4 hair, and maybe 3c. that’s not to say those with looser types don’t struggle, but again: you can find PLENTY of white girls who were made to feel less than for their silky curls. odd as that sounds. but they’re there. so that, to me, doesn’t make for much of an argument by itself. I just am wary of the direction the blog is headed in with its style icons, b/c for as long as there continues to be lack of acceptance of kinky hair there will always be a need for a space that’s just for those with kinky hair. if your argument, on the whole, is that this site is just not that, then i respect that- and perhaps might come to agree with you in time.
Is a black Albino really black?! You should be ashamed of yourselves for your ignorant and racist comments! Grow the heck up! She’s beautiful and she’s a natural and if that makes you insecure than just shut it and move on.
yep, a black albino is really black. and your referencing black albinos makes no sense whatsoever, because every BLACK albino I have ever seen CLEARLY looked black despite their pale skin and hair. and also i’ve yet to see or meet an albino who did not fully consider themselves black. (check in the identity box) therefore the comparison falls short, because i specifically said above that showcasing someone who looks like Ana is akin to showcasing an all-out caucasian, the only difference being that Ana considers herself mixed whereas the caucasian would consider herself white. In my mind, neither of them should be style icons, since neither is black, neither do they look black. and yes i’m aware that looking black can take on a variety of looks, but ultimately we’re all pretty sure, in everyday life, that your average black woman we see in public can be identified as such by a certain “look” that is consistent with and characteristic of the average range of looks you’d be liable to find on any given black woman of the diaspora. what makes me black to someone, most people, in fact, without me actually having to tell them that that’s what i am. to suggest otherwise means we have nothing to discuss, because arguing to the contrary would either make you naive (at best) or woefully in denial (at not quite worst but not much better).; plus, as i mentioned previously, to showcase those who can “pass” (not to suggest that she would want to or tries) defeats the point of (perhaps what i’d mistakenly thought to be) this blog, since the point originally was to showcase beauty that was overlooked and even marginalized or outright denied (black beauty, in case someone missed it). And if you need a reference to chew on, consider the issues surrounding the lack of BLACK visibility in the media as it pertains to beauty images, considering that the vast majority of black women who’ve been considered beautiful by the standards of this nation and the world all are either of mixed heritage (half and half) or they look white enough in features and skin color combined. If you disagree then refer to this list by Abagond
not the end all be all, of course, but nonetheless it’s unfortunately shaped the majority’s (black and white alike) perception of black beauty. There’s a reason why i highly doubt Ana, whether in this century or the previous couple of them, or in this country or any other, would ever realistically have had to come to terms with that struggle for the recognition and acceptance of black beauty- AKA the “Struggle”, to use her wording. therefore in the context provided, what i said is a far cry from ignorant and racist. no one said she isn’t beautiful. she is. and no, i’m hardly insecure. quite secure, actually, and for you to insinuate otherwise is a cop-out on your part.
on a side note, i wonder if you’d be as upset over the fact that there is such a brand name as “mixed chicks”, which, at least by title, is arguably exclusionary. If you wouldn’t even bat an eye at such a name, or by biracial and mixed people often singling out their hair as unique by dubbing it “mixed hair” and the like (nevermind the fact that there are plenty of black people who are obviously NOT mixed but who have that kind of hair they think they’re describing, but whatever), then i don’t know how you could dare complain that i would argue that we need a space for “black hair”, since apparently many mixed individuals argue (or imply by their choice of labels) that “mixed hair” and “black hair” aren’t the same thing. Riddle me thus.
I totally agree….there are plenty of forums for all other women. Why keep infiltrating the few sites that are specific for black women.
I couldn’t agree more with Trust0811. Who are you to tell her she’s not black enough?? Not right. If she also identifies as “black” genetically (which Dominican’s do), than by all means, she’s black enough to be here. I come from a very diverse Caribbean family where we literally look anywhere from fair white with freckles and red hair, to chocolate brown skin with kinky curly 4 type hair. We ALL identify as black AND white (as well as other) whether we look it or not, because that’s what we are. Ana is just as much black as she is “other” so you have no right to tell her she doesn’t belong here. The unique thing about “black” women is that we DO come in various shades and hair textures. I get your point on wanting to embrace “blackness” and how darker skin is under represented in the media, but we have to accept ALL black people. We would be no better than the rest of the media if we only stuck to women with kinky hair and dark skin. Leave the “light vs dark” mentality behind please. Don’t need that toxic waste on a site like this that embraces black women as a whole.
@Soleil
I highly doubt you (or any black woman) would be saying this madness if Ana won a miss black beauty contest. For the record she isn’t black enough and cannot represent blackness. She is mixed and is correctly identifying herself as such. Learn the art of exclusion. Other groups do it and thats why they’re not easily infiltrated.
Im also mixed, and I’d personally be happy for her and anyone else that won the prize. No matter their skin tone.
sigh you don’t get it. She is beautiful. But she’s not supposed to win no black beauty prize.She cannot represent blackness.She represents being mixed. Whites wouldn’t claim her as white but no one questions that.
Isn’t this ”miss Black beauty” prize for CURLY hair?
@Etain
Um no. The “miss black beauty prize” would be for a black person. Having Curly hair doesn’t automatically make you black just so you know. There are even white people with curly hair.
I know thier are white people with curly hair. I have friends with curly hair that are fully white. And I know whier your coming from. I apoligize if i sounded rude earlyer. But what im trying to say is, is that what it all boils down do is that were all here to share what we know and contribute to BGLH and what it has to offer.
I couldn’t agree more with Trust0811. Who are you to tell her she’s not black enough?? Not right. If she also identifies as “black” genetically (which Dominican’s do), than by all means, she’s black enough to be here. I come from a very diverse Caribbean family where we literally look anywhere from fair white with freckles and red hair, to chocolate brown skin with kinky curly 4 type hair. We ALL identify as black AND white (as well as other) whether we look it or not, because that’s what we are. Ana is just as much black as she is “other” so you have no right to tell her she doesn’t belong here. The unique thing about “black” women is that we DO come in various shades and hair textures. I get your point on wanting to embrace “blackness” and how darker skin is under represented in the media, but we have to accept ALL black people. We would be no better than the rest of the media if we only stuck to women with kinky hair and dark skin. Leave the “light vs dark” mentality behind please. Don’t need that toxic waste on a site like this that embraces black women as a whole. As a woman who identifies as “black” (also) this is embracing.
A white woman was already featured on here and they had to shut down the comments because it was heated and rightfully so.
https://bglh-marketplace.com/2012/01/sa-rah-from-algeria-natural-hair-style-icon/
She’s mixed like many of the previous icons have been AND like many of the readers of BGLH are, so I don’t see why all the uproar? If you don’t like reading about the mixed ladies than you do not have to read their Icon bios. There are enough flavors of black/mixed women under the Style Icon tab to suit everyone’s fancy.
Um… My girlfriend goes on this site because she is natural and she sent me this via email to specifically look at your comment. Now let me begin my Spiel… WTF do you think you are to say she is not black because she is mixed? Number 1… Get off your pedestal and recognize that there are fairer skinned BLACK people who may or may not have other black features other than their hair. I am mixed, looking like I am hispanic with the only standout black features possibly being my skin color, so now I cannot be apart of this website (if I were a woman myself)? Number 2… If only full black people can have there articles posted then knock out over 50% of the black population (and that is being generous) because if she cannot be on here then no other not full black person can be posted on here either regardless of their features. Number 3… We are in a day and age where we need to also venture to the far reaches of what it is to be black, not just full black, American black, or mostly black. We need to advertise every single type of natural black under the sun so we do not divide ourselves even further. The majority of the posts on this site are not of people of fair complexion so it is nice to see the variety of BLACK in this world, not just dark skin or light skin or white skin, but all skins… To end my spiel I would like to say do not deny someone because they do not look like you, embrace them as a new experience to behold. Learn from them and grow.
What is a black woman?? What do black women look like?? I’m curious bc I keep hearing this same thing. What makes you black??
I don’t know you tell me. i could type in “black woman” in a google image search and it generate women that, if not black, are definitely close approxations. in any case, if you saw me walking down the street you would not confuse me with any other race, that’s for sure. i know you meant to pose this as a philosophical question, but it’s really not apart from the fact that race as it relates to black people is a concept devised by white supremacy.
Here is the thing. I don’t see her as white or non-black, though she said previously she doesn’t identify with black (a common struggle among Dominicans & Puerto Ricans), she is apart of the African Diaspora. DR is over 70% blk and live right next to the Haitians, they only had different enslavers and they are mixed up with each other as well and with the now extinct Tainos. Blacks are all over the world, from negritos in Asia to Brazil and Peruvians. I believe they have right to be on this site.
However, I would say coming from different parts of the diaspora come different struggles. My mother’s half of the family is from Haiti, same island Ana is from. I also minored in African Amer. studies and a big part of it was the struggles of blks in South Amer., the Caribbean versus the U.S. They are very different, so I wouldn’t deny her struggle, but I would say they are very different from Blacks in the US. Not as much because of looks, but the treatment of Blks…which caused them to not embrace their African ancestry. I’d also say if I were featured on this site there would be no problem or negative reactions because I have features of African descent, but I think the fact that she looks more European is causing negative reactions and we are judging her based on that. Well the problem with this is it doesn’t mean much. Looks are actually not a direct reflection of genetics. The average Black woman in America is 27% white, and more times than not her looks don’t reflect that. Samuel Jackson has a large percent of white from slavery, but who would ever guess that? My Haitian side is very mixed up down to my grandpa, but I’m a chocolate drop with 4a/4b hair. So its the experience and everyday struggle in response to how you look that is the problem. This difference you see in the looks of DR, PR, Brazilians, Peruvians ect… are simply from the more relaxed enslavement in comparison to the U.S. Enslavement which for them was not harsh, they often married and were treated well. In Haiti, they “look” a little less mixed than people in DR because their enslavers (the Portuguese) didn’t believe in mating with slaves as much as spanish, were more like American enslavers, but they were freed earlier on, yet many Haitians are mixed with Tainos. But can you tell? Its not very obvious, so when we see them, we classify them as all blk. But we all were enslaved Africans when it comes down to it! Easier enslavement is the story of most caribbean islands, Mexico and South America…yet Ana is right, the self hate there is actually much more crucial in a sense. & they want to forget they were slaves and only acknowledge the European side and their lighter looks allow that, but here we can’t forget. Our enslavement was much harsher, violent, theirs wasn’t! There is a clear line between white and black here, the line isn’t clear in those places because they are all mixed with Blk, its just by how much or how little and they base it on how you look. Just a little history lesson. What I’m saying is this comes down to superficial looks because we are ALL apart of the Diaspora. She is more than likely more “black” than many american mixed women we feature on site who are 50% white, despite her appearance. Well your average dominican is less than that! You cannot base stuff like this on how one looks. Looks mean nothing, your dna can still show 40% white with dark skin and kinks laid to the Gods!
However, I will say that you CAN base a struggle on looks. The struggle of Caribbean islands and South Americans are much different. The self hate of black skin is the common denominator, bigger some places than others. However, here we have self hate and discrimination from whites. So the darker the skin, kinkier the hair the harder the struggle. It may be very hard to get much sympathy out of a dark skin woman with 4c hair for a light and mixed dominican of Spanish, Taino and African descent.
Its like comparing having Aids to having Diabetes. Yes you are both sick, but the struggle for one is much greater than the other and also very different!! No one wants wants Aids, its an ongoing journey to love yourself if you have it, & everyone else mistreats you for having a deadly disease. Well the one with Diabetes is sick, and it’s hard, you’re on medication and all, but the struggle is not comparable to Aids. People aren’t mistreating you much for having diabetes, I mean maybe insurance companies but people don’t run from you. People don’t deny you service, people let you share water fountains, and food. People still admire you. They don’t wash plates or even throw them out because you’re sick skin touched it. Its much different….sorry that is the quickest analogy I could think of.
Much better post IMO! She looks absolutely gorgeous! Fab hair, girl!
honest opinion, all hair types are beautiful, but if u aren’t a black girl and don’t have black hair attributes, whats the point of showcasing your hair? we already recognize and KNOW european features…..im sorry but realistically speaking the goal is to glamorize the unglamorized…..the goal is to show black women other ways to look naturally; not like some white girl with long flowing european-esque hair. I’m sorry, but this is not the way that we look. end of story.
The world see’s her as black, so she is black. So what it she’s fair skinned and has ‘European/straighter’ features….does that make her less black? What is blackness from a ‘black perspective anyway? Why shouldn’t she be celebrated? Why shouldn’t length on a fair skinned person be glamorised? The only difference between her and someone with shorter hair, is speed of growth, genetics and retention. Whatever ‘un glamorized’ is ‘can’ experience length; rather, be celebrated for short and thick…
She views herself as a LATINA and the world views herself as a LATINA, NOT A BLACK WOMAN. There is a difference.
Well said.
God bless your hair 😀 and in your other pics I saw you look like Shakira
She white and she got good hair. So what? She don’t have that nappy hard hair like black people.
What an ugly comment. My son who happens to be mixed has the same type of hair as Ana and let me tell you, It is a struggle. He has shoulder length hair and before I knew about natural hair care I had to cut all of his hair because he had dreads. Now that I learned how to deal with his hair, I wash his hair and detangle daily and he doesn’t even have a fraction of the hair she has. And I am a black woman with 4a/b hair. BTW what is good hair?? Stop being so ignorant.
She white with good hair. Any questiong?
that updo pic!!! too pretty! pretty hair
DREAM HAIR!!!!!
Beautiful hair, so big and long 🙂 No wonder it takes so long to detangle. I love it.
Golly you just look so freakin exotic! Sooo Pretty!!!! & Your hair is beyond amazing !
Your hair is B-E-A-UTIFUL!
Beautiful hair. I love your pictures. they are so elegant 🙂 this girl is an awesome hair icon. thanks for sharing<3
Beautiful! Loves it! I couldn’t deal with all that hair!
Sometimes I wish people would date their pictures so we can get an estimate on how long it took for their hair to grow to a certain length.
don’t think it matters in this case…either way that’s 2-3 years of hair!!!!!! daaaaaaamn girl your hair is out of this world!
Glad to see BGLH doing a follow up with Ana after getting such positive responses on her article.
Your definition of positive is interesting.
YOU AND YOUR HAIR ARE GORGEOUS
Gorgeous hair and girl, but finger detangeling for 1-3 hours, I couldn’t do it.
“I tell everyone that they must give me a day’s notice or I won’t be able to go.” *snap left* *snap right* such a diva! Lol I love it, beautiful hair I like the light to dark ombré
Beautiful girl and beautiful hair <3
if this was a story about a darker skin black woman, talking about 4c hair, I wonder if you would have the same response. Let’s respect each other.
^^ This comment made sense when it was responding to a comment that has now been deleted. I was defending the writer. 🙂
interesting. probably the first time I’ve seen a comment deleted from the comment section..
yeah, it’s pretty rare. i think you’d hafta say smtg pretty darn inflammatory for that to happen
the comment was something about if she was 4c whether the person would be getting the same treatment. I’ve honestly read MUCH worse lol…
same here lol
So not only are non-Black women on BLACKgirllonghar but they censoring people too! Can we not have a space solely for us? Can Black women not speak our minds openly on a website supposedly geared toward us. If not here then where? SMDH
If you’re really that bothered then why don’t you make your own website?
Or even simpler…Go view a different Style Icon! #eureka!
Black women can’t have ishhhh to ourselves without others infiltrating with our cooperation, mind you. SMFH Sidebar: I don’t know if you’d heard of “Black girls run” the organization to encourage BLACK women to make healthy lifestyle changes and take up running etc… Well, here is a photo of the 2 top winners for one of their BLACK girls run marathons.
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/wtf.png[/img]
wow that’s insane lol one is black but is not a woman and the other is a woman that is not black.
@Facepalm
Those pics made me laugh out loud!! And homegirl is sooooo proud of herself too. I get where you’re coming from. We’re just so damn fly that these folks just don’t know what to do with themselves. That kind of stuff used to bother me when I was younger, but now I get it. And while these folks really try hard to take everything away from us, the truth of the matter is that they are really just grasping at straws.
The thing we have that they WANT so bad, they can’t touch. We’re black women, in all of its beauty and splendor. And that simply CAN’T be taken away. So, God made us the flyest women on earth. The price for that is constant adoring fans trying desperately to be like us. A small price to pay imo. I’d rather be the gorgeous black woman setting the pace than runnin’ behind tryna catch a few stray rays of black women’s shine. Shooot…I can’t even really blame ’em. If I was a black woman, I’d be tryna grab a piece of the brilliance, too. Who can resist? Consider yourself lucky.
correction: “wasn’t a black woman”
LOL – just wow….and she’s just a cheesin’, lolol
So what if she is not a “black” woman (btw she is Dominican so I am sure there is some black in her DNA) are we going to start segregating also??
Of course not because the site is called b-l-a-c-k girl long hair. =/
Wow! You Have a lot of hair! It’s beautiful.