Like many Dominican women, Lulu Cordero grew up hearing terms like “pelo malo” which means “bad hair” in Spanish and refers to curly or afro-textured hair. She got her hair relaxed and blown out straight at the Dominican salon every week. It was a place that was safe and familiar but also harmful in many ways with it’s constant and intentional attempt at erasing Blackness while upholding whiteness. In a culture that takes so much pride in beauty and in physical presentation, Cordero wanted to find a way to honor her heritage while still being able to embrace her Blackness and natural beauty. Lulu has since launched Bomba Curls, which is a comprehensive curl care line popping up at huge retailers. She is also actively working to change the perception around curly hair in Dominican culture while celebrating natural beauty and proving that true change really goes beyond the shampoo or conditioner bottle.
The podcast is a production of Embassy Row.
Hosts: Melissa Magsaysay and Nyakio Greico
Producer: Alexa Macchia
Editor: Charlotte Councill
Additional Production Support: Anamarie Johnson
