mexican photographer takes on anti-black notions of “good hair” in “pelo bueno” photo series

Delores Medel is a Mexican photographer whose work centers around women and girls in Latin America. Her latest project, “Pelo Bueno”, highlights the anti-Black distinctions between “good” and “bad” hair that plagues the region.

“Pelo Bueno”, which translates to “good hair”, presents various women with their hair in natural states. “Natural, curly hair, free of chemicals, has a much greater significance than merely aesthetic,” Medel explains, “it is about vindication, resistance and appropriation of the identity of the African miscegenation. It’s putting aside social pressures and accepting with pride the negritude and the natural beauty.”

Check out the beautiful series below, and learn more about the project here!