You can’t wait to tell her where it itches. You know, that middle part you can’t seem to get at home. It might be time to learn how to do rolos at home, but why though? That seems like it might make your arms hurt.
You have a practical shirt on because you know what’s coming. You might tell them to paint your toes, so you wear sandals. There is not a cloud in the sky, which is good news. It means your hair won’t frizz up right after.
You ring the doorbell and lock the car for the third time. You can’t be safe enough. About five blow dryers are going a to’ lo que da’, but that big fat air conditioner is both loud and effective. The room is pleasant, cold even.
Fresh coffee comes out right away. Heavily sweetened and in plastic cups. Maybe one day they’ll switch to a more sustainable option. Probably not. You’ve already had one (maybe two?) at home, but of course, you take one. How else would you endure the wait? Ugh, will they at least wash you soon?
“Marianela, ¿what do you want for lunch?”.
“Pollo guisao’. But tell them I don’t want olives in my order”.
Your back knows every nook and cranny on this chair. The towel on your shoulders is warm and clean — it smells like Downy. You purposely only did your brows because you knew you might shower again. Right here, on this chair.
Her expert hands get everything that bothered you and then some. Your scalp has never felt so clean... since the last time you were here.
“In that chair, mi amor”.
You check the time. It’s been about an hour. Maybe you should add an empanada to their order?
She divides the hair in military fashion. Sharp lines with no room for error. The rolos are in formation! One by one they get bigger and smaller, they even change colors, but they are tight in equal measure.
Onto the dryer you go! Where both your dreams and the top of your ears go to die. The last 20 minutes always feel like 40, why is that?
Cool off. Tune in to the conversation you’ve been trying to piece together between the music on your headphones and the dryer. Did she really say that!?
One by one the rolos come off. The artifacts that both tighten, heat, and straighten each section of your hair will go on to their next shift. Their duties are never over. They are undefeated.
Blowdryer is turned on, on the highest setting of course. It really depends if she is in the mood or not, but you might start a conversation with the woman responsible for your next selfie. If she did not eat yet, or the chicken had olives, this might not end well.
It’s in the last moments, when the front pieces get pulled up and back, that you remember exactly why you came. Deep down you might question the motivation behind spending close to 4 hours here today, quite literally burning your hair and its gorgeous natural shape, but the feeling —the one you get when she finally switches to cold air and combs her acrylic nails through your hair— cannot be bottled or replicated. You can buy the same equipment or finally invest in a línea, and maybe even get it somewhat right, but never (ever) right enough.
You don’t come here for the blowout. You come here for the exact moment when you step out and feel almost as each piece of you has been assembled. Not back to its original form, but back to one you really like.
When two of the biggest pop stars get together, the world will pay attention. Sprinkle A good ol’ crossover, and you've got our attention. Billie Eilish and Rosalía’s new single ‘Lo Vas A Olvidar’ feels both asserted —after all, Billie is known and loved for being pretty progressive— and hypnotic. Plus, it’s just about the smartest way HBO could have thought to promote their show Euphoria.
Will it be a hit single? We’re not sure. But we’re still here for it and wholesome reaction videos. Also, Billie is only 19. Let that sink in.
The Mixta Team
🦋Las Mariposas — for many of us, just hearing those two words invokes feelings of belonging and resistance.
We’ll not act impressed that the NY Times finally wrote an obituary for Dedé Mirabal, but we will read it, enjoy it, and share it. The article belongs to their series Overlooked, which includes remarkable people whose deaths went unreported.
Dedé was indeed remarkable. Her resolve to keep her sisters —and by extension, our history— alive is something the Dominican Republic, and the world, owes her a great deal for. 🦋
