Las Trenzitas

As I’ve mentioned before, it's super hot almost every single day in Cartagena. I got used to it with time, but the heat and humidity in the city very quickly proved to be stronger than the twist-outs that I usually did on my hair. After a couple of weeks in the city I wanted a little break from wrangling my curls each day and had the urge to switch things up a bit, so I sought out a place where I could get my hair braided. At the time I had recently met another Black woman Fulbrighter who was doing research in Cartagena, and she recommended a place called African Trenzas (braids) where she used to get her hair braided and she shared their Instagram with me.

Scrolling through their Instagram I saw that the salon offered a variety of beautiful styles, and ultimately decided that I wanted standard box braids, which they poetically described as las trenzas de lluvia (rain braids). I wrote to the salon to inquire over WhatsApp, and they told me the style would take 4 hours, cost between 140.000 and 155.000 COP depending on how much hair I wanted to use, and that they were free right then and there for me to come in immediately and get them done. I was excited to go but was definitely messaging them in my pajamas, so I reserved a spot for later on that day and got up to get ready.

This sign described the significance of braids in Black history from enslavement to freedom across the Americas

One thing to note about Cartagena or Colombia in general is that almost everyone uses WhatsApp both personally and professionally as their main platform for communication. It's also not uncommon for acquaintances, co-workers, or anyone else to share their WhatsApp with you or ask for yours, and many businesses like the hair braiding salon, restaurants, pharmacies, and others have a WhatsApp where you can directly ask questions, order products or services, or make reservations over chat. It's also the case that a lot of businesses are present on Instagram rather than having a website or having their location on Google Maps.

Later on that day I took a moto to el Centro Commercial Los Ejecutivos, the mall near where the salon is located, and waited outside for the stylist to unlock the door and let me in. This is another thing to note; some businesses will have locked doors or gates that might confuse you and make you think they are closed unless you look closer or ask to find out what's going on! During the day most businesses are open but may keep things locked for security, but once you peek in, knock, or call out, someone will come to open the door for you.

I sat down, the stylist blow dried my hair a little bit because I had just washed it, and she got to work braiding. I don’t braid my hair too often, so I was honestly a little miserable having to sit still in the chair for a few hours, but this salon always has two stylists working together towards the end, so at the very least I was done a lot faster than if only one person was braiding. I figured que valió la pena, that it was worth it, because I loved how the braids came out and they saved me some time and energy for the next few weeks.

My braids and *vincha* for *La Carnaval de Barranquilla*

In Cartagena, or maybe on the coast in general, women often braid their hair for the big festivities like las Fiestas de Independencia/Novembrinas in Cartagena in November, but I didn’t know this until the festivities had already begun so I couldn’t go re-braid my hair in time. However, I went to the salon 2 more times, to do cornrows for La Carnaval de Barranquilla, the big festival in Barranquilla, the city that neighbors Cartagena, and one more time before I traveled back home to the States. Thankfully the styles I chose the last two times took a lot less time to do and I didn’t have to sit still in the chair for so long, but like they say, beauty is pain! If you are ever in Cartagena and wanting to get your hair braided, I recommend African Trenzas!

DISCLAIMER: This site (octaviachristopher.com) is not an official Fulbright Program site. The views expressed on this site are entirely those of its author and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations.

Domicilios

Parque Tayrona