translates in english to shell, rind, or skin one word carrying various identities depending on its context. The term “Latine” is a gender neutral word that reflects a shared Latin heritage rich with multifaceted cultures and histories.

In this project, I explore the significance of cascaras-outer layers, appearances, and identity for young Latina women through the lens of hair. highlighting hair texture, color, and cultural significance, while uniting these elements with photographs of each person to explore the relationship between individual identity and the collective. Hair is a mode of self-expression and protection, connecting us to our roots while embodying the strength found in unity. As granddaughters and daughters of immigrants, born in the United States, we navigate the challenge of connecting to our Latin American roots while grappling with the pressure of assimilation. We carry the weight of continuing our families legacies while striving to succeed in a society that demands conformity.

Our hair, often seen as a marker of our identity, has been something to tame or hidden, signaling a tension between self-expression and societal expectations. The same thing we are ashamed of is often signals of beauty and connection to land, culture, and heritage in our home countries. Braids often carry the strength and agency of the women who came before us, embodying resilience and refusal to let identity be erased. 

Bracing aggressions and isolation we find protection and support within each other. Redefining what it means to embrace our heritage. By reclaiming our cáscaras we discover what it means to be Latina in the United States.