By Ahshara C.

September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month and, of course, we are going to be celebrating all month long. Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a celebration of all Latino Cultures, but it is also a month we should be learning and supporting

Hispanic-owned businesses.

So, we thought we'd dive in and give you guys five Hispanic-owned brands you should know and try!

First up we've got Rizos Curls founded by Julissa Prado!

Julissa Prado founded this company off of her own experience with constantly looking for products that were made for her hair. So, knowing that other people struggle with the same thing, she created a product of her own. Her products are known for their natural ingredients such as Moringa oil, Aloe Vera, Coconut Oil, and more. These products are the best for long-term maintenance of all curl types.

Taking care of your hair is super important and sometimes it's hard to find products that are made with you in mind. Luckily, Julissa and her company made sure that anyone looking to maintain healthy and beautiful hair would love their products. Make sure to check them out if you are looking for a switch in your hair care!

Next Up, we've got Sigma Beauty. Sigma Beauty is a very popular cosmetics brand used by many popular influencers, makeup artists, and more around the world. Even better, they are Latin-owned.

Founded by Dr. Simone Xavier and her husband, Rene Xavier Filho, both born in Brazil. They founded their company when they realized that there was a demand for quality makeup brushes but they were not available to them in their home, Brazil. After much research on the niche market, they launched Sigma Beauty in 2009, and their first batch of brushes sold out. Sigma Beauty is the first of its kind to create brushes that changed the course of makeup and cosmetics!

Next- one thing about us Latinos, we love jewelry. Jewelry is an ode to our culture, and heritage and is often a huge form of expression. Jewelry has a lot to do with our history and there is often a story behind the pieces we choose to show to the world. So, you check out Cut + Clarity.

Founded by Mariana Russo Chambers, who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she founded Cut + Clarity as a way to leave a legacy for her daughter. Something that would echo her passions and dreams, but also show her immigrant roots and the value of immigrants in local economies throughout the country.

Moving on to the next company, historically, the Afro-Latina/o population has been severely under-represented. In fact, most people didn't really know that the Afro-Latina/o population was such a big part of the Hispanic community as it has been predominantly represented by members of the community with European features. Therefore leaving out a segment of the population, that are darker skinned with coily/kinky hair.

Through lots of education and "spreading the word," Afro-Latino heritage is something that a lot of people are finally becoming familiar with. "Yo Soy Afro-Latina" is a company founded by Bianca Kathryn, an Afro-Latina women who grew up not seeing enough representation. She created this company to cultivate a space for Afro-Latinas where they are heard and their beauty celebrated. Her company sells tea cups, t-shirts, jackets, silk head wraps, and more featuring words and quotes like "Negrita," "Latino Period," and "Not all Latinas look the same."

Last but not least, there is nothing like honoring LatinX culture through art. Art not only depicts our values, but it is also a physical replica of everything we hold near and dear to our hearts. Something that can passed down through generations as a reminder of our culture, its values, and its customs. This is why you should check out eje 64 .

This company was founded by three sisters, Laura, Lina, and Estefania who were born in Colombia. Eje 64 is a design company that started to share the art of the Latino population- creating a space where artists and artisan's work can be represented. Eje 64 houses one-of-a-kind pieces that are sure to brighten up the space in your home and of course, bring in some Latino culture.

We hope you enjoyed this roundup of Hispanic Brands you should know and always continue supporting these companies during Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond!