Beware Of Dominican Salons!

[IslandGal27]

Dominican Salons can cause hair loss!

Just wanted to share my story with you ladies…

My hair thinning happened gradually over the period of 4 years and I couldn’t figure out what was causing my hair loss for the life of me. I got tested for everything under the sun and nothing came up in my blood tests to indicate why I was losing hair. I went to several doctors and dermatologists but to no avail. It wasn’t until years later that it dawned on me; my hair started thinning the same year that I started going to Dominican hair salons!!! I’ve lost 50% of my hair. I went from super thick hair that used to be hard to deal with to thin hair. Warning for you all- STAY AWAY from those salons! I think the super hot blow dryers that they use affected my hair follicles because I always remember wincing when the hot air from the blow dryer would graze my scalp during my blow out. Fast forward years later, even though I stopped going to those salons, my hair still hasn’t filled in 100%. There are areas on my scalp where there isn’t any hair growing. The only thing that’s helping is Rogaine. I was shocked but its actually working. I hope this helps someone.

Has anybody else noticed hair loss from Dominican Salons?

 

[Autumn~Tint~Of~Gold]

I used to get blowouts weekly and my hair was in horrible condition. I am convinced that round brush blowouts are extremely damaging to the hair and possibly scalp too. I never had hair loss but I did have very extensive breakage. I have not had a blowout since 2005.
I could definitely see how the extreme heat could cause damage to the scalp. I remember tearing up sometimes from the heat. It was that painful.

 

[Black Ambrosia]

I only went to a dominican shop once. They took my natural hair and tried to roller set it and then looked at me crazy when I asked when they were going to straighten it. Told me I had to pay more for them to use a flat iron. I don't have naturally straight hair so no amount of tension in a roller set was going to work. That was my one and only experience. It was clear they didn't know what to do with natural hair.

 

[FelaShrine]

^thats odd. Majority of DR salons do the rollers, blow out then flat iron.

anyway regarding OP, I can see how exposing yourself to that kind of heat weekly would cause that. Im normally in braids or wigs now but back then since my hair is fine, I would do the roller set and have them blow out just the roots and leave everything else. also made sure not to go weekly.

Funny thing is a lot of people that go to the ones not far from me have really great heads of hair, Im thinking cos most I've seen have way thicker hair than mine so they can deal with that kinda heat, plus you need to be adamant about heat protectant, lessen the heat near your edges, bi-weekly protect treatments and going only when you want your hair pretty damn straight

 

[PatTodd]

So sorry to hear this, OP.

I have never been to a Dominican salon but I have read (probably here) that they may slip relaxer into their "special" conditioners.
Between un- neutralized relaxer and the heat, the result would be damaged hair or hair loss.
Seems like no one who does these blow outs regularly escapes damage.

 

[IslandGal27]

So sorry to hear this, OP.

I have never been to a Dominican salon but I have read (probably here) that they may slip relaxer into their "special" conditioners.
Between un- neutralized relaxer and the heat, the result would be damaged hair or hair loss.
Seems like no one who does these blow outs regularly escapes damage.

That’s scary! Messing around with chemicals is no joke.

I agree, no one seems to getaway with no damage.

 

[Napp]

After working in one I am very leery of getting my hair done by them

 

[MizAvalon]

I only went to a dominican shop once. They took my natural hair and tried to roller set it and then looked at me crazy when I asked when they were going to straighten it. Told me I had to pay more for them to use a flat iron. I don't have naturally straight hair so no amount of tension in a roller set was going to work. That was my one and only experience. It was clear they didn't know what to do with natural hair.

I was just about to ask if anyone had experience with Dominican salons while being natural. I've only gone twice but I was still relaxed back then.

 

[LostInAdream]

After working in one I am very leery of getting my hair done by them

What kinds of things do they do?

 

[Pygmy_puff]

I used to go to a Dominican salon consistently for a year and a half about 4 years ago. My (then relaxed) hair looked GREAT 100% of the time and I loved it. I think they were secretly giving me keratin treatments or something because back then, even if I decided to do my hair myself my results were way straighter than usual. Then I moved to another city and started going to a regular black salon. After a month or two my hair started breaking off like crazy. My hair was the shortest and unhealthiest it ever was, which was what prompted me to start my HHJ. I had gone from APL to neck length in a little less than a year. I still don't know if the damage was done by the Dominicans, the other salon, or the hard water in my new city, but I'm pretty sure all that heat wasn't good for my hair!

 

[Misseyl]

I also went to a Dominican Salon for years too and thought my hair growth would take off, but instead it did the reverse and it became shorter than when I started. I relaxed my hair myself for another few years, had some ups and downs and now I'm in the ups. I big chopped in 2014 and I cannot wait until the next 4 years when my hair reach mid-back and Trump voted out of office.

 

[Napp]

What kinds of things do they do?

Cheap hair products, improper use of barbicide if used at all, burning people's scalp with undiluted white vinegar after scratching the scalp to remove dandruff. They modify their dryers to get even hotter than the manufacturer setting. also they did not wash their towels

 

[Prettymetty]

My hair has thinned out a bit. I started going to Dominican salons in 2013. I stopped sometime last year and I learned how to do my own blowouts.

 

[FelaShrine]

Cheap hair products, improper use of barbicide if used at all, burning people's scalp with undiluted white vinegar after scratching the scalp to remove dandruff. They modify their dryers to get even hotter than the manufacturer setting. also they did not wash their towels

Interesting.

Everyone Ive been to back in the day used Salerm products, I still have a big tub of the Wheat Germ one that I got from them that I use at home

The worst thing is their use of rat tail combs for any and everyone. Im a control freak in salons in general, bring my own shampoo/conditioner/color/moisturizer plus big combs

 

[sharifeh]

I used to get blowouts weekly and my hair was in horrible condition. I am convinced that round brush blowouts are extremely damaging to the hair and possibly scalp too. I never had hair loss but I did have very extensive breakage. I have not had a blowout since 2005.
I could definitely see how the extreme heat could cause damage to the scalp. I remember tearing up sometimes from the heat. It was that painful.

ive also cried in Dominican salons because of the pain and the heat- they hurt me so bad!
i get my hair straightened pretty often like all the time and I feel very little pain at the nicer salons I go to now

 

[Napp]

Interesting.

Everyone Ive been to back in the day used Salerm products, I still have a big tub of the Wheat Germ one that I got from them that I use at home

The worst thing is their use of rat tail combs for any and everyone. Im a control freak in salons in general, bring my own shampoo/conditioner/color/moisturizer plus big combs

I don't think my experience is the norm. (hopefully LOL)

Yeah if you go bring your own stuff including combs. they would lift off the dermatitis on the scalp with a tail comb and use it again on the next client withough changing combs or putting it in barbecide

 

[nlamr2013]

when I was relaxed living in brooklyn my hair was super healthy it wasnt until I moved to NC and started get flat ironed is when my hair showed signs of damage but there is spot in my head that doesnt grow like the rest hmm

 

[Crystalicequeen123]

Yea, I used to go to Domincan Salons back in the day during my "relaxed days". Only went 3 times. My fine-textured hair just could not take the heat of those dryers! Even the dryers they used for rollersets were unusually hot. My hair looked good, and ladies coming in and out of that salon always had SUPER long hair, but I'm sorry, I just couldn't handle it. I knew I would have ZERO hair on my scalp by now if I had continued going to them.

I felt bad for falling off of the "bandwagon" since back in the day, Domincan Salons were highly praised on this board for being a great option for "stretching relaxers" or looking "salon pretty" all the time, since Dom. Salons are usually cheap, and it's a short wait. But...I just had to say NO. I was in college back then, and I'm so glad I stopped going to them.

Cheap hair products, improper use of barbicide if used at all, burning people's scalp with undiluted white vinegar after scratching the scalp to remove dandruff. They modify their dryers to get even hotter than the manufacturer setting. also they did not wash their towels

OMG!!!!


Yikes....

 

[Saludable84]

Cheap hair products, improper use of barbicide if used at all, burning people's scalp with undiluted white vinegar after scratching the scalp to remove dandruff. They modify their dryers to get even hotter than the manufacturer setting. also they did not wash their towels

In terms of cheap products, I've seen it with my own eyes. I once saw a couple of them go to a BSS and purchased the gallon sized shampoo and conditioner for $$12 each. Then, they hide behind by using high priced items and when they run out, just fill the salon brand containers with the cheap stuff. My salon was using AlterEgo but it wasn't AlterEgo. I remember buying the products and they didn't smell or work the same as the ones used in the salon. I started bringing my own products.

This salon, the owner made sure her girls were licensed but did not care about experience. I've learned that most of these stylists can only deal with altered hair.

They are extremely negligent with barbicide. I remember I bought my own combs and it was like I insulted them. Meanwhile, my scalp itched for a week so I would have to wash after one week at home.

I've seen them modify the dryers. They have guys come in and do it if they cannot themselves. Those dryers are unnaturally hot.

I've never experienced the dirty towel bit.

I had extreme damage going to them, so little by little I started changing things. Like my roots not blown out. My hair not blown out. Rinse with cool water. No pin curls. Nothing worked.

Oh, and they never used heat protectant.

 

[Amarilles]

I grew up in Dominican salons (being Dominican) and my hair was fine, always at least WL but I do have extremely coarse, resistant strands.

I would never dream of going back as a natural. Heck even if I were relaxed...I remember always always ending up with bad relaxer burns as the perm wouldn't get washed out until it already started burning. The vinegar afterward was horrible too, but one does get used to it. Lol. In general we do not ever use heat protectant, and I never liked how they'd refuse to show how much hair was shed after the wash. And I still do kinda resent that half the time the washbowl girl is some unqualified person, I feel like all my years going to the same 2-3 salons, someone should've been able to figure out that I had a mild scalp issue. It wasn't no dandruff.

Never experienced the towel bit though.

 

[Daina]

I to went to Dominican salons on the regular every 7-10 days since I was a straight hair natural. In just 3 years time my once very thick and full hair had become thin and lifeless. My only saving grace was I washed and deep conditioned myself at home and never used their products. I also brought my own serum. But the heat was ridiculous and now I am transitioning from the damage. In just a year my hair has thickened and grown several inches. OP it will take time but you can restore life to your hair. I will NEVER go to another Dominican salon again!

 

[ms.blue]

I was just about to ask if anyone had experience with Dominican salons while being natural. I've only gone twice but I was still relaxed back then.

I have and was left with so much split ends. The first stylist was gentle but I guess the head stylist didn't like what other stylist was handling my hair. The head stylist used the hottest blowdryer I ever encountered and was going to town on my hair especially at the roots. Not going to lie, my hair had some swing but I paid for the cost dearly.

 

[IslandGal27]

I don't think my experience is the norm. (hopefully LOL)

Yeah if you go bring your own stuff including combs. they would lift off the dermatitis on the scalp with a tail comb and use it again on the next client withough changing combs or putting it in barbecide

Gross!!

 

[IslandGal27]

I to went to Dominican salons on the regular every 7-10 days since I was a straight hair natural. In just 3 years time my once very thick and full hair had become thin and lifeless. My only saving grace was I washed and deep conditioned myself at home and never used their products. I also brought my own serum. But the heat was ridiculous and now I am transitioning from the damage. In just a year my hair has thickened and grown several inches. OP it will take time but you can restore life to your hair. I will NEVER go to another Dominican salon again!

Thanks! Praying that I can get back the thick hair I once had. Did you take any supplements to help with your growth?

 

[starchgirl]

My last trip to a Dominican Salon was my last - I brought my own heat protectant but they still burned the crap out of my hair. My then APL natural hair lost all curl. It took two years of 1" trims to grow all that hair out.

I didn'the step foot in another salon for almost 4 years after that experience.

Plus I hated how they talked bad natural hair in Spanish!

 

[kim1006]

Dominican Salons can cause hair loss!

Just wanted to share my story with you ladies…

My hair thinning happened gradually over the period of 4 years and I couldn’t figure out what was causing my hair loss for the life of me. I got tested for everything under the sun and nothing came up in my blood tests to indicate why I was losing hair. I went to several doctors and dermatologists but to no avail. It wasn’t until years later that it dawned on me; my hair started thinning the same year that I started going to Dominican hair salons!!! I’ve lost 50% of my hair. I went from super thick hair that used to be hard to deal with to thin hair. Warning for you all- STAY AWAY from those salons! I think the super hot blow dryers that they use affected my hair follicles because I always remember wincing when the hot air from the blow dryer would graze my scalp during my blow out. Fast forward years later, even though I stopped going to those salons, my hair still hasn’t filled in 100%. There are areas on my scalp where there isn’t any hair growing. The only thing that’s helping is Rogaine. I was shocked but its actually working. I hope this helps someone.

Has anybody else noticed hair loss from Dominican Salons?

I experienced breakage around the front of my hair, which resulted from frequenting Dominican salons. I have been told by stylists I have very strong hair. However, I experienced breakage caused by misapplied chemical treatments, etc. I started a thread detailing my experience. I am glad you realized the issue and your hair is recovering. In the past, I was a big supporter of Dominican salons but not anymore. I recommend folks stay far, far away.

 

[sharifeh]

Right- another reason why I won't go back to the Dominican salons is because I'm now natural. They hated my texture when I was relaxed and just had some new growth. They really hate my hair now and I understand Spanish and the hateful way they talk about my hair makes me uncomfortable...

Ironically though, the two stylists that encouraged me to transition are Dominican so I'm not generalizing about all Dominicans at all...just talking about the typical Dominican salon attitude.

 

[Daina]

My other issue at least in my area is that most of the stylists in the salon are not licensed. Typically only the owner and maybe one other...the rest have had no formal training just copying what they've been taught.

 

[Daina]

Thanks! Praying that I can get back the thick hair I once had. Did you take any supplements to help with your growth?

@IslandGal27, you're welcome. The biggest changel I made was to stop being a straight haired natural. I only flat iron my hair now at most 4 times per year. Majority of the year I am curly with WnG's, braid/twist outs, buns or a french braid. My hair is straight now as I just touched up my color. I will leave it straight 2-3 weeks and then won't use heat again till March/April when I next trim.

For supplements I take Hair La Vie vitamins, drink bamboo tea, Chlorella and Spirulina. I recently within the last 2 months started using Xcel 21 as well. Finally as I have been transitioning Olaplex has been a saving grace.

 

[biznesswmn]

I stopped going years ago because i felt like they didnt treat me like an individual w my own hair needs. It was an assembly line. Also they would get upset when i told them what i wanted, saying it couldnt be done, talked about me in spanish, etc.
i also heard complaints like you guys w the heat and products. I know all dominican salons may not operate this way but it turned me off

I loved the blowouts tho Swang for days LOL.