Dominican Salons:Love em or Hate em?

[werenumber2]

I've gotten a few Dominican blow-outs over the last few years and I've had consistently good results. HOWEVER, I can't do that scalding hot air on my scalp anymore. In all the times I've gone I only found ONE girl who managed to blowdry my hair straight without me barely feeling a thing on my scalp. Of course I never thought to get her contact info.

My Sedu is collecting dust because I was absolutely terrified to iron my hair myself. You guys think any of my local Dominican salons would go for straightening my hair with my own appliance and ONLY with the flat iron? I'd even be willing to pay the cost of having it washed, conditioned, and blown-out.

 

[kiesha8185]

I'm NOT getting a blow out...I'm getting a relaxer on virgin hair.I don't plan on using any direct heat.I know what you mean thoughf for those who are interested in heat styling

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood your original post. Didn't mean to go off topic; I will delete.

 

[xcuzememiss]

So your homework. Like I always say it's not something special on their DNA that makes them do hair good. With that being said, I research and go off of reviews and pics. I've been getting relaxer at Dominican salons for the past 10 years. Currently my stylist frequents lhcf. She uses healthy techniques, my hair co
es out good all the time. Of course mamma ain't raise no fool. I base my scalp and bring my own protein condish and a little neutralizing poo(just in case). If you're in NY I recco
end Dominican esscence in BK. Go to the salon forum for references.

 

[xcuzememiss]

Sorry for the errors in spelling I'm typing on my iPhone

 

[shakenspirit]

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood your original post. Didn't mean to go off topic; I will delete.

you don't have to delete your post lol i was just clarifying because i realized that ppl assume im talkin about blow drying

 

[Pink Pearls]

My daughter (18) recently received a relaxer at a Dominican Salon...it was her first visit. They did an excellent job, compared to her prior visits at other American salons. I'm sure there are good American salons and bad Dominican salons, so it's important to do your research before allowing them to service you. I would talk to the owner about products she uses, or visit the salon and watch how they service other clients.

 

[danysedai]

I wouldn't go to a new stylist and have a relaxer done the first time. I would have them do something easier, I know you are a natural now but IMHO if they are gentle with your natural hair they will be gentle with your relaxed hair.
I say do your research, go first for a wash and blow dry BEFORE relaxing so you see how the stylist works,if they listen to what YOU want,if the stylist is the one who will be doing the relaxer and not her assistant. Ask them about what relaxer they use and if you want another brand if you can bring your own or they can switch for you. If everything is ok then you make your appointment for a relaxer. Also try to watch another client they are relaxing and see how they do it. Ask other clients who relax for opinions. It is your hair and you are paying and this is a chemical service they will be performing.
Be VERY vocal when they are doing the relaxer. You could ask them to blow dry roots only and minimize the damage. My dominican stylist (who is a friend) thinks I'm a pain in the butt, it took me months but now she knows to put the reconstructor BEFORE the neutralizing shampoo (I use Affirm mild), she knows not to cut too much, the way I like my rollersets, that I bring my wide tooth comb and all my hair products and that I absolutely hate the Pink oil spray she likes to use in the end so not come near me with that thing.I've introduced her to Affirm, to Mizani, to Chi Silk Infusion, Alfaparf and Moroccan oil.

I also think this applies to any stylist, AA,dominica,ethiopian or white.

 

[Solitude]

Oh, I didn't realize you were talking about relaxing mainly. I got a relaxer at a Dominican salon once. They used lye, even though I asked for no-lye, so I would have to say no to getting a relaxer there. I think the language barrier caused the problem. I realized they used lye because my hair was too straight, the relaxer burned too quickly, and my scalp was irritated. All of the aforementioned problems only happen when I try lye relaxers, which is why I only use no-lye.

 

[Mufasa]

Based on the reviews I saw on this board, I went to a Dominican salon: Ana's Salon on Fondren in Houston. I had not been to a salon in years because

- I got tired of the beautician's attitudes
- My hair never looked all that great when they were done with it anyway
- I got tired of waiting HOURS for my turn and you could smell all of the chemicals

That was not the case at Anas.

They had a sign-in sheet and I waited for about 20 minutes or so. During that time, I spoke with a neice of Ana (who was very nice). She had great hair and said that she had a (Dominican) perm. She said that when she freshly gets it done (every 3 months), people ask her whether or not it was her hair or a weave.

My suspicion is that the texturize - but- they don't use the American products to do this. I saw a "Salerm" product in the display case - but - I did see Ana go to the back and whip up something too.

Ana offered a type of conditioner that needs to be applied every 6 weeks to repair dry hair. I accepted it. When my hair was washed and combed out, the lady (not Ana) showed me how much hair I lost in the process - which was nothing.

EVERYONE (and I do mean everyone) I saw had beautiful hair when they left. They all had some length as well. There was one girl with hair that past mid-back (reaching waist-length) but it was *healthy* hair - not dry, or burned out looking -

Reading some of the comments on this board, I took my own products - but - they were not needed. My hair is natural but they still rolled it up and stuck me under the dryer. Then, they took me out and Ana blowdried it using the Dominican brush herself. My hair was great. It was light and fluffy. I felt like a movie star

My sibling asked if they cut hair. The neice responded that they just dust ends because most women are working on growing their hair. I told them that I did not want high heat on my head as well. Did my hair smoke? Yes, but it reminded me of the kind of smoke you see when your hair got pressed as a kid - it was coming from the product and not your hair. Did my scalp get burned? - nope, not at all. Did I get damage so that 2 or 3 inches had to be cut off? Nope - as mentioned before, my hair looked great.

The only bad thing is that the hairstyle did not last long as again - I don't have any kind of perm and Houston humidity is terrible. They also use a lot of water and the smocks/drapes tend to get really wet. So the next time I go, I will take my own.

The place isn't fancy (no music, fancy smells, or decorations) but I would rather go there by a longshot than to go to a fancy place with a fancy name and leave with damaged hair that breaks off. The prices started off at $35. I think she added $10 for the length of my hair and the conditioner.

Another sibling of mine goes to a regular Afr. Amer. beauty salon in Houston. She said for cut and color, she was charged $160 and to do the touch-up, she does not leave there without paying *at least* $100.

I went to Aveda several years ago - when my hair was much longer - and they charged me $95 to blow it out - and although it was well-conditioned, it did not look that great (they had 3 people working on it at the same time).

Again, I have only been to a Dominican salon once. I WISH I knew about this so long ago! If black women are determined to turn their 9-ether hair to 6 (or 3) ether, then this is the best (and healthiest) way to do it.

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Never been to one.

 

[iri9109]

i liked them ok when i was relaxed but im scared of getting my hair burnt off now...they use ALOT of heat...

 

[NicBenny]

I grew up in the Dominican hair salons and I've had everything done there. I've been satisfied with some, loved others and absolutely hated one or two.

I've only had my main salon relax my hair, when I was relaxing, and I would just caution that you must be careful b/c many of the stylists have a tendency to comb in the relaxer so much that it'll burn your scalp. Unfortunately, they judge our hair texture rather harshly and coming in as a natural, they may comb the relaxer in way too much and you may end up with scalp sores, so please monitor the process.

I would also say to bring in your own relaxer and neutralizing shampoo to follow the relaxer. They usually have very limited brands, mostly regular and/or super, and may not have neutralizing shampoo.

I wish you the best!

 

[tomnikids3]

I have started going to dominicans a month ago so far im pleased, I did do my own touch up this week becasue i feel as if i can better care for my hair for doing a touch up. I will say i was 5 months post relaxer and they had my hair so straight and silky it looked like a touchup was done. I agree you need to do your home work as well. I was going to a black hair salon last year for over a year and all she used was a flat irons because she didnt like wet setting, and my hair was so damaged i took a 9 month hiatus doing my hair myself to get it back in shape. I dont want to bash black salons or dominican ones, i think we just have to do research and whether its dominican or black salons whoever takes proper care of your hair is best.

 

[Desert Skye]

Overall I like them. And I guess you can see I loove Dominican products. But I haven't been to one in a long time. My main problem is the use of the blow dryer. That is just way too much heat for my hair and talk about a burning scalp. Oh my goodness it can be just miserable. For example, my scalp can get sensitive after a relaxer, so the last thing I want is 2000+ degrees blasting on it.

When I go to the salon, I usually get my hair dried with the rollers then have them wrap it so I can avoid using the blow dryer. But yeah if I am going to go to a salon, I will probably go to the Dominicans again.

 

[wontonfm]

Definitely on the fence. They do a mean roller set and blow out but that heat isn't good. It's more of an occasional "treat" if I'm feeling lazy. Luckily now that I'm back in Toronto we don't really have Dominican salons.

 

[hiswill4me]

Speechie Girl - I feel the same. I'm using Dominican products now. I wanted to ask you, what is the rinse? I've seen that on the website that I order my products from but have no clue as to what it is....

 

[FemmeFatale]

It's funny I was just there today getting a wash and set and one thing I've noticed about all the patrons is that they had thin wispy hair and/or no edges! I sat back in pure amazement like HOW is this possible?!

 

[nucienuce1]

I voted "Hated them" due to the fact that they caused me to lose 5-6 inches of hair. My hair is now only touch SL, it was touching MBL. They use to much heat and gave me a 3 inch "trim". Never again!

 

[Britt]

I'm ok with them. I think they are good for people who want to bring their own products and are already knowledgeable on what works for them and what doesn't. Most of them will not take the time to tell you about products, what's good for your hair, what's not. However, if there is one that you go to frequently, they will usually put you on about a product and tell you what you need to do with your hair. The relationship becomes more personal.

My only major gripe about them is the use of that god forsaken blow dryer. Then again, as a customer you have the option of not getting this done, so I don't quite understand why people complain about it when you don't have to get it. I think it would be better to have one's roots flatironed than to use the blow dryer. That heat isn't even healthy for your scalp

I do like the fact that they are usually quick, and they do not use a lot of product to weigh down your hair. Moreso, I really like that I get to run the show and bring all of my products since I know what works for me.