The Do's and Don't When Visiting a Dominican Salon....

[caribgirl]

So a new Dominican Salon just opened in my area and I went in to ask some questions. The owner seemed pretty knowledgeable. They use Salerm, Alter ego, Emergencia, and some other products that I never heard of. I decided to go today and get a wash n set but I'm wondering if there is any advice from any of my experienced sisters. Please share any Do's and Don't's!

 

[Royal Glory]

I'd love to know also. I've been thinking about going for months, but haven't gotten up the nerve.

 

[Leslie_C]

I'd love to know also. I've been thinking about going for months, but haven't gotten up the nerve.

ditto...I wanna know too!

 

[sweetpuff]

Do's :
- Like any other stylist, stand your ground. It's your hair
- They often do what 'dominican blowout' : treatment, hood dryier, rinse, rollerset, hood dryier, blow dryier, flat iron. If you're into this, go for it , they are really good at it. If not, politely state what you would like. When I get my touch-ups, I politely say I only want rollersets. I tell the stylist before she touches my hair and while she puts the rollers in my hair. They tend to forget.

- Did you ask if your stylist bases the scalp? do you usually base your scalp before a touch up? Upon the advice on one girl here on Lhcf, I base my scalp 24h prior to going to my stylist because she does not use base.

HTH.

 

[BobbieDoll]

I go to a Dominican Salon pretty often so here is my .02


Do:
-Let them know exactly what you want (no disrespect but a lot of them do not speak English very well and may not understand everything you are saying)
-Take your own products if they allow you too (shampoo, conditioner, etc) a lot of them will let you. I saw one lady in there that brought here own rollers, clips, and round brush.
-Speak up when you see them doing something to your hair that you do not like. I had one girl that was detangling my hair and being extremely rough and I kindly told her to stop so that I could do it myself.
-Know that you can get just your roots blown instead of all your hair, it's less heat on your hair.
-Take your own bobby pins if you plan to get a wrap after you get your hair blown out. Some times they charge you extra if they supply them.
Don't:
-Get your hair blown straight from the shampoo bowl. Some may think it's fine and like it but it's A LOT of heat and that dang gone dryer is HAWT!

That's all I can think of right now. If I think of anything else I'll add it later. HTH

 

[crazydaze911]

1 - First, and i dont want to sound stereotypical but.....
DO NOT LET THEM COLOR YOUR HAIR - i have not seen a good color job come out of a dominican salon yet - they usually dont get the color right, its not their specialty. They are GREAT at rollersets and blowouts though.
2 - Second, if you get a relaxer touch up, SPEAK up and let them know you ONLY want ur roots done. this should be common knowledge but some really dont know. When i suggested putting conditioner on my previously relaxed hair, i got crazy looks and outright "that makes no sense" remarks - whereas when i went to a 'caucasion' place, that was common practice.
3 - Bring your own leave in/serum/heat protectant (whichever one you prefer) b/c most Dominican spots just do wet sets with no other product. if you are paranoid about heat damage, i would bring my own protectant.
4 - Wash and set with a roots ONLY blow out is usually good enough to get really silky, bouncy hair - but its entirely up to you.
HTH

 

[MJ]

Do go to a Dominican salon IF:

~You want straight hair or banging rollersets
~You want low-cost services

Do NOT to a Dominican salon IF:

~If you want a texturizer (culturally, Dominicans dislike kinky hair -- that's putting it mildly)
~If you don't want someone repeatedly telling you to get a relaxer if you are stretching, transitioning, or natural
~To experience the possibility of people calling your hair "pelo malo"

 

[caribgirl]

sweetpuff,missbobbie,crazydaze911,MJ- Thanks thanks thanks soooo much for your advice! Great information!

Man MJ, did someone really have the nerve to say " pelo malo"!!?!!!!

 

[InJesusName]

I will say this (though I am not an expert)...

See if you can find a stylist that does speak English rather clearly (I have a best friend that's Cuban, so I have my own interpreter).

DO-look at others hair in the salon. Is it thin or flourishing?

DO-wait a couple of visits before getting a relaxer. That way you can watch their application techniques.

If they keep pressuring you to get a relaxer--LEAVE!

If they say you have pelo malo (bad hair) also leave. You are not there to get insulted (I had a Dominican lady to say my hair was ugly--I never went back).

I had the privelege of finding a salon that does a really good texlax (the stylist used the word prior to me asking for it by that term).

ITA with the comment to base yourself prior to a relaxer application. I also use Porosity Control before I visit the salon.

DO--wear old clothes that you don't mind getting wet. The salons in my area don't use capes.

 

[caribgirl]

I will say this (though I am not an expert)...

See if you can find a stylist that does speak English rather clearly (I have a best friend that's Cuban, so I have my own interpreter).

DO-look at others hair in the salon. Is it thin or flourishing?

DO-wait a couple of visits before getting a relaxer. That way you can watch their application techniques.

If they keep pressuring you to get a relaxer--LEAVE!

If they say you have pelo malo (bad hair) also leave. You are not there to get insulted (I had a Dominican lady to say my hair was ugly--I never went back).

I had the privelege of finding a salon that does a really good texlax (the stylist used the word prior to me asking for it by that term).

ITA with the comment to base yourself prior to a relaxer application. I also use Porosity Control before I visit the salon.

DO--wear old clothes that you don't mind getting wet. The salons in my area don't use capes.

I totally understand about waiting with the relaxer. I will test the waters with a wash and set.

 

[almondjoi85]

I DON'T get a full blow-out to my ends
I DO only get my roots blown
I DO get a DC every time I go

I have had good experiences with my dominican place...I really like it!

 

[kiesha8185]

I DON'T get a full blow-out to my ends
I DO only get my roots blown
I DO get a DC every time I go

I have had good experiences with my dominican place...I really like it!

Me too. Where I go, they are usually really nice. They try to persuade me to get a relaxer or trim my hair, but they are definitely not pushy, and they are receptive to my requests.

I always say, "No cut, no trim, just a rollerset, please. Oh, and I have a wide tooth comb for you to use.":::big smile here::: After they rinse out the deep conditioner, they always try to comb from root to tip. I say, "I realized when I try to detangle my wet hair, I lose less hair when I comb from the ends to the roots....would you be able to do that to my hair? :::bat eyelashes here::: And they do it. When I make suggestions, I make it sound like it's a "discovery" that I found that works for my hair, rather than me telling them how to do their job. If you get a stylist that insists on doing it their way, even after you've asked them not to, then stop them from doing your hair and correct them.

I don't give them a chance to mess up my hair. I can do that myself for free!

 

[indigo378]

1 - First, and i dont want to sound stereotypical but.....
DO NOT LET THEM COLOR YOUR HAIR - i have not seen a good color job come out of a dominican salon yet - they usually dont get the color right, its not their specialty. They are GREAT at rollersets and blowouts though.
2 - Second, if you get a relaxer touch up, SPEAK up and let them know you ONLY want ur roots done. this should be common knowledge but some really dont know. When i suggested putting conditioner on my previously relaxed hair, i got crazy looks and outright "that makes no sense" remarks - whereas when i went to a 'caucasion' place, that was common practice.
3 - Bring your own leave in/serum/heat protectant (whichever one you prefer) b/c most Dominican spots just do wet sets with no other product. if you are paranoid about heat damage, i would bring my own protectant.
4 - Wash and set with a roots ONLY blow out is usually good enough to get really silky, bouncy hair - but its entirely up to you.
HTH

my stylist is dominican and she did my highlites back in february, not only do they look very nice, but i had no breakage at all. my stylist is good at everything, color, relaxers, wax, cuts, she even does weaves nice. i wont let anyone else touch my hair, even though she's pricey to be dominican, its well worth the price.

 

[envybeauty]

Don't go to a salon that nickel and dimes you about services for *longer* hair. That usually means that most of their clients have SL hair or shorter.
also leave if they charge you extra for shorter rollers like Mirror Image in NYC.erplexed

Do insist on applying a heat protectant prior to blow outs. I always make sure they put a bit of *my* chi silk serum on before every blow out.

Can't stress this enough: DO DEEP CONDITION prior to every blowout.

Do sit under the Pibbs (hot) dryer and DO turn down the heat (even if they tell you otherwise). It dries faster even on a lower tempurature and blows more air.

 

[indefinite]

my stylist is dominican and she did my highlites back in february, not only do they look very nice, but i had no breakage at all. my stylist is good at everything, color, relaxers, wax, cuts, she even does weaves nice. i wont let anyone else touch my hair, even though she's pricey to be dominican, its well worth the price.

Where is the salon? Have you found the threading place? I found one in stone mountain. I haven't been yet though to give it a recommendation. I used to go all the way to North Druid Hills.

 

[LABETT]

Great Thread,A Dominican Salon just opened in my town and I plan to visit soon.

 

[Chromia]

I agree with the ladies who said to base your scalp before going in for a relaxer and feel free to bring your own products.

During my first visit I went in to observe them doing relaxer touch-ups & trims. I got a blowout and she did the roots only. If you do get a blowout be prepared for extremely high heat on your roots & scalp. I got a blowout at 5 weeks post and I was like :burning:.

 

[caribgirl]

I agree with the ladies who said to base your scalp before going in for a relaxer and feel free to bring your own products.

During my first visit I went in to observe them doing relaxer touch-ups & trims. I got a blowout and she did the roots only. If you do get a blowout be prepared for extremely high heat on your roots & scalp. I got a blowout at 5 weeks post and I was like :burning:.

Girl, thanks for the warning!!

 

[Desert Skye]

If you do get a blowout be prepared for extremely high heat on your roots & scalp. I got a blowout at 5 weeks post and I was like :burning:.

Yup I would not play with a Dominican stylist and her dryer. Its like playing with fire, you will get burned. It feels like hell landed on your head.

 

[pazyamor]

I'm no expert, but I've been hitting up the Dominican salon for a year and here's what I've learned:

DO:
Be very exact with what you want; because they will do suggestive styling, i.e. what they think your hair needs, like extreme heat and saying the word "relaxer" every ten minutes if you're stretching.
Be prepared for the heat of a thousand suns on your head if your roots aren't freshly relaxed. And it hurts like h*ll!
Be sure to tell the, to use a deep conditioner, many of them shampoo and go; not good for anybody's hair.
Do get ready to wait inbetween services: at my salon, they work on fifteen girls at once; it's a race to the five dryers and the seven chairs!

DON'T:
Let her set the dryer heat to H*LL...make sure to tell her to keep it low to medium, because that dryer is a killer
Be afraid to bring in your own shampoo and conditioner; I do and she is not offended at all, it's just better than the generic "One-size-fits-all" shampoo they use, which tends to be drying.
And finally, don't let just anybody slap that relaxer in your hair! From my personal experience at over seven different Dominican salons (I was looking for a good fix), and listening to some of the women who have frequented them for years, not all Dominican women are equipped to put the chemical relaxers in hair.

That's all I can think of...I've had great Dominican salon experiences, and you will too.

 

[crazydaze911]

I'm no expert, but I've been hitting up the Dominican salon for a year and here's what I've learned:

DO:
Be very exact with what you want; because they will do suggestive styling, i.e. what they think your hair needs, like extreme heat and saying the word "relaxer" every ten minutes if you're stretching.
Be prepared for the heat of a thousand suns on your head if your roots aren't freshly relaxed. And it hurts like h*ll!
Be sure to tell the, to use a deep conditioner, many of them shampoo and go; not good for anybody's hair.
Do get ready to wait inbetween services: at my salon, they work on fifteen girls at once; it's a race to the five dryers and the seven chairs!

DON'T:
Let her set the dryer heat to H*LL...make sure to tell her to keep it low to medium, because that dryer is a killer
Be afraid to bring in your own shampoo and conditioner; I do and she is not offended at all, it's just better than the generic "One-size-fits-all" shampoo they use, which tends to be drying.
And finally, don't let just anybody slap that relaxer in your hair! From my personal experience at over seven different Dominican salons (I was looking for a good fix), and listening to some of the women who have frequented them for years, not all Dominican women are equipped to put the chemical relaxers in hair.

That's all I can think of...I've had great Dominican salon experiences, and you will too.

Yeah - i forgot to mention that one. I ALWAYS have to lower the dryer setting. They usually put it on 70! I lower it to 60. Not just for my hair health, but for my skin! those metal pins they use to keep the rollers in, burn the crap out of your ears when they heat up.

 

[locabouthair]

I'm no expert, but I've been hitting up the Dominican salon for a year and here's what I've learned:

DO:
Be very exact with what you want; because they will do suggestive styling, i.e. what they think your hair needs, like extreme heat and saying the word "relaxer" every ten minutes if you're stretching.
Be prepared for the heat of a thousand suns on your head if your roots aren't freshly relaxed. And it hurts like h*ll!
Be sure to tell the, to use a deep conditioner, many of them shampoo and go; not good for anybody's hair.
Do get ready to wait inbetween services: at my salon, they work on fifteen girls at once; it's a race to the five dryers and the seven chairs!

DON'T:
Let her set the dryer heat to H*LL...make sure to tell her to keep it low to medium, because that dryer is a killer
Be afraid to bring in your own shampoo and conditioner; I do and she is not offended at all, it's just better than the generic "One-size-fits-all" shampoo they use, which tends to be drying.
And finally, don't let just anybody slap that relaxer in your hair! From my personal experience at over seven different Dominican salons (I was looking for a good fix), and listening to some of the women who have frequented them for years, not all Dominican women are equipped to put the chemical relaxers in hair.

That's all I can think of...I've had great Dominican salon experiences, and you will too.

this is so true. the dominicans i went to overprocessed my hair.

 

[Serenity_Peace]

There are a number of reasons why I have not gone yet, but I plan to when my 6-month stretch is over:

1. I'm stretching and for that very reason I don't want:
a. constant prodding about why I need a relaxer
b. mishandling of my new growth
c. the potential damage from using a fine tooth comb

2. I'm tender-headed....EXTREMELY TENDER-HEADED
3. Did I say that I'm TENDER-HEADED!??!??!!
4. I don't want to have direct heat, which defeats the purpose because they'll have to use to get my NG straight, and did I already say....I AM EXTREMELY TENDER-HEADED.

 

[Lovelylocs]

I agree w/everything said. I want to stress the following
DO
Get the deep conditioner.
Bring your own wide tooth comb just in case.

Don't
Let them color your hair
Let them use the fine tooth comb the WHOLE time. (They only need it to rollerset. They definately do not need it for detangling)

Also, it seems that in the US many Dominican salons use flat irons and/or curling irons after they finish blowing out ur hair. This is not an authentic Dominican blowout IMO. In Santo Domingo, using heat appliances like flat irons and curling irons is frowned upon b/c it is bad for ur hair's health. Plus, dominican stylists should be able to get ur hair straight w/a blowdryer. I don't get the pt of the flat iron.

A final DO :
DO PAY ATTENTION...
Try to learn to do a dominican blowout on ur own or at least the rollersetting part.

 

[cocoaluv]

These are all great suggestions. I also suggest you NOT let them put those pink ear covers on your ear( unless you bring your own). I used it and got a rash behind both ears. I had been using them for months and nothing happend but I guess that one time someone before me had some type of rash and then I got it as well. I just have them put a fresh towel to my ears and tie it tight with the net they put over my rollers. just a bit of advice.

 

[itismehmmkay]

Do NOT get a relaxer.
They will want to keep it on for 45 minutes!

 

[cocoberry10]

Thanks for posting this thread!

 

[neenee280]

DO - If you are short on time after all the washing, dcing, rolling and sitting under the dryer...have the stylist give you a doobie. I was complaining to my stylist that I had to go and we had to do something quick. She took the flat iron, after taking out the rollers, flat ironed about 10-12 sections TIGHT, and wrapped my hair with pins. this was my first doobie and I was like, "if my hair looks ***'d, it on!" "trust me trust me!" she kept saying. I was out in five. Took my hair down a few hours later. I was soooooo happy. I going to get doobies more often.

DONT - never ever ever skip a DC. If you dont want to pay extra, bring your own. Shoot, you can skip a rinse but never a DC!

 

[CurleeDST]

I went to a dominican salon on Jamaica Ave. on Saturday in Queens. They did a pretty good job on my thick natural hair and it cost me $35 with tip. She did blowdry me STRAIGHT from the shampoo bowl and got it sleeker than sleek. I only felt the hot dryer about 3 times on my scalp and she let up once I told her it was too hot.

I can't get my hair this straight. She used minimal product as a leave-in and I have no clue what she used for shine at the end but it smelled good.

The ONLY problem or funny thing that happened is a pigeon flew into the salon and I told her "bird over there". She just looked and kept working. Then another person came from the back and FED THE BIRD BIRD FEED! I was rolling.

The funniest is when the bird got scared, try to fly out, hit the window, and eventually found its way out the front door. I ain't never seen nothing like that!

Overall I would go back. Also I combed my hair today and only 1 strand of hair came out of my head! Also my hair doesn't smell burnt. She deep conditioned me with about 3 scoops of the conditioner. I love the results.

 

[wantlonghair25]

my stylist is dominican and she did my highlites back in february, not only do they look very nice, but i had no breakage at all. my stylist is good at everything, color, relaxers, wax, cuts, she even does weaves nice. i wont let anyone else touch my hair, even though she's pricey to be dominican, its well worth the price.

Which salon do you go to? I also live in Stone Mtn. I go to Josse's Place.