Do you want to achieve gorgeous, silky straight tresses? Look no further than Dominican hair salons! Dominican hair salons are renowned for their famous Dominican Blowout, which can take even the curliest, kinkiest, and coarsest hair and turn it into a lusciously smooth mane.
Many African American women have heard their friends and family members rave about their favorite Dominican hair salon, but can’t help but wonder if these salons are good for their hair.
It is important to note that not all Dominican hair salons are the same. While many Dominican hair salons may operate in a similar way, there are variations from salon to salon. Therefore, the views expressed in this article may not apply to every single Dominican hair salon – rather, the majority of them.
In this article, we’ll be examining Dominican hair salons and their hairstyling practices, so you can make an informed decision on whether these salons are good for Black hair.
What Is a Dominican Hair Salon?
Do you want to transform your hair with a long-lasting, natural-looking result? Then a Dominican Hair Salon is the provides the solution for you! This specialized salon specializes in hair care techniques and styles from the Dominican Republic, like the famous Dominican Blowout. These techniques are known for taking even the most coarse, kinky, and curly hair and transforming it into voluminous, bouncy, soft tresses.
Are Dominican Hair Salons Good for Black Hair?
The average Dominican salon may not be the best choice for black hair, since many of these salons focus more on hair beauty than hair health. This can be detrimental for black hair, as taking care of your curls is essential for maintaining their health. Without proper moisture and care, black hair can become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. Fortunately, there are salons out there that specialize in providing quality care for black hair.
The Ever-Popular Dominican Blowout
Dominican hair salons are renowned for their ability to straighten your hair without the use of chemicals. However, this doesn’t mean that their services are entirely free from potential damage to your hair. The most popular style requested at Dominican hair salons is the Dominican blowout. This hair straightening technique was developed and perfected by the Dominicans, and it produces stunning, long-lasting results with minimal damage to the hair. Make sure to take the necessary steps to ensure that your hair is healthy and protected when getting a Dominican blowout.
Let us try to understand why Dominican blowouts are bad for Black hair by looking into the steps involved in the process –
- Firstly, a clarifying shampoo is used to first deeply cleanse the hair, removing any buildup, debris, or oils.
- The hair is then treated with a Dominican conditioner, which contains smoothing agents to make it easier to style during the straightening process.
- Conditioned hair is wound around large rollers to stretch it and then a heated dryer is used for about an hour to let the hair dry.
- Once your hair is dry, the stylist will finish the look by blow drying it with a round brush until it’s almost completely straight.
- Once your hair is almost fully blow-dried, Dominican stylists may use a flat iron to make it super smooth. This step is often necessary for those with very curly or kinky hair to achieve a silky straight finish.
- Your hair is then wound around your head to give it even more smoothness.
So, are you thinking about getting your hair done at a Dominican salon? Not so fast! In the following sections, we’ll explain why you should reconsider this decision and why it’s better to go somewhere else to get your hair done. We’ll break down the issues with going to a Dominican salon, and provide alternatives that will leave you with beautiful, healthy hair. Don’t take the risk – get the right look with the right salon!
Dominican Salons Often Use Excessive Heat
The Dominican blowout is a great styling option, but it comes with a few risks. Your stylist will be applying heat to your hair three times during the process: once when you’re put under the dryer with rollers, again when you’re getting your hair blow-dried straight, and one more time when you’re getting your hair flat ironed.
This is an incredibly high amount of heat for anyone with curly hair, and can lead to damage even for those with fine or color-treated hair. After your first Dominican blowout, you may find that your hair has been weakened or damaged from the excessive heat.
If you have thick, coarse strands, you may think you’re safe from hair damage. But the truth is, the damage can sneak up on you over time. Dominican hair salons are notorious for using their heat tools at the highest settings, which can lead to smoke, burnt hair smell, and ultimately, damaged hair.
Women with black hair should take extra precaution and stay away from places that use excessive heat. Protect your hair from damage now, so you can enjoy healthy, strong strands for years to come.
No More Curls
If you want to keep your curls looking their best, don’t take the risk of applying excessive heat to your hair. Dominican hair salons are known for applying high levels of heat during styling, which can quickly cause you to lose your curl pattern. This means that even if you only plan to get a Dominican blowout once, that one time could cost you your curls. To ensure your curls stay intact, we advise you to stay away from Dominican hair salons.
Sneaking in Relaxers
No matter how many clients a salon may see in one day, there are never shortcuts when it comes to providing quality service. Unfortunately, some Dominican salons have resorted to underhanded tactics to save time, such as applying relaxer without asking permission while shampooing a client’s hair in order to speed up the Dominican blowout process.
These horror stories are all too common, and we understand why clients would be wary of trying out a new salon.
No one should have to worry about their hair being damaged, dried out, or having an altered curl pattern when visiting the salon. Unfortunately, there have been reports of Dominican hair salons unknowingly relaxing clients’ hair, which is completely unacceptable and can lead to serious hair damage and dryness. We want to make it clear that we are not implying that all Dominican salons rush through their clients or sneak in relaxers, but we do want to highlight the potential risks of visiting one.
Rough Handling
The speed and roughness of Dominican hairstylists can be a major source of frustration for their clients. The rush to finish a round brush blow-drying process can cause damage to the hair and scalp, leading to superficial cuts, hair loss, and even pain for those with thick, coarse hair. Unfortunately, many Dominican hair salon clients soon experience thinning hair and hair loss due to the rough handling of their stylists. To avoid these issues, it’s important to take your time while getting your hair done and communicate any concerns you may have with your stylist.
Language Barrier
If you’re heading to a Dominican salon, it’s important to be aware of the language barrier that may arise. While some Dominican women may be fluent in English, many are not. This could make communication with your stylist difficult and could lead to them not being able to understand or provide what you need. To avoid this, it’s best to choose a stylist who speaks your native language. That way, you can be sure that your stylist will understand exactly what you’re looking for.
Are Dominican Hair Salons Bad?
It’s impossible to make a generalization about all Dominican hair salons. However, the questionable practices used in Dominican blowouts, such as the use of strong relaxers and excessive heat, are not suitable for Black hair. Black hair deserves special care and gentle handling without the use of harsh chemicals or heat. Given the evidence of the effects of Dominican blowouts on Black hair, we strongly advise avoiding Dominican hair salons.
Do you want to straighten your hair without damaging or thinning it? If so, then you should consider visiting a natural hair salon. Natural hair salons specialize in using the lowest effective amount of heat to protect your hair from breakage and thinning. They also offer the utmost care and consideration when styling your hair. So, if you want to get straightened without compromising the health of your hair, a natural hair salon is your best bet.
How Much Do You Tip at a Dominican Hair Salon?
The amount you tip is entirely up to your discretion and can depend on the cost and quality of the service. As a general rule, it’s customary to tip 15-20% of the total cost to show your appreciation for a job well done. If you had an especially great experience, a higher tip will be much appreciated.
Now that you know why Dominican hair salons and Black hair don’t mix, it’s important to emphasize the importance of seeking out natural hair salons for your hair care needs. Black hair is fragile and requires special attention and care from a stylist who understands its unique needs. We encourage you to be mindful of the potential risks of using a Dominican salon, and prioritize the health of your hair by selecting a natural hair salon instead. With proper care and attention, you can enjoy the beautiful, healthy curls you desire. Good luck with your curls!