Latin flair for hair care

Women of color are flocking to Dominican salons, where they say beauticians have the talent to treat their tresses right.

October 22, 2006
By Victor Manuel Ramos

Ana Saldana knew what to do to attract customers when she took over a hair salon at an East Colonial Drive strip mall.

She put out a new sign that included her national flag -- white cross in the middle, deep blue and red squares. On another sign, she posted the bold message: "Now with Dominican style."

She was counting on Latinas, Caribbean and African-American women to recognize the Dominican flag -- and to know about the Dominicans' reputation for mastering a variety of ethnic hair.

Most of all, she was banking on the diverse society Orlando has become to build her customer base. About 28 percent of women in metro Orlando belong to a minority group.

"I'm not Dominican. I'm black. But I'm happy I found them, because they know how to deal with black hair," says Erica Peterson, 25, a University of Central Florida student getting her hair done before the weekend. "I just came here and asked them to make me look pretty."

The Dominicans attribute their expertise to the racial mix of the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean country of Spanish, African and Taino Indian influence.

Many of them honed their skills as they took part in the island's cultural life, where women would sit in the shadow of trees to talk and do one another's hair -- often using natural products such as coconut oil, avocados and aloe vera to control frizziness in a tropical climate.

"The old-timer Dominican women, like me, know about hair from the time they were little girls," says Saldana, 49, a native of Santo Domingo.

Trend spreads like wildfire

Dominican salons that cater mostly to women, such as the Jireh Hair & Nail Dominican Style that Saldana manages, are popping up throughout Orlando and the rest of Florida. Cities such as New York and Boston have had them for years.

The Orlando salons attract enough clientele that two compete within a couple of miles on East Colonial Drive, just east of downtown.

Saldana plans to open a third one farther east.

There are others along growing multicultural corridors around Semoran Boulevard, Goldenrod Avenue, Curry Ford Road, John Young Parkway, Orange Blossom Trail and Deltona Boulevard. And other Hispanic salons throughout the Metro Orlando area employ Dominicans.

"Many of the Hispanic beauty salons in Orlando are being purchased by Dominicans, because Hispanics from other nationalities are looking for the Dominican beauticians," says Luis Ramos Valdes, publisher of the biweekly newspaper El Dominicano.

Ramos Valdes distributes his publication to about 80 salons, mostly owned or managed by Dominicans, within the Metro Orlando area stretching from St. Cloud to Longwood.

Brigitte Miranda, who distributes products to about 600 Hispanic salons from Orlando to Tampa says that Dominican and Puerto Rican shops are her major customers.

As of 2005, U.S. Census Bureau estimates put the number of Dominicans at about 18,440 in Central Florida -- only 3 percent of Hispanics. Puerto Ricans make up 46 percent of area Hispanics.

"Every year, the number of Dominican hair salons doubles or even triples," she says. "There's a lot of them who are coming from up North."

The Dominicans' success is thanks to a reputation for straightening the curly hair of Latinas, blacks and others of mixed races. As the stylists say, Dominicans do a "mean blower."

Mastering the technique

Straightening is a multistep process. Stylists wash and condition hair with products from Spain, Italy and the Dominican Republic. They set the hair on rollers to stretch it and use egg-shaped dryers for better heat control. They blow-dry to style it with round combs. Hot curlers are banned from most Dominican salons because they say those damage hair.

"Hair from white people is easy and quick," says Ana Nin, 46, of Salon Tips Cuts Dominican in Deltona. "But with Latino and black hair, which can be curly, thicker or kinky, we have to take our time. Other places just burn that hair."

The special care she gets is what keeps Michelle Tall, who is black, returning to Salon Dominicano, the other East Colonial Drive shop that advertises its heritage. Its awning displays the Dominican flag. Heartbreak songs known as bachatas play inside.

"I am a regular, yes," says Tall, 39, a Winter Park resident. "They are into healthy hair, and their technique is a little different than your traditional stylists . . . My mother comes here. My sister has come. You almost create an extended family because you trust them."

Sobeida Sanchez, the owner of Salon Dominicano, says that her most loyal customers are blacks and Puerto Ricans who have heard the buzz. The salon was just featured in Latina magazine as one of the top shops in the country.

"I started the salon with another name, calling it 'Empire,' and nobody was coming," Sanchez says. "When I changed it to 'Dominican hair salon,' business picked up quickly."

Women who are desperate to find Dominican salons in cities throughout the U.S. surf the Web.

Donna Pough-Rivera, a Deltona resident who is black, gave other salons a try when she moved here from New York. But she gave up and hit the online message boards.

"It didn't work out at the other hair salons. The technique just wasn't there," Pough-Rivera, 44, says. "I'd go into these hair salons and ask if anyone could do ethnic hair, and it looked like no one knew what I was talking about."

In her 17 years in the Orlando area, Sylvia Bartlett has gone to many a salon, but some of those trips had turned into scary experiences for the Puerto Rican woman.

"I would get out of the salons and rush home to wash and dry my hair again," says Bartlett, 42, "because we Latinas have loopy hair, and it's not like that American straight hair, that you just put the blower on and it falls into place."

But about a year ago, Bartlett found the Dominicans, women who, she says, turn her hair strands to silk.

Source: The Orlando Sentinel

Comments

[nia dees]

I went to a dominican salon in Atlanta Lily's and my hair was beautiful. I had all my friends, my cousin and my mom going. I moved to cleveland and had to get it cut off because no one could maintain it. If any one know of a Dominican salon in the Cleveland Ohio area. Please email me NPDEES@yahoo.com

[Ayana]

I LOVE Dominican hair salons... I have recently moved to Los Angeles (West LA 90004) and I really I hope that there are so,e Dominican hair salons in the area if anyone knows of any can you please email at ayteesis@aol.com

THANK U!!!!!!!

[janet]

are their any dominican salons in the houston, tx area. i am currently growing my daughters perm out and would like for here to go back to her natural texture.

[Michelle Murphy]

I recently moved to the Bay area of California and can not find a Dominican hair salon anywhere. Please help. I presently travel all the way to Atlanta Lily's hair salon just to get my hair done.

[Angela]

I am also looking for a dominican salon in Ohio or Michigan....pleas email me at apreston@ibidmarketing.com

[Donna]

Any Dominican Salons in Los Angeles, Ca???? Please hit me at afrodiciakpfk@yahoo.com

[Zemia Atkins]

Just returned from NYC and had the most amazing hair experience at a dominican salon...my sister and I are hooked. Where can we find a good dominican salon in Los Angeles?...any part of LA ... we will drive to get our hair done right! Please email @ zemiaanne@sbcglobal.net...thanks!

[June Barrow]

Just move to washington Michigan looking for a dominica shop in Michigan. email me sat june.barrow@yahoo.com

[Lizanette]

Is there any way that a list of Latina salons can be posted? I am new to the area and am desperately searching. I have heard great things about Salon Dominicano and would love to go there, but unfortunately they do not cater to those of us who work the 9-5 shift. They close @ 6:00pm during the week. Is anything open later? I have called around and can't seem to locate any. If you could help I would really appreciate it

[Zakiya Edwards]

I am a salon owner and opening a multi-cultural salon in Conyers,GA. I would love to have a Latino woman work in my salon. If anyone you know are interested please contact me at 404-993-7020 or at zakiya64@aol.com

[TRESHA]

Hey All,

I am from Harrisburg, PA and I go to Brooklyn to a dominican hair stylist, but I'm looking for a domincan salon closer to home. If anyone knows of any in central pa, let me know.

[Kierra]

Tresha, I am from Manhattan, lived near Harrisburgh until a few months ago. There is no one in Harrisburgh, but there was a dominican salon that opened in York (off of George Street). The owner is Carmen; she's from Brooklyn and was the closest I came to my regular girl in the city.

I think her salon is called New Image.

Good luck

[Jodie Cuyler]

I just moved to Los Angeles(West LA Area) I would love to know if there is any dominican beauty salon in the area. If you know of any please let me know.
Jodie

jspina8@hotmail.com

Thanks a lot

[Stacie]

Hi Ayana. I don't know if you've received your answer yet but I live in Houston and have found a Dominican Salon by the name of Betty's Beauty Salon. http://bettybeautysalon.com/ ph# (713) 941-8192 I actually have an appointment for next week. Can't wait to go!

[stella millan]

Are there any Dominican salons in tampa?

[Chanxye]

Any Dominican Salons or hairstylists in Waco, TX, Killeen, TX, Temple or Belton, TX or even in Austin, TX. Pretty much in Central Texas area.

[Salema]

Unfortunately i have been unsuccessful in finding a salon dominicano out here in los angeles if anyone finds one please email at socasalema@yahoo.com thanks much love

[Roxana Santaella]

I have been getting my hair done in Dominican Salons since I was 14 years old and I am relocating to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, if anyone out there knows about a stylist who can do hair like a dominican hair stylist or is one, please email me. thanks

[Kobe]

Hello,

Do anyone know a Dominican salon in the Flint, MI area? If so plz email me at uptown2023@aol.com.

Thanks In Advance

[az]

Dose anyone know of Dominican salons and or stylists in the Phoenix, AZ area? and where to purchase dominican hair care products? If so please email me at elsieaz@hotmail.com

[Jasmin]

Hey

This seems pretty reduntant, but I`m moving to LA, and am really worried about not finding the right hair salon. I`ve been going to the same Dominican hair salon my whole life. If anyone would like to help, please e-mail me at jumarte@aol.com

Thank You

[lissett]

It's me again i almost forgot, i found this great website that sells dominican hair products. They are also compiling a salon database that way we can search for dominican hair salons any where in the USA its called Round brus https://00ea693.netsolstores.com/index.asp

[Bethany]

I go to law school in PA, but call Orlando home. I've been going to Salon Dominicana since they first opened. I spotted the Dominican flag as I was driving and had a flashback to the salons in Brooklyn. I could not pass it by. I stopped in and my hair was rescued from the torment of law school stresses. Every time I go home to Orlando, I visit this salon. They really are the best!

[Ree]

Moving to the Dallas are soon, desperately need to locate a Dominican Salon. Anyone thoughts?

[Heather]

Hi, I have been going to Dominican salons since in College in ATL. I was at Lilly's every week even when I didnt have a car my freshman year. I know live in Detroit and have had major problems finding a Dominican salon. If anyone knows of any in the area please email me at hmbranden@aol.com