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For many women, a black-owned hair salon is almost like a sanctuary; a place to go to not only get your hair done, but also to catch up on the latest gossip, catch up with old friends, and have some 'me-time.'But in the past few decades, Dominican salons have been taking over neighborhoods with cheaper prices, a more versatile blowout style, and more time-efficient results.
While black salons typically use irons and straighteners, Dominican salons use the method of a wet roller-set followed by a quick blowout.
It's an opinion that has always been a big debate in the hair community, and the fire was only fueled when the Wall Street Journal released an article on the topic in May. The article has had everyone asking, "Are black women turning their backs on black-owned businesses when they opt for the local Dominican salon?"
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Jennifer Drew is a black woman who, after a trip to the Dominican Republic -- which opened her eyes to the possibilities for Dominican techniques for American black women -- founded RoundHairBrush.net, an online community that includes a database of Dominican hair salons across the country. She believes there are many pros to the Dominican salon versus the black salon.
"Number one is the time. Even if you're getting a chemical service, you're never in the salon more than three hours," Drew says. "You also have the ability to just walk in, because so many people are available to help you, while at a black salon, you usually have to have an appointment. Also, I think the blowout style you get at a Dominican salon is more versatile – it's an every day look. At an African-American salon, the style can be somewhat hard to duplicate the next day."
But Drew doesn't think that the rise of Dominican salons means the end of black salons. She believes that black salons will always be supported.
"Yes, Dominican salons are here to stay, but I don't think they will take black salons out of business. Dominican salons aren't always best for shorter or natural hair styles, and a lot of women like going to a salon where they don't feel like just a number and can communicate exactly what they want. I think it's about whatever you are most comfortable with."
BV readers, do you prefer going to a black-owned salon, your local Dominican salon, or both?
Comments: (127)
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By: Yolanda on 11/05/2010 11:46AM
Ha ha ha. Lol. Lol. Lol. Many Dominicans ARE BLACK. Here we go again. We black people are letting white people pit us black Americans and other blacks against each other. Why do you think these Dominicans can do our hair so well? Maybe its because some of them have hiar like ours and some of us have hair like theirs. I go to a Hispanic hair dresser becasue I am black whit e and native american and noebody else know how to do my hair.
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By: Da'Shea on 7/08/2011 3:33AM
You are right, this is shall I say it (WILLIE LYNCH) strikes again, maybe we need to just go back to saying (Colored)so we all can remember that to the White race we are all still the same we share the same complexion the same hair type and so much more, we are just black's that speak Creole Spanish that's it our sister country is Haiti. As Canada is the sister country to America, aren't the white Canadians really just white as the american whites? So that's what it really is A Dominican owned salon is a BLACK OWNED salon also. And I am a Dominican female myself and I wasn't taught any different we have dreadlocks afro's wavy hair and all the same as the African Americans we are just Afro-Caribbeans.
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By: jizzlehizzle@hotmail.com on 11/17/2010 1:16AM
You guys DO know that Dominicans are black too, right?
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By: Da'Shea on 7/08/2011 3:21AM
Thank you, for clarifying this we Dominicans are AFRO_CARIBBEAN. We are classified as African-Caribbean's. So there you have it we are black also. As my mother who's from Santo-Domingo,Dominican Republic always taught me so.
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By: MrsTB on 11/23/2010 12:17AM
I would love to try the Dominican salon experience. But frankly, I have given up on black salons. I was so tired of the 4 hour ordeals just to look cute. Don't get me wrong; if you want the best looking hair in town, then go to a black hair salon. They have great prices and they can handle any problem areas without long explanations. But for me, the drama, that goes on in those places are scary, unsanitary and sometimes down right ghetto. For example, don't leave me in the chair with wet hair while you go pick yo' baby up from school and then have the nerve to swing by Micky Ds to get the little one somethin' to eat. Then get YOU somethin' and eat it while you finish my hair. Then the local street hustler selling soul food out of the trunk of his car comes in to hustle me for more money. Or the local booster wants to sell me some fake jewelry, purses or hell you name it! Either I do my own hair or (I hate to admit this one) but I go the 'white' salon. My hair will be cut perfectly. The salon will be clean. Conversations are at a low tone. Fasion runway shows are playing to nice music. I am offered coffee, tea, juice, cookies, fruit, and mints...FREE! There is a changing room for (not restroom) for me to change my shirt so not to ruin my shirt with color or product. But I then have to go home and 'black-girl-bang-it-out'! Then I am fly. But at the black salon, I will walk out looking fabulous! It is a trade off at least in South Central LA. We can do better. I just can't suffer until WE do.
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By: Sue on 3/27/2011 9:13AM
If you live in ATL DO NOT get your weave done by ShawndaDee, Bella Vivo Salon. My weave came out so bulky and was poorly done + her customer service is very bad! She charged me 200 dollars
1. The hair prices listed on her website were identified as Hair Ex Hair Prices- when I called her she denied it and when I looked again it was off of her website.
2. She promotes herself as a hair broker but she is not.
3. She tried to sell me Indian hair for 300-400 dollars but didn't want to tell me where she got it from
4.Communication with me regarding scheduling my appt was very poor.
*I emailed her with my availability for the next 3 weeks and she emailed me back a time and day that was not in my availability. ???
*She played tag constantly texting and calling me with days that she was available ignoring my availability. ???
I sent her an email asking for her availabilty for the next 30 days and she sends me her availbility for the next week ???
5. I show up for my appointment and she washes my hair very very quickly not doing a thorough job as if she didn't want to be bothered with washing my hair.
6.She advertises her salon as some type of luxury place yet she doesn't have the proper tools to do hair. She didnt have a single widetooth comb or blowdryer w/ attachment. Her excuse was "none of my clients have hair"
7. She braided my braids underneath too big which gave my hair an extremely bulky look.
8. Moisturizer or heat protectant was not used on my hair at all
9. When I told her I was not satisfied with my hair she says: "You bought the wrong hair" (She was the one who recommended the hair ex hair I bought) "You have to pay me if you want it redone" "your hair is too thick"
Believe me when I tell you the chick is all about money!! RUN!
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By: Da'Shea on 7/08/2011 3:13AM
I'm Dominican myself and we are AFRO-CARIBBEAN the Dominican-Republic is on the same island as Haiti. Okay people i know we speak Creole-Spanish but we originate from Africa also.
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