PROUDLY INTRODUCING: Sally’s Hair Stylers Black Mesh Chignon!

Love the ease of a bun but hate that you don’t have the length or fullest to achieve the look being rocked on the Fall 2K11 Runways? Well, this little contraption was a great buy for pennies over $3 @ Sally’s. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s perfect for those annoying hair days. My favorite part is that your hair doesnt have to be perfect for it to look awesome. I rather adore the combination of a classic bun updo thats slightly messy modern. Of course I wouldn’t leave you without a pic and a link to this little gem: http://www.sallybeauty.com/mesh-chignon/SBS-463605,default,pd.html.

And for those who are looking for ways to retain length, this miracle device is perfect for protective styling. Protective styling = hiding your ends and keeping them moisturized so that they dont break off. After all, the ends of our strands are the oldest and therefore have the most damage to them. Tuck your ends away and call it a day!

Directions:

1. Gently detangle and moisturize your hair.

2. Create a high ponytail and secure with an elastic holder. Be as neat or messy as you want..

3. Pull ponytail through the mesh holder and fan hair evenly around.

4. Pin (or tuck) hair around the holder. Ensure that the holder is completely covered.

Happy Bunning!

When you come to my salon, you will feel comfortable! I have all new top quality stations, dryers, and backwash stations in an elegant and classy atmosphere. You are always treated with respect and courtesy. Featuring Dominican Blowouts, Roller Sets, Relaxers, Deep Conditioning Treatments, Keratin Hair Treatments, Fusion Extensions, Highlights and Lowlights, Color, Haircuts, Perms, and more. Familiar with all hair types and textures. Featuring authentic Dominican products. Now certified to perform the Brazilian Blowout, Professional Smoothing Treatment, that improves the health of the hair and leaves it with a smooth texture. Call (919) 352-4045 or text to my Blackberry Mobile PIN 321BAC8D. Email me at dominicanstylist@hotmail.com or call the salon at (919) 777-0708. Experience your hair soft and silky with more bounce. You’ll love the Dominican difference! Hair is important.

I want to wish you all a Happy, Hairy Thanksgiving!!

Blessing to you and your families.

LaNegra

Im Dominican stylist, I work  at Lourdes Beauty Salon, Sanford, NC
Tuesdays to Saturdays, I’ll be glad to help you out with you all hair, look at my faceboock (dominicanstylist@hotmail.com) my number is (919)775-7139.

Today was the absolutely, perfect day to put my curlformers to the test.

I used them last night, for the 3rd time since I got them. Now, I admit that I am still experimenting with the installation of the curlformers (will get to this a little later), however I’m really quite pleased with the results.

I did things a little differently this time:

1. Instead of sitting under the dryer, I air-dried. I didn’t pay attention to exactly how long I had them in before pulling them out, but I was still a little damp in places. If I recall correctly, I had them for about 4 hours before slipping them off.

2. Rather than panic, because my hair wasn’t dry, I used the slight dampness to my advantage. My ends were curled nicely and each curl was in lovely, spirals; they were not just as crisp as they had been when I completely dry.

3. I didn’t play with my hair, jostle it or anything. I was tired, ready for bed, so I immediately put my hair up in finger-curls, using big sections.

Here are the results the following day:

EDITED: I forgot to comment on my impressions of how the curlformers handled the humidity.

I did notice some frizzing, but curls with a little frizz are tolerable and for fine or thin hair, that may be a plus, as it gives a little body. I noticed that my curls dropped a little, but I don’t like them super tight anyway.

I also noticed that combing the hair, after the humidity hit me, was a lot easier. When the curls are dried completely, they are SUPER TIGHT, pretty, but TIGHT!

In the future, if my curls are tight again, I’ll just use a little steam in the shower to help them drop a bit.

As for the installation, I am still working on this procedure. I still caused a snag or two this time,  and almost put them up for sale, but remembered that when I first started doing my own rolos, I’d pull, snag and mess up a LOT!

So, I’m going to keep trying, at least for the meantime, to see if I can get the technique down pat. Then Shacleve, I’ll work on a vid

I don’t know what it is about New Yorkers. Perhaps, there’s something about the way we speak, our accent, or our take-no-shizz attitude that makes us easily identifiable. Regardless, no matter where I go, I recognize mi gente and have no problem finding someone from home to commiserate with, especially when it comes to hair woes and the lack of decent Dominican salons outside of NYC.

One of my current mentors happens to be from NYC, grew up not too far from me and shares the same enthusiasm for hair products and appliances. In fact, she is one the main reasons why this site, my labor of love, exists. She kept reminding me that, “we are not the only misplaced patrons of Dominican salons, who need to know how to do our hair at home.”

Well, anyway…like me, whenever she goes home, she makes it a point to hit her favorite salon. Sure, she can do her own hair, just as well as any stylist can, but there’s nothing like being pampered for a few hours, while listening to the telenovelas, merengue and common salon banter.

While running a few errands, prior to heading towards her favorite spot, she ran into an old acquaintance. As luck would have it, the woman mentioned that she no longer went to “the salon,” because they were too gauging the patrons and the service was not as good.

The two had been long time patrons of the same salon, so when the old friend recommended a new spot, Sunnie had no problem giving it a go. The old friend said, “Ask for Belki. She’s the best and her prices are excellent!”

Now, you all have to take my word for it, but there’s nothing that’s done in the salon, from relaxer to Shirley Temple curls that Sunnie cannot handle on her own. In fact, I would sooner trust my hair to her hands than a stranger’s.

She wanted a standard shampoo, conditioner, rolos and a blowout. This is a basic service offered at all Dominican salons. However, when the stylist put the conditioner on Sunnie’s head, she insisted that she sit under the dryer for only 10 minutes (first red flag).

Ok, she thought.

She said, “I don’t know why anyone would insist that anything more than 10 minutes with a moisturizing conditioner was ‘harmful’ to the hair, but at this point, I just wanted to get my hair rolled and be on my way.”

As the stylist starts to comb her hair, she says in Spanish, “Mami, your hair is damaged. You should not use hair coloring any more.”

This is when things get humorous. Sunnie doesn’t use hair color. In fact, she hasn’t even had a relaxer for about 2 or 3 years. Nonetheless, she is WAY more calm than I would have been.

She let the woman put her rolos in, all way chatting away with the two owners. She laughed and enjoyed her 3-hour-reprieve and managed to compliment the sisters for their work. She confessed that her hair did come out really silky after the blowout.

The next week, she went to our regular stylist and never mentioned a word of her previous “hair diagnosis,” but was not shocked when our regular stylist commented, without prompting, “You know, your hair is always in such good condition.”

Why did I take the time to share all of this?

Because, many of us relocate or feel a sense of panic when our beloved stylists move to another salon, or open their own.

Who will do my hair, now?! We think to ourselves.

In a moment of desperation, we may be willing to give a new stylist a go. Ella es dominicana. Sin duda, es calificado. Being Dominican does not always mean that your expectations as a customer will be met. Being Dominican does not always mean that a stylist will not put a twist on the actual health of your hair, have you believe that your hair will surely perish if you don’t continue to seek out there services.

Another thing is, there are a number of salons boasting that they are Dominican. When in fact, there is not ONE Dominican stylist in the salon. Not a single person speaks Spanish, and usually when they say they offer doobies (which I have come learn is actually a wet wrap, or the hair is wrapped after flat-ironing and then covered with saran wrap), rather than a dubi (which is when we wrap our hair for the evening, prior to sleeping).

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care what nationality a person is; if they know how to do a roller set, and blowout, I’m supportive and willing to give them a try. I’ve known a few Boricua stylists who did KILLER blowouts.

What irks me is when stylists says they’re Dominican and make false claims, with regards to the services they offer. This kind of practice is misleading; I do not do business with people who falsify information.

So ladies, be careful. Be very, very careful when you attempt to find a new stylist!

Yes, we want to find someone and sometimes the promises are tempting, but remember my motto…”It’s better to have frizzy, or nappy hair, rather than to lose your hair.”

Suerte!

LaNegra

With that said, I had a couple of heat related debates with well meaning people. There is is always a misconception that getting your hair styled requires heat. Granted, heat is the method of choice used to straighten hair (usually), but I opt for healthy methods.

For instance, when I do my rolos I don’t use hot air. I typically put the dryer on lukewarm, even the cool setting at times. Knowing that I’m going to use high heat from my blower is a great reason for me to turn down any other source of heat.

I also recognize that using heat too frequently will lead to dried out tresses and pulling my hair too much with the brush during a blowout may cause breakage, so I try to limit that as well.

While I keep an open mind and respect the opinions of everyone, it’s my duty to remind people that roller sets do NOT mean that you have to scorch your hair while you dry. You all know my motto. It’s better to have a head full of nappy hair, then a handful of fried hair. Me entendéis?!

Speaking of keeping an open mind…a friend of mine from NYC has been bragging about her “magnetic rollers” replacement. Yeah, this is way off topic, but I know you mujeres keep up with the hair trends and make some awesome recommendations. Anyhoo, my friend has been going on, and on, and ON about Curlformers.

When she first mentioned these things, I thought it was an appliance that she would use once, maybe twice and then be done with. However, she’s been consistently using them, stating that they require no heat, dry quicker and leave the hair with perfectly symmetrical curls.

So, if any of you ladies have used them…speak up! I looked them up and although I’m curious, I need to know before I splurge, whether or not they snag the hair when you pull the hair through the mesh. The rod also scares me a little…looks like it would rip some hair out if done incorrectly.

Ok…climbing off, sliding under my bed, my overly used soapbox

Hope you all are holding up well during the blistering heat wave.  I’m doing well, but I cannot lie…I feel like I’m wearing a wool hat on my head. It’s HOOOOOOT!

I’m trying to decide whether or not to cut a few inches off…I said a few inches, don’t throw anything at me

I did get a trim the other day, had my layers and ends cleaned up, but now considering taking my hair up to my shoulders.

They specialize in ethnic hair. They also do hair extensions , nails and body wax. the
telephone # is . Dominican hairdressers from Bronx, New York.