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Monday, January 05, 2009

This post has nothing to do with sewing

I don't know about anyone else but my hair is a pain in the *ss! I don't have time to spend hours in the salon getting it done...I've worn it cut short and natural for a few years...I've worn it cut short and curly for a few years but I always revert back to long, processed hair because I can manage a ponytail and still look professional.

When I moved back to Jersey from NY, I gave up on black hair salons. I just couldn't take it any more...even though I adored the girl who did my hair, I didn't want to spend an entire afternoon in the salon...like it was an afternoon of fun! (ahhhh, no!) And when I booked the first appointment in the morning I could end up waiting up to 30 minutes for her to show up...and she wanted a good tip for that! *sigh*

So once I came back to Jersey some women that I rode the bus with told me about the Dominicians who can do anyone's hair...and I have to admit that it was a relief not to need an appointment, to go to a shop that is open seven days a week, and that I never hear, "gurl, don't you want to cut that hair?" or "no one should have that much hair, it takes to dayum long to do!" Or my personal favorite, "I have to charge you $20 extra because you use extra...fill in the blank!" Ummm, this is already costing me my food bill so could you not insult me as you are doing my head and seriously, you want a "good" tip for your trouble too!

But there is one little thing about the Dominicians - everyone comes out looking the same...long, straight flowing hair...which is okay to a point! I mean I never have to tell my favorite stylist what to do. I sit down, she does her thing, she even knows which side to part it on, clips the edges when necessary, always deep conditions it without being asked and knows how I can't stand a really hot drier or blow dryer...but I look like everyone else when I rise up...

Today I went and had my hair done...it's my favorite stylists day off but I didn't want to rearrange my time to be in the crowd with everyone else...did I mention that the salon is in the heart of Rutgers University's neighborhood and that it is packed with not only working women but students from the university, the high schools, etc. from Thursday morning to Sunday afternoons! There is more steam coming from that place than a steam bath!

I digress...I used someone else today...and she just knocked my favorite stylist out of the box! You may not be able to tell from this picture but I have long, straight hair that ends in soft curls and she sent me home with instructions on how to maintain it.

This is what I usually look like after a trip to the salon:



And this is how I look this afternoon - a little softer, a little bouncier...a lot happier!



Okay, I will post sewing updates later...I just needed to share! *LOL* Cause someone out there knows my pain!


54 comments:

  1. Your hair looks really nice. I also get my hair done at the Dominican salons in Harlem NYC. I find that a lot of them love to blow the hair bone straight... I just let them do the roots and leave the ends so I can have some curls with body and bounce....

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  2. Your hair looks great! I've heard so much about the Dominican salons. There aren't any here. :) I do hear that they use a lot of heat, but you can't beat the price!

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  3. As usual the first think I saw is ... your beautifull smile !
    I nerver leave you a comment yet, but I like your blog and I love the way you show us your sewing (with smile and make-up; hair-do, jewellery...).

    Miaaa
    (from SG)

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  4. I kid you not. I'm in the middle of an email discussion with my friends right now about a new Domincan salon that opened up near my house! So funny.

    Part of the reason I went natural is that I just could not take black salons anymore. That, and little ear burns and shelling our $60 each visit.

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  5. You are looking good! They did a great job. But if you ever find yourself wanting to DIY, I suggest a visit to the longhaircareforum.com, it is a treasure trove of information on how to maintain your hair's health as well as how to style your own hair. And much, much more!

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  6. Gorgeous!!!!! Now your hair is one less thing to worry about.

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  7. You look fabulous. I agree the Domincan's do a great job, but being tender headed, I can't take the heat.

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  8. Carolyn, you sexy mama you!

    My hair has a permanent case of hat hair now; let's hope a trip to the salon fixes it.

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  9. Your new hair looks great. I have hard to handle hair, longer, naturally curly, can frizz easily. That's why I wear it longer, but it needs a trim. I am looking forward to your next project.

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  10. I understand, though don't share, your pain. I am an Asian girl w/ straight hair who roomed with a Nigerian student when we were both undergrads at Berkeley.

    People have no idea how much time it takes to care for black hair unless they see it.

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  11. Your hair looks great! I agree about not wanting to spend an afternoon in a hair salon. I really don't enjoy it at all, in fact I have a million other things I could do with my time instead of making small talk with someone with whom I have nothing in common.

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  12. You look beautiful! The softness of the curls and your great smile is a winning combination.

    Joyce in WI (with thin, straight, short blonde hair that I wish I could do SOMEthing else with ;-)

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  13. I refused to spend hours waiting and pay a fortune for my hair. I decided to go natural. I do my own texturizer and let my barber keep me shaped up and trimmed. Right before Thanksgiving I went to my old Hair Stylist and he was supposed to texturize my hair. He let the relaxer stay on too long and now I have to wait until the relaxed hair grows out long enough so I can cut it and start again. MAJOR FRUSTRATION and I understand your issue.

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  14. A good hair day is worth a post! You look fab!

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  15. Good for you that you found someone who knows what you want/like! My DD just finished beauty school last May! Nice to have someone in the family to take care of my color/cut etc... my hair grows about an inch a month I kid you not!!! So, of course the color shows my not so nice greyer side of life! Seems no matter what, we all have something that we struggle with! Fortunately, she doesn't charge me an arm and a leg! Mostly just for product!
    Your hair looks so soft and nice! It's always nice to be happy with ones hair! As one other said... "one less thing to worry about"!

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  16. I kinda understand as back in the '80's when curly hair was all the go, I had to endure perms! Now, thank goodness straight hair is in and that is exactly what I got. Not a curl to be had. We don't have black hairsalons here (as you would perhaps expect) and we don't tip at all!!! But it still costs a fortune. It costs me about $150 to have a trim and my greys covered. BTW, you look great!

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  17. I understand. My girlfriend here in Buffalo goes thru the same thing. She had braids for the longest time because it was easier.And her sisters and girlfriends would do them for her. Then she had to act in a play and she was a 1940's church woman. Well, the hair had to go. In the 1940's hairdos for women were not what we have now. She panicked- nothing else was easy. She is still trying to decide what to do with it- 6 months after the play ended. And we have no real choice for black salons here in Buffalo. You big city folks have choices.
    Glad it worked out for you- it does look beautiful.

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  18. i actually did the Out Loud "ooh!" that made other people in the room come over...

    Love it!

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  19. LOL! I hate getting my hair done for the same reasons. Slow pokey hair stylists! Geez! Show some business sense why don't you!

    Anyway I love your hair! It looks silky and shiny! I love it! I don't know of any Dominican salons in the Chicagoland are but if I found one I will check them out!

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  20. Wow! your hair looks fabulous! I'm glad that you shared your story and pics. I've heard a lot about Dominican salons, but I have not been able to locate one in SF Bay area, so I must live vicariously....sigh.

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  21. Your hair looks so fabulous. That stylist is definitely a keeper!

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  22. I'm LOL - no matter who we are, we women are never happy with our hair. I tried growing mine out from really short - and couldn't take it when it got about shoulder length. Since I've turned silver, it isn't quite as manageable. Not a problem short, but longer - it started to feel like steel wool!

    Your hair looks great with the new stylist. And as others have said, your smile adds so much to your photos!

    Now here is a real laugh for you. Living in the midwest, in an area that is highly Catholic, when you said Dominicans, I thought that was strange, nuns doing hair. But then I thought about the nuns who do a salon for the homeless once a week. But somehow I couldn't jibe the two things together with you. Then it occurred to me - you meant that as a ethnic (?) description, not a religious one! Out to lunch and its only day 5 of the year!

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  23. So very pretty! I like it - the Dominica did a great job. After teaching in LA, I understand about ethnic hair care. As a white person, I was a minority in the school I worked in, and learned many things about ethnic hair from my students.

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  24. I can't say that I know your pain, but I do know that your hair looks great right now!

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  25. Your hair looks lovely! Bouncin' & Behavin'

    For the very reasons you stated, i gave up on the traditional black hair salons.

    It's funny because my cousin was my hair stylist. It didn't matter tho, she was always late & service was slow.

    I alternate between a dominican shop and a shop that straightens afro-hair without chemicals. The only difference is price! My goal is cut out all of the heat and wear my hair naturally.

    Angie R.

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  26. That's boucin' and behavin' hair right there. Looks good!

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  27. I love the new look, too. The soft ends look great on you.

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  28. You look great! Love the soft curls.

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  29. Your hair looks great--so soft, shiny and bouncy!

    I'm with Sally as far as the nuns doin' your hair--the good Catholic girl from New Orleans that I am, I thought of the Dominican Order too!

    I guess us white girls have a thing or two to learn when it comes to hair care, don't we?

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  30. Can you hear me whistling that whistle one makes when one is looking good!!! I can see the difference and to get instructions on how to do it yourself is an extra bonus.

    I hate breaking in new hair stylists. This was your lucky day!

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  31. I'm number 3 - good catholic girl Dominican = Nuns LOL !

    She did a wonderful job, it looks great on you.

    I can't feel your pain with black hair but generally hair care has my full sympathy. I've got short, fine, thin hair that no-one can do anything with (when it is long and all one length my thumb is thicker than my ponytail). Longer than 1-inch, it falls flat and sticks to my head ! For the past few years I've been wearing a cut short enough to almost be called a crew cut. Weelll, actually I think it IS a crew cut :-)

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  32. You're looking great! Stick with the new stylist!

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  33. Your new stylist really did a beautiful job!! I hope you can go back to her again!

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  34. I love the new hair. It looks great. Wonderful way to start the new year. g

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  35. I can tell the difference and although I think you look great in both, the second is fantastic! I wish my hair would do that. We don't have dominican hairderesses here in Australia but if we did I'd give them a go!
    Rubydarling

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  36. FABULOUS! She is indeed a keeper, especially since she gave you instructions on how to maintain it too! Happy New Year, Carolyn, and all the best to you, together with a big hug!

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  37. I do feel your pain, I stopped giving my money away for bad service years ago, I ran across a book and I have been doing my own hair ever since and it's never been healtier but I could use a different style but there are no Dominican's in Ohio. Here's the website http://www.ubhpublications.com
    Your hair looks great, now how are you going to break it to your regular stylist lol.

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  38. Carolyn, you look absolutely gorgeous. Between the beautiful smile and that pretty hairstyle, you're a knockout! I do understand though about salons. I got tired of trying to get my hair to look the same from haircut to haircut, even with the same stylist. I just ended up going home and "fixing it" myself. Now I cut and color it myself. I did go to hairdressing school about 100 years ago, and remember some of the basics, but I basically use clear tape as a guide to cut the back, and just do some layering on the top and sides, and it usually looks better than spending hours in the salon!

    I'm so glad you found someone who does your hair and makes you smile about it!

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  39. Don't ever let them know you speak Spanish!!! I'm Dominican and go to a Dominican salon regularly. I used to go to this place in New Brunswick for years but got tired of dealing with the same complaints that you have about black salons because they treat you like you are no longer a customer and are a non-paying buddy and want to chat all day. Then want a HUGE tip! I got tired of getting asked to wait longer than the others and being coaxed to try new and expensive treatments/products so when I moved to Bayonne I pretended that I don't speak Spanish so I could just get treated like a regular customer. TEE HEE!

    About twice a year I treat myself to a traditional spa type place with mimosas and cappuccinos but only for a haircut. But for the rest of the year I have to endure the "turn out as many heads as possible" mentality of dominican salons.

    FYI, fierce hairdressing ability is not hereditary. hahhaha!

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  40. I can so feel your pain. My fav stylist of all time moved out of state about 4 years ago and I am STILL SEARCHING for someone that understands my head and my hair. I don't care if I am 53, I dont want to look like June Allyson or Carol Brady and yet they all try and pigeon hole you into the 'do. It's been a long and frustrating journey!

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  41. Beautiful. She's definitely a keeper. I personally love curls. And yours look soft and frame your face.

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  42. I glad you found the right stylist.I hapily found a new stylist,myself and I feel your joy.
    You look great.

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  43. No, I don't know your pain, for I know my hair is very easy to work with. Wash, blow and go. But I do know that all blacks I know look wonderful with a tiny amt. of makeup and can look like a model with special shadows, blush, and lipsticks. But we all cope, and cope you did with your new stylist. You look beautiful, sexy and happy with your hair in a slightly springy look. This is a gorgeous look for you. Congratulations on the good find.

    Karendee

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  44. You look younger and more carefree. I, too, was taken aback by nuns doing hair.

    Kathleen

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  45. LOL, I can sew, I can fix a broken radio or TV, I can do all the stuff at home that normally would require a man around... But I can't do my own hair! It's too wild for me and I'm just not good at it!!

    Your hair looks terrific, btw!

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  46. Fabulous! Love the soft curls. So, is this your new fav hair salon?

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  47. I don't like going to salons myself. Your right, it takes much too much time to get your hair done. Before I started getting my hair braided I had this one hairdresser. Liz has been doing my hair for over 20 years or more. She is the only person that I would allow to put scissors to my head. Cutting hair is an art in my book. I think this is the year I will go back to my hair. I just hope I can keep the lenght as it has grown so much. Your hair looks so nice. I think this stylist is a keeper. You have so much more body in your hair.

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  48. Nice! I went to Rutgers and had bad hair the whole time. If only I knew what you did.

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  49. Love the new 'do. She's definitely a keeper!

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  50. Love your hair and your clothes. When I lived in NY I used to go to the Domincans I know what you mean with the black salons. I moved to Georgia and you think the black salons up North are bad Try Georgia you could waste a whole day waiting to get your hair done and you have an appointment. I did the big chop and now I am natural and happy and don't worry about sitting in the salon all day. But your hair looks great.

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  51. So many of us are familiar with the interminable wait at "black" salons. That's why as a hairstylist, I offer haircare without the wait. This works for me and my customers and everyone is happy.

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  52. Salon adulterer!! LOL Don't you just hate that feeling of cheating...what to do when she comes back Aye Aye Aye.

    Seeing as how I am cheap, I swapped my old Dominican stylist for an even more cost effective one, my Mom, LOL.

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