Filed under: Hair Care, Trends, Hair Politics
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?"
Close-Cropped Celebs!
Angel Murphy, the daughter of Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown and Eddie Murphy, showed off her Mohawk on an outing with her mother and step dad, Stephen Belafonte. Did Mel B.'s bald husband inspire her to cut her daughter's hair?
After being snapped by paparazzi last week, Solange Knowles was shocked by the backlash from fans. On her Twitter page, she wrote, "i. just. wanted. to. be. free. from. the. bondage. that. black. women sometimes. put. on. themselves. with. hair."
Bald is beautiful! Just ask Sudan-born supermodel Alek Wek, who has been rockin' the baldie since she first stepped onto the runway in the '90s.
A few months ago, most people would be saying "Amber who?" Now, Kanye's girlfriend, Amber Rose, has a contract with Ford Models and a permanent spot in the gossip blogs. Her edgy and barely-there hair might have something to do with it.
Never one to shy away from a bold and edgy look, Rihanna is the latest in a long line of young celebrities to embrace, or at least partially embrace, the bald.
If singer Cassie was looking for publicity when she shaved a portion of her head, she got it! Blogs were abuzz about the pretty artist's new half-buzz cut.
After giving props to Cassie for her new look, La La Vasquez followed suit with a more subtle version.
'G.I. Jane,' the movie for which Demi Moore cut off all her hair, flopped, but the resulting style didn't! Her hair, or lack thereof, became a hot red-carpet accessory.
Sometimes going bald is not so much a fashion statement as it is a statement of insanity. Case in point: Britney Spears, whose bald head signaled a highly publicized mental breakdown.
A hair chameleon, Erykah Badu has gone from huge headwraps to long dreads to wild afros. This look was just one on her long list of creative looks.
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.com, 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?