0 Am I Worried About Heat Damage?

August 2012 BlowOut

I've recently gotten my natural hair blown out and straightened at a Dominican salon. I've gotten quite a few questions about heat damage and the amount of heat used and the effect it may have on my natural hair.

I just want clarify, I did not get a Dominican blowout. A Dominican blowout is where they use scorching hot blow dryers and blow your hair out. They don't have to use a flat iron after the process, the blow dryer gets it straight enough. Here is a video of a Dominican Blowout: YoutubeVideo

I have nothing against women who get them, to each his own but, a Dominican blowout is too much heat for me. They say those blowdryers get really hot! I saw one video and the girl was wincing every time the lady blowdried a section of her hair. I could only imagine what all that heat does to the scalp, much less the hair. No thanks on that.

I simply got a my hair blown out, very thoroughly but, the heat was the same as with my own blow dryer. When she finished blowdrying, she had to flat iron my hair to get it smooth.

Now about heat damage, no I'm not worried about it. She used heat protectant on each section as well. I may still get heat damage but, it's a risk you take whenever you get your hair straightened. I've had my hair blown out like this before and it was fine, I've also done my own hair like this before and experienced no heat damage whatsoever.

If I do end up with heat damage, I'll just grow it out and then cut it off. No worries.

Now with that said; if you have not reached your hair length and health goals I would not advise you to get this done. I've been taking care of my hair for over 3 years and I'd be okay if I had to start over; I know what to do to grow it back to this length.

Have any of you experienced heat damage? If so, what did you do?


For Hair, Body & Skin Care Shop: Lia Naturals

0 My Domincan Salon Visit And A Length Check

I recently made a trip to a local Dominican hair salon for a blow out & flat iron on my natural hair. My experience at this hair salon (Diva Latinas in Charleston, SC) reminded me of why I used to like going to salons AND why I prefer to do my natural hair myself. Here is a quick recap of my natural hair salon experience.

Negatives:

• Very rough while detangling. It was obvious that they did not like doing my kinky hair.
• Rude. Spoke in Spanish to each other while every client in the salon only spoke English. 
• Old dirty products. I'm glad I brought my own! 
• Loud Spanish music. For the cost, I thought the loud music was very unprofessional.  
• Knew nothing about hair health. Gave no tips on how to maintain healthy kinky/curly hair and even told me to keep coming back so she could loosen my curls. 
• They charge more depending on the length and texture of your hair. I had to pay double price. 
• You don't know the price until they see and feel your hair. 

Positives:

• Quick. I was in and out in about an hour. 
• No upselling. They didn't offer me any extra services. They didn't try to get extra money out of me.
• They allowed me to bring my own products for them to use.
• They gave me a trim and trimmed off only what was needed. (like a 1/4 inch all around)
• My hair came out beautiful! My hair has NEVER been this straight. 

Would I go back? To this particular salon, no I will not. Though I went at the advisement of a friend, I don't think her experiences are much different than mine. 

Here are the results:

Here is a comparison of my hair from November 2011- 8 months ago:

As for my hair length; I don't think I will concentrate on growing it any longer. I am fairly tall at 5'8-ish and this just feels like enough hair for me. My hair is right at the tip of waist-length.

After this salon visit, I am so thankful I can do my hair myself. If I had to deal with other people doing my hair often, I would cut it all off. I have had  my hair professionally done twice while natural and neither of them seemed too pleased to deal with kinky/curly hair which resulted in them being way too rough.

Hope you like the pictures! Please be careful going to these salons guys, people can and will take advantage of you! I had to give the girl detangling my hair the "comb my hair hard again and see what I do to you" face more than once. I'd hate for any of you to think you have to let someone roughen up your hair to get a nice style, you don't.

Overall my hair is very healthy. The hair stylist even commented on the health of my hair and how I should keep it chemical free. I will admit, my hair is a lot healthier than I thought it was. She cut off very little and my hair feels awesome!




For Hair, Body & Skin Care Shop: Lia Naturals