The Dominican Shop

In 2000 a NY girlfriend strutted into the room, hair sparkling and shiny, body for days. This was someone who was always stylish and kept the latest cut, but her hair quality, like many of us, was dull and broken. Of course sistahs flocked to her like flies to honey.

"I discovered this cute litte Dominican shop," she responded. Huh? No, no way. The Beuty SHop is part of our culture, our chance to tap into all different types of Black women. I couldn't give that up to another culture!! Now, admittedly, I hated my current shop. Mean ass folks, always gossiping, eye rolling, snapping heads or, worse, complete indifference as if anyone cute was nonexistent. I didn't want my hair fried, freeze curled in an unnatural form, was sick of the constant fight to not get another trim, no I don't want hte latest funky cut, hell no, I am not cutting my hair to put in weave. I was in the standard back woman hair salon hell. Floatin from shop to shop, hairdresser to hairdresser. Scabs on scalp from leaving the perm to cook. It just went on and on. At some shops. Others were absolutely perfect, a breath of fresh air, until the proprieter refused to pay the staff on time. THen I would schedule apporintments only to find my stylist and her entire crew fires, "no forwarding number provided."

So, I stepped out on my culture. Tip toed over to the Hair Cuttery, cause it looked simple and easy. It was. FOund a sister who had the midas touch, standard wash and set under 50. Can't beat it.

By complete coincidence a coworker mentioned the same shop my girldfriend told me about years ago. On a whim I joined her. The Dominican sisters were professional, sweet, talking amongst themselves, but never cattily targeting clients. These women oozed sexuality and confidence, like we did in our younger days, before assimilation demanded that we cut off and pack away anything remotely suggestive. They washed, conditioned, roller set then blow dries my short bob. I freaked, how much heat were they going to use. But every women in that shop had healthy, bouncy hair. So I sat still and waited to see what the fuss was about. I quickly found out.

1: My hair has never felt so light in my life
2: My hair has held up four days later, without a dandruff flake, uncommon for my dry scalp
3: My hair looked good and I felt great
4: Men were clocking when I left the shop
5: Men were clockin when I left the shop and, most importantly,
6: Men were clockin when I left the shop

So, the cultural thing tied to the beauty shop has been unwound, untangled and cut in 20 different placed. I am free of it. So so sorry, my girls won't have th shop expereince of my child hood. But I took them to the Dominican shop today, and they walked out believing, and behaving like queens, their natural brown beauty affirmed by all the spectacular love and support they received. Their hair bounced all over their head while, to the entertainment of the entire shop, the swung their hair with every exagerated head turn. Without the help of chemicals. I didnt even have to request a little girl style, they hooked my babies up. Worth every penny......

Interested in the shop - send me an email, ID ing yourself, and I will give uo the name and address -