Jan 04 2008
January’s Featured Dominican Stylist - Arelis Natera
Both La Taina and I meet up at 10am one Thursday morning to interview our January 2008 featured Dominican stylist – Arelis of Silver Spring, MD. We were both excited to meet Arelis because between the two of us we’ve been to just about every Dominican hair salon in the DC/MD/VA area but neither of us had been to this particular Dominican Salon. I was familiar with Arelis’ name because there was a piece written on her salon in the Gazette newspaper a few years ago and [of course] I read reviews from women who visit her salon using our Dominican Salon Locator.
Having only talked to Arelis briefly over the phone, I had no idea of who I would meet in person. Our phone conversation was pleasant as we laughed about my lack of confidence in speaking Spanish and by the end of the phone call she had nick-named me J-Love (don’t ask). So when Arelis came out from the back of the salon I couldn’t believe my eyes - she had this beautiful smile and the BIGGEST hair I had ever seen on a Dominican stylist! Have you ever seen natural hair on a Dominican stylist? Arelis refers to her hair as a “curly afro” and she sports it proudly!
Check out this beautiful woman and her ‘curly afro’:
Is she too cool for words or what?! Her personality measured up precisely with our wonderful conversation we had only days earlier. La Taina and I almost forgot what we were there for – it was like a couple of girlfriends catching up on old times. Look at the pictures Arelis shared with us:
Top two photos: Rosin, her salon manager.
Bottom right picture: Arelis with her two sons.
Center and bottom right: Arelis.
Now that we were all acquainted with one another, Arelis shared how she entered the hair business roughly 25-years ago in Santo Domingo working as a hair and make-up artist for popular TV personalities. After years working with various Dominican television stations, she decided to move to New York where she opened up her first salon in Manhattan. For 14 years business was great and she loved working in the city, but Arelis saw the need for Dominican stylist beyond the borders of the Big Apple which prompted her move to Maryland.
The Dominican flag is proudly displayed in front of Arelis’ salon
Today you can find a dozen or more Dominican salons in Maryland, but Arelis was among the first on the scene. And without buzz of the magical powers of a ‘Dominican blowout’ like in New York, Arelis didn’t worry much about finding clients. “Women in the Dominican Republic have the same wide range of textures as African Americans” explained Arelis “and being a good stylist is about experience and ones overall knowledge of how to work with the hair”. Nearly all of Arelis’ clients are African American, but she isn’t concerned about ethnicity – it’s entirely about healthy hair and styles that fit the individual. And no one knows that better than Rosin, the salon’s manager “the art of the hands to create a style, for the angle of your face, not everyone has the vision to do it.” Rosin goes on to explain how Arelis is always on top of new trends, techniques and products with frequent trips to New York for hair shows and conventions.
Arelis at work with her blow dryer and round brush.
Unlike other Dominican salons that might turn their nose up to natural hair, Arelis specializes in natural hair and even created a special conditioner with essential natural ingredients that nourish the hair. But don’t think you’ll get out of her the ingredients to her special conditioner – her lips are sealed tight! In addition to creating her own special conditioner, Arelis traveled to the Dominican Republic and met with chemist to create her a line of semi-permanent cellophane colors called “Time Line”.
Arelis showing the different colors in her “Time Line” cellophane collection.
While “Time Line” is exclusive to Arelis Dominican Salon we did spot a few products in her salon that we have available:
If you’re in the DC/MD/VA area, Arelis salon is definitely one to check out! It’s directly across from City Place Mall on Colesville Rd. in Silver Spring, MD. Tell her J-Love sent you. :–)
Arelis Hair Salon
8646 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-495-3771