RoundBrushHair! > Dominican Hair Care Blog

Chaka on:
Product Name: Lady Fior Kita Ondas Aceite de Oliva (Curl Remover Olive Oil Plus)
Price: $10.99
How to use: After washing your hair with shampoo and a rinse, apply the conditioner to your hair from the roots to the ends and massage lightly for a few minutes. Rinse with plenty of water and apply a leave-in conditioner.
Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 (This product lost 1 point because of the labeling. See review for explanation)

*Tip: A little goes a long way. Start with a small amount and apply more as needed. Hair only absorbs what it needs.

Finally, the long awaited Kita Ondas review is here! We’ve had many requests to get to the bottom of how this straightens-hair-but-not-a-relaxer conditioner actually works.
Let me start with my application process: I used a clarifying shampoo to remove any/all product buildup from previous weeks (I did this to be sure the product would absorb properly). I’m a creature of habit when it comes to my hair care regimen so instead of following the directions and applying a conditioning rinse, I went directly for the Kita Ondas. Okay, who am I kidding…I just forgot.

I massaged in the very thick light-yellow cream section by section. The total amount I used was about the size of a silver dollar. WOW! It usually takes a lot more to saturate my hair. I was lovin’ it! Instantly I could feel it working. I combed it through without one single snag. I was giddy sounding as if I was shooting an Herbal Essences commercial. I let it sit for about 5 minutes with a shower cap. The directions don’t specify a processing time and I was too impatient to wait much longer. I rinsed with cool water and was in heaven. I’ve never felt my hair so soft. It was even stretched out a little (for those new here, I’m natural).

You all know I love to sing the praises of my Silicon Mix with Pearl Protein but this takes the cake…as a regular conditioner. Now you didn’t think it would be that simple coming from Chaka did you? I emphasize regular conditioner because after reading the ingredients I don’t see anything that indicates that this should be used as a treatment for deep conditioning yet, at the same time, it’s more than just a rinse conditioner. This lingers somewhere between the two. This is in no way a negative thing. It actually gives me more flexibility. On the days when my hair feels dry and I want to co-wash this is safe to use. I can also use it after shampooing if I’m not looking for a deep penetrating treatment.

Now here’s the not-so good part: because this product claims to “work like a relaxer straightening your hair but without damaging chemical elements” some of you may be looking for a product to be used as a natural alternative to a chemical hair relaxer or texturizer. It pains me to say that this probably isn’t the one. If you ask me, the description is misleading. The ingredients in this product create a physical change in hair structure (temporary) not a chemical change (permanent).

From what I know of texturizers through personal use and use on others, a relaxer or texturizer can take a tight curl pattern to a much looser curl. Depending on processing time, it can remove the curl completely. I did a second and third trial increasing the processing time by 10 minutes as well as using a rinse as directed. The outcome was the same. Now don’t get me wrong, as a conditioner this is the best I’ve ever used and coming from me that says a whole lot. I just don’t agree with the wording on the label.. This in no way lessens my opinion of the product itself. Some of you may be disappointed in the results if you‘re looking for the same outcome as a relaxer gives. Be open-minded. Think past the label. You might be surprised at how wonderful Kita Ondas works.

*Note: This product will not replace your weekly deep conditioning treatment. This can be used in addition for further moisture and smoothing.

Dear Mr. President,

Today as a nation, we request your condolences for those of us who have been forced to skimp on hair care due to the recession. This mania has caused us who don’t even know how to turn on a blow dryer to become kitchen beauticians. Stylists who once were booked solid months in advance are now sitting at their stations reading trashy novels and folding towels. We’ve gone from weekly salon visits to buying a box of drugstore hair dye and crossing our fingers for the best. On another note many of us have gone natural not by choice but by circumstance.

Back when I purchased my first vehicle gas was $1.09 per gallon. Now the national average is somewhere around $4.10 for regular. Do pardon me Sir but, that’s just bananas!

It’s a sad day when we have to choose between filling up our tanks to get to work and getting a touch up. Just the other day a dear friend broke two acrylic fingernail tips scratching her head. Yes, her roots were just that overgrown. She works an hour from her home and has been forced to forgo fill-ins and relaxers. What is she to do?

Our men are being affected as well. You may think they are growing their hair long in protest but actually, they just can’t afford the barbershop. Last week I saw a desperate man begging anyone to give him a shape up. He had to resort to doing it himself. I’m sad to inform you that he cut himself, got an infection, and had to miss work for 3 days. On top of this, he has to pay medical bills as was left with half a hairline.

Can you sympathize with the plight of your people? We seek a resolution. We are willing to stand up and fight for this cause as a united front. Please help us to restore our pride and dignity as citizens of this fair country. We’ve gone nappy, our roots are showing, and we can’t take it anymore!

One nation under a scarf,
Chaka Lopez
Copyright ©2008 Chaka Lopez

Chaka on:
Product Name: Shampoo 12 en 1(12 in 1 Shampoo)
Price: $6.99
How to use: Apply over wet hair to create lather and repeat the process as necessary. Rinse thoroughly with plenty water to obtain better results.
Personal Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (This product is a must have)

Note: Don’t feel discouraged if you don’t get a huge lather. The natural ingredients don’t produce as many suds as other shampoos.

12 in 1 shampoo is another much-loved item of mine. This is truly the most moisturizing shampoo that I’ve come across that doesn’t claim to be a conditioning shampoo. 12 in 1 works well on practically every hair type. It’s coral colored and smells delicious like fruit candy. These products are starting to make me hungry. I only wish the scent was strong enough to remain on my hair after conditioning. It has a consistency that is slightly thicker than your average shampoo. This is probably because it contains more natural oils and a lot less water than much of the competition.

After my usual pre-shampoo oil treatment, I applied an amount about the size of a quarter to my dry hair to loosen some of the pre-shampoo oil. This step is not always necessary. If your hair feels dry or brittle just shampoo as usual so that some of the excess oil remains. Next, I rinsed my hair and applied another quarter-sized amount to my hair strands. After I got somewhat of a lather going, I used the pads of my fingers to scrub my scalp in circular motion. I prefer to scrub vigorously to help stimulate my scalp and lift the dirt. I never use my fingernails as this can irritate the scalp. I try not to get so carried away with the scrubbing that my hair gets tangled. With my light scrubbing I noticed the shampoo did not create a huge amount of suds like clarifying or other Lauryl Sodium Sulphate based shampoos. That’s right there’s no alcohol in the list of ingredients. This was a first for me and now I’m hooked.

This is one of the few products that each member of my household uses including my 15-month old. We have every texture of hair imaginable. My kids love it because it doesn’t burn their eyes when I rinse their hair in the tub or shower. I was also impressed that they use mineral water in the mix. This company did not hold back on the, “good stuff.” It contains all the ingredients of a healthy salad: carrot, onion, garlic & celery just to name a few.

Most hair cleaning detergents (shampoos) contain ingredients that strip hair of its oil, which helps to produces lots of suds. They may even leave your hair squeaky clean and that’s not good. When your hair is stripped of its natural oils, it is in a vulnerable state. It welcomes breakage and for some of us head lice.You’ll end up using twice the amount of conditioner afterwards. Think about it, how many times have you had almost a full bottle of shampoo and only a half bottle of conditioner left when they were bought at the same time? We’ve all experienced this I think. It’s because we over wash until the hair is too clean. Yes, in my opinion, there is a thing as too clean. Just because the bottle says to repeat it doesn’t mean it’s needed.

In general, shampooing hair once a week is a good rule for African American hair. I knew a woman who thought washing hair every 2 weeks or longer was great. “Girrrl…you know dirt makes your hair grow,” is what she’d say. No doubt, she’s got about a teaspoonful of hair left on her head after all those years of grime. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule about how many times per week to shampoo as well as how many times to rinse…lather…and repeat. Use your best judgment.

Tip: If you have fine or Caucasian hair, you may not feel the need to condition afterwards. If this is the case, you should still use a leave in. I don’t usually recommend skipping conditioner but only with this shampoo on those hair types, I feel it’s okay.

Gloves? Check

Face mask? Check

Fan? Check

These are the items Elizabeth Adorno makes sure she has handy before applying the popular yet controversial Brazilian Keratin straightening treatment in her Dominican salon at 1811 W. 4^th Street, Wilmington, Delaware.

The Brazilian Keratin treatment has been praised for its ability to straighten curly hair for up to 4 months while being criticized in the same breath for the dangerous active ingredient formaldehyde. Eli Castillo of RoundBrushHair.com talked with Elizabeth Adorno about this very service that is offered in her Dominican Hair salon.

RoundBrushHair.com: Congratulations on being our July’s Featured Stylist! Tell us a little bit about how you go started in hair care?

Elizabeth Adorno: Thank you! I studied at Wilfred Academy Of Hair And Beauty Culture in Philadelphia. I have been doing hair for 24 years. I have experience in cuts, colors, updos and now Brazilian Keratin.

RoundBrushHair.com: Yes, the Brazilian Keratin. I’m really interested to know more. I have heard very little about this treatment, both good and bad. Tell us a little more about what it is and how it compares to a regular relaxer.

Elizabeth Adorno: Sure, well I took the training at the International Hair Show in NY earlier this year. You can’t compare a relaxer to the Brazilian Keratin because it’s is a natural deep treatment that is made from the cacao plant. Relaxers are chemical straighteners. If you’re relaxed and get the Brazilian Keratin, you will still need the relaxer first.

RoundBrushHair.com: Relaxers have more chemicals, but the Brazilian Keratin has formaldehyde right? Isn’t that dangerous?

Elizabeth Adorno: Yes, but it only has 2% formaldehyde and it’s used to keep the product fresh. When I apply the Brazilian keratin I use a mask on both my face and the client’s face. I also use a fan to keep air circulating to prevent inhalation of the formaldehyde. The problem is if you inhale the smell.

RoundBrushHair.com:Can you describe the process of the application?

Elizabeth Adorno:

Wash the hair with a special shampoo.
Dry the hair Apply the treatment (it’s like putting a permanent color in the hair)
Then use the flat iron (the iron will bring the shine to the hair) and the hair receives the treatment.

RoundBrushHair.com: How often does the treatment need to be re-applied?

Elizabeth Adorno: Every 3 or 4 months, but it really depends on how you take care of your hair.

RoundBrushHair.com: There are a lot of do’s and don’ts that go along with the treatment right? Can you tell us some of them?

Elizabeth Adorno: Yes, for the first 4 days, the person should not apply anything to their hair not even head bands or gomitas (pony tail holders). After the treatment I supply all my clients with instructions and information that they should know about the keratin. It’s important to know that after the keratin treatment people should only use shampoo with keratin and no ammonium chloride.

The Brazilian Keratin should only be applied by a Brazilian Keratin certified beautician. If you’re interested in this service, look over the step-by-step video we found and then give Elizabeth Adorno a call!

1811 W. 4th Street
Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 656-7601