RoundBrushHair! > Dominican Hair Care Blog

Chaka on:

Product Name: Lacio Lacio Acondicionador Intensivo (Intensive Conditioner)
Price: $11.99
How to use: After Star Shampoo, apply evenly to damp hair, in order to obtain an intensive capilar therapy, leave in for 1 or 2 minutes, then rinse with water and style as usual.
Personal Rating: 2.5 out of 5
*Note: I consider the product pricey because of the amount I needed to use to get even the slightest result for my hair texture.

Lacio Lacio Intensive Conditioner is a conditioning treatment used to revitalize damaged and over processed hair. It’s a very thin cream that has the same texture as your average cream rinse. This made me made skeptical from the beginning (most deep conditioners are very thick almost like pudding). It also made me wonder exactly how much water this product contained. If you’ve used the Lacio Lacio leave-in before than you’ll recognize this conditioner’s identical light-flowery smell. It’s slightly more potent but won’t compete with the fragrance other products you follow up with.

After shampooing, I applied the conditioner in sections. I simply use my fingers to part my hair in quadrants and then I divide each quadrant in half and apply the conditioner. This may seem like a long drawn out process but it’s worth it especially for thick curly hair like mine. Look at it this way; you’ll only have to do it once a week. I used to just slap a palm-full in to my hair and massage it in. Then I started to notice that the center of my hair, where it’s the most dense, wasn’t getting as much product as the rest. You may not need to do as much sectioning as I do, but I still recommend this application process. Much to my dismay, I found myself having to add more and more of this product for my hair to feel saturated. My hair acted like a sponge. Most times as soon as the conditioner touches my hair, I can feel it begin to soften. This was definitely not the case this time. After I felt I had enough product on my hair for it to work, I massaged it in and combed it through. I put on a shower cap and let it penetrate for 10 minutes or so.

After I took the shower cap off I could tell instantly that it didn’t do the job. It gave me the same results as a mediocre conditioning rinse would. I was not at all pleased. My hair felt kind of hard coarse, and tangled with absolutely no slip. After it was dry, I was even less enthused. My hair was dry and frizzy without the mega-shine I expected.

On the other hand, when my husband used it his results were wonderful. Then again, he has Caucasian hair. A lot of the conditioners I love weigh his hair down and make it greasy. This one was perfect for him. It did everything that the label on the bottle claimed it would. Using the Lacio Lacio leave-in along with it only enhanced the results.

On my daughters relaxed hair there were the same disappointments as I had with mine. I used the same application process on her with the exception of using heat from the hood dryer to process instead of the steam from the shower.

To sum things up, I like this product for Caucasian hair that gets oily easily. Those with dry or coarse hair should try mixing this with a heavier conditioner for better results.

No one loves a home remedy more than I do whether it’s eating chicken soup to fight the common cold or using oatmeal & honey for a face mask. We forget that all the chemical concoctions taking over store shelves today weren’t available years ago. People had to be very resourceful back in the time of my grandmother who’s now in her late seventies. Being resourceful was part of everyday life. Even in the 50’s and 60’s, when my parents were young, things were very different. I remember when baking soda toothpaste was first introduced to the market. My parents didn’t warn us of the horrible flavor because for them it was a step up from the pure baking soda they brushed their teeth with as kids. Believe it or not, it was also used as deodorant. Back then, the only staples they had in their medicine cabinets were Castor oil, Vicks Vapor rub, Watkins Liniment and Vaseline. If that didn’t cure, what ailed you then you’d be off to the doctor for a shot of Penicillin. If that didn’t do the trick, it was time to start picking out headstones. Okay, maybe it wasn’t that serious but sometimes when older folks try to make you see how good you have it compared to when they were, “comin’ up” the stories can go from a life lesson to a tall tale. The older I get the more I find myself telling those same stories to my kids as well as looking for more at home health and beauty fixes.

When I was younger, we would laugh at our grandmother telling stories about how she’d use bacon grease on her children’s’ ashy knees and elbows and they’d cry because dogs would chase them all the way to school. They swear it’s true but I refuse to believe it. Well, then again, this was coming from the same woman who told me I should always keep a bottle of Peach flavored Schnapps in my house in case of a cold or a teething baby. I don’t know about using it as a liquored up Orajel substitute but, it’ll surely knock the cold right out of your chest.

Lately I’ve been reading up on the many health and beauty secrets from around the world. I read that some Mediterranean women use an olive oil and sugar scrub to smooth and moisturize their skin. I’ve also learned that in India some use an uncooked white potato to deodorize their hands after cooking. It also softens them, which is twice as good.

Writing this blog has introduced me to people from various backgrounds and cultures. I know some of you have some really good kitchen cures and natural beauty secrets that have been passed on to you by your friends and family. Maybe you’ve invented a few on your own. Once upon a time, women in my family used brown paper bags and soup cans as rollers. Talk about making things work! I’m very interested in hearing your thoughts and ideas. It’s about time we go back to basics.

Chaka on…
Product Name: Baba de Caracol Crema de Peinar (Frizz Control Styling Cream)
Price: $9.99
How to use: Apply over dry or damp hair. Do not rinse out. Style as usual.
Personal Rating: 4 out of 5

*Note: For those with very thin or Caucasian hair, use this product in moderation. It can weigh your hair down and make it much greasier than you probably want.

Baba de caracol frizz control is a wonderful product because of its versatility. It can be used as a leave in conditioner, a styling product to control frizz, or a base for a relaxer. It’s a thick white cream and with a consistency comparable to that of a cream hairdress. It’s only slightly greasy and has a light scent that you’ll either hate or love. The smell will remind you of Dax hair grease (if you’re familiar with the product) but not as strong. I love the smell but my daughter and a few others feel differently. It’s completely dye-free which is rare these days.

On Natural Hair:

Depending on the season, my hair gets really dry so I mix this product with a lighter leave in conditioner like Lacio Lacio just to give it a little moisturizing boost. After washing and conditioning, I mix the two products and apply it in sections while my hair is still wet (adding a leave-in while your hair is wet helps to lock in moisture). This is one of the rare times I do not comb the product through. I just massage it in very gently and keep my hair as smooth as possible (focus on your length, not the scalp). As I’m sure Naturals know, the true tell-all of a leave-in is the state your hair once it’s dry. Natural hair tends to look smooth while wet but can turn into a Jackson 5 fro in a split second! Luckily, after my hair was completely dry, the definition of my curls were impressive. I had a frizz-free, defined natural style that wasn’t crispy or dripping like a Jheri Curl. Now in the past I would apply moisturizers to my hair on a daily basis, and sometimes more than once. With this product, I only need half as much and half as often. A little really goes a long way with this one. I use a dab, slightly bigger than a dime, and I’m good to go.

On Relaxed Hair:

I use this on my daughter’s hair, which is relaxed, I apply it very sparingly. I found this out the hard way. The first time I used it on her hair, I used the same amount for my hair - big mistake! It was really heavy and greasy and it took forever to dry. On the other hand, on days when she wears a ponytail, this really comes in handy because it has a great smoothing/anti-frizz effect (especially on edges). Edges tend to be a problem area for many, especially when it’s time for a touch up. Another plus is it stays put pretty much all day and she is a very active 10 year-old.

I’ve also used this to moisturize my clients’ scalps before braiding and when I cornrow for weaves. I love it because the hair doesn’t slip out of my hands from being overly oily. It absorbs fairly quick. Check it out. It may take an application or two to figure out in what way it works for you but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as I have.

*Tip: When naturally curly or wavy hair has been straightened overuse of this product can make hair revert because it is water based.

As I browse through some of the comments on the Dominican salon locator, I see a common dominator with a few disappointed customers: the price. Does a Dominican salon in your mind automatically equal a $25 or less blow-out?

With Dominican salons popin’ up everywhere outside of New York , it looks like some stereotypes are following them. When you hear ‘Dominican Salon’ what comes to mind? Here are some assumptions and misconceptions that I have come across over the years regarding Dominican Salons:

1. $20 blow-outs
2. Straight or a flip is all you get – so don’t go looking for a “style”
3. No English is spoken (refer to my past entry ‘they must be talkin’ about me’)
4. Only located in black neighborhoods
5. Fast service

What are your thoughts about these stereotypes? Have any to add to the list? Are they true?