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
My hair is natural and from the looks of Arelis’, we seem to have the same texture. I was wondering if she could let me know what products she uses from shampooing to moisturizing and everything in between. Thanks for any response!
Hey Erin,
You should call her at the salon, she is very nice! Make sure to tell her you found her on RoundBrushHair!
Also try checking out some of the products that she uses in her salon, the products are listed above. We have the products on our website, be sure to check them out!
Hope all goes well!!
Arelis has the hair of my dreams. Mine is a similar texture as well. So she left New York, but did she leave any of her staff behind? I need a stylist who gets that I want to keep my natural texture, but am sometimes looking for a change. Anyone who worked for her seems like they’d understand.
I NEED HELP . I HAVE BEEN NATURAL 4 ABOUT 2 YRS NEVER BEEN 2 A SALON . I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EXTRA DRYNESS AND EXCESSIVE ITCHING. PLEASE I NEED HELP
JNEEDHELP & Other experiencing prolems with Dryness and Itchy Scalp,
A line that many naturals love is the Nacidit Olive Oil line. The line has a shampoo, rinse, and a deep conditioner. This line should help along the lines of dryness.As far as itchy scalp perhaps you need to try a anti dandruff shampoo. I use Toque Magico Emergencia Anti Dandruff Shampoo. These products are availible through RoundBrushHair.
Also if you are in the DC/MD area you may want to stop by Arelis salon in Downtown Silver Spring. I hope I have answered your questions! Good Luck
I wear a weave but my hair is natural and has been for years. I have a SERIOUS problem with breakage and dryness and my hair has been thinned even before wearing weaves which is why I have to wear weaves. I just wish I could find someone who could help me get my hair in better condition, even and especially while wearing a weave. I need better products and treatments, I believe. I wonder if Arelis could assist. I use the weaveologist because she knows how to weave but she does nothing to help my hair which is what I’m NEEDING. If I could find someone who cares to help me address my hair care issues, i would frequent them to assist in that area for sure.
Do you know of any Dominican salons in Austin, Texas?
Hello , my name is Estacy, I live in hampton virginia and after thirteen years of leaving NY. I have finally found a dominican salon. My problem now is I am in the military and I am moving to El paso, texas, does anyone know of a salon there. My hair is natural and I would hate to relax it for the sake of keeping up with it please help.
Great site! Is it possible to do a post on natural hair and Dominican salons? I have what they call 4b, thick natural hair - I hear Dominican hairstylists don’t like to work with this hair type. What are other people’s experiences? Is it possible to get natural hair straight using this technique? Thanks!
My first experience of the dominican hair technique was at the Arelis salon . I loved the experience there and have continued to go back. I usually leave a salon feeling like I have to go home and fix something that the stylist could do, but not at Arelis, I left there with my hair looking perfect, shiny, and light.
I have permed hair - only to keep the frizz down - but want to grow the perm out. I am considering going to an Dominican stylist. Should I wait until the perm has grown completely out before I go? I am in the DC area and am strongly considering Arelis. My hair is a little longer than shoulder length, that means I have quite a ways to go before its all out. What should I do? Thanks for any response.
If you are not in an area where there is a Dominican salon to go to, how can one that knows nothing about doing hair learn the technique and do their own hair?
I love Arelis! I’m familiar with Dominican hair salons, so I knew what to expect, but I loved the fact that her hair is like mine: big and curly. The other stylists in the salon are good as well, but Arelis is my favorite
She also does a very good job with clipping split ends. My hair has grown at least 4 inches in least than 2 months!
Hey Jen!
I’m so glad you did a feature on Arelis. She is awesome. She’s my fave Dominican stylist. I’ve been a client since 2002. She was extremely supportive when I decided to stop textlaxing and go completely natural. She helped me transition for 15 mos. So for any ladies who are natural and/or tranistioning…Arelis is the place (ie..let ARELIS do ur hair) to go. Now that I’m natural I only frequent salons a few times a year. However, after reading this feature I think I may take a ride up to Arelis fora break from the curly fro.
Keep up the good work Jen!
Sun
HI Jen & LaTaina,
Wow Im so glad you’re both in SS MD. We got NO love.
Im in college so $ is tight. Even tho I repeatedly read\hear how low\reasonable the DomRep (Im being specific bc Ive a friend from the Carrib Isle Domica) stylists charge ( $40 vs $80-$100 in AfrAm salons) I still cant go to a salon yet. Once I graduate and get a job maybe.
My question is why do DomRep call a roller wrap wash set a doobie? Isnt doobie slang for marijuana?
Thx!
Hi Fae,
A wrap after a roller set is often mispronounced as doobie, but it’s actually toobie.
I don’t know the slang word for marijuana. lol
hey Im a brooklyn dominicana living in San Antonio, TX and I haven’t found any dominican salons and its killing me cuz my hair hasn’t been the same since i left NYC if anyone knows any salons please help
hi
i just wannted to know where is this salon located?
Do you know of any Dominican salons in Hampton,VA or Emporia, VA?
Hi everyone I am so excited about visting Arelis Salon this weekend I did a BC about 10 mos ago and I think its tme for me to do the infamous tobie!!1 However I have a consern similar to one mentioned earlier about the type of hair I belive I have 4b hair and I want to no if that will be a problem to get straight? Hopefully u guys reply back before I go if not What up to all those happy to be nappy sistas!!:P
Hi Sarh,
Don’t worry about it - she works with 4b hair all the time. They’ll have no problem getting your hair straight. Her salon is very “nappy” friendly.
ooooh, i need to go there. its not too far from where i live. but i think i’m going to wait until my twa grows out alittle(bc 7/31/09 yay me!). maybe sometime in the spring when its not too humid. And by then i’ll have a little length. =)
does arelis do flex rods? i like getting a blow out but i dont want to loose the curl texture of my hair from the heat
I decided to do a search on the Arelis salon because I got upset all over again when I just looked and how they DAMAGED my hair. I am black with the typical relaxed shoulder length hair.
I started going to Arelis in Beltsville around April, 2010. Solvia did my hair and I loved it. Really LOVED it and so decided to give them another try. I went back one week later and Solvia did a great job again and so I decided GREAT!, they are affordable, close to my home, and I will have them wash and do my hair weekly.
And so it began, I was there every week and they did my hair. During my weekly appointments with Arelis Salon, all I did was wrap my hair at nights, let it down in the morning and combed my fingers through it because my hair is shoulder length.
FIRST PROBLEM
Sometime in May/June, 2010, I went in one Saturday morning at around 10:45am. As usual, I requested Solvia and did not mind waiting a little longer for her to do my hair because it was Saturday and I got there at about 10:45a. Well! I did not leave Arelis Salon until about 7:20 p.m. I had my hair washed (very hard) and then they combed my wet hair and seemed to be rushing and almost pulling it. Moving forward, I then waited and waited and observed that Solvia (a hair stylist) chose to put rollers in other client’s hair even though she knew I was waiting. Other stylists and hair washer girls went to her and said what are you doing - she’s been waiting a long time. They even offered to roll her friend’s hair but she refused and motioned for me to wait. Eventually, another hair stylist did my hair and they gave me a $5 dollar discount for the inconvenience. I always tipped her great, but it seemed that she knew I only wanted her to do my hair and chose to make me wait while she did her friend’s hair first. After that episode, I really did not want to go back, but the $25 dollars pulled me back in.
SECOND PROBLEM
RELAXER: I have a sensitive scalp and told them so before getting a relaxer. They used Mizani’s relaxer for sensitive scalp and based me with something that tingled…almost like a mint base and used a brush to apply it that seemed to be scratching my scalp. When the relaxer lady (only one person puts in relaxers apparently) was still putting in the relaxer, I told her that I burning and she said “NO YOU [ARE ] NOT” and kept taking her time. I kept saying I am burning and she seemed to think that it was impossible for me to burn. WELL! of course I got burned and started wondering if Arelis’ employees were LICENSED. No licenses were displayed other than Arelis’.
THIRD PROBLEM and FINAL PROBLEM
Decided that I liked the $25 weekly deal and liked getting my hair done weekly and had no desire to do my own hair - WHICH I DID NOT DO since going to Arelis. ARELIS Salon was the only one that did my hair for 3 to 4 months. Towards the end of beginning of July, I observed that Solvia was not there anymore and so I was open to others stylists doing my hair. WELL! While sitting waiting for one of the hair dressers to start my hair, one of the washer ladies took the curlers out and I settled in for my turn to come. She took the rollers out in front of a mirror (this usually did not occur), so I had no choice but to look at what she was doing. I was surprised to discover a PATCH OF HAIR (ABOUT 1.5 TO 2 INCHES IN WIDTH AND LENGTH) MISSING. My hair was never damaged before having Arelis do my hair; furthermore, I definitely didn’t have any PATCHES of hair missing. I sat there trying not to explode and went to the hair stylist and complained….she said they can use a conditioner to make it grow back, but it would take a while - I then asked for the owner - ARELIS..herself came and inspected my hair and in SPANISH said maybe “I did it”…”I broke my hair”. I said not, you all are the ONLY ONES WHO HAVE DONE MY HAIR FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS, furthermore, the way my hair was you could tell that someone pulled my hair (maybe after a washing) and my hair DID not BREAK naturally, but was BROKEN by poor skill……ARELIS’ employees poor hair care skills. ARELIS then said, we can give you a conditioner at your next treatment and turned her back to me and walked away. She did not even apologize….NOT EVEN AN APOLOGY.
Well! WHAT THE HELL!!!!!, “I will never let you all touch my hair again” is what I said. This is not ok and this has never happed to me before.
Honestly, cheap (i.e. $25) does not mean quality; I am testimony to that. I really thought I was doing good by myself by having “professionals” handle all my hair care, BUT WAS AN AWEFUL LESSON FOR ME TO LEARN. Each time I see this damn patch, my heart breaks a little more, but as my husband says - “baby, it will grow back, you are beautiful”.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BEWARE - please BEWARE. The receptionist, one hair dresser, and Arelis’ daughters are the only ones who speak English and on any given day none of them may be at the Salon. So, if you are trying to communicate with them it is very difficult. Also, they are unprofessional - Arelis should have handled my situation A LOT better and at a minimum, PROFESIONALLY. Third and finally, hygiene is not the best - their brushed are always filled with other people’s hair, they really do not clean up after clients, so hair is always on the floor.
ARELIS, you and your staff are unprofessional and your business should be PERMANENTLY CLOSED.
PLEASE BEWARE PEOPLE, PLEASE BEWARE!!!!