Apr 22 2008
May’s Featured Dominican Stylist - Isa Scavo of Minneapolis, MN
Wait, wait, wait. Did someone say there’s a Dominican salon in Minnesota?
That’s right ladies and gents…there’s a Dominican salon in Minneapolis, MN and Diana Flesher of RoundBrushHair.com spoke with salon owner/stylist Isa Scavo for the scoop on her salon, tips on hair care, and being located 7 minutes away from the largest mall in the country – Mall of America!
RBH! Fast Facts
- Name: Isa Scavo
- From: Santo Domingo, DR
- Years in hair care: 22 years
- Salon: Latin Essence Salon
- Salon Location: 4806 Chicago Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN, 55418
- Salon Number: (612) 824-0011
- Important Salon Information: Appointments only
Hola Isa! Thank you for being our Featured Stylist at RoundBrushHair.com this month. Tell us a little about yourself and how you ended up in Minnesota.
Thank you for featuring me! Well, I was born in the capital of the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo) and I have been a hair stylist for 22 years. I graduated when I was 16 years old and since then I started working with hair. I met my husband in the Dominican Republic and we lived there for 3 years before moving to MN. I’ve been here for 11 years! I got my license about 8 years ago and started working with a friend but then I decided to open my own salon.
Speaking of your own salon, tell us more about it.
Well… about my salon… I spent 9 months remodeling it and it’s a sufficient size for me. Right now I have two hair stations, two manicure tables and two pedicure chairs. [Oh!] And a nice and comfy waiting area! I work by myself, by appointment only. My customers are about 50 /50 between Americans and Hispanics; I’ve also had clients from Jamaica and just a couple of days ago I had a client from China!
Now THAT’S variety!! When it comes to hair, do have a specialty or prefer one type of styling over another?
I do everything. I color, cut, style, etc! But my passion is proper hair care, it’s very important!!! I cut my own hair and I keep it in great condition, people love how healthy it is. Also, I love doing colors and people love it, they come very often to get highlights!!!
It’s always good to see hair stylists care about hair and not just the style. We get a lot of calls at RBH! concerning proper hair care. Dry scalp always seems to be a constant question for us, do you have any tips for dealing with a dry scalp?
Well, it depends on why the scalp is dry; it can be the water, the shampoo, or even the conditioners. It’s important to understand that we [salons] can’t repair the scalp with one visit or wash - it requires a continuous procedure! It’s also very good to use oils; for me, I like coconut and rosemary oils. After using the oils it’s important to use shampoo and condition your hair.
It’s so funny you mention the pre-shampoo oils, our blog hostess Chaka Lopez recently did a piece on the importance of using oils on your hair before shampoo. Do you use Dominican hair products at your salon? Which ones are your favorites?
I use both Dominican and Italian products. I love conditioners and I think the “hair loss treatment” is very good! The Apretadora, Gusano de Seda, Crema Negra , and 10 en 1, are excellent too! I tend to mix them for better results. I think Leave-in products are good but it’s important to understand that for a better result we need to give them the proper use; these should only be applied to the hair not to the scalp.
That’s some great advice and I’m sure our members can appreciate your words of wisdom. Now Isa, I can’t resist to ask you this (I’m a shopaholic) … I have heard a lot about the Mall of America, how close is your salon to this mall?
Oh Si! It is very close. It’s about 7 minutes from here!
Really? You are lucky! So is it truly the size of 78 Football fields? And tell me the truth, have you walked the entire mall?
It is huge! Before it was the biggest mall in the whole world but there is a new mall in Japan which is bigger so it’s the 2nd largest mall in world now. It is very nice; it has tons of stores, restaurants, a movie theater, a beautiful kid’s zone that was re-inaugurated about two weeks ago, a covered parking lot, and much more! I think prices are not expensive, I would say they are reasonable. And to be honest I haven’t walked the entire mall, I only go to the stores I need and that’s it! It is enormous and I get tired of walking lol !!! =] !
Sooo, to the ladies in or near Minneoplis who thought getting to a Dominican salon would be impossible, today is your lucky day! Call Isa for your appointment in her cozy salon. For a map and directions, visit our Dominican Salon Locator.
And for any shopaholics up for the challenge of visiting the 78-football-field-Mall of America…make sure you book your appointment with Isa in advance for that well needed pedicure!
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Hi, I’m a black woman and my hair is a bit course. I wanted to ask about the oils and how it works. Is Jojoba oil good to use and are the oils supposed to be used before you shampoo the hair? I normally keep my hair braided up and just wear extensions, I got my hair to grow shoulder length and took a risk with getting shreds and my hair became damaged, so now I just keep it braided until it grows back and keep perms out of my hair.
Hi Tea, I’m not sure about jojoba oils, check out the oils we have on the site.
But yes, the oils are supposed to be used before shampooing, not after. What are shreds?
I am Isa client and I love how she fixes my hair. My hair is very THICK and difficult to style it, but for ISA nothing is difficult. There is more than one reason to go to Latin Essence Dominican Salon: Isa is an excellent stylist, very professional, respectful and most of all she has a VERY good attitude.
I recommend Isa each time I have an opportunity to do it.
Your salon looks open, inviting, and very professional. From watching the salon make-over shows on tv, you have acheived what they suggest. I watch Peter Perfect and Tabatha’s Salon Take-Over. The pop of color with the blue is nice and the walls give a warm, bright feeling.
I have been trying to call you to make an appontment withm you but noone answers the phone. I still rock isalnd il and i am going to fly there on northwest airline and get my hair done.
sorry I stay in rock island and would like to come to get my hair done at your salon I am going to fly on northwest airline and return the same day I would like to come up on tue I no that you are closed on mondays.
Yay!!!!!!
My sister (who lived in NY) always bragged about her weekly trips to the amazing dominican salons there! Her hair was always so healthy. Im so excited to try this salon out! Its so hard to find a salon in the twin cities thats about textured HAIR CARE and not just a “hair-do”! Thanks for letting us know about this salon….Ive been waiting for this!
I am a Dominicana, client of Isa and I must give it to her she always does an incredible job. She has cut, styled and colored my hair. I have been beyond pleased with each visit to her. Isa is a warm and welcoming individual. The salon is beautiful and comfortable which is a definite plus. I am beyond happy to have her here in the Twin Cities.
I have a few questions about Dominican blowouts. Will my hair revert back to its natural state after I’ve had one? I’ve been natural for about four years now, so that’s a major concern. Also, how much does it cost to have one done?
I had a friend who scheduled a appointment at this salon. On the day of her appointment, she was told that her hair was too nappy and needed a relaxer. I was very shocked to hear a professional who claims to do all types of hair, tell a client their hair is too nappy! Isa does not tell you the prices for her services, she stated over the phone that she gets in trouble when she does that. I was told a wash and set is $35 and up, but its possible it could cost less. I have scheduled a appointment for next week, so hopefully this will not be a bad experience.