Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Salon Dominicana

When I was born my mother tells me that she thought they brought her the wrong baby;  she couldn't believe she'd produced something so curly (had she not seen my dad?) She kept my hair short, round and afro'd for the first few years of my life (claiming she didn't know what else to do).  By kindergarten it was in a bun, and round-about the third grade, me, my blow dryer and round brush became fast friends.  

Sweet mother, bless her,  sat on the floor Indian-style every Saturday night during Hee Haw/Lawrence Welk/Battlestar Galactica/Dukes of Hazzard (it was a never-ending process) and blew my kinks straight (ish).  How I deserved her I don't know.  I never once recall her complaining about it.  Those are some of my best memories of growing up.  Sitting close to my mom with her hands in my hair, hot air spilling over me, relaxing to the sound...it was wonderful.  I remember her getting up at 3 a.m. one time just to get it blown out before I left on a band trip in the early morning hours. Man, I love that woman. Little did I know that California, where we were headed, was humid and I'd spend half my pathetic time with my head under the hand dryer at Magic Mountain frantically trying to fight the unstoppable.


Mom single-handedly tamed my curls through the 70's and well into the 80's and most certainly saved my delicate self esteem in the process.  During that time nobody went natural unless it went something like THIS and I knew that look weren't for me.  

When Nick, among others, met me my Freshman year he had no idea what my real identity was, but by then, even I had nearly forgotten.  In May 1989, I went to the hippest, hottest hair dresser in the whole state of Orem--Steven Michael.  He dunked my head and out came the most intoxicating compliments a girl's ever heard.  Right then and there, with stars in my eyes, I vowed to him I would never blow dry again--"Embrace your curls baby--they're hot!"  It didn't hurt that the "granola" era was upon us and everyone was sportin' their "natural" look with Birkenstocks served up alongside.  So, basically what I'm getting at is I've now been curly longer than I ever was straight.  Funny, since I used to believe I'd hide them forever.  

So yesterday, I walked into my first Dominican Salon (every woman of color tells me the Dominicans work the magic) and walked out super-sleek for the first time in ages.  They didn't use any chemicals just put my hair in huge rollers, sat me under a dryer for an hour then blew out the roots a bit.  The pictures above are from this morning.  Upon awakening to straight, flat hair, all I knew to do was break out the curling iron and put some weenie rolls in it like I used to do two decades ago.  Can't say it looks that cute--but yesterday--when Jill cut and styled it I LOVED IT!  Oh well, guess nobody ever does it as stylie as the beauty operator, right Sisters?

Most people aren't really sure how to react when they see me.  Chief called me Froless all day and told me to bring back the fro.  Then tonight Camille said--"You go in the shower.  Get your curls back."  Oh, I will little girl.  But for now, let me run my fingers through my hair...


16 comments:

VEGAS VIC said...

Oh my gosh, that is just too crazy. I do like it though. I don't believe it was as simple as curlers. I swear anyone can sleep in velcro rollers. You could wake up straight every morning and with body.
Isn't that funny the reactions you get. Anyway, I like it, I can't believe it is to long. Well I guess I can, it always was in a weird sort of way.

MOM

Mrs. O said...

How fun! It looks great both ways and your mom is awesome (I aspire to that kind of momhood).

Jek said...

HOttie!!! I love it. I like that it isn't stick straight, but has some volume. Stick with it for awhile. my friend pam had hair like yours until she started straightening it. Now it is a piece of cake forher to style it. try it for awhile. You look fantastic!

Me said...

I always wanted curly hair growing up. I still do. My hair won't hold a curl no matter what I do to it. I was in a salon (well, beauty college) every 3 month since I was five getting a perm. That was all my mom'd idea. I stopped that in Jr. High, but I still get a body wave every now and then when I get bored.

So I am extremely jealous that you have either option. I just have my stick straight hair to deal with all the time.

jill said...

I'm sorry I haven't sent you the pictures I took on Monday. But you look GREAT in the pictures from yesterday! I definitely think you should keep it for awhile. I'm telling you people, her hair is awesome! Sorry the compliment is definitely not the same coming from me (Steven Michael).

Suzanne said...

Gorgeous!! Absoulutely Gorgeous!! Funny how people have a hard time to change. If you feel good, then keep it for a while, I like your hair either way, but change is sassy!

Your mom is the coolest!! *Hear that Vegas Vic, YOU ROCK!!* The rocking chair I recently brought into my home, I cherish because as a child that is where I remember my mom blow drying my hair.

You look awesome and thanks for the pics! -Suzanne

Ann Marie said...

Oh I love the hair!!
I love it straight with the layers, and I love it curly.. Your just luvky that you look so good with it both ways..

My SIL cut her hair recently after it being super long, and when she showed her son, he cried.
I think things just seem weird to kids to not see every-day MOM.

PS: Love the picture of your brother. I have seen ones similar, only with make-up. What a good Dad.

Jayne Layne said...

WOW it looks great! Seriously! I of course love it both ways. To me you have always had curls, so don't give that up completely, but you should definitely do this mor often, because it really does look SMOKIN!

I am glad you posted pictures. I have always wanted to round brush your hair, but I am sure doing so would put me under.

Mitch said...

Sexy mama jama! It's just nice to see that SOME dominicans can do hair right. Whenever they cut my hair it looked like Camille could have done a better job. Pelo Bueno(good hair) wasn't the same as Pelo Malo(bad hair). That's how they distinguish nice or bristly hair. They just weren't used to my beautiful fur i guess. Good work on yours though!

Christian said...

Barely recognizable...

our corner around the globe said...

You look gorgeous!

carey said...

Jennifer, you are just beautiful - - straight or curly. (For the record, I have always been jealous of your curly locks - I absolutely LOVE them.)

Rebecca said...

Your writing is just splendid in this post ( not that it isn't always, but this one really got to me!)

And I had to comment on the b&w photos - they are amazing. So artsy.

Unknown said...

I, too, wish I could have your sexy mane. I'd make sure to blow it out like your Pop does. Maybe you'll stave off Nick's mid-life crisis now that he has a "new" woman in the house.

Jek said...

UPDATE ALREADY!!!!!!!!!

Dayna said...

Wow!!! I love it!! However, I have to admit, I have always been an admirer of your curly fro. I love it. But its neat to see a change- you look gorgeous either way.