May’s Member Of The Month – Schinek D.

Posted on May 17, 2013 by JenniferMD

Congratulations to our member of the month Schinek D of Abingdon, MD!!

May2013

As our randomly selected member Schinek received the Lady Fior Olive Oil Kita Ondas (Curl Remover) Conditioner 16oz from her Wish List and shared a little bit about her hair and weekly regimen!

RBH:  How would you describe your hair?  

Schinek: I would describe my hair as healthy, my texture is pretty soft but my hair doesn’t hold curls well.

RBH: What’s your current hair care regimen?

Schinek: currently I wash my hair weekly using the products in the basic starter package.  I wrap my hair every night with a silk scarf to seal in moisture and to protect my edges. I have my ends dusted every 8-10  weeks to keep the shape of my wrap.

RBH: What products you can’t live without?

Schinek: I can’t live with my Silicon Mix Conditioner and Lacio Lacio Leave-In Conditioner. The silicon mix condition makes my hair so soft and easy to comb through!

RBH: What are your top 3 tips (or more) if someone asked you what your hair
secrets were?

Schinek: When I’m asked about my hair the first tip I offer is to stay away from the flat iron, condition your hair and go to www.roundbrushhair.com

RBH: Do you go to a Dominican hair salon?

Schinek: No. But I have in the past.

RBH: How you were first introduced to Dominican hair products?

Schinek: I visited a Dominican salon once and heard that their products worked excellent on African American hair, I was tired of trying the products offered at  the store and wanted to try something different.  I did a search on Dominican hair products and found www.roundbrushhair.com.  I liked how informative the site was and was happy there was a starter pack I could try.

RBH: What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed in your hair since using
Dominican hair products?

Schinek: My hair has thickened and isn’t dry. I have also been able to stretch my relaxer out well beyond 8 weeks.  My edges love the Laco Lacio conditioner, it helps to keep my edges straight! My hair is shiny and smells great!

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April’s Member Of The Month – Nicole W!

Posted on April 19, 2013 by JenniferMD

April 2013Congratulations to Nicole W our April Member of the Month!! As Member of the Month Nicole won the Alter Ego Hasty Bright & Shine Lux Glossing Spray 4.05oz and shares with us her hair regimen and tips.

RBH: How would you describe your hair?

Nicole: I would describe my hair as multi-faceted and versatile. It has three natural
curl patterns ranging from 3c to 4b. Currently, I am transitioning from relaxed to
texlaxed. My current length is bra-strap-length.

RBH: What’s your current hair care regimen?

Nicole: My current hair regimen is as follows: I wash and deep condition once a week,
detangle with a wide tooth rake comb, apply leave ins and moisturizer. I usually place
my hair in a bun on a daily basis and moisturize daily. I avoid direct heat from flat irons
and only use them for special occasions (only once or twice a year).

RBH: What are some products you can’t live without?

Nicole: I really cannot live without Crece Pelo deep conditioner, Silicon Mix Bambu
deep conditioner, Elasta QP olive oil & mango butter moisturizer, Nubian Heritage
products, and Shea Moisture- Moisture Retention Shampoo.

RBH: What are your top 3 tips (or more) if someone asked you what your hair
secrets were?
Nicole:

  • Listen to your hair- do what is best for YOUR hair; if your hair is dry give it moisture, if it is weak, give it protein.
  • Use sulfate free shampoos- African American hair is naturally dry so, sulfates will increase this dryness.
  • Avoid unnecessary direct heat- especially if you are relaxed as it will significantly dry and weaken the bonds in your hair strand.
  • Wear protective styles such as updos to limit the stress on your ends.
  • Use hair care sites such asYouTube as references- they have some great information. Some YouTube hair gurus to check out are TheHappyHairShow, shorty2sweet59, and KISSseventyseven.

RBH: Do you go to a Dominican hair salon?

Nicole: No, I have never been to a Dominican hair salon. I live in California so, there are very few, if any, Dominican salons available.

RBH: How you were first introduced to Dominican hair products?

Nicole: I was first introduced to Dominican hair products by watching a YouTube video

RBH: What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed in your hair since using
Dominican hair products?

Nicole: I have noticed that my hair retains moisture and length a lot better. Also,
equally important, I have noticed that my hair is so much more manageable; I deal
with several different textures and curl patterns so manageability is key! I HIGHLY
recommend Dominican hair products they will transform your hair- something I have
NEVER experienced with mainstream American products.

Congratulations again to Nicole! I absolutely love texlaxed hair (partially relaxed/partially texturized). I actually wore my hair texlaxed for a while but found it difficult to keep the texture consistent with chemical applications. If you’re interested in being featured as next month’s member to win Dominican hair products and share your regimen, simply register as a member of our online store and add items to your wish list!

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March’s Member of the Month – Antoinette C.

Posted on March 15, 2013 by JenniferMD

 

March 2013 MOTMCongratulations Antoinette of Paso Robles, CA!

As our selected member of the month, Antoinette won the Kismera Hair Growth Shampoo 16.9oz from her Wish List and shared her regimen with us in an interview below.

Antoinette also shared a recently uploaded YouTube video of her experience with the Kismera Hair Growth Lotion 4oz that ultimately influenced her decision to buy the shampoo later (only we awarded her with it first) ;)

 

RBH: How would you describe your hair?

Antoinette: My hair is very coarse and it was unmanageable.

RBH: What’s your current hair care regimen?

Antoinette: I use a pre-poo on my hair before shampooing, I use a moisture rich shampoo and then seal my ends with oils. I let that sit on my hair and then I condition it, let it air-dry and use a leave conditioner.

RBH: What are your top 3 tips (or more) if someone asked you what your hair secrets
were?

Antoinette: Moisturize your hair, limit the amount of heat and wrap your hair at night
before you go to bed.

RBH: Do you go to a Dominican hair salon?

Antoinette: No, I currently do not because I do not have access to one.

RBH: How you were first introduced to Dominican hair products?

Antoinette: Research on the internet. Which has lead me to do my own reviews of
products that have worked for me from RoundBrushHair on YouTube MsThang2snaps.

RBH: Are there any products you can’t live without?

Antoinette: The Silicon Mix Leave-In. It has the same effect as a flat iron for me.

RBH: What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed in your hair since using Dominican
hair products?

Antoinette: My hair is manageable, I can run my fingers through my hair, it always
smells wonderful, it is shiny and healthier.

Congratulations again to Antoinette! I hope you enjoy using the shampoo along with the lotion drops and find success in using both.

Check out Antoinette’s YouTube video on the lotion. She messed up on our name, but it’s all good….ya’ll know what she’s trying to say. :)

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Taking Natural Hair Straight

Posted on March 10, 2013 by JenniferMD

Lucy is one of RoundBrushHair’s recommended Dominican stylists in Houston, TX. Check out how she takes this client’s beautiful natural hair to straight without any damage.

 

Posted in Dominican Salons, Recommended Dominican Hair Salons/Stylists, YouTube Videos We Like | 2 Comments

KUZ Hair Products: Same Name, New Look

Posted on March 3, 2013 by JenniferMD

 

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I’ll spare you the messy details of the initial confusion surrounding the Italian KUZ and Kismera Hair Products. I’m sparing the details in part, because I’m not entirely sure I fully understand the breakup and parting of ways between family members in the KUZ/Kismera war. But to bring you up to speed, KUZ Hair Products have gone to great lengths to distinguish their brand far away from the Kismera Hair Products that looked eerily similar to old KUZ presentation.

KUZ representatives are extremely happy with the new look of KUZ and are adamant about their products being different from the Kismera brand. I’ll save my personal opinion on the subject matter and just say….I LOVE the new look and we’ll be carrying both brands. :) It’ll be interesting to see which Dominican salons will go back to KUZ or are happy with Kismera .

We did a poll in our last blog entry about this topic and most of you said you didn’t care which brand you purchased, as long as the products were the same. Ummm, I feel a science project coming on!! I’ll be back with my findings. ;)

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February’s Member of the Month – Natasha E.

Posted on February 15, 2013 by admin

February 2013 MOTM

Congratulations Natasha E – a long time member of RoundBrushHair who won the Toque Magico Emergencia w/Coconut Combo 16oz as February’s Member of the Month!

Natasha lives in Jacksonville, FL but first learned about Dominican hair care and products from her Dominican salon in Chicago IL. Natasha shared with us her weekly regimen and a little bit about how she was first introduced to Dominican hair salons and hair products:

 

RBH: How would you describe your hair?

Natasha: I am 100% natural, thin hair and I have some heat damage from weekly straightening.

RBH: What’s your current hair care regimen?

Natasha: My regimen is definitely far from perfect but has been working for me. I alternate straightening my hair one week and wearing it in a bun the next week. I love my hair straight but I am also trying to minimize heat damage. On the week that I wear my hair straight, I wash once, use a protein treatment for strength and deep condition. On the week that I wear a bun, I co-wash a couple of times during the week then wash and deep condition on the weekend. I also use a leave in (my beloved Brillantina) and seal with coconut oil all week. The Brillantina is fabulous for buns.

RBH: What products you can’t live without?

Natasha: Apretadora (amazing for shedding), Lacio Lacio (a must have for my blowouts) and Brillantina (I mix this with coconut oil for my bi-weekly bunning).

RBH: What are your top 3 tips (or more) if someone asked you what your hair secrets
were?

Natasha:   1. I found that my thin hair thickens (or appears thicker) when I use color glosses.

2. Always use heat when deep conditioning. The heat helps the product to penetrate my strands.

3. I always switch up the way I wrap my hair & change my bun area so a particular area isn’t stressed as much & eventually thins.

4. Coconut oil is amazing at conditioning and thickening strands. I CANNOT live without it.

5. When I am straightening my hair I add my products to the length and not the scalp
or my hair will be weighed down.

RBH: Do you go to a Dominican hair salon?

Natasha: Not currently but I went all of the time when I lived in Chicago. I have been to a couple here in Jacksonville but I haven’t found a “home” as of yet.

RBH: How you were first introduced to Dominican hair products?

Natasha: I’m originally from Chicago and grew up in a very diverse area. I saw their client’s hair and went in and had a consultation. My hair loved the results. My former hairdresser gave me a list of everything before I moved to Jacksonville.

RBH: What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed in your hair since using Dominican
hair products?

Natasha: My issues with breakage and shedding have almost completely stopped. The quality of my hair just seems better. I can run my fingers through and not have a lot of hair fall out. Straightening is easier as well because my hair is actually retaining moisture. I don’t think I would have been able to remain natural without my Dominican products.

Every month, we select 1 lucky member to win products from their store wish list and highlight their hair regimen. You could be February’s member!

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January’s Member of the Month – Brandi C!

Posted on January 14, 2013 by admin

January 2013 MOTMCongratulations Brandi C of Duluth Georgia!!

Brandi is the 1st RBH Member of the Month for 2013! As Member of the Month, Brandi received two items from her Wish List in our online store: Toque Magico Emergencia Conditioner 16oz and the Rosemary Oil 4oz. Brandi also shared with us a little about her hair and what keeps it looking the way it does:

 

RBH: How would you describe your hair?

Brandi: It’s a medium coarse grade. The length is past my shoulders and just a little above the bust line.

RBH: What’s your current hair care regimen?

Brandi: I alternate products from week to week. I usually use the Alter Ego Nequal Spa Intensive Energizing Hair Lotion 4.22fl oz, Salerm Wheat Germ Hair Mask Conditioning Treatment 6.74oz and the Silicon Mix Conditioner 16oz. I use a regular shampoo and deep condition every week or every 2 weeks.

RBH: Are there any products you can’t live without?

Brandi: I absolutely cannot live without the Alter Ego Nequal Spa Intensive Energizing Hair Lotion 4.22fl oz and Alter Ego Garlic Treatment 16.9oz which gave me the protein I needed it and it stopped some breakage I had.

RBH: What are your top 3 tips (or more) if someone asked you what your hair secrets
were?

Brandi: Deep condition every week, try not to use a lot of heat and wrap your hair every night.

RBH: Do you go to a Dominican hair salon?

Brandi: I do. Every 2 weeks. I’ve being going for over 14 years. For the past 6 years I’ve been going to the same salon..

RBH: How you were first introduced to Dominican hair products?

Brandi: A friend of mine had a lot of breakage and when I started noticing an improvement in her hair, I asked what she was using. She told me she was using Dominican hair products, so I decided to give them a try as well.

RBH: What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed in your hair since using Dominican
hair products?

Brandi: My hair is definitely healthier and it grows faster and thicker.

Every month, we select 1 lucky member to win products from their store wish list and highlight their hair regimen. You could be February’s member!

Posted in Member of the month | 3 Comments

Setting ‘SMART’ Hair Goals in 2013

Posted on January 7, 2013 by JenniferMD

setting measurable hair goalsHave you ever set a goal and then weeks later forgot what the goal was or realized it was completely out of reach? Over the years, I’ve had some pretty lofty hair goals and many of them weren’t “smart”. The moment I started setting “SMART” goals as it pertained to my hair I saw results. The two most general hair goals I hear time after time are:

1. I want my hair to grow

2. I want to the best products for my hair

Neither of these goals will get you very far. Like the chalk board picture, goal setting should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. So instead of two general goals stated above, look at how different these are that address the same thing:

1. This year I want to grow ‘x’ inches every 3 months

2. This year I want to  try ‘x’ amount of new products to determine which one(s) my hair responds best to

Both of these goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound to keep you on track for hair growth and finding the best products for your hair.

Now, you may have completely different hair goals, but hopefully you see the difference in setting SMART goals that can be tracked or adhered to. Here are some other SMART hair goals you may want to set:

  • Finish or throw away half-used products before buying more
  • Give a new product 2 months of usage before deciding if “it works or not”
  • For transitioners: cut “x” amount of relaxed hair every month until you’re completely natural
  • For relaxed women: resist the temptation to re-touch your roots when you feel a wave, but stick to a re-touch schedule (at least every 8 weeks)
  • For naturals who straighten their hair: decide on the number of times you’ll straighten your hair this year and stick to the schedule
  • Use a deep conditioner EVERY week – this includes the extra fee for the conditioner at the Dominican hair salon

Those are just a few…..take a stab at setting your own and best of luck with your hair goals in 2013!

Posted in General | 1 Comment

Alter Ego’s Glossy Hair Spray’s New Look!

Posted on January 3, 2013 by admin

AlterEgoGlossOld-New

FYI: Alter Ego’s Hasty Bright & Shine Lux Glossing Spray has a new look for the new year. The product hasn’t changed – same ingredients and same scent (thank God! Looove the smell). However, the top color switched from the light purple to a dark blueish-green color and it’s a tad skinnier in size.

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Best Dominican Hair Products of 2012!

Posted on December 29, 2012 by JenniferMD

 

For the 3rd year in the row, we’ve tallied up the results from the previous year to give you a list of the best Dominican hair products! For 2012, there were a lot of familiar brands taking the number 1 spot, like Avanti Silicon Mix and Boe’s Crece Pelo but there were a few new brands that made the cut as well. For a full view of all the products, you can view them  in our store under Best Products – 2012 until the end of January 2013.

Below is a breakdown of all of the winners with a little tid-bit on each 1st place winner.

Dominican Pre-Shampoo Oils

1st Place: Espiritu de Canela

This little fella may be small but carries a big punch! You don’t need a lot of it as a little goes a long way for small sections of your hair that may be suffering from baldness or hair loss. Use a q-tip for application if you’re using it directly on your scalp. Some Dominican stylists will put a small dab into the conditioner so it’s not so powerful.

2nd Place: Aceite Bomba

3rd Place: Apretol Canela y Romero (Cinnamon & Rosemary) Oil 

 Domincian Hair Shampoos

1st Place: Apretol Canela y Romero (Cinnamon & Rosemary) Shampoo

I have to admit, I was really surprised to see this shampoo take the crown away from last year’s winner Silicon Mix shampoo (it’s the runner up this year). I’m really not a big fan of this Apretol shampoo but I think it’s because it’s not your regular moisturizing shampoo. This is a clarifying shampoo so it strips the hair of all types of product build-up. [I suggest using a rinse conditioner immediately after shampooing because I just don't like the feeling of clarified hair.]

2nd Place: Silicon Mix Shampoo

3rd Place: Crece Pelo Shampoo

Dominican Hair Conditioners/Treatments

1st Place: Silicon Mix Conditioner (original version)

I’m a HUGE fan of Silicon Mix conditioner and was really happy to see this as number for the 3rd year in a row! The Silicon Mix conditioner is one of those staple products everyone should keep in their closet. It’s the perfect conditioner for moisture, shine and (my personal favorite) great smelling hair! The scent from this conditioner makes my heart melt.

2nd Place: Emergencia Conditioner w/Avocado

3rd Place: Kismera Hair Growth Treatment Conditioner

Dominican Rinse Conditioners

1st Place: Crece Pelo Rinse Conditioner

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the Rinse Conditioners, so this category never excites me. I love all the rinse conditioners just the same, but that’s not to take anything away from Crece Pelo. Rinse conditioners add that extra slip to your hair before you’re ready to roller set your hair. In the summer time, instead of shampooing, I’ll wash my hair with a rinse conditioner as do a lot of women.

 2nd Place: Lady Fior Olive Oil Plus Rinse Conditioner

3rd Place: Halka Baba de Caracol Rinse Conditioner

Dominican Leave-In Conditioners

1st Place: Lacio Lacio Leave-In

Will this leave-in ever slip from number 1? This leave-in is very light weight and leaves your hair extremely soft if you’re air drying and shiny if you’re roller-setting or blow drying. I think ‘team relaxed’ has better results with this leave-in than ‘team natural’ ladies because it’s not very thick in consistency.

2nd Place: Silicon Mix Leave-In

3rd Place: Brillantina Leave-In

Dominican Cellophanes

1st Place: Banos de Color Negro/Black Cellophane

Another one of my favs! Cellophanes are color rinses that color your hair without any chemicals and coat the strands of your hair. They’re vegetable based and do a great job of covering stubborn grey hair. The Banos de Color Black does a great job of adding a wonderful shine to your hair as well.

2nd Place: Original Color’s Black Cellophane

3rd Place: Original Color’s Clear Cellophane

Dominican Serums/Polishers/Glosses

1st Place: Silicon Mix Shine Spray

The Silicon Mix Shine Spray is really nice because it adds a nice finishing gloss to your hair with that awesome scent as the conditioner. It doesn’t add as much shine as the polisher though – so like to tell people if you wear your hair curly then get the spray, but if you wrap your hair at night and wear your hair straight or in protective styles then get the serum version of polish.

2nd Place: Alter Ego Hasta Bright & Shine Lux Glossing Spray

3rd Place: MX Relax Magic Crystals

Dominican Ampules/Drops

1st Place: Alter Ego Revitalizing Lotion Drops

Ok, so not officially “Dominican” (they’re Italian) but most Dominican salons use them and we love them so they get a pass. These drops are like vitamins for the scalp and help with hair growth and keeping your scalp from getting dry. Definitely a must have for your regimen!

2nd Place: Kismera Hair Growth Treatment Lotion

3rd Place: MX Puring Vigor Plus Lotion Drops

Dominican Hair Product Combos/Sets

1st Place: Basic Starter Package

Woo-Hoo our personalized Basic Starter Package came in as number 1!! This package was designed for the person looking for a complete Dominican hair regimen. It comes with all the basic products you need for a wash day minus some shine drops and ampules which you can get in the Standard and/or Ultimate Starter Package. The Basic package comes with a pre-shampoo oil, shampoo, conditioner, rinse conditioner and leave-in. You’ll love it!

2nd Place: Baba de Caracol Anti-Hair Loss Combo

3rd Place: Crece Pelo Combo

So, what do you think? Surprised by any of the winners?

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