Dominican Blowout On Natural Hair

Although both methods will give you silky straight hair, the previously mentioned press ‘n curl (and the standard blowout) requires more direct heat and typically results in slightly flatter, less voluminous hair. A Dominican blowout starts with a shampoo and conditioning session. After conditioning, the hair is set on medium to large magnetic rollers and dried under a hooded dryer. After the hair is dry, the stylist will remove the rollers and proceed to blow out the roots with a blow dryer and help of a round brush. The end result is bouncy hair that has body and shine.

Even though many Dominican salons have a reputation for using a lot of heat, a Dominican blowout actually uses less direct heat than a standard blow out which is usually followed up with a flat iron session. The use of indirect heat during a roller set serves two purposes: it gives the hair body and dries the hair without direct heat. These are the top two pros of a Dominican blowout. Another pro is that many Dominican salons provide fast service, getting you in and out a lot faster than a lot of other salons. For anyone who’s spent half a day in a salon, this is a huge perk.

The biggest problem with a Dominican blowout is that it requires direct heat, which can lead to heat damage. The amount of heat used will vary from stylist to stylist. A properly trained stylist will use a reasonable amount of heat, but if you think your stylist is using too much heat, do not hesitate to let her know. If you go to a salon to get blowouts on a regular basis, it will cost you time and money, and you may start to become dependent on your stylist for your basic hair care and styling needs. Repeated manipulation and direct heat from a blow dryer can also lead to heat damage, regardless of whether or not you use a heat protectant. Keep in mind that everyone’s hair is different: some people can get multiple blowouts with no damage, others suffer heat damage from one visit. Always consult with the stylist before and clearly express your expectations. If she is not willing to prioritize the health of your hair, find another stylist or salon.

A Dominican blowout can be done on natural or relaxed hair. The biggest concern for those with natural hair is heat damage, which can lead to breakage and curls that refuse to revert back to their natural state. However, with the proper precautions, a Dominican blowout can be a great way to temporarily straighten natural hair. It’s especially important to use a heat protectant and use lower temperature settings on natural hair. This is important for relaxed hair too, but it takes more effort to straighten tightly coiled hair so it’s a lot more tempting to use more heat to get the job done. Relaxed hair is also generally worn in a straightened state, so it’s usually harder to see heat damage. However, relaxed hair can be much more vulnerable to damage and breakage because it’s been weakened from the chemical process, so it’s important to be careful regardless of whether your hair is relaxed or natural.

With proper maintenance, a Dominican blowout can last up to one to two weeks. You’ll want to avoid getting your hair wet because this will cause your hair to revert and/or get frizzy. Wrapping your hair at night is an essential part of making the style last. One of the best ways to preserve a blowout is to wrap your hair in a circular motion around your head in one direction using a brush and securing the hair with large bobby pins, as pictured here. This method helps keep the hair stretched and secure underneath your bonnet or scarf. In the morning, just remove the bobby pins, gently unwrap and comb your hair back down.

A Dominican wash and set is similar to the blowout in the sense that it’s done by setting the hair onto large rollers after it’s been shampooed and conditioned. The hair is then dried by sitting under a hooded dryer which can take one to two hours. Once the hair is dry, the rollers are removed and the hair is wrapped around the head and secured with bobby pins. This helps stretch the hair while maintaining some of the curls from the rollers (mainly on the ends). Depending on where you go, your stylist may also blow out your roots with a blow dryer before wrapping it, but this is optional. If you have plans directly after your salon visit, you can also ask the stylist not to wrap the hair.

Going to a stylist is often the best way to get the sleekest results, however, it is possible to get the look at home. It may take practice to perfect the technique, but doing your own wash and set and/or blowout at home comes with its advantages. You have total control over what products are used and how much heat is applied to your hair. When doing a roller set, it’s important to keep the hair smooth and taut while rolling it onto the rollers. Use bobby pins or metal clips to secure. Some rollers come with snap-on covers, but it’s better to secure the hair at the roots for the smoothest look. Use a bonnet or hooded dryer to dry the hair and be sure not to remove the rollers until the hair is completely dry.

To prep for an at-home Dominican blowout, start by washing and deep conditioning your hair. Remove excess moisture from your hair with a t-shirt or a microfiber towel. You want your hair to be thoroughly dampened while setting the hair, but not necessarily dripping wet. Make sure your hair is thoroughly detangled before you begin to set it on the rollers. Apply a heat protectant and a leave-in conditioner or a moisturizing setting lotion.

Once your hair is dry, you can begin to blow dry the roots one section at a time, using a round brush. Not all brushes are made alike, so it’s really important to do some research to find which type of round brush is best suited for your hair type. Brush your hair gently. As an alternative, you can use the ponytail roller set method, which involves putting each section of hair into a ponytail before setting it onto the rollers. This method helps keep the roots stretched while the hair dries, resulting in straighter roots without the manipulation of the round brush. You can also run a flat iron on low heat over the roots (one or two passes only). These two alternative methods are not standard for a Dominican blowout, but they may be safer options, depending on your hair texture.

When it comes to styling a Dominican blowout, many ladies like to keep it simple. If you have natural hair, you will likely enjoy the low-maintenance look of just leaving your hair down, either parted down the middle or on one side, or pushed back with a headband. You can also wear it in a high or low ponytail, in a bun, or in a half up, half down style. Flexi rods and Bantu knots are a great way to get soft waves, but most ladies like to just enjoy the sleek straightness and bounciness that comes with the blowout and choose not to manipulate the hair too much. Of course, that choice is totally up to you.

To sum it all up, a Dominican blowout can be a great way to straighten naturally kinky/curly hair, whether you wear it in its natural state or relax it. While there’s always a risk of heat damage when you use heat to style your hair, being proactive and modifying when necessary can make all the difference. The roller setting method is a great way to avoid too much direct heat and it’s relatively easy to achieve at home as well. Always listen to your hair’s needs and take the proper precautions to avoid damage and breakage. When done correctly, a Dominican blowout can give you absolutely beautiful results.