STX expats attitude toward Latinos.

I thought there was a large Vieques/Puerto Rican population on St Croix?

Same here-- not only did she talk about others in her profession, she also bad mouthed many of her clients.
3 times was my limit!

I went once, but I didn't have the owner do my hair. The lady that did it told me all about her sad, miserable, life, including some extremely personal details. She didn't do well on my hair, and the owner had to jump in and fix it. I never went back.

Brazilian Blow out?!?!?!?! sounds like a dirty movie

I thought the same thing, so I looked it up. I turned out to be straightened hair. Never saw anyone looking like this in USVI or BVI. I guess I was hanging around wrong places.

attendant ( who seems Spanish) if they do Spanish hair.

It occurred to me that when you asked the hairdresser if they "do Spanish hair", maybe they simply didn't understand what you were asking. Perhaps they thought you were referring to some latest fashion style in Washington DC. It's like coming to McDonalds, and asking, "Do you feed homo sapiens around here". Of course, their first instinct would be to say "No", although it would sound like they hate all mankind.

Brazilian Blow out?!?!?!?! sounds like a dirty movie

I thought the same thing, so I looked it up. I turned out to be straightened hair. Never saw anyone looking like this in USVI or BVI. I guess I was hanging around wrong places.

Sorry Wanderer I can't see your picture, but just in case anyone else is wondering - a Brazilian Blowout is a hair treatment that straightens hair for a number of months... it makes hair smooth and silky, and also gives it body- just like having a professional blow-dry your hair daily. It is controversial as it uses strong chemicals, and is said to be highly toxic on application.

A little light reading

Try Spencer. He's amazing.

Can you provide any info other than a first name lol?

Wow lots of bad experience with that GB place. Good to know!

I used to go to Sharron at studio hair in STT. She was amazing!! So knowledgable but she's closed up shop. 🙁 I was gonna fly over for her work.

So this has nothing to do with salons on island but I do have an at-home product reco for thick, curly, textural hair: try Mixed Chicks products. You can find them on Amazon and imsurevtheres a seller who ships to USVI.
My daughter has extremely curly, thick hair with a lot of throwback texture to my ancestors 😉 I had no idea what to do w/it when she was born because I'm blonde with slightly wavy hair of average thickness; I'd never dealt with any texture or moisture issues.
After about two years of struggle trying to learn how to work with her hair, I came across the Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner and it's been AMAZING. Super soft, moisturizing, and gives gorgeous curl definition. It's too much for my hair but it's perfection for her now-waist-length ringlets.

Hello,

Generally speaking I do not think there is a strong attitude against latinos/hispanics in the USVI.

East Ender made a very good point. St. Croix does have a large Puerto Rican population. And there is a long history between St. Croix and Vieques, of people moving between these two islands for work (in the past). VI-Puerto Rico friendship day is celebrated more in St. Croix than in St. Thomas because there are more Puerto Ricans in St. Croix.

There are additional groups here, for example on St. Thomas there is a large population of people from Santo Domingo, I am not sure whether St. Croix has as large a group. (In St. Thomas there are beauty salons operated by ladies from Santo Domingo and they seem to cater to latinas/latinos.) There may be some bad feelings toward the people from Santo Domingo because of personal opinions about immigration, borders, ilegal immigration etc. And perhaps because of the reoccuring attitude toward the newest immigrants whether it is in the USVI, or the USA or elsewhere.

There are also a few people from Mexico and spanish speaking South American countries.

Hopefully you find a good hair dresser from those recommended, and find the attitude you received to be an exception due to poor customer service skills, rather than a rule toward who you are.

Thank you for using VIMovingCenter.com to help with settling in on St. Croix.

As a stylist with 22 years in the industry as well as having been professionally trained in 4 different brands of the keratin smoothing treatments (including Brazilian Blowout) I feel it necessary to chime in. Yes the treatment contains formaldehyde or some sort of aldehyde which is why it needs to be done in a well ventilated place. However, many of the companies have now come out with formaldehyde free versions of their product. You just have to ask the salon about what product they use & if it contains formaldehyde.

It is NOT damaging to the hair like traditional relaxers. Traditional relaxers & perms break the bonds in the hair & changes the structure to make the hair straight or curly. Keratin smoothing treatments do not affect the bonds in the hair. It smooths & fills in the cuticle layer of the hair. Over time it wears off the hair & the hair reverts back to its original condition. One of the benefits of this is you do not have the line of demarcation like you do with a traditional relaxer so if you decide not to continue with the treatments you are not walking around with half curly/half straight hair. The only way I have seen damage from the treatment is if the stylist flat irons already fragile pieces too much.

AandA, since you dive all of the time, I would not recommend the treatment for your hair. Salt breaks down the treatment faster which is why if you do the treatment you are told to use sulfate free shampoo. Excessive sweating can breakdown the treatment at the root area quicker too. If you are still considering the treatment, I would try a keratin express treatment first. They last roughly 6 weeks (probably less for you being in the water all the time) and are not as expensive (usually around $100) but it's a great way to try it out without shelling out a ton of money.

Trixie, you're probably the first I have heard say it gives the hair body. The biggest complaint I hear about the treatment is that their hair is too flat the first week or so. But it definitely gives the smoothness that a professional blowout does.

M&M, I am so sorry to hear you had such a poor reaction from a stylist. Hopefully you will soon find a salon & stylist that will treat you well and makes you feel welcomed & appreciated like all clients should be treated.

Thank for the info, crazyflamingo.
Hope all is well with you.

AandA, since you dive all of the time, I would not recommend the treatment for your hair. Salt breaks down the treatment faster which is why if you do the treatment you are told to use sulfate free shampoo. Excessive sweating can breakdown the treatment at the root area quicker too. If you are still considering the treatment, I would try a keratin express treatment first. They last roughly 6 weeks (probably less for you being in the water all the time) and are not as expensive (usually around $100) but it's a great way to try it out without shelling out a ton of money.
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THANKS!

That's how I found him. He's across the street from Salud in the pink building.

Try Spencer. He's amazing.

Thank you and thank you many times over. Went to Spencer today and he did magic. He is a color specialist and makes his own products (except coloring ones). Has even taken chemistry courses to learn more about perfecting his shampoos, conditioners etc. He takes great pride in his work and has over 30 yrs experience. Had him color and blow dry my hair and could not be happier with the outcome. His number is 340 718 1000, and he occupies a pink building next to the Honda dealership. Already made appointment for next month! Oh, and his fees are more than reasonable.