Curly Hair in the Dominican Republic: Culture, Brands, Products & Salons
When people think about Dominican haircare, one of the first things that may come to mind is the Dominican blowout. Dominican salons have developed a reputation for roller sets, blow-drying techniques, and creating smooth, straight styles on textured hair.
But Dominican hair culture is much bigger than straightening.
The Dominican Republic also has a growing natural-hair community, salons dedicated to curls and coils, Dominican-made curly-hair products, and entrepreneurs who have helped challenge long-standing beauty standards surrounding natural texture.
In this guide, we’ll look beyond the Dominican blowout and explore another side of Dominican hair culture: curly and natural hair in the Dominican Republic. We’ll look at the natural-hair movement, Dominican curly-hair brands, traditional Dominican hair products worth knowing, and salons specializing in natural textures.
This is a living resource. I’ll periodically update this guide as I discover new Dominican curly-hair brands, products, retailers, and salons. Availability can change, and some smaller Dominican businesses primarily take orders through social media or WhatsApp rather than through a traditional e-commerce website.
Dominican Hair Culture Is More Than the Dominican Blowout
Hair salons have long held an important place within Dominican beauty culture.
For many Dominican women, going to the salon isn’t simply about getting a haircut. Washing, roller setting, blow-drying, treatments, and other salon services can become part of a regular beauty routine and a social experience.
Dominican salons have also become well known outside of the Dominican Republic, particularly in Dominican communities in places like New York City. The Dominican population includes a wide range of hair textures, including waves, curls, coils, and tightly textured hair.
Hair has also been part of broader conversations about race, identity, and beauty standards, including terms such as pelo bueno (“good hair”) and pelo malo (“bad hair”) to describe different hair textures. These terms and the ideas behind them aren’t unique to the Dominican Republic; similar language surrounding “good” and “bad” hair has existed in other Spanish-speaking Caribbean communities.
Within the Dominican context, however, those ideas have influenced conversations about natural texture and what kinds of hair have historically been considered desirable or socially acceptable.
The result is a hair culture that can contain seemingly contradictory things at the same time: a strong tradition of straight styling and an increasingly visible celebration of natural texture.
The Natural-Hair Movement in the Dominican Republic
The natural-hair movement created more public space in the Dominican Republic for conversations about curls, coils, Afro-textured hair, and beauty standards.
One of the most recognizable names associated with the movement is Carolina Contreras, founder of Miss Rizos. What began as natural-hair education and community building eventually expanded into a physical salon in Santo Domingo in 2014.
Dominican actress and comedian Cheddy García also became part of the movement through her “No la desrices” campaign, which encouraged women and girls to embrace their natural texture. In 2019, she expanded that work with the launch of her Rizos Cheddy haircare line.
These efforts didn’t replace the Dominican Republic’s long-standing straightening traditions. Instead, they helped create more visible options for people choosing to wear and care for their natural texture, something that can also be seen in the growing number of curly and natural-hair products available today.
Dominican Curly-Hair Brands to Know
One thing that became apparent while researching this article is that the phrase “Dominican curly-hair brand” can mean several different things.
Some brands operate in the Dominican Republic and manufacture products there. Others were founded by Dominicans living in the United States and draw heavily from Dominican ingredients, culture, or hair traditions.
Rather than treating those histories as interchangeable, I’ve separated them where appropriate.
Miss Rizos
Miss Rizos was founded by Carolina Contreras and grew from a natural-hair blog and educational platform into salons and a curly-hair product line. Contreras opened the first Miss Rizos salon in Santo Domingo in 2014 and later expanded to New York City. The NYC salon closed in 2024, while the Santo Domingo location remains open and serves as the brand’s headquarters.
Miss Rizos has also developed its own curly-hair products, including the Knot So Typical Leave-In and My Own Muse Styling Mousse. The current status of the product line is unclear, however, as the online shop is no longer active and the brand has not announced that the products have officially been discontinued.
| Salón: | C. Luperón #51, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo |
| Services: | Curly cuts, curl definition, transition guidance, protective styles, and color services. Miss Rizos |
| Product line: | Current status unclear |
| U.S. salon: | Closed in 2024 |
Afro Love
Afro Love is a Dominican natural-hair line manufactured by HK Industrial. Launched in 2017, the line was created for natural, Afro, and transitioning hair and includes shampoos, conditioners, treatments, leave-ins, and styling products. HK Industrial currently markets Afro Love for 3C–4C hair textures.
Afro Love is also distributed outside of the Dominican Republic. HK Industrial lists the United States, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and several European countries among its export markets. I personally discovered the brand in Puerto Rico at Mr. Special supermarket in Mayagüez.
| Dominican Republic: | Widely available through Dominican retailers, including Tienda Aventura, Los Castillos, and Supermix. |
| Puerto Rico: | Available at Mr. Special |
| United States: | Available online through Wear Your Curls and through third-party sellers on Amazon |
Curly Love
Curly Love is a Dominican curly-hair line from HK Industrial and the sister brand to Afro Love. While Afro Love is geared toward tighter curl and coil patterns, Curly Love is currently marketed primarily toward 2B–3B waves and curls.
The line includes cleansing, conditioning, treatment, and styling products such as a detox shampoo, co-wash, hydrating conditioner, mask, leave-in conditioner, curl-defining cream, styling gel, and oil blend.
Like Afro Love, I first discovered Curly Love while traveling in Puerto Rico, which was one of the things that made me interested in how Dominican haircare brands are distributed beyond the Dominican Republic.
| Dominican Republic: | Available through Dominican retailers including Sirena and Tienda Aventura. |
| Puerto Rico: | Available at Mr. Special. |
| United States: | Available online through Wear Your Curls and through third-party sellers on Amazon. |
| Spain: | Available through Curly Love España. |
Afrosura
Afrosura is a Dominican natural-hair brand and salon founded by Escaury. Since 2016, the company has focused on curly and Afro-textured hair, combining its own haircare products with professional salon services in Santo Domingo.
Its current haircare line includes shampoo, conditioner, a strengthening mask, leave-in conditioner, and defining gel, with formulas featuring ingredients such as pineapple, passion fruit, aloe vera, shea butter, and avocado oil.
| Where to buy: | Products can be purchased directly through the Afrosura online store, with delivery in Santo Domingo, nationwide shipping within the Dominican Republic, and salon pickup available. |
| Salon: | Afrosura Tienda & Salón Natural — Plaza Ciudadela, Av. Dr. Bernardo Correa y Cidrón 22, Santo Domingo |
| Appointments: | View salon services & book an appointment |
| International availability: | No current international distribution found. |
Rizos Cheddy
Rizos Cheddy is a Dominican curly-hair line founded by actress and comedian Cheddy García. Launched in 2019, the original collection included shampoo, conditioner, deep treatment, leave-in conditioner, and defining gel made with ingredients including flaxseed and pistachio. The line was produced in the Dominican Republic.
Today, Rizos Cheddy appears to operate primarily through social media rather than a traditional e-commerce website, with product information and ordering available through its Instagram and WhatsApp.
| Where to buy: | Order directly through Rizos Cheddy via WhatsApp |
| Instagram: | Rizos Cheddy on Instagram |
| Website: | No official e-commerce website found |
| International availability: | No current international distribution found |
Dominican Magic
Dominican Magic is a Dominican-founded haircare brand created by organic chemist Gregorio Antonio Luciano in 2006. Unlike some of the other brands on this list, Dominican Magic isn’t exclusively focused on curly hair and offers products for a variety of haircare and styling needs.
The brand does, however, have a dedicated Curly Hair Treatment collection focused on nourishing, moisturizing, and strengthening curly hair. Current products include aloe vera moisturizing treatments, coconut milk shampoo and conditioner, and flaxseed shampoo and conditioner.
| Where to buy: | Shop directly from Dominican Magic |
| Amazon: | Official Amazon Storefront |
| Made in the Dominican Republic: | No; available product information indicates U.S. manufacturing. |
| U.S. availability: | Yes, direct from the brand and through Amazon. |
Dominican-Founded Curly-Hair Brands in the Diaspora
Dominican hair culture doesn’t exist only within the Dominican Republic.
Large Dominican communities outside the country, particularly in the United States, have carried Dominican beauty traditions with them while also creating new businesses influenced by those traditions.
That makes Dominican-founded brands in the diaspora another important part of this story.
Bomba Curls
Bomba Curls was founded by Afro-Dominican entrepreneur Lulu Cordero in the United States. Inspired by Dominican haircare traditions she grew up with, Cordero created the brand specifically for curly and coily hair.
The current haircare collection centers around the Dominican Forbidden Oil and Forbidden Hair Mask, which are manufactured in the United States.
| Based in: | United States |
| Made in: | United States |
| Dominican connection: | Afro-Dominican founder and Dominican-inspired haircare traditions |
| Where to buy: | Shop directly from Bomba Curls |
| Available in DR: | No current Dominican Republic distribution found |
OCOA
OCOA is a Dominican-American curly-hair brand founded by sisters Cory Varona-Corniel and Nicol Varona Cancelmo. Inspired by their Dominican heritage, the brand was created for textured hair and currently offers products for curl patterns ranging from waves to coils.
The current collection includes shampoo, conditioner, curl cream, defining gel, and a curl refresh-and-hold spray. OCOA is based in Pennsylvania, where its products are also manufactured
| Based in: | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Made in: | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Dominican connection: | Dominican-American founders; the name Ocoa references their mother’s hometown in the Dominican Republic. |
| Where to buy: | OCOA official store and Ulta Beauty |
| Available in DR: | No current Dominican Republic distribution found |
Traditional Dominican Hair Products Worth Knowing
Curly-hair brands are only one part of Dominican haircare.
Long before today’s curl-focused product lines appeared, Dominican salons, beauty-supply stores, supermarkets, and homes were already filled with shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, ampoules, scalp products, and treatments.
Many of these products weren’t developed specifically for people with curly hair.
That’s why I’m separating traditional Dominican haircare products from the curly/natural-hair brands above.
Crece Pelo / Boé
Crece Pelo is a Dominican haircare line from Boé Cosmetics, a Dominican manufacturer founded in 2005. The line uses plant extracts and other ingredients in products designed to strengthen, nourish, and support healthy hair growth.
I’ve personally used Crece Pelo, and I loved it. It’s one of the Dominican haircare lines I was already familiar with long before researching this article.
Crece Pelo isn’t included here because I’m classifying it as a curly-hair brand. Instead, it’s an example of the broader Dominican haircare products and treatments that have become familiar staples alongside products specifically developed for curls.
| Made in: | Dominican Republic |
| Where to buy in DR: | Boé products are currently sold through Dominican retailers, including Sirena. |
| U.S. availability: | Available through select online retailers. Boé Cosmetics · Amazon · Walmart |
Silicon Mix
Silicon Mix is one of the better-known Dominican haircare brands internationally and is manufactured in the Dominican Republic by Laboratorios Rivas.
Although the brand is particularly known for its traditional conditioning treatments, it also has a dedicated Silicon Mix Rizos collection formulated for wavy, curly, coily, and Afro-textured hair. The current line includes shampoo, conditioner, deep-treatment masks, leave-in conditioner, curl activator cream, and sculpting gel.
| Made in: | Dominican Republic |
| Where to buy in DR: | Tienda Aventura, Sirena, Plaza Lama, Jumbo, and other Dominican retailers |
| U.S. availability: | Sally Beauty and beauty-supply retailers |
Current Dominican listings confirm multiple Rizos products at Tienda Aventura, while current price listings show individual products at Sirena, Plaza Lama, and Jumbo. Tienda Aventura Sally Beauty currently lists several Rizos products in the U.S., although some are marked as clearance, so I would not call Sally an authorized or permanent retailer unless Laboratorios Rivas says so.
Other Boé Products Worth Exploring
Crece Pelo is only one part of Boé’s extensive Dominican haircare catalog. Other lines currently sold by the company include:
- Ligao de Leche: a milk-protein-based collection that includes shampoo, masks, leave-in products, serums, and concentrated treatments for hydration and repair.
- Mayoliva: a repairing line formulated around mayonnaise and olive oil and marketed for nourishment, hydration, shine, and frizz control.
- Mantekiya: another haircare line currently listed within Boé’s catalog.
These aren’t necessarily curly-hair-specific products, but they’re part of the much broader range of hair treatments produced by the Dominican company.
| Made in: | Dominican Republic |
| Where to buy in DR: | Boé Cosmetics and Dominican retailers |
| U.S. availability: | Boé Cosmetics USA and select online retailers |
| Product lines: | Ligao de Leche, Mayoliva, Mantekiya, and others |
Curly-Hair Salons in Santo Domingo
If you’re visiting the Dominican Republic and looking for professional curly-hair services, Santo Domingo has several salons specializing in natural and textured hair.
Salon information can change, so confirm current services, hours, and appointment availability directly with the salon before visiting.
Miss Rizos RD
| Address: | C. Luperón #51, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo 10210 |
| Specialties: | Curly and natural-textured hair |
| Services: | Curly cuts, definition, treatments, transition guidance, protective styles, braids/locs, and color |
| Booking: | Online appointments available |
| Website: | Miss Rizos Salon & Booking |
| Last verified: | October 2026 |
Afrosura Tienda & Salón Natural
Afrosura specializes in Afro and curly textures and currently offers curl definition, customized cuts, and restorative treatments through its salon. Its booking menu also includes wash-and-go services, color, and protective styles.
| Address: | Plaza Ciudadela, Av. Dr. Bernardo Correa y Cidrón 22, Santo Domingo 10103 |
| Specialties: | Curly and Afro-textured hair |
| Services: | Curl definition, cuts, treatments, color and protective styles |
| Booking: | Online appointments available |
| Website: | Afrosura Salon & Booking |
| Last verified: | October 2026 |
Arantxa Natural Hair
| Address: | Av. Rómulo Betancourt esq., Santo Domingo 10114 |
| Specialties: | Natural, curly and coily hair |
| Services: | Curl definition, curly cuts, treatments and natural-hair care |
| Booking: | Contact salon directly |
| Instagram: | @arantxanaturalhair |
| Phone: | (809) 636-4992 |
| Last verified: | October 2026 |
Quiero Esos Rizos RD
| Address: | Plaza Pinos del Cacique, Local 207, Av. Independencia, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Specialties: | Curly, wavy and Afro-textured hair |
| Services: | Curl definition, curly cuts, treatments, transition care, and protective styles |
| Booking: | Book Appointment Online |
| Instagram: | @quiero_esos_rizosrd |
| Phone: | (849) 409-9069 |
| Last verified: | October 2026 |
Where to Buy Dominican Curly-Hair Products
Where you can buy Dominican hair products varies by brand. Larger companies may be available through supermarkets and beauty-supply retailers, while smaller brands often sell directly through their websites, salons, Instagram, or WhatsApp.
Shopping in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, curly-hair and traditional Dominican haircare products can be found through major retailers such as Sirena, Jumbo, Plaza Lama, and Tienda Aventura, depending on the brand and location.
Some smaller brands also sell directly. Afrosura, for example, offers its products through its online store and Santo Domingo salon, while other independent brands may use social media or WhatsApp for ordering.
Because inventory varies between stores, check current availability before making a special trip.
Shopping in the United States
U.S. availability varies considerably by brand. Some Dominican and Dominican-founded brands have established U.S. distribution, while others are primarily available online.
Brands covered in this guide can currently be found through retailers and brand stores including Ulta Beauty, Sally Beauty, Wear Your Curls, Boé Cosmetics USA, and individual brand websites. Some products are also available through third-party sellers on Amazon.
When possible, purchase directly from the brand or a retailer you can verify, especially when shopping through online marketplaces.
When possible, purchase directly from the brand or a retailer you can verify, especially when shopping through online marketplaces. If you’re unsure whether a seller is legitimate, here’s how to find authorized retailers and avoid questionable third-party sellers.
Shopping Elsewhere in the Caribbean
Availability throughout the Caribbean is less consistent, but some Dominican brands are distributed beyond the Dominican Republic.
I personally found both Afro Love and Curly Love at Mr. Special supermarket in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. HK Industrial also identifies Puerto Rico and several other international markets among the destinations where its products are exported.
Availability can vary considerably between Caribbean countries and territories, so checking local retailers or the brand’s current distribution information is the best approach.
How Dominican Curly-Hair Culture Is Changing
The Dominican blowout hasn’t disappeared. Neither have roller sets, straightening traditions, or the salon practices for which Dominican hairstylists have become internationally known.
But those traditions now exist alongside something that was much less visible when I was growing up: a growing industry built around wearing Dominican hair curly, coily, Afro-textured, and natural.
Today, there are natural-hair salons, Dominican product lines created specifically for curls and coils, and entrepreneurs building businesses around textured hair. At the same time, conversations about what constitutes “good” or “presentable” hair continue to evolve.
That doesn’t mean older beauty standards have disappeared or that every Dominican has the same relationship with their hair. It simply means Dominican hair culture isn’t static.
A roller set and blowout can be part of Dominican hair culture. So can a wash-and-go, an afro, braids, coils, waves, or curls. And so can choosing to straighten your hair sometimes and wear it natural at others.
There doesn’t have to be only one version of what Dominican hair looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dominican Curly Hair
Is curly hair common in the Dominican Republic?
Yes. Dominicans have a wide range of natural hair textures, including waves, curls, coils, and Afro-textured hair. Although Dominican haircare is internationally associated with straightening techniques such as roller sets and blowouts, those styles don’t represent everyone’s natural hair texture.
Are there Dominican hair brands specifically for curly hair?
Yes. Dominican brands and product lines created specifically for curly and natural hair include Afro Love, Curly Love, Afrosura, and Silicon Mix Rizos. There are also Dominican-founded brands in the diaspora, such as Bomba Curls and OCOA.
Can I find curly-hair salons in the Dominican Republic?
Yes. Santo Domingo has salons specializing in curly, coily, and natural hair, including Miss Rizos, Afrosura, Arantxa Natural Hair, and Quiero Esos Rizos RD. Because salon information can change, confirm current services and booking information before visiting.
Final Thoughts
Researching curly hair in the Dominican Republic feels different from researching most of the topics I cover on this blog because Dominican haircare isn’t something I discovered through the curly-hair community.
I grew up around it.
My mother owned a Dominican salon, and products and practices that people now search for online as “Dominican haircare” were simply part of everyday life.
At the same time, the curly-hair landscape I’m researching today isn’t exactly the one I remember. Seeing Dominican brands formulate products specifically for curls and coils, natural-hair salons establish themselves in Santo Domingo, and Dominican entrepreneurs in the diaspora build brands around natural texture shows how much the industry continues to evolve.
There are undoubtedly brands, products, salons, and stories I haven’t found yet. That’s why I’m treating this article as a living resource and will continue updating it as I discover more.
Because there is much more to Dominican haircare than the Dominican blowout.
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