A Dominican Pure Hair Salon Is Coming To NYC
One salon in Santo Domingo has been turning an previous magnificence splendid on its ear since December 9, 2014. Miss Rizos, the Dominican Republic’s first hair care establishment strictly devoted to curly, kinky and afro’d hair, is pioneering hair acceptance in a Caribbean Latin American nation marred with a sophisticated historical past of anti-blackness, regardless of its majority Black inhabitants.
For Nationwide Black Enterprise Month, BET tracked down Carolina Contreras, the lady behind the mantra “Yo Amo Mi Pajón” or (“I like my massive / afro’d hair”), who in opposition to all odds efficiently established and continues to run a salon serving Black ladies, youngsters and males as a scrappy entrepreneur.
In a Q&A beneath, Contreras outlines her largest setbacks and rewards as a Black girl enterprise proprietor (together with being ripped off by imposters), the social activism pushed by Miss Rizos, and the success that has afforded her to open a second location within the coronary heart of Washington Heights, New York—residence to the most important inhabitants of Dominicans exterior of the island.
For extra info or to ebook an appointment, go to right here.
BET: Describe why it was so necessary to open this salon within the Dominican Republic?
Carolina Contreras: I needed a spot that did not decide you or your hair. A secure haven of kinds for curly ladies, males and youngsters. It was necessary as a result of there wasn’t an area that offered prime quality curly [and kinky] hair providers, whereas offering clients with the entire training and sources to care for his or her hair at residence. Lastly, it was necessary to create this house that will enable us to generate the income wanted to maintain our social influence actions.
BET: What has been the general public’s reception of the salon since its opening?
CC: Actually, the reception has been wonderful. We have been lined by practically all nationwide media within the Dominican Republic. The one enterprise school [around] did a case examine on us that’s now [being] taught to different enterprise women and men. Even the federal government has been receptive to our work.
BET: Who’re your largest purchasers?
CC: Girls 25-34 are our largest purchasers, however we see males, heaps and many youngsters and older ladies who’re simply now discovering and loving their [natural] hair.
BET: Have been there any setbacks? In that case what have been they?
CC: I’ve had dozens of setbacks as a enterprise proprietor as a result of I’m actually new at this. The most important one by far was getting our concepts and formulation stolen by a neighborhood firm that claims to work for ladies empowerment. That was actually heartbreaking. However I’ve realized to fail ahead and to see failures as 1) a redirection of my plan and a pair of) a lesson realized.
(Photograph courtesy of Miss Rizos, by Yael Duval @yaelduval)
BET: What are a few of your largest hurdles as a black girl enterprise proprietor / entrepreneur?
CC: Capital. Capital. Capital. It is so onerous to develop, improve and even begin your small business with out the correct quantity of seed cash. It is what has motivated me to have my very personal enterprise capital agency after I develop up. I wish to spend money on the entire Carolinas on the market who’ve nice concepts, however little to no sources or cash.
BET: What are among the largest rewards?
CC: Wow. So many. Severely, I really feel like life is so beneficiant. I’ve realized that though cash is clearly necessary, the non financial rewards have been essentially the most important and what has saved me going when lease is due and my checking account is at $2.74! Having the ability to be the boss and chief of a gaggle of black ladies and seeing them develop is simply so particular. We spend money on each their skilled and private improvement. So with the ability to run the corporate of my desires, the one which I’ve at all times needed to belong to, is de facto wonderful.
I additionally get to see in actual time the influence that we’ve in our neighborhood and the world round us. Having the ability to see extra ladies embrace their hair, and extra colleges and work areas permitting ladies to put on their [natural hair], is a results of so a few years of onerous work together with others who’re preventing this battle. Our social media platforms enable us to not solely attain 1000’s of girls worldwide, however we additionally obtain so many tales of how they have been impacted by Miss Rizos. Lastly, with the ability to work with little women these previous 5 years and seeing them remodel themselves, their neighborhood and us, has been essentially the most fulfilling a part of what I do.
BET: What impressed opening one in New York?
CC: I have been doing occasions Uptown since 2012, that’s seven years in the past! From day one individuals in New York have proven a lot love and assist. Lots of them even fly to DR simply to get their hair accomplished at Miss Rizos. I’m paying homage to this neighborhood, whereas additionally bringing one thing that’s so wanted Uptown. May you imagine there aren’t any solely curly/kinky hair salons within the Washington Heights and Inwood space? We’re actually [about] to coach and produce the curly like to this a part of NYC, however we’re additionally prepared to soak up and study from this superbly vibrant and really particular place.
(Photograph courtesy of Miss Rizos, by Yael Duval @yaelduval)
BET: Describe a bit bit in regards to the course of that’s taking so that you can open a second location?
CC: A variety of tears. “Jesus take the wheel” is one thing I’ve expressed lots previously six months. We really ran a pre-sale marketing campaign again in April the place we have been capable of ebook 400 appointments and lift $30,000! However discovering the house was undoubtedly the toughest factor. I needed to fireplace two brokers and easily do that myself. And I did. We signed our lease just a few days in the past and might be opening our store on 190th and St. Nick, the guts of Washington Heights. The method for this second house additionally includes the assist from an angel investor, a Dominican girl who merely believed in me and determined to take a danger and be a part of me on this journey. My DR workforce, particularly my companion in crime Nikol, has additionally been an enormous half in serving to me make this occur. They are saying that should you may make it New York you possibly can make it wherever, I now know why they are saying this.
BET: What would you want for the individuals to remove from the work you do?
CC: I wish to encourage individuals to convey to life their wildest desires and to attach their work with serving to others and go away the world higher than how they discovered it. Past with the ability to eradicate discrimination on the premise of hair, which has at all times been a aim of mine, I wish to inspire black and latina ladies to assume massive and to do what they love.
(Photograph courtesy of Miss Rizos, by Yael Duval @yaelduval)
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