October 16, 2024 — For Ona Díaz Santin, hair care is more than just a profession. She spent much of her childhood in salons owned and staffed by her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother, where she developed a love for hairstyling and self-care.
Due to years of stigma surrounding curly hair both within and outside of her community, Ona tended to straighten her hair for most of her childhood, until her hair dryer broke on her high school graduation day. I was out of options. But to show off her natural curls.
“Everyone was like, ‘Oh my god, you got a perm in your hair?'” And I was like, wow – people think my hair is straight. ”
For Ona, an Afro-Latina with textured curls, hair has deep personal meaning. A term often used to describe curly or textured hair in the Latinx community is “pelo malo,” which translates to “bad hair.” It’s often designed to emphasize outdated perceptions that natural hair is unprofessional, unclean, and overall undesirable. Therefore, many Latins with textured hair straighten their curls with heat or chemical treatments.
Ona has worked hard to master curly hair care. For the past seven years, she has been the owner of five salons and spas in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and has honed her skills in the styling industry for nearly 30 years. Dubbed the “Hair Saint” by her regulars, Ona’s clientele ranges from celebrities like Diana-Maria Rivas and Dr. Oz to adults in the community where she has been cutting hair since she was a child. .
“I don’t take it lightly. They could go anywhere in the world, but they chose to come here,” she says.
While Ona’s specialty is curly hair, she also works with an eclectic team of talented stylists, manicurists, masseuses, and more, with the aim of creating an inclusive and empowering space where everyone can feel luxurious and beautiful. We have created a combination.
Ona’s three generations of hard-working women, combined with her industry expertise and personal experience, have made her a well-known figure in her community and beyond. Her mission to empower through the beauty of nature drives her to continue her work and encourages her to look to the more inclusive future she aims to create.
“When I got a glimpse of my daughter, I thought, wow, she’s strong. I think that’s a legacy. I had to pass on the torch someday, so that’s important.”
No matter your hair type, Ona and her team at 5 Salon and Spa welcome everyone. In true Dominican Perqueria tradition, you’ll be greeted with big smiles, celebrity grace and, of course, cafecito.
You can keep up with Ona and 5 Salon and Spa on their website and on her Instagram (@_thehairsaint).
