Connect with us: (720)645-1642 Book An Appointment

Coloring Curly Hair

Category Archives

Your Curl Pattern Is Unique

After having done the hair of over 5,000 curly haired women, I can assure you that no two heads of curly hair are alike. Your curl pattern is absolutely 100% unique to you. This is one of the amazing things about curly hair that I find so exciting.

I often listen to my curly clients tell me which of their curls they like and which of their curls they dislike and wish were different. I find this amusing because I think that all curls are great. Most people with 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A and 3B curls seem to prefer their tightest curls and dislike their loosest ones. Most people with 3C, 4A, 4B and 4C curls prefer their loosest curls and dislike their tightest ones. I believe that if you could form a circle of 100 curly girls and ask them whose hair they wanted, they would all point to someone and say “I want her hair!”

Our mission at Devana Salon is to inspire and EMBRACE natural hair, beauty and spirit. Wouldn’t it be great if we all accepted our own God-given hair? I, for one, am glad that I still have the few hairs that I have left on my head. When a client tells me that she wishes her curls were different, I try to reassure her that she is lucky to have the exact curl pattern that she has. Wishing that her curl pattern was different is like wishing that she had a different fingerprint.

“Be grateful that you have curly hair,” I usually tell them. “It could be straight, after all, and then you would really have something to complain about.”

To me, all curly hair is beautiful. The fact that over 65% of the human population has curly hair shows that curly hair is a dominant gene. The reason there are so many curly haired people is because those with curly hair are having more babies. Do you know why this is? It is because other people find them attractive and want to have sex with them.

If you have curly hair, any type of curly hair, whether it is wavy, curly, super curly or something else, please embrace your natural hair texture. Be grateful for your unique curls. And make more curly haired babies while you are at it.

Are Hairstylists Essential Workers?

After being forced to shutdown for seven weeks because of Covid-19, I began to wonder what an “essential worker” was. Apparently, the government had decided that I and my staff were not essential. It seems, however, that our clients felt differently.
I was grateful when we were allowed to return to work and see our curly clients again. I was surprised, however, by how desperate many of them were to see us. I heard story after story of how they had tried to cut and color their own hair during the lockdown. Some had taken their household scissors and began snipping curls here and there. Only a little bit of fixing was needed for these people. Others had attempted to give themselves a complete haircut, and this usually required more work to correct.
One of my clients who had tried cutting her own hair said she thought she looked like a “homeless poodle”. “Please help me reenter the human race,” she begged.
Another woman tried to give herself a Deva Cut, but her hair ended up looking like an inspiring design for a skateboard park.
One woman convinced her husband to cut her wavy hair into an A-Line bob. Needless to say, it did not turn out as she had hoped. Her hair looked like a bumpy ski slope.
Some of my clients asked me to send them hair color and then they enlisted their roommate or significant other to apply the color for them. These people were usually satisfied with the results. Others experimented with coloring their hair using seemingly innocent products such as henna or box color that they had purchased in a supermarket. Fixing these color disasters usually took more than one appointment.
Our pandemic era meaning of “essential work” refers to work that’s needed to meet basic human needs and safety during the shelter in place order. In my conversations with my clients, I was amazed by the suffering that many of them had experienced when they were unhappy with how their hair looked. It occurred to me that being happy with one’s appearance is a basic human need. The amount of gratitude and relief that my clients expressed after I had done their hair again was humbling. It made me realize that we hairstylists are providing a valuable service and are in fact satisfying basic human needs. Hairstylists, it seems to me, are essential workers.

What Your Curly Hair Style Says About You

Now that hair salons have been allowed to reopen in Colorado, I am impressed more than ever by the importance of having a good hairstylist, one that understands you and the look that you want to present to the rest of society. Many of my curly haired clients have told me that one of their most pressing goals, after the Covid-19 stay-at-home order was lifted, was to get a haircut. This made me wonder why our hair is so important.
It is obvious that our relationship with our hair is extremely intimate and complex. As anyone who’s gotten a really good, or bad, haircut knows, hair is so much more than just a look. It can be a reflection and reinforcement of who you are. Your hairstyle is intensely personal and, at the same time, totally public. Sometimes your hair speaks for you, even before you say a thing. It becomes a statement of who you are, and a sign of your identity.
This is why we spend so much time perfecting how our hair should look. We constantly search for the most suitable haircut, color, and texture. We are using our hair to speak, and trying, through our hairstyle, to express key aspects of our soul and to communicate some of the deepest truths about who we are.
Hair has played an important role in people’s confidence and self-image for as long as their have been hair growing people on Earth. As long ago as the Greek and Roman empires, detailed wigs were symbols of wealth and stature in society. Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, was famous for her thick, black hair. The Bible’s Samson had long hair that symbolized divine power. I imagine that even Cavemen and Cavewomen helped each other wash and style their hair.
Hair symbolizes physical strength and virility. It is a symbol of instinct, of female seduction and physical attraction. It is no wonder, that the appearance of our hair is so important to us.
If you want to change your identity, a trip to the salon could go a long way to doing just that. A new hairstyle signals that you have changed. So what messages are you sending with your current hairstyle? Here are some thoughts about what your hair is quietly, or loudly, saying to the rest of the world.

Bouncy Curls: You celebrate uniqueness

Curly hair is often associated with a fun-loving, warm hearted and outgoing personality. If you have curly hair you are perceived as being courageous, outspoken, and spontaneous. You are probably someone who likes to challenge perceptions and norms. You celebrate your uniqueness and value your roots. Unkempt bouncy curls give you a playful vibe. Your curliness helps the rest of society loosen up and connect to our essential nature.

Red hair: You blaze with passion

You blaze with passion and excitement. Your personality traits include leadership, love, passion, insight, dynamism, intuition, and expressiveness. You are a catalyst for change and you heat up the world around you.

High Ponytail: You are full of energy

The high ponytail suggests that you’re energetic and sporty. You bring life into a room. This look makes you look younger and emits a goal-oriented aura. You like to cut to the chase by saying what you need and how you want it accomplished. You are straightforward and a dynamic person to work with. You make it fun to get things done and you keep the rest of us from getting too complacent.

Loose Beach Waves: You embody confidence

If you wear your hair in beachy waves that’s summer-ready all year round, you are probably perceived as confident and a freedom lover with high energy. You inspire people to let loose and dance both physically and mentally.

Natural gray: You are wise and free

Many women who choose to allow their hair to be naturally gray project a level of security with their appearances. They are showing off their wisdom and their freedom from societal pressure to conform. Women who grow out their gray hair are embracing their inner Wild Woman and are not afraid in revealing this significant side of themselves. They are a blessing to our society.

Unconventional hairstyle: You are full of surprises

If your hairstyle is a unique cut and color, you are probably an artist who loves stepping out of the box. Getting a unique haircut says that you’re fun to be with and that you are rebellious. Your hairstyle shows off your creative personality and carefree spirit. Your expressiveness makes the world a far more interesting and exciting place.

The virtues and properties of a person are said to be concentrated in his or her hair. So to all you curly haired people, I welcome you back to Devana Salon, where our mission is “to inspire and embrace natural hair, beauty and spirit”. We look forward to helping you present your unique soul to yourself and to the world.

Be well, be free, and be beautifully curly.

Clean and spacious hair salon

11 Things That We Are Doing To Keep Our Hair Salon Sanitary and Safe

When I think of all of our curly clients, I think of them with an affection almost like they are part of my family. If you are one of our clients, I want you to know that we will do everything in our power to make sure that you are safe when you come in to our salon.
We will be following all of the guidelines that have been set forth by experts as to how to maintain a sanitary environment. Also, if new ideas are discovered and presented to us, we will be grateful to hear them and implement the best possible procedures.
This is what we intend to do to ensure that we maintain a sanitary and safe hair salon:
1. We will clean and/or disinfected all surfaces and implements between every client.
2. We have re-trained our staff on essential infection control and hand hygiene practices.
3. We have acquired appropriate personal protective equipment to be used when necessary or requested.
4. Our staff will be wearing masks and we will be asking our clients to do the same.
5. We will launder all capes and towels after they are used.
6. Our stations will remain nine feet apart, so as to allow for plenty of space between clients.
7. We will maintain two separate waiting areas so clients can have their own space while waiting.
8. We have removed all non-essential items throughout the salon.
9. We will discontinue the practice of hand shaking, hugging, and other non-essential contact.
10. We will have hand sanitizer available for use whenever it is desired.
11. We will throw a huge party when there is finally a cure for Covid-19 and it is safe to throw a big party again. I live for this!
I look forward to seeing you again at Devana Salon. Stay healthy and stay curly.

Devana Salon’s Mission

Our mission at Devana Salon is to inspire and embrace natural hair, beauty and spirit. We see our clients as spiritual beings who happen to have curly hair. Since we know this truth about our clients, we embrace opportunities to serve in more ways than just creating beautiful curly hair styles. But, of course, we understand that our clients come to us because they want expert care and design of their curly hair, and so we focus on providing this above all.

We seek to accomplish our mission in a number of ways. First of all, to be inspiring, we know that we must become the best curly hairstylists in the region. To do this, we are constantly seeking new information and taking classes in order to learn new techniques for cutting, coloring, styling and caring for naturally curly hair. We believe that we can always learn more and become even better curly hairstylists than we already are. 

By following through on our promise to provide expert advice and skillful design, we show our clients how beautiful their curly hair can be, and in this way we inspire them to embrace their natural hair texture. Our tagline is “Love Your Natural Curls”, and we mean it. We believe that curly and wavy haired people are blessed with naturally beautiful hair. Our role is to offer help in enhancing your natural curly grandeur.

At Devana, we support our clients, and our own bodies and minds, by creating a toxin free environment and using healthy botanical products. We use Natulique Hair Color, a certified organic luxury hair color line that is 98% plant and mineral derived and that has no ammonia. In addition to Natulique certified organic hair care products, we also offer DevaCurl hair care products.

At Devana Salon, it is our goal to provide satisfying stimulation to all of your senses. We enhance our environment by utilizing essential oils to create subtle, yet powerful healing benefits. These plant essences calm our minds, heal our bodies, uplift our moods, and enliven our spirits. The music we play in the background is chosen to provide a soothing and pleasantly uplifting mood. Our thoughtful and elegant salon design, beautiful lighting and original artwork offer luxurious enticement to the eyes. To satisfy your sense of taste, we offer complimentary herbal tea, coffee, filtered water and wine.

Finally, we aspire to please your sense of touch while we connect to your spirit with our relaxing Signature Reiki Scalp Massage. This unique treatment can be deeply healing and relaxing. Even if you aren’t into energy healing, it simply feels fantastic.

Someone said that “beauty is more than skin deep”. Our beauty comes from within, but it sure doesn’t hurt to have gorgeous curly hair. At Devana Salon, we recognize that you are much more than a physical body with curly hair, you are a powerful spiritual being that has been blessed with a wonderful wavy coiffure. What we love most is to make your curly hair as stunningly beautiful as it can possibly be. This is our goal. Please let us serve you. It will be our honor.

Clean and spacious hair salon

It Is My Dream To Have The Best Curly Hair Salon In Denver

It has been a dream of mine for the last decade to have the best curly hair salon in Denver. Finally, as a result of a lot of determination, persistence and staying true to my vision, Devana Salon is open for business. Our goal is to be the best at what we do and you will sense this when you walk in the front door. Devana Salon is a welcoming space with state-of-the-art equipment, furnishings and lighting. All of our lighting is inspired by curly hair, not only in it’s curvaceous shape, but also in it’s brightness. Working with curly hair requires bright light since curls absorb more light than straight hair. Everything about Devana Salon is intentionally created to provide the optimal environment for designing beautiful curly hair styles, from the relaxing adjustable shampoo stations to the comfortable seating for guests and staff to the organic hair color line, Natulique.

It requires more than the best lighting and equipment to be the best curly hair salon in the region, it requires a team of exceptional hair stylists who have mastered the art of styling curly hair. Mastering the design and care of naturally curly hair takes time, and I, Erik Emblen, have put in that time. I have been working exclusively with naturally curly hair since 2006. It was then that I set the goal of becoming the best curly hair stylist in Denver. In order to become the best curly hairstylist in the region, I knew that I needed to learn from the best curly hairstylists in the country, and that is why, for the last thirteen years, I have been taking classes at the DevaCurl Academy in New York City. I have been there five times in the last thirteen years and I am now a Certified DevaCurl Stylists. I am also Certified in the Ouidad Curly Hair Cutting Technique. But I am not done learning yet. I will be returning to the DevaCurl Academy again in March, 2019, to study with the co-founder of DevaCurl, Denis DaSilva. He is an amazingly gifted curly hairstylist, and I love taking classes with him. I believe there is always more to learn and any time I hear of a new class on curly hair, I will take it, no matter where in the world it is. This is because I am 100% dedicated to being the best curly hairstylist in the region.

My goal now is to pass on to my staff all of my knowledge about cutting, coloring, styling and caring for naturally curly hair. This is why we have weekly training sessions at Devana Salon. During these classes, I teach my staff everything I know, and as a result, we continue to grow together. Our training at Devana Salon is extensive. It took me thirteen years to acquire my knowledge and skills, and I will keep teaching our staff everything I know so that they can become skillful curly hairstylists too. I expect the best from my staff and I will not settle for less. Neither will they. Not only are they dedicated curly hairstylists, but they are kind, compassionate people as well.

Please come see us in our beautiful new space at 4399 E. Mississippi Ave., Denver, CO 80246. I promise that we will give you the best service that you have ever had, and that you will leave with your curls looking more beautiful than ever.

Why I Love Curly Hair

Setting a goal

For the past twelve years, my goal has been to become the best curly hair stylist in Denver. I don’t know if I have achieved that goal yet, but I currently have about 1,000 curly haired clients, so I must be doing something right. Many of my clients ask me “Why did you decide to specialize in curly hair?” The short answer is that I wanted to eat good food and travel, and I knew that if I became good at cutting and coloring curly hair then I’d be able to do that. But in truth, it goes deeper than that.

The real story

I am an artist and have a great appreciation for beauty, and to me, curly hair is beautiful. My fondness for curls goes back to before I had any idea that curly hair would become my specialty. When I was a student in Cosmetology school, any straight haired women who dared to let me touch her hair left the salon with her hair big and curly. I liked to create voluptuous, outrageously curly hair. Maybe I was a hairstylist from Texas in a past life.

Curly hair start

After I graduated from Cosmetology school, I got a job at the Aveda Academy where I learned the Aveda cutting techniques. One of the stylists there saw my interest in curly hair and recommended that I read the book, Curly Girl, by Lorraine Massey. This book revealed a whole new world to me and gave me the idea of specializing in curly hair. It became obvious that most curly girls were being mistreated by hair stylists who had no idea that curly hair requires a different technique than straight hair. I decided I wanted to learn from the best, and so I went to New York and did some training at Devachan Salon, where I trained with Lorraine Massey’s partner, Dennis Da Silva.

The start of Curl Culture

When I returned to Denver, my three curly clients that I had at the time were thrilled with my new techniques. They even wrote wonderful reviews about me and posted them on www.naturallycurly.com claiming I was “amazing at doing curly hair”.  Well, I knew I was still a beginner, and although I enjoyed having a great reputation, I felt like it was better than I deserved. So, in order to live up to my reputation, I decided to return to New York and take some more classes with Dennis Da Silva. After a few more trips to the DevaCurl Academy, my cutting and coloring techniques were finally getting good. It took six or seven years of continual practice and training, but I finally reached the point where I felt like I had mastered the art of cutting, coloring and styling curly hair.

What’s next

I am not done learning yet. I still take classes whenever I can, and I just saw that the DevaCurl Academy is offering a new class on styling tightly textured hair. Since I love to travel, eat good food, and learn more about curly hair, it looks like it is time for another trip to New York and a visit with my friends at the DevaCurl Academy.

Tips For Safely Coloring Curly Hair

Color has the ability to spice up your curls by adding dimension and interest to curly hair. Curly hair absorbs more light than straight hair because straight hair presents a flat surface for light to reflect off of, whereas curly hair disperses light and therefore appears darker. Also, due to the fact that the cuticle layer on curly hair is raised more than it is on straight hair, curly hair isn’t as shiny as straight hair. Dimensional color can be very beautiful in curly hair because it reflects light throughout the hair. Also, curly girls who want their hair to look thicker will find that dimensional color creates the illusion of fuller hair.

When done by a professional colorist, color can be beneficial to the health and shine of your curly hair. But if done improperly, hair coloring can be hazardous to curly textures because curly hair is naturally drier and more fragile than other hair types and can react negatively to the chemicals in hair color. Read on for pro tips on how to get stunning hair color without compromising your hair’s health no matter what your curl type is.

Know Your Options

Depending on your curl type and condition, hair color that is high in chemical content, like a permanent formula, can dehydrate and damage your hair. Especially if applied repeatedly, the ammonia in permanent hair color can deplete curls of moisture and nourishment. Hair color experts agree that unless you need the strength of permanent color to change the level or tone of your hair, or if you are covering pigment-free grays, then it is better to opt for a semi-permanent or demi-permanent color. These types of hair color are less dehydrating, and if the semi or demi-permanent color selected is a professional brand, the hair color will actually coat the surface of the hair, smooth down the cuticle and leave curls glossy, bouncy and more nourished.

Expert Tip

Never use permanent hair color throughout the mid-lengths and ends of curls. Instead, opt for a demi-permanent or gloss color to achieve the desired look.

Always Go Pro

Coloring curly hair requires expert care. Visit a professional hair colorist to get your color correct from the start. This is no time for DIY, especially when going lighter. The inherent fragility and dryness of curly hair make it essential to choose the right salon professional and professional product to bring out the best in your curls. Professional color products are designed to enhance hair health, protect strands from UV exposure and bring out the shine. Your experience with a colorist should include a consultation about your choices, what it requires to get the shade you want, and how to maintain it between visits.

Expert Tip

Three days before you color, give your hair a boost with a deep conditioning treatment like Ouidad Deep Treatment Curl Restoration Therapy or DevaCurl Heaven In Hair. These deep conditioning treatments will infuse your curls with essential proteins, amino acids and moisturizing humectants which will improve your hair’s ability to retain hair color and moisture.

Handle With Care

All hair types get a little dryer once color is introduced, so those with curly hair have to be especially mindful of combating the drying effects of a new hue. Parched hair only leads to dull color and no one wants that. One way to boost moisture levels in colored strands is to rehydrate with top-notch products. Try Ouidad Color Sense Color-Preserving Shampoo and Conditioner. They contain a protective Color Lock complex of broad spectrum, plant-based sun filters which help affix color to the hair fibers and prevent fading due to UV exposure and styling. The shampoo also removes mineral deposits and build-up that can lead to premature stripping of color for healthy-looking, radiant curls. Plus, a good hydrating conditioner or deep treatment designed to work with colored curly hair will rebuild and strengthen strands so curls hold color longer.

When done correctly by a talented hair colorist, hair color can make your curls look more beautiful than ever.

Is your naturally curly hair colored? How do you maintain it?

Balayage vs. Pintura Highlighting For Curly Hair

Two of my favorite methods for highlighting naturally curly hair are balayage and pintura. In this post, I will explain the difference between these two hair coloring methods and offer my opinion on which technique works best for different curl types.

Balayage Highlighting

The history of Balayage

Balayage was created by the French in the 1970’s and has been slowly gaining popularity in the U.S. It is a hair highlighting method that creates the beautiful natural sun-kissed looks preferred by Hollywood starlets and Victoria Secret models. With both the Balayage and Pintura highlighting techniques, the hair appears darker near the roots and lighter on the ends as if the hair has been exposed to the sun for a few months.

How the Balayage Highlighting Method works

I took a class in Balayage offered by the L’Oreal Soho Professional Academy. The teacher was Min Kim, who has been one of Nancy Braun’s assistant. Min Kim and Nancy Braun are widely recognized as experts in the Balayage technique. As taught by Min Kim, when performing Balayage, a stylist applies lightener by first sweeping it onto the mid-shaft of the hair, then blending it lightly toward the roots and heavily onto the ends. This causes a slight lightening of the roots and more intense lighting of the ends. This is particularly important along the front hairline and along both sides of the part. It takes practice to do it well, but when it is done by an experienced colorist, the effect is gorgeous.

Pintura Highlighting

A little background on Pintura

I studied Pintura highlighting at the DevaCurl Academy in NYC, where I took a class with Dennis Da Silva, the cofounder of DevaCurl. As far as I know, Dennis created the Pintura technique. Dennis is Brazilian and “pintura” means “painting” in Brazilian.

How the Pintura Highlighting Method works

In Pintura highlighting, the lightener is painted onto the hair, however, it is applied first at the roots rather than at the mid-shaft. Also, more lightener is deposited at the roots than is done in Balayage. This creates lighter roots. In order to mimic the natural lightening of the sun, even more lightener is applied to the mid-shaft and ends of the hair than is applied to the roots. This is the same in both Balayage and Pintura.

How to Choose

The question remains, when is Pintura better than Balayage and vice versa?

The answer lies in the size of the curl.

Tightly curly hair such as fractal, corkscrew, botticelli, and corkicelli diffuses more light than loosely wavy hair. This is because the tighter curl creates a surface that reflects light in different directions and thereby diffuses the light and makes the hair appear darker.

For this reason, it is best to use the Pintura technique on tighter curls because the highlights need to be brighter in order to be seen. In the case of looser curls, such as wavy and swavy hair, the hair has greater light reflection, and therefore the Balayage technique looks better.

What questions do you have on Balayage and Pintura? Have you tried a special coloring method on your naturally curly hair?