Ollie and Mo

Sep 2018

I'm a 2b wavy and I got my first ever Deva Cut with Beth at her salon, Ollie+Mo, on September 12, 2018. This definitely ranks as one of the best haircuts I've ever gotten-- both because I really like the results and because I honestly just had a good time. We began by talking about my hair and the cut I wanted as well as any concerns I had. When she began the cut, we discussed my usual hair routine. I am a big nerd about my hair and have been using the Curly Girl method for a long time, so our session wasn't focused around instruction. However, it was clearly from talking to her that she knew what she was talking about and she had some useful tips for me (such as diffusing to encourage my hair to curl more). So, I think she would also be a great choice for those unfamiliar with or new to the CG method, not just people with more experience. I know some people get Deva Cuts and are disappointed if it isn't done curl by curl but that was NOT the case here. It was a curl by curl cut done on totally dry hair (I did show up with my hair down, dry, detangled, and with very little product in, as she requests on her website). She did use a raking-like motion while cutting my hair but don't mistake this for combing the curls out or detangling dry. This is a technique that is part of what stylists learn in their Deva Cut training that helps to identify the natural curl clumps. At this point she did most of the cut except for a few pieces in the front that had gone fairly straight due to lack of product. Next, she cleansed my hair with Low-Poo and conditioned (using the Squish-to-Condish method) and finger detangled with One Condition. I'm honestly not sure what styling products she used (sorry!) because we were chatting away. After scrunching my hair with her hands and a microfiber towel she put in clips in at the roots and put me under the hooded dryer. When my hair was mostly dry, she diffused it with the DevaFuser. I may not know what products she used, but I do know my hair looked beautiful and super wavy when she was done. I'm very picky about how I style my hair, so the fact that I liked the way she styled it is saying something. She then went back to the longer pieces in front and cut them to the proper length, as well as touching up another few spots now that my wave pattern was more visible. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I decided I wanted the front pieces to frame my face a little more and she was happy to adjust it for me. The end result was just what I wanted: a slightly asymmetrical bob, above my shoulders, longer in the front, with layers that added volume and the illusion of more curls. The fact that she cut it dry meant that it has great shape in the back and a level progression from shorter to longer in the front. Beth herself was very pleasant to chat to, which is important when your haircut can take up to two hours, and happy to nerd out with me about curly hair. It was obvious to me that she has a lot of passion for textured hair and even talked about additional training she was going to get soon from famous curly hairstylist, Scott Musgrave. This is NOT a hairstylist who decided to get the Deva Cut training just so it would look good to clients. She knows what she's doing and it's obvious that she really cares. She also didn't try to upsell me on any services or products (a hairstylist pet peeve of mine, even though I know they're just trying to make a living). However, I did purchase a new bottle of the DevaCurl Frizz Free Volumizing Foam not only because I'm nearly out, but also because she offers a whopping 25% off DevaCurl products when you get a Deva Cut. It's rare to get even 20% off of DevaCurl products so I consider this a big plus, especially if you are a devoted user of any of their products. Her prices are incredibly reasonable; Deva Cuts start at $85. There's no "first time client" surcharge like I've seen with other local hairstylists offering Deva Cuts. Between the cut, the DevaCurl mousse, tax, and