FAQ's
What should I expect from my haircut appointment?
You should arrive with your hair down and curly (or wavy, or whatever your natural state is). Product is ok, but twists, braids, pony tails, etc. are not). Your stylist will assess your hair and talk to you about your and his/her ideas for it. Depending on your hair type and what the desired results are, they will either do just dry-cutting or a combination of wet and dry. They will then show you the process of how to style your hair at home, let it dry naturally under a hood dryer, and, typically, dry cut a little more once all of the idiosyncrasies of your unique head of hair start to show.
If you are looking for a salon that specializes in curly hair that you wear straight, there are many great salons out there that specialize in that, but at Curly Hair Austin, we specialize in your hair looking great with ITS NATURAL TEXTURE.
For more information about our approach, please see the “Our Approach” page.
Can I get color?
Yes. However, we believe the health of the hair is crucial to it looking good, so we typically will try to find other color options for you if you are damaging your hair too much with the color you have been doing. We try to use as gentle chemicals as we can for color processes. We do not do highlights on naturally brown or black hair. If you like a multi-tonal look, ask us about grey-blending or color blocking, two options which are a lot less damaging to the hair. We do not book color appointments for new clients. If you want a color appointment, please first come see us for a haircut, and we can discuss your color options at that appointment.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have pre-existing color on your hair, the only way to lighten it is with a color correction. Color corrections and hilights can be very damaging to curly hair, and the results can be unpredictable. We no longer do color corrections, light hilights on dark hair, or fantasy (pink, silver, etc.) color. If you are looking for this type of color, we recommend Carol Brown at Vitali Salon.
Can I get my children's hair cut?
Sorry, we no longer cut the hair of children under 12 unless they have previously seen us. Children 12 and over need to be able to sit still through a 1 1/2 hour service and are the same price as adults. Please be sure that your child is on-board with our approach, and that they actually want to wear their hair curly.
I like curly hair, but not my type of curls. Can you change that?
The only way to change the type of curl you have is with a chemical process (perm), not with a haircut. We work with the natural texture you have, so please be sure you are ready to embrace your natural texture. We cannot make loose waves substantially more curly or very curly hair looser. Lots of people don't know how to work with the texture they have, so we go through the styling process with all new clients, enabling their natural texture to look its best.
I just want my hair to look like how it did when I was younger. Can you do that?
Everyone’s hair density and texture evolve over time. Unfortunately, even if it is cut the exact same way, it may not be able to look the way it did in the past. We can help guide you to what will work the best with the current conditions of your hair.
I found a picture of someone with curly hair who has way more/less volume than I can ever get from my hair. I want mine to look like hers. Can you do that?
There are many factors that go into the amount of volume/fullness of the hair. Volume can sometimes be enhanced by a haircut, but sometimes, your cut is not the main reason for flatness or bulkiness. We can help give you a realistic assessment, and give you styling tips to get it as close as you will be able to for what you are looking for.
I want my hair to be curly,and I think it is, but no one ever seems to be able to make it that way. Can you?
We work with what your hair naturally wants to do. We do not diffuse it and use other tricks to get it to be more curly. If you can come in from a rain shower and your hair dries curly, we can style it curly. If not, you are probably trying to make it into something it’s not.
What if I’m not happy with the results?
We try to make sure everyone is fully satisfied with their experience. Curly hair can look very different on different days because of many factors, so we try to make it where if you have realistic expectations for your hair and are willing to follow the instructions we give you, it will look good as often as possible. Because we can’t always 100% predict what your hair will do when you are at home and it settles into its shape, we are happy to have you come back in for us to make any needed adjustments if you contact us within one week of having your hair done. After that point, we will need to schedule you another full haircut appointment. We have a no-refund policy, but are happy to have you come in so that we can address anything that isn’t working for you.
When can I get an appointment?
Click on our Make an Appointment page!
Please note: as a courtesy to everyone else, please give as much advanced notice as possible if you need to change or cancel your appointment. A $45 fee will be charged for missed appointments/appointments canceled within 48 hours of your appointment time.
Tell me more about your stylists!
Check out our Meet Our Team page to learn more about them!
Do you do perms/relaxers/straighteners/blowouts/keratin treatments?
No. We work with what your hair naturally wants to do.
Do you do deva/ouidad/rezo cuts?
Ethan has done many thousands of curly haircuts. Although he has completed deva training and is familiar with the other approaches, he has taken what he feels are the best aspects of the various approaches and added other tricks and techniques he has learned over the years, coming up with a unique approach that he feels works the best. For many types of curly hair, there are advantages to both wet and dry cutting, so instead of ignoring those benefits, he utilizes whatever techniques he needs to have your hair come out its best. It is more individualized than most curly hair cutting methods, and takes the individual’s hair growth and curl patterns more into account. (You can learn more on the “Our Approach” page.) If you are looking for a specific “branded” haircut, those companies have salon finders. However, we highly recommend you keep an open mind and come try a different approach. We think you’ll be happy you did!
Do you do “ethnic” hair?
Yes, we work with all types of curly hair, and everyone is welcome! However, our approach is designed to work with the natural curl pattern you have, so if what you like is coiled/twisted/elongated/relaxed curls, we might not be the best fit for you. We dry your hair under the hood dryer (with no twists, braids, etc.) so that we can see exactly how the curls lie after they are dry. We want you to love the hair you naturally have--it can be beautiful! Charley is our resident type 4 curl (very curly) specialist. Major detangling/combing is not part of the service we offer, so please comb out any knots you have before your appointment.
Can I bring my kids/guests/pets?
We have limited seating for guests, so please arrange child- and/or pet-care while you are visiting with us.
Where are you located?
9333 Research Blvd, Suite #280, Austin Tx 78759 (northwest corner of the Mopac & 183 intersection) In Google Maps, type in "Curly Hair Austin", or click here:
inside Sola, salon #5. Look for the "Curly Hair Austin" sign.
You can find a map on our Contact us/Map Page