Diane for Curls

Diane for Curls is a solo stylist studio rather than a full salon, located inside the Salons by JC complex at Wilde Lake Village Center on Lynx Lane in Columbia, Maryland. The services page lists Tuesday hours from 8 am to 1 pm, Wednesday from 9 am to 12 pm, and Thursday from 8 am to 12 pm.

A first visit is a two-hour curl-by-curl cut, starting at $155, that includes cutting, cleansing and styling, with hands-on guidance for styling at home. Repeat cuts with cleanse and set start at $125 and are suggested every three to four months, with a follow-up styling lesson. Clients who have already had the two-hour cut and know their routine can book a dry cut from $95. Root color starts at $105, with extra color adding to the cost. Full highlights are listed at $130, and partial highlights are listed without a set price.

Highlights are painted using the Pintura method, placed curl by curl so the color follows each client's natural curl pattern. Products are chosen with a preference for organic formulas and no-ammonia color where possible. The studio carries Innersense organic hair care for all hair types and uses Deva and Jessicurl products for cleansing and hydration in some appointments.

Booking is done by email through the New Clients page. Before a first visit, clients send their name and contact details, photos of their hair from the front, side and back, a list of the products they use, and a description of their hair care routine. Clients are asked to avoid silicones, sulfates, oils, and Shea Moisture or Cantu products before an appointment, and to arrive with hair detangled, free of heavy products and as curly as possible. Hair with product buildup needs a detox treatment, which adds time and cost. Cancellations need 24 hours notice, or a fee of half the scheduled service applies. The studio also keeps a blog with curly hair styling and product technique posts, along with a portfolio of before and after cuts.

Cuts are shaped to each client's curl pattern, and hydration is treated as central to the routine, since the studio says that is what curls need most.