Dianne Nola - Curly Hair Specialist®

Dec 05, 2024

I've been going to Dianne for about 2 years and have been so happy with the results! I met Dianne when I was at the start of my curly hair journey and am amazed how she has helped my hair transform over that time. Dianne always listens to what I am expecting from the cut and will offer thoughtful advice when I need an opinion. Moreover her studio is comfortable and she is always kind and welcoming. Thank you, Dianne!

Nov 05, 2024

Dianne Nola made my hair look great! While I love my haircut, and will come back for future cuts, the true value in my haircut was the education that was provided. As someone with curly hair, it is often hard to find information that works with your hair type. While I was able to learn some things online, the value in Dianne’s service is how she tailors your haircut to you. She answered all of my questions, went over my curly hair routine with me, and had me practice some of the steps before leaving the salon to ensure that I understood everything. At the end of my visit she gave me a laminated card with a custom routine that I could use. After leaving salons in the past, I have found it hard to replicate the hairstyle that my hairdresser gave me, but the reference card and education made my haircut easy to replicate. I get lots of compliments and I love the way my hair looks now. Dianne thinks of herself as an artist and I agree, as her scissors are magic!

Oct 05, 2024

I'm providing this review at the request of the owner, Dianne Nola, having been a customer since approximately 2019. My experience with Dianne has been quite positive overall. Her direct and to-the-point communication style, while effective for me, may seem a bit abrupt to some and definitely took some getting used to. From my very first appointment, Dianne excelled in educating me on proper hair care and recommended products that have proven to be excellent. I still use these products to this day. Over the years, as I navigated various health issues and decided to transition from shoulder-length hair to a pixie cut, Dianne’s expertise was invaluable. She consistently ensured my hair looked great and always listened to my requests for a low-maintenance style. Her suggestions and techniques for managing my hair as it evolved have been incredibly helpful. The salon is rather difficult to access due to a tall flight of stairs but once inside it is very clean and nicely decorated with beautiful lighting. Overall, Dianne has played a significant role in keeping my hair looking its best through various changes.

Sep 05, 2024

Dianne has done an excellent job styling my curly hair for 20+ years. Her salon is very private and attractive. You know you have a great cut when strangers compliment you on your curly hair cut. My hair has changed color and texture, but she always makes it look it's best!

Sep 05, 2024

I’m so happy I met Dianne. I used to never wear my hair down unless I straightened it. Now I have the confidence that my curly hair looks great and the knowledge of how to keep it looking great! I can’t recommend her enough!

Aug 05, 2024

I've been going to Dianne for a year now and couldn't recommend her more highly! When I came to her, my hair was a bit of a mess after years of struggling to find a textured hair stylist in the city and I was ready for a major style change. We've slowly been working on shaping my hair as it grows out. I literally showed her a picture of what I wanted, asked her if it was realistic, and now my hair is actually looking like that! I've never had that happen with a stylist before, I'm beyond excited! On top of all of that, she's such a professional! Great communication, doesn't cancel visits last minute, and has totally transparent pricing with tip included.

May 05, 2024

I have been getting my hair cut with Dianne for maybe two years now. She cuts my hair exactly how I ask, and takes notes every session so she remembers any changes or updates the next time I see her. I love this because I am terrible at describing what I want in detail and in the past I always felt like I was struggling to remind other stylists how they had cut my hair the last time. The most recent time I saw her she gently suggested updating my style and I am so pleased how it turned out. I never would have known how to ask for this cut and I am so grateful she felt comfortable making the suggestion. Dianne is warm and easy to talk to, so I always look forward to my appointments. The studio is beautiful as well, with lots of natural light. I should mention that I am in the south bay and visiting Dianne is quite a trek, but totally worth the drive. 5 stars!

May 05, 2024

Not sure why my original review is not showing up. Looks like she ditched all Of the bad reviews and started another page… She was absolutely the most negative, caustic person. I felt so incredibly uncomfortable in her space. Just look at how condescending and horrible she is responding to these reviews & you will get a good idea of Dianne’s demeanor and attitude. The haircut was horrible too. Would never go back to have it fixed… I would not let her and her toxic energy anywhere near me again. I paid someone else to fix it! Now let’s wait for her attacking response…

Mar 05, 2024

Thank you, thank you, thank you Dianne for sharing your gift with us. You are so thoughtful and precise!! Love the cascade of curls you help me maintain and enhance year over year. You're amazing!! I always walk out of your salon feeling refreshed and beautiful.

Feb 05, 2024

Dianne is my favorite hairstylist ever. She is meticulous—not just in cutting each piece of hair but also in making sure she understands what I’m wanting and in explaining what I can expect.

Feb 05, 2024

Dianne is the absolute BEST - I highly recommend her! As someone who is new to having curly hair - she took so much time to explain her techniques so I could get similar results to her at home. She listened to what I wanted for my hair to a T - way better than any other hairstylist I've ever had! She cares so much about her clients and their hair, I'm so glad I found her. She's incredibly thoughtful and a master of her craft! She really helps me feel like the best version of me! ❤️

Feb 05, 2024

I couldn't recommend Dianne more highly. She is incredibly kind, thoughtful, and talented at what she does.

Feb 05, 2024

Most terrible experience I’ve ever had. She put the temperature way too high and now I’m damaged forever. If i can help anyone at all please don’t go here. The satisfaction comments are from workers getting paid.

Feb 05, 2023

I am so happy I found Dianne! Having someone who knows how to cut curly hair was life-altering for me. With right cut by Dianne, I love my curls! My MIL thought I got a perm with the amount of bounce and fullness I had from my cut.

Feb 05, 2023

I decided I was a forever client after my first cut with Dianne for three reasons - her expertise, her communication, and her personality. Dianne is incredibly skilled and is GREAT at what she does. After my first cut with her, I was getting compliments quite literally every time I left my apartment. She took my somewhat wavy hair and transformed it into these gorgeous curls that I confidentially wear every day. I haven’t used a heat tool since I got my first cut by her in October. When it comes to communicating and understanding what you want for your hair, she gets a 10/10. Before diving in, she has you describe in detail what you would like and reiterates it so you’re both on the same page. There are no surprises because of how well she communicates. Lastly, she’s great company while she does your hair. She’s very sweet and I genuinely enjoy spending the time with her while she does my cuts. If you have curly hair, I am BEGGING you to go to Dianne. She’s the absolute best at what she does.

Feb 05, 2023

I never knew my curls could look this good until I met Dianne. I've had curly hair my whole life but spent most of it getting various keratin treatments done because I hated the way my natural hair looked. I've had about 4 curly cuts with Dianne now and she has literally transformed my relationship with my hair!! I have yet to have a cut that I didn't love from Dianne - she listens to what you want and works with you to achieve it. I absolutely LOVE my curls now and I am SO GRATEFUL to have found someone I can trust with them. I will never go to anyone else for my curls as long as I'm in the bay, and I have recommended Dianne to many of my curly-haired friends!

Feb 05, 2022

Best Hair Day Ever EVERYDAY since I got my haircut from Dianne! I went all in for the Goddess Experience and boy, that’s what I got! Nothing in the world can compare to getting your hair done by a true Curly Hair Goddess! Dianne is the real deal and she will school you properly. She doesn’t need to hear you talk about anything, she just needs you to sit down, sit still and shut up so she can concentrate on doing your hair so you can look as awesome as you’ve ever expected you should look but never quite got there until now! She gave me the rockstar haircut I always wanted and knew I had the potential for but not until I found Dianne. She is by far thee best curly hair specialist and like I said, a true Goddess!

Feb 05, 2022

Dianne has been cutting my wavy/curly hair for the past four years, and has been a complete game changer for my hair! I love that she shares her wealth of knowledge with her clients so they can learn how to fully embrace their curls. Always the professional, Dianne is patient and dedicated to her craft. After years of blowouts and “regular” styling, I am so glad to have found her! What a gift she is to making my curls come alive. Despite my pandemic relocation out of the Bay Area, I was able to book an appointment with her on a recent trip back to visit - this is how highly I value Dianne and her work. If you’re looking for a curly hair specialist, I’m glad to tell you you’ve just found the best!!

Feb 05, 2022

Dianne is an ARTIST - and hair is her medium. She is incredibly talented and cares about getting you the look you want. Her approach is very collaborative and she makes sure to get on the same page about what the client wants before she starts cutting. It was a joy to be apart of her creative process and I couldn't be happier with my cut. I've never had a hair cut that I like, but Dianne's expertise with curls finally gave me a hair cut I can smile about! Her studio is calm, quiet, private, serene and beautifully decorated, making the overall experience worth every penny! I would HIGHLY recommend getting your curls cared for by Dianne <3

Feb 05, 2022

I have only great things to say about Dianne and about my experience at Nola Studios! I actually ended up waiting quite a few months for Dianne and almost ended up going to somebody else during the wait. I can say now, confidently, that Dianne is SO WORTH THE WAIT! And I'm really glad I didn't go anywhere else. I have to admit that I was a little intimidated at first by all the rules on Dianne's website. But there was no reason to be intimidated at all! Dianne is super welcoming and warm and nice! She also really genuinely cares about your hair and is very professional and focused. We had many interesting discussions and I actually felt like we developed a really good rapport. What I particularly appreciated about Dianne is her passion for curly hair and her knowledge of every aspect of it - she really cares about your hair and wants to know all about it so she can give you the best experience and results possible. She also pays attention to even the littlest details - I briefly mentioned at the beginning that my hair falling in my face often bothered me during work and she gave me a cut that made this problem practically vanish.  I also liked how down to Earth and genuine Dianne was as well. Dianne gave me a haircut that both looked and felt spectacular! My hair is fairly thick and coarse and I didn't realize how heavy it was until Dianne gave me haircut that made me feel weightless and gave my hair movement and bounce that it had lacked. I also loved the way she layered my hair - it has been much easier to style ever since and it has also brought out the best in my curls. Her layers also accentuated the nicest curls in my hair, and gave my hair a more pleasing shape. Beyond the technicalities of the haircut, I also loved the 'look' that the haircut gave me [bonus: so did my boyfriend]. Dianne was somehow able to give me a cut that captured my personality, my identity, and my style perfectly, even though this was the very first time we'd met. I've gotten many compliments on my hair from strangers and family alike since getting my haircut by Dianne. It's been five weeks since my hair appointment and my curls are still thriving and living their best curly lives. I still love my haircut and I love the way my hair is growing out from the haircut. I literally couldn't be happier with Dianne and with the haircut she gave me. I literally have only good things to say about Nola Studios and Dianne! I was worried that since I had done a lot of research into curly hair that Dianne wouldn't have anything new to tell me. This ended up being a silly fear as Dianne is super crazy knowledgeable and had plenty of interesting education to share with me. I walked away with several tips including more knowledge of my hair texture and how to maintain hair for multiple days. Dianne even emailed me after my appointment to follow up with me on some of the [many] questions I had asked her during our session - she really wanted to make sure that I had all my questions answered, which I really appreciated. In summary/TL;DR: Dianne is a curly hair expert and simply awesome in every respect. My haircut is amazing and even though it is five weeks later, I've been super happy with the results every single day since it was first cut. I cannot recommend Dianne/Nola Studios enough. For Reference: I am an Asian-American curly with low porosity, medium density, and coarse 2c/3a/3b -ish curls.

Feb 05, 2022

I’m so glad I found Dianne! She definitely is an artist that knows how to read and cut curly hair. I have very curly hair that can get wild and frizzy in the Bay Area fog and wind. She taught me new tips and tricks to keep it under control. In addition, Dianne’s products are wonderful. I have tried many product cocktails over the years, but, may have finally found the right combo. In addition to being a consummate professional, she is a fun and great person!

Feb 05, 2021

Dianne Nola is truly a gem. I am so glad that I found her! She has decades of experience working with curly-haired clients, and it shows! Not only is she knowledgeable, she is also patient, meticulous, and focused on customer satisfaction. If you're looking for someone you can trust with your curls, look no further! Dianne is excellent.

Feb 05, 2021

I am terrible at giving instructions to hair stylists, and never have been willing to do anything besides a wash and wear hairstyle, but somehow Dianne has always given me great cuts. For over 25 years now. Seriously. My hair texture has completely changed over the years from blond and wavy to grey and curly, and somehow I get even more compliments on it now, thanks to Dianne.

Feb 05, 2021

I call Diane “The Curly Hair Whisperer”. Curly hair is tricky and I have spent my life jumping around to different stylists. My quest ended when I met Diane! She is so detailed, giving you an individual cut, after carefully checking your curls. Cutting to enhance the curls. I get complements all the time. I will never have anyone else cut/style my hair.

Feb 05, 2021

I strongly recommend Dianne's services. My hair isn't as curly as many of her clients but that doesn't matter: she has done an excellent job with it for several years now. She is a warm and supportive person - which is always welcome but especially in these uncertain times She cares for her clients as individuals in addition to taking excellent care of their hair.

Feb 05, 2021

It hasn't been easy to find a stylist in San Francisco that really understands curly hair, but Dianne really knows her stuff. She's a careful listener and strives to bring your vision to life. I always leave feeling better than when I walked in.

Feb 05, 2021

It is hard to find someone who understands curly hair, but I finally found Dianne Nola. Everytime she cuts my hair I am really happy with the results, immediately!

Feb 05, 2020

Dianne is a curl artist. She puts thought, care and passion into her haircuts. She is honest and won’t let you fall down a hole of your own unrealistic expectations. She knows curls, she knows your curls better than you. Trust her— she has a vision and the vision is real. Let her do her thing and you will not be disappointed. I never knew my curls could suit me so well; she helped me find the haircut that matches my personality completely. 10 stars!

Feb 05, 2020

I've spent my entire life getting bad haircuts, until I found Diane. No one understood my curly hair, so I was left with haircuts that forced me to straighten my hair on a daily basis. I've been going to Diane for about a year now and my hair has never looked better! I get constant compliments on my curls, and have no desire to ever straighten my hair again. Thank you Diane! You've saved my hair

Feb 05, 2019

Dianne has been my hairdresser for several years and she's the only person I trust to cut my hair. She's very knowledgeable and understands the nature of curly hair very well.

Feb 05, 2019

Dianne rocks. :-) I knew I could have luscious, sexy, beautiful hair. And now I do. Because I found the right stylist. Dianne's cut is the best I've ever had for my hair. The products and routine she recommended are working beautifully. I have absolutely no hairstyling capabilities and now that Dianne has cut my hair even I can manage to do my hair so that, in the words of a friend seeing my new 'do for the first time, I "look like [I] just stepped out of the salon." I had my first hair cut by Dianne just before Christmas, and at the annual family get together, my cousins, aunts, and EVEN MY MOM commented: You look...wow! You look so elegant. Your hair is amazing - what did you do? Where did you go? My mom even went to Dianne to get her hair cut and loved the result (Mom is a tough customer). The family hair is becoming a family affair at Dianne's. I feel gorgeous.

Feb 05, 2019

I love Dianne! She knows curly hair and the Deva Curl products very well. The first appointment is expensive but follow ups aren’t too bad. And she gives a lot more advice for maintaining hair than any other stylist I’ve been to, both for techniques and styling products. She’s definitely worth the price!

Feb 05, 2019

If you’re not sure or on the fence about investing in yourself I say DO IT! Dianne is funny, knowledgeable and patient being a curly girl who in the past year has decided to divorce my heat tools and go natural I’ve been working hard to end my bad habits and I knew going to a curly specialist was the last step in perfecting my lifestyle change to go natural. I have NEVER in my life left the salon proud to show off my curls I usually run home, wash and style and in a week I’d know if I liked my cut that was not the case. I didn’t have to do a thing to my hair I was date night ready! Dianne pays attention to your texture, anticipating what your curl pattern will do once it’s cut making sure you leave her salon looking amazing. I came in open minded and she did not disappoint. I read a few reviews that she could come off rude due to her not talking so much/ lulls in Conversation I didn’t get that at. All. Yes there were some silent moments but she was vocal about explaining her thought process and why she was a little quiet at times. Dianne takes pride in her work and takes the time to learn your hair. There is something to be said about someone with her patience and passion for curls in an industry that is typically fast paced.

Feb 05, 2019

My hair is so much more manageable since I've started going to Dianne. I never dry it. Just throw some product in and go. The shape of her cuts is great