I first met Dianne Nola a few years ago after she called to ask some questions about Jessicurl. On a trip to San Francisco I went to meet her in person and I swear, I thought our combined energy was going to cause a brown-out. :) She is abundantly friendly, upbeat, positive and just lifts the spirits of anyone around her. A year or so later I had her cut my hair, so I can vouch that she’s also talented with a pair of scissors! :) I’m please to feature her today on my blog. If you’re in or near San Francisco, you won’t be disappointed by your time with Dianne. :) FOR COMPLETE INTERVIEW GO TO J ..read more

I am thrilled to be selected on the 2022 Stylist Panel and Advisory Board in CURL Magazine!!! Curl Magazine is the only printed and international magazine for curly hair! Along with three other panelists, we will be quoted in articles throughout this year, giving advice and tricks for curly-haired women. There are four issues per year and I will have a full-feature in Issue 16. This will be released on August 1 and arriving in mailboxes by the middle of the month! It also comes in a digital format! Here is a LINK for a sneak peak of this 6 page/9 photo article entitled, ,SHARPENING THE FOCUS ..read more

My curl friend/specialist, Brianne Prince, has a wonderful video that takes the mystery out of curl clipping. Here is the article and video from her blog! "I want to talk a little bit about clipping your hair. I have so many clients that come in and tell me that they have tried it in the past and just couldn't get the hang of it. Usually the reasons why are that they are using the wrong type of clip for their hair or that they are attempting to clip at an awkward angle, (either from underneath the curl or because they are crossing their arm in front of their face). I get many complaints that t ..read more

Before the internet, I would pass out flyers with restaurant recommendations to my clients. There were illustrations along the borders for the best finds. Here's my latest in 2023! Coffee Berry, a cozy café, just opened at 1410 Lombard between Van Ness and Franklin. It's just a block away from where I work and the people are super sweet. It's the perfect spot to hang out before or after your curl sprucing up with me! They have superb, fresh and flakey Cibo pastries that they receive every morning from Sausalito. They also serve Sightglass coffee. J.T. and José are the owners and they will ev ..read more

All curls are not created equal. All curly hair is not all curly. And each curl has a mind of its own. A curl specialist knows this. Many of us with coils and ringlets do not. Luckily there are stylists like Dianne Nola to translate our tendrils into a language we understand. “An experienced stylist is like a psychic and hair doctor in one. They ‘get you’ before you even sit in the chair,” she says. “Breathe. Go to someone very experienced. They already know a lot about your hair. The missing piece is your lifestyle and expectations.” The Best of San Francisco just named Dianne the top Curly ..read more

Let's celebrate the most light all year 'round, Pride month and people that make life worth living. As I was soaking in the gorgeous natural sauna of Sedona last week, I was delivered some unfortunate news that will affect some of you. ,,Jess, the owner and founder of Jessicurl Products, has passed away. Her health hadn't been good for the past several years. She was only 47.  The thing about Jess was... she was always Jess. She never had a guard. She was never pretentious. She was the most loving, deep-hugging, hilarious, dance and laugh-out-loud woman in this curl and beauty industry I have ..read more

Cutting curly hair is a bit like driving a Zamboni: It should really be left to the pros. Dianne Nola is a consummate pro. A curl specialist for the past 28 years, she trained in the vaunted DevaCurl method and is a master of the dry cut. When you sit down in her chair, she’ll begin by assessing your curl type and will finish with your undying loyalty (cuts $140–$210 ..read more

QUESTION: My dandruff is really noticeable. My doctor told me to use Head & Shoulders but it's really drying my hair out. I feel stuck and am not sure what to do. What would you suggest? ANSWER 1: Dandruff shampoos with pine tar will strip your hair of oils and perpetuate the issue. I definitely do not recommend this cleanser. Curl products can be more concentrated and hydrating than the regular products you've been using all your life. Make sure to vigorously massage your scalp when applying a cleanser and thoroughly rinse it out. Also try using less conditioner to allow the scalp to bre ..read more

I am always struck by the nuances of each individual's head of hair. I am not just talking about the way they wear their hair but the actual growth patterns of the hair and diameter of the hair strand itself. So let's start with those pesky cowlicks! The cowlick is spoken and spelled exactly as if a cow was licking the top of the head. I used to think it was colic like a baby crying, thinking the hair was unhappy too, but later found it was just the tongue of a cow. Starting its growth in the womb, the cowlick is also called a whorl. It is much like your thumb print, a giant unique pattern th ..read more

The most common question I receive is, "What can I do about my thinning hair?" However this comes in the form of a woman thinking she is the only one and with much confusion. Androgenetic alopecia or Female Pattern Baldness happens when a woman's estrogen levels start to drop approximately 45 - 50 years old. According to Dr. Maryellen Smith, "Estrogen slows hair growth and makes the growth phase longer (2 - 7 years)." So naturally women start to lose hair with the decline of estogen. Additionally, each individual hair becomes thinner in diameter especially the pesky cowlick (see past blog) on ..read more