The Deva Cut Was Developed Specifically For Curly Hair

Devachan Salon encourages those of us with natural curls to embrace and show them off as much as possible. To do so, nailing the proper products and styling techniques are important, but even beyond that is your haircut—you need one one that considers your hair type. The salon has developed one that is customized just for your curls—and has aptly named it the Deva Cut.

To weigh in on the Deva Cut is Lorraine Massey, creator of the Curly Girl method and founder of CurlyWorld LLC, and pro-hairstylist Devin Toth of New York City-based Salon SCK. Keep reading to learn everything there is to about the Deva Cut and decide whether or not it's right for you.

The Method

As an original co-founder of DevaCurl, Massey helped devise the Deva Cut. With a head full of curls, she knows firsthand about the special TLC that curly hair needs, and her method for this look was developed specifically for curly hair.

It’s fully customized, as it’s tailored to your unique curl pattern(s), and it requires a very special set of skills to gain the certification that allows a stylist to execute it. Hair is cut dry (since that's how hair is worn), and each curl is cut individually so as not to interrupt or miscalculate your natural curl pattern. This way, each client’s hair is shaped according to their curls or waves.

"I think of the Devacut more as a technique or technical approach rather than a haircut," says Toth, "It separates and accentuates every single curl, as opposed to, say, a razor cut, which aims to collapse overall weight and release texture. As long as there’s an intentional approach or technique tailored specifically for curly hair and the client’s specific needs, the cut should turn out great!"

How to Prepare For Your Cut

To make the most of your hair appointment, come prepared. That starts with making sure your curls and waves are detangled by washing your hair the morning of your appointment. Then, style your hair normally to showcase its definition. "Ideally, you would come in with your hair in its naturally curly state, and freshly detangled," says Toth. If you have natural hair, you should opt for a “wash and go” so your stylist can determine your curls’ amount of shrinkage.

Remember, it’s all about how your curls naturally fall with a Deva Cut, so you should not have your hair in braids, clips, a ponytail, or a chignon when arriving at the salon. And if there's a particular look that you're after, it never hurts to bring in some pictures to show your stylist.

What to Expect

Perhaps just as important as prepping before your appointment is keeping expectations in check. Depending on whether or not you've ever had a Deva Cut before will affect how long your appointment will be. New clients should expect to stick around for around two hours, while returning clients will be in and out in about an hour or so. Once you find a salon, keep in mind that the price will vary based on the stylist's level of experience, among other factors. Typically, however, you can expect to pay anywhere between $85 to $200—and don't forget to tip.

Care and Maintenance

On your way back from the salon, you may be experiencing high levels of curl confidence—as you should—however, to reap the full benefits of your Deva Cut, implementing the proper hair care routine is key. This will allow you to keep your tresses healthy and your curls living their best life:

• Use hydrating, sulfate-free cleansers to clean hair without stripping it of moisture and color.
• Rinse hair with cold to lukewarm water—never hot, which will dehydrate locks and create frizz.
• Dry tresses with a microfiber towel or diffuser to avoid unwanted frizz.
• Don't just use any old brush to comb your hair. Detangling brushes—or even your fingers—will make all the difference in defining curls.
• Maintaining a healthy scalp is the key to healthy hair, so deep clean it regularly.