Favorite Hillcrest Salon dk hair Relocates in (Hair) StylePublished : 10/30/2007 by Kirsten Noelle Hubbard
David Valencia, Kenneth Bradshaw and the rest of the skillful dk hair crew move like dancers around Hillcrest’s freshly enhanced dk hair salon, honored by Salon Today as one of the fastest growing hair salons in the country.
A Stylish Evolution
Just a stone’s throw from its old location on Sixth Ave., the new dk hair location fits the San Diego salon’s reputation for excellence.
The Hillcrest hair salon is twice as large as its former site; boasting twenty-two workstations, the sleek space sprawls back and back, with different levels for different facets of the hairstyling process. Its interior shines with immaculate bamboo floors and furnishings that merge function with style, including chic black seating in the hair washing station and massive, framed mirrors.
Unlike mirrors at other hair salons, which portray the client as little more than “floating heads”, the mirrors at dk hair are large and unobstructed. David and his crew insist on considering their client in his or her entirety when making style decisions – it’s just one component of the three-part philosophy for which dk hair is renowned.
Another part of the dk hair set of values is the salon’s emphasis on continued education for its stylists and cutters. Employees are sent to Bumble & Bumble University in New York City, and junior stylists attend two-hour class with David once a week. So what’s the third part?
“We have a tight crew,” David says. “And that’s one of the things that sets us apart the most. We’re a team-oriented salon – we really connect with our staff.”
With the Greatest of Ease
David’s early life was uniquely colorful. Born into a family of itinerant South American circus performers,
David worked as a trapeze artist in cities spanning the continent. He became fascinated with the realm of clipping after performing with a troupe of Americans, who were accompanied by a skilled hairstylist. David admired the stylist’s flexibility, revising the troupe’s look with fluid expertise.
Fast forward several years. David met Kenneth Bradshaw, the “K” in dk hair, while working at a San Diego salon. Operating side-by-side, the two each grew to value the other’s artistic talent and integrity. Their mutual respect eventually led to a serious conversation.
“We said, what are the chances of the two of us – one from South America, one from England – ending up at the same salon in San Diego? It was too perfect. We felt we needed to create something, together.” And of course, that something was dk hair.
 Phase One: The Cut
As one would expect in a Hillcrest salon, the staff at dk hair is commendably hip, and exceptionally welcoming. Seconds after I stepped inside, I was offered wine, coffee, tea and even beer – the latter a reflection of the salon’s efforts to accommodate men as well as women.
Before wielding his scissors, David encouraged a thorough conversation about my hair history, health, and the look I was seeking (cut it all off, I said). After the initial chop, he used a razor to add texture and movement to the edges. Because my hair is impossibly thick, he thinned it out underneath. The result was oh-so-light: short, but still in my comfort zone, exactly what I wanted.
“[Hairstyling] is an art that offers immediate gratification,” David says. “You – and your client – can see the results right away.”
Phase Two: The Color
The new Color Bar at dk hair’s relocation invites clients to be a part of the coloring process, in another effort to elucidate the often covert aspects of hairstyling.
My dk hair colorist, Lindsey Moran, also knew exactly what I wanted, even when I was uncertain myself. Because I had managed to grow out my natural hair color after over a decade of highlights, I knew I didn’t want any kind of lightening. She lifted a thin, top layer of hair, dyed a midsection underneath two different shades of dark, and left the underpart my natural hair color. The result: prismatic hair art that changes color as it moves.
Phase Three: The Facial
One of dk hair’s newest team members is Brenda Allick, an expert esthetician who hails from spas in La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe. Educated by the celebrated Anastasia, Brenda found the new dk hair the perfect environment for taking command of her craft.
 The spa room at dk hair is a soothing fog of scents, candles and calming music. A top-of-the-line warming bed ensures whole-body relaxation. Every spa treatment dk hair offers is tailored around your personal skin type. Brenda swears by the line skin and body products by True, a high-end manufacturer.
My facial included brow shaping and tinting; massaging of arms, hands, shoulders and face; application of a digestive enzyme, a series of True facial products, and a lymphatic release massage. Afterward, I felt fresh-faced, a little discombobulated, and extremely relaxed.
The Conclusion
It’s refreshing to find a salon in a San Diego community as central as Hillcrest, that offers such a wide variety of expert salon and spa treatments. As David says, the salon experience should be relaxing – a respite from our stressful lives.
“Between hitting the gym, working, dropping off clothes at the dry cleaner, it’s hard to fit in another appointment,” he says. “That’s why a visit to the salon should be something to look forward to.”
Keep an eye out for unique hairstyle collections from dk hair salon this spring, the result of collaborations between departments in designing seasonal styles.
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