Curly hair deserves a specialist
Curly hair is not a version of straight hair, and it should not be cut like one. That belief is the foundation of everything that happens in Richie's chair.
Rockstar Richie
I'm Richie, though most people know me as Rockstar Richie. I've spent over 15 years behind the chair, with the past 10 devoted to curly and wavy hair. I've been cutting hair in Austin since 2014, and today I style inside Damron and Company Salon in northwest Austin.
Curly hair has been part of my life a lot longer than my career has. I grew up with two sisters with curly hair, and I watched them fight their curls for years. Back then, the cuts and products curly hair actually needs did not exist yet, and I saw firsthand how much frustration that caused.
So when curly clients started arriving in my chair with the same story, years of cuts that ignored their texture, stylists who wanted to "fix" their curls instead of work with them, hair they had stopped trusting anyone to touch, I recognized it immediately. Some had given up on haircuts entirely. I built my craft around ending that story.
Certified in both major curl-cutting methods
I'm one of the few Austin stylists certified in both major curl-cutting methods.
DevaCurl Level 3 Master
I'm a DevaCurl Level 3 Master, the highest certification level, trained in New York City. A Deva cut is a dry-cutting technique designed specifically for curly hair, shaping each curl the way it actually falls.
Rëzo certified
A Rëzo cut is a curly cutting method that keeps even length around the head so curls have volume and freedom of movement.
Holding both certifications matters because no two curl patterns are the same. I match every cut to your curl pattern, never forcing it into one system.
Credentials and craft
The proof
Across 1,765 verified appointment reviews on Vagaro and Google, 1,762 are five stars. Some clients drive 90 minutes each way. Many have stayed for five to ten years.
"Richie has been my hair stylist since 2018. He very skillfully cuts and styles my thick unruly curly hair. He is a great listener and caring person. He has taught me how to take care of my curly hair so that it is healthy and beautiful. I can highly recommend Richie as a hairstylist stylist, especially for curly hair. I have never been disappointed with my haircuts and have actually begun to appreciate and enjoy my curls."
"I've been seeing Richie for the last 2+ years and followed him when he moved to this salon. He is the best! […] I always get compliments on my hair."
What to expect
Your first appointment starts with a real consultation. I study how your hair lays naturally, listen to what matters to you, and explain the why behind every recommendation. Honest advice, no upselling, and a cut designed for your actual life.
My motto: "Your beauty is my specialty."