For cosmetologist Evelyn Estevez, trying to make people look and feel their best is a passion that is always on.
She can look at someone’s hair and immediately see what would improve it.
“Oh, she needs a toner. She needs her ends cut,” she said. “I think that someone that’s genuinely into styling or just making people feel pretty is going to automatically just do that.”
It’s a useful skill that, as owner of DBO Hair Studios, 2626 W. Washington St., she uses to benefit her clients every day.
“Sometimes women are afraid to take off their hat because of what’s going on under there. I tell them ‘Don’t be afraid, because that’s what you’re here for,’” Estevez said. “We definitely help each client that walks in the door in the way that makes them look or feel beautiful.
The westside salon specializes in the Dominican blowout, a style that can straighten hair or give it volume without using chemical relaxers. But she knows every client is different.
“I think that as a hairstylist, we should be able to deal with any type of culture, ethnicity or hair type,” she said. “I like being diverse, and that’s why I call my salon a multicultural salon, because the doors are open to all ethnicities.”
Clients like Speedway resident Sandy Pineyro are fans of her styling and how she cares for them.
“I’ve been coming to this salon for the last eight years, and I’ll keep coming because they understand the type of hair I have and how I like to style it perfectly,” Pineyro said in an interview conducted in Spanish.
Recommendations have spread through word of mouth, and now Estevez’ customers come from all over Indianapolis and even from other states.
A family trade
Estevez was born in the Dominican Republic. In 1991, at age 6, her family moved to Brooklyn.
She wasn’t dreaming about an empire in those days.
“Having my own room was my main goal,” Estevez said. “I had to share one tiny bedroom with two other sisters. It was a little bit hectic, because we’re girls, right? We needed space for our clothes and shoes.”
Her mother, Maria, founded a hair salon to make money. There, she taught Evelyn how to style hair.
But times were tough financially, and by 2000, the family was on the verge of leaving the U.S. and returning to the Dominican Republic.
Before making the decision to move, the family looked to see if they could set up a life elsewhere.
They found Indianapolis and loved it. The family sold the beauty salon and bought a home on the west side.
“The culture shock was a little bit overwhelming,” Estevez said. “I never knew that I was a minority until I came here, because in New York you don’t hear that.”
In Indy, Maria started her salon again from the basement of her home. An entrepreneur, she would also babysit clients’ kids and sell some homemade food on the side. Evelyn and her sister helped out.
“I used to help her wash hair and doing other little stuff because she was the only hairstylist,” Estevez said. “I would help her after school or on the weekends.”
After a year, the family saved enough money to rent half of a duplex and convert it into a beauty salon. The family would eventually buy the building.
Over the years, the west side became more diverse, and the business grew. Evelyn learned more styling skills from her mother, which made cosmetology school here in Indianapolis a breeze when she attended.
“It was always something that I was into, because I was used to doing my hair and I would do my cousin’s hair for the proms,” she said. “I think it’s something that was natural with me.”
In 2010, Evelyn’s mother fell ill and gave Evelyn the opportunity to buy the business from her with a $5,000 down payment. She took the opportunity and bought the salon and renamed it Evelyn’s Beauty Salon.
“I made it bigger and opened up the whole first floor,” Estevez said.
A modern but comfortable salon
The salon is now called DBO Hair Studios, after its specialty, the Dominican blowout, and Estevez’ mission is to make clients feel comfortable.
She’s modernized the salon and has hired several stylists to work alongside her.
“To me, it’s very important to make people comfortable here. I want them to feel like they’re home,” Estevez said.
The attempt has worked for some Indianapolis residents, like northsider Deyonce Hunt.
Hunt normally previously did her own hair, but she discovered Estevez’ salon a few months ago and has become a loyal customer.
“I’d rather just come here. It’s affordable and fast,” Hunt said. “It takes a little bit of a drive to get here, but it’s definitely worth it.”
DBO Hair Studios is open from Tuesday through Saturday. You can book an appointment online or by calling (317) 822-4783. Walk-ins are welcome.
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