The city of Bakersfield voted for its favorite hair salon, naming Curl Up and Dye its new and most liked establishment for 2014. The award was given to Jose Duran and Alex Arias after their takeover of Curl Up and Dye, which has now been renamed Dark Veil Dynasty.

Dark Veil Dynasty is located in downtown Bakersfield and has been run by the new owners for the past two years. Duran shared how he and Arias came into the salon business and why they chose Curl Up and Dye.

“When I came here as a client, I never understood why it wasn’t reaching its full potential, why it was dirty, why the windows weren’t being cleaned and why the beautiful wood floors weren’t mopped and polished. Little things like that is what attracted me here,” Duran said. “I would tell Alex we’re going to own that shop … I knew we would so I started buying antique mirrors for the stations and literally two weeks later we were offered the salon.”

While Duran took over the business part of the salon, Arias, who has been a stylist for nine years, took over the styling services for the salon.

With a more rustic and gothic appeal to the new decor, the salon aims for a welcoming feel for its small location. From every color of paint to every candle placed on the walls, Duran has put himself personally and culturally into the new appeal of the salon’s decor. He credits his style and fashion technique of interior design to his grandmother who was an interior designer.

But even with the welcoming faces, antique mirrors, and trending styles, the salon has been getting some backlash for the gothic and hip look. Some groups have even said that the salon stylists are satanic worshippers and have accused the salon of having satanic symbols and statues in the basement, which comes as no surprise to Duran and the staff.

One stylist, BriAnna Monahan, who has been with the salon for four years expressed her admiration of the salon since the takeover and stated, “The clientele has grown so much; we get walk-ins and new clientele daily.”

Monahan credits the success to online advertising, personal referrals, and from promoting themselves around town. She feels that even though Curl Up and Dye did make it big, its fame did not stay and said that the salon Dark Veil Dynasty has not died down since its awarded recognition.

“I feel the style fits more of all our personalities. More gothic, I guess you can say,” Monahan said. “It fits us all and it stands out more, it’s nice, I like it. I love it”.

At Dark Veil Dynasty, each stylist has his or her own unique the look that fits the salon and gives a different appeal that one would not see at any other salon.

The success of the salon is not just credited to Duran but also to his business and life partner of five years, Arias. Duran has made it clear that his and Arias’ life partnership is not the purpose or reason for success in the salon business or interest. Their life choices do not reflect on them as business owners and does not define the salon in any way.

Although these two business partners may be successful in the new salon, Duran praises his love for his stylist and feels the success that him and Arias have is because they were both driven and inspired with the help of a dedicated staff, which made Dark Veil Dynasty what it is today.