Meet Dalina Rivas of The Dalina Way

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dalina Rivas.

Dalina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been in the beauty industry for over 18 years. I started out assisting in salons and quickly worked my way up—eventually touring with artists like Ariana Grande and helping create signature looks, including her iconic ponytail. That time taught me a lot about branding, precision, and delivering under pressure.

After years of working behind the scenes in music, I opened my own private salon in Sherman Oaks called The Dalina Way. Now I focus on blonding, extensions, and helping people discover their signature look—whether they’re in the spotlight or not. I approach hair like it’s part of someone’s personal brand, blending creativity with functionality so the look works for their lifestyle.

It’s been a fun evolution—from tour life to salon life—and I’m grateful I get to do what I love every day while helping people feel like their best selves.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not always smooth—but that’s part of the beauty of the journey. Like many creatives, I’ve had to learn the business side of things the hard way. There were times I undercharged, overworked, and said yes to too much. I’ve dealt with burnout, tricky clients, and navigating the ups and downs of being self-employed—especially during a pandemic and major industry shifts.

At one point, I transitioned from touring with celebrities to building my own salon from scratch, which came with its own set of challenges—figuring out overhead, pricing, branding myself all over again. But every challenge taught me something valuable and pushed me to level up.

Now I’m much more intentional about the clients I take, the energy I keep around me, and the kind of experience I want to create. The road’s been wild, but I wouldn’t trade it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Dalina Way?
My business is called The Dalina Way—a private salon in Sherman Oaks where I specialize in blonding, hair extensions, and total transformations. I’m known for helping people discover their signature look—something that feels authentic, elevated, and fits their lifestyle. I don’t just “do” hair—I brand people through their look.

What sets me apart is my background in the entertainment industry, where I helped create iconic styles for touring artists. Now, I bring that same attention to detail and creative strategy to everyday clients. Whether you’re a CEO or a creative, I help you show up as you, but bolder.

I exclusively use top-quality products like Wella, Olaplex, Pulp Riot, and Redken to ensure hair health never gets compromised, especially with big changes like going blonde or adding extensions.

I’ve recently started sharing my space with my husband, who’s a barber. We work independently but under one roof, creating a welcoming space where both men and women can be taken care of with intention and expertise. It’s become a little creative hub where quality, comfort, and transformation all meet.

More than anything, The Dalina Way is about the experience—it’s personalized, luxe, and built to make people feel confident from the inside out.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to work with me is to book through my website or connect with me on Instagram @dalinaway. I’m currently accepting new clients for blonding, extensions, and full transformations. I love working with people who are ready to elevate their look and value a personalized, high-quality experience.

For brand collaborations, I’m always open to working with beauty, wellness, and lifestyle companies that align with my values—especially when it comes to education, content creation, or sharing the real behind-the-scenes of professional salon life.

You can also support by sharing my work, tagging friends, and engaging with my content—referrals and reposts make a huge difference for small businesses like mine.

And—if you’re looking for a great barber, my husband and I now share a space in Sherman Oaks where we each take care of our clients individually. He’s deep in his career and already making waves, so supporting both of us means supporting a couple building something from the ground up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.thedalinaway.com
• Instagram: @dalinaway