About Diana & Dapper

Four friends.Two salons.One promise:your favourite chair.

Four partners. One younger brother who actually knows hair. Two salons in Hyderabad, six years in, and a stylist team we'd hire all over again. Here's how it happened.

Read our story
6+
years in business
2
branches in Hyderabad
4
partners since college, 2012
15+
professionals and growing

Our story

A pandemic asked us a question.
We answered with a salon.

We've been friends since 2012. Three of us: Pavan, Kishore and Sathish, met in college in Karimnagar, studying everything except hair: electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science. The kind of friendships you don't expect to last past graduation, but somehow do.

Years later, the three of us were spread across three continents: Australia, Europe, and the US, chasing higher studies. Kishore's younger brother Dileep had been working in salons back home since 2014, learning the craft the long way: scissors first, then chemistry, then people.

Then March 2020 happened. Salons across India shut overnight. The story we kept hearing from Dileep was the same one playing out everywhere, stylists were being let go, or asked to come back for less than half their pay. People with a craft and a calling, suddenly without a chair.

“How hard can it be?”
- Three engineers, late 2020. Famous last words.

It started, honestly, as a way to support friends. A handful of stylists who needed a fair chair and a fair wage. But somewhere between the lease and the licence, we did our homework, we read, we visited, we asked dumb questions until they weren't dumb anymore. And then we fell in love with it.

Diana & Dapper opened in Sainikpuri in February 2021. Malkajgiri followed in May 2023. Six years in, we're still the same four people, still learning, still here for the same reason we started.

Meet the partners

Four people behind every chair.

Three of us studied engineering. One of us studied scalps. Together, somehow, it works.

PB

Pavan

Operations & Tech

Background
Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Based in
Brisbane, Australia

Engineer-turned-operator. Builds the booking, billing, and back-end so the team in the salon never has to think about it.

KR

Kishore

Brand & Vision

Background
Mechanical Engineering
Based in
Rome, Italy

The aesthetic eye. Picks every fixture, every finish, every detail you notice when you walk in.

SS

Sathish

Finance & Growth

Background
Computer Science
Based in
United States

Runs the numbers so our prices stay honest and our stylists paid fairly.

DR

Dileep

Master Stylist & Salon Lead

Background
10+ years in the salon industry
Based in
Hyderabad, on the floor every day

The reason this works. Kishore's younger brother, and the soul of both salons.

Our two branches

Same team, same standard, two homes.

Tap any photo to view fullscreen. Both salons share the same product wall, same training, same checklist — so the only thing different is the postcode.

The long version

Twelve years, abbreviated.

  1. 01
    2012

    Three friends, one classroom

    Pavan (EEE), Kishore (Mech) and Sathish (CS) meet in college in Karimnagar. Different disciplines, same dinner table for the next eight years.

  2. 02
    2014

    Dileep enters the industry

    Kishore's younger brother starts apprenticing in salons. Learns scissors, then chemistry, then people.

  3. 03
    2017–'19

    Three flights out

    Pavan to Brisbane, Kishore to Rome, Sathish to the US. Higher studies. The group chat never quietens.

  4. 04
    March 2020

    A bad day for our stylist friends

    Salons shut. Stylists across Hyderabad are let go or paid pennies. We start asking each other a different kind of question.

  5. 05
    Feb 2021

    We open Sainikpuri

    A small unisex salon. A handful of stylists who needed a chair. Better pay, real respect, premium products on the shelf.

  6. 06
    May 2023

    We open Malkajgiri

    Same standard, same team-first culture, same shopping list. A second home with room to grow.

  7. 07
    Today

    Six years in, still learning

    Two branches, thousands of clients, and a stylist team we'd hire all over again.

What we stand for

The four things we won't bend on.

01 / 04

Stylist-first, always

Fair pay, premium kits, and a chair where they're respected. If the team is at home, the work is too.

02 / 04

One standard, both branches

Same training, same products, same checklist. Whether you walk into Sainikpuri or Malkajgiri.

03 / 04

Premium without the pretence

L'Oreal, Wella, O3+ — pro-grade products on the shelf, honest pricing on the menu. Members save 10% every visit.

04 / 04

Walk-ins always welcome

Booked or unbooked, you'll find a chair. We built this for the neighbourhood — show up however you can.

Come say hi

Walk in or book online,
we'll save you a chair.

Two branches. Same team. Mon to Sun, 9:00 to 21:00.

Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Reach out to us by sending us an email and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

What services do you offer for both men and women?
At Diana & Dapper, we offer a full range of grooming and beauty services for everyone - haircuts, hair colouring (including balayage, ombré, and highlights), hair spa treatments, keratin and smoothening therapies, facials, waxing, threading, manicures, pedicures, beard styling, and bridal makeup packages. Whether you're in for a quick trim or a complete makeover, we've got you covered.
Do I need to book an appointment in advance, or do you accept walk-ins?
We welcome both walk-ins and advance bookings! To save time and secure your preferred slot, you can book online through our booking page. Appointments are especially recommended on weekends and for longer services like makeup or bridal packages. Both our Sainikpuri and Malkajgiri branches are open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
What hair care products do you use?
We use premium, internationally recognised brands to ensure the best results for your hair and skin. Our colour services use professional-grade products that protect hair integrity while delivering vibrant, long-lasting results. We'll always walk you through what we're using during your consultation.
Do you offer bridal packages, and how far in advance should I book?
Yes, we offer complete bridal packages including hair styling, makeup, and beauty services for your special day. Given high demand during the wedding season in Hyderabad, we recommend booking your bridal appointment at least 3-4 weeks in advance. This also gives us time to schedule a trial session so everything is perfect on the big day.
How are your services priced?
Our pricing is transparent with no hidden charges, and services are priced to offer great value across all categories including facials, waxing, manicures, pedicures, and hair treatments. For a full picture, check our services menu or ask our team at either branch for a quote before you begin.
What hygiene and safety standards do you follow?
Your health and comfort are central to everything we do at Diana & Dapper. We use sterilised tools for every client, maintain a clean and welcoming environment at both our Sainikpuri and Malkajgiri branches, and follow strict hygiene protocols across all services. Our customers have consistently praised our cleanliness standards, and our team is always happy to walk you through our sanitation practices on request.