I have struggled with how to cut and style my curly, fine hair my entire life. One stylist would tell me that a scrunching spray is the only way to go, but then the next would insist that I use a mousse or gel. I've tried every product out there for defrizzing, controlling and defining curly hair, but most of them did little to help and sit, half-used, on my bathroom shelves.

Just when I thought I would live a life resigned to ponytails and straightening my locks, I found out about Shapes Salon, at 2525 15th Street, where the stylists specialize in the Deva cutting and styling system. The fact that they call it a "system" had me worried, because I didn't want to have to shell out for a bunch of new products, but really the experience was less about the products and more about relearning how to handle curly hair. And boy, did I have a lot to learn.

Not only was I using the wrong shampoo (one without harmful silicones and sodium laurel sulphates is a must to avoid drying out hair), but I didn't even know how to dry my hair properly (they recommend a T-shirt or a pillow case to cut down on the frizz factor that most towels will impart). Best of all, I finally got a dry cut for my curls, which is important since curly hair tends to curl tighter over the ears and all those wet cuts I had been getting wound up too short over my ears -- which led to that never-quite-right shape I had resigned myself to.

Now, I'm not yet an expert with this new way of treating my curls, but truly, my eyes have been opened. If you, too, have struggled with your curls, you might look into Lorraine Massey's book Curly Girl: More Than Just Hair and DevaConcepts, the company that she co-founded. For more information on Shapes Salon, click here. -- Aubrey Shoe

OMG DID YOU SEE SHEAR GENIUS THIS WEEK? Walk into any salon and that’s what you will hear. Not as hooked on it as every stylist in Denver? Well, get it together! What Project Runway did for Fashion, Shear Genius is doing for hairstyling. The show is almost at its end, and next week is the final episode. I know I will be parked in front of my TV next Wednesday night to find out if Denver’s own Charlie Price, a well known stylist and owner of Click Salon in Cherry Creek, is in fact a Shear Genius.

In case you missed it, this week we had Nicole, Daniel, Dee, and Charlie left. Their challenge was to get to know their clients and give them a style to reflect their personalities with guest judge and well known celeb stylist Jose Eber. The twist -- they had an identical twin to style as well. Whoo! Look out! The challenge winner gained immunity and a guaranteed spot in the top three. The winner was Nicole, the cute and bubbly stylist. The challenge was entertaining but I could not stop staring at the gigantic cold sore on Daniel’s lip. Did you bump your lip on a biscuit? Or were there some extracurricular activities going on that the Bravo cameras missed?

I love that Nicole won the short cut challenge. It sent the bitchy (but loveable) Charlie on one of his little hissies. Love it! Charlie did, however, prove his shear genius in the elimination challenge. It was an avant garde photo shoot with photographer Michael Grecco. Apparently the stylists need to pick up a dictionary and look up the meaning of avant garde. I thought all the hair styles were really pretty but, as Daniel found out, they were not at all what the photographer wanted.

Poor sweet southern bell Daniel. They “misted” his model for the shoot, but he had the best little comment about it. “They hosed that bitch down like she was on fire!” Classic! But, in the end he had his final cut. So, tune in next week for the battle between Nicole, Dee (who should have gone home), and Charlie. God, I hope there's a cat fight.