POULSBO — Delano Salon owner Diana Borjas has experienced the glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills and the no-nonsense flavor of the Midwest, but Little Norway has a special appeal.

Borjas, who began her hairstyling journey at the tender age of 16, was searching for a place to open a salon, when she saw the ideal spot in downtown Poulsbo.

“I drove by and thought it was absolutely perfect and bought it without even going in,” she recalled as she reflected on her spur of the moment decision.

Even though she has remodeled the space’s interior to give the salon a more modern, trendy feel, one reminder from the past remains.

“They asked me not to remove the barber pole when I bought it, and I’m glad I decided to keep it,” she said. “It’s a constant source of wonder for toddlers and grown men as well.”

Having “salon” as part of her business’ name may conjure up pictures of a “girly boutique,” but Borjas said she has strived to balance chic and fashionable with a masculine feel.

“I wanted guys to feel comfortable as well, so that’s why I used the metal in here,” she explained as she pointed to the counter that is paneled with galvanized steel.

In addition to creating an upbeat atmosphere, customer service is the main priority at Delano, she said.

“I’m doing this because I love doing it and my goal is to give them exactly what they want, not what I think they want,” she said, noting that much of her career has been spent educating other hairstylists.

As a teacher, Borjas said she has worked with the top stylists in the world as she journeyed across the country instructing other hairstylists on the latest trends in the industry. During those travels, Borjas said she would often schedule appointments at salons she’d never visited before just to see how they operated and whether or not she got exactly the style she was looking for.

“I wanted to see how they’d treat me and if they’d give me what I wanted,” she said. “A lot of what I do is listening to my customers to understand exactly what they’re looking for.”

Even though most of her customers may just be seeking everyday haircuts, Borjas said she is just as comfortable doing formal styles for special occasions.

“I love doing formal, elaborate hairstyles for weddings and proms, which is something a lot of people tend to shy away from,” she noted.

While providing customers with just the right hairstyle may be the largest part of her business, community involvement is equally important, Borjas said.

“In the past, I’ve done cut-a-thons, where I’ve donated all of my proceeds from a day to Special Olympics, and I hope to do that here as well,” she explained.

Another part of her community involvement efforts involve Locks of Love, which is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children suffering from any type of medical hair loss, she said.