Editor’s note: The Daily Press will feature a series of articles about local businesses, highlighting their history and what makes them unique. This series will be serialized regularly in the Daily Press. — — —
Editor’s note: The Daily Press will feature a series of articles about local businesses, highlighting their history and what makes them unique. This series will be serialized regularly in the Daily Press.
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ESCANABA — A new business on Ludington Street that opened to the public for the first time last week is run by a woman who grew up in Gladstone and recently returned to the area after studying and running a business in the West. Nevaeh, an Aveda salon founded by Nicole Wyckoff (née Duplessien), is rooted in practices and ingredients that are meant to be kind to not only your hair, but the planet as well.
Wyckoff, who has worked at other salons and previously owned a salon, said she enjoys seeing a client’s vision come to life with an experience tailored to them from start to finish. In line with Aveda’s model, at Nevaeh hair colors are custom-made for each guest rather than pre-mixed. Wyckoff said all products used and sold are held to high standards.
After graduating from Gladstone High School, Nicole attended Bay College and then transferred to Northern Michigan University. While studying liberal arts at Marquette, she decided she wanted to pursue cosmetology.
“I was a little picky about where I would train. I wanted to go to Aveda school because I really liked their mission and the idea of mindfulness as a company and a brand.” Wyckoff said. “They really want to minimize the amount of man-made chemicals and carbon footprint in our world.”
She listed some of the brand’s eco-friendly initiatives. All packaging is recycled and recyclable. Each product’s ingredients are at least 95% naturally derived. Aveda uses pea protein instead of keratin. Fragrances come from the essences of flowers and other plants. The company is a B-Corp — “A certification that shows a company meets verified standards of performance, accountability, and transparency for factors ranging from employee benefits and philanthropy to supply chain practices and inputs.” According to B Lab, an international network that issues certificates. Vegan since 1978, Aveda is also Leaping Bunny endorsed. They carry out philanthropic work around the world, including providing clean water to communities near the areas where they source their raw materials.
Wyckoff explained that he found the Gary Manuel Aveda Institute in Seattle, Washington, and first interviewed by phone, then toured the campus, and then had an in-person interview. She was accepted into the program and moved to Seattle, where she completed her education and earned her Aveda Certified Cosmetology designation.
She worked at a salon in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, then moved to Colorado and gained experience at several salons in Frisco before running her own salon. For the past eight years, she owned and operated a salon while raising her family in Colorado. “Heaven” In Frisco.
Although she carried and used other trusted brands at Haven, the business was not an Aveda designated salon like Nevaeh. Wyckoff said Aveda representatives approached her multiple times at Haven about joining Aveda because of the salon’s sustainability efforts and Aveda-certified ownership. “It didn’t work out.” Because not all stylists were ready to switch from the methods and products they knew.
Regardless, “I’ve always tried to find a product line that is as clean and considerate as possible.” Wyckoff added that she had always wanted an Aveda salon.
In August 2023, the Wyckoffs moved to Escanaba to be closer to family. Soon after, they found a commercial building for sale at 604-606 Ludington Street.
Built in 1902, this property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to the 1906 registry, the eastern half (now the Nevaeh Salon) was an insurance office, and the western half (where her husband Josh opened Nomadic Skate and Snow) was a pool hall. It was.
A lot of renovation work took place last year. After the sale closed in November 2023, the family did most of the work and were happy with the elements they found. The original tile floors, exposed brick walls and patterned tin ceiling give the upscale salon a beautiful, comfortable, somewhat industrial feel. Wyckoff said Don’s HVAC replaced ductwork and allowed for a more modern, exposed look.
While Nevaeh was getting ready to open, Wyckoff worked part-time at Other Place Salon, where she rented a chair two days a week.
She explained that it took her some time to come up with a name for her new business. She wanted something modeled after her previous salon, Haven. “heaven” It seemed like the next step. If you write it backwards, it becomes like this “Nevaeh” It felt right.
Wyckoff contracted Aveda and brought in two other stylists and an Aveda representative from County Down to train all three. She said it’s great for new people and a great refresher for her. As an Aveda salon, Nevaeh professionals also have access to resources and training online. They only use Aveda products and sell them retail, but they are not available for purchase in stores.
Although it’s my first time in Escanaba, the owner is an experienced hairdresser and says her favorite part of the job is meeting people. “We listen to their vision and create it for them.”
In the future, Nevaeh may bring in experts in other fields and expand into aesthetics and massage therapy, but for now it’s a hair service salon offering cuts, color and styling.
“We have a great team of stylists here.” Wyckoff said. “The stylists I employ are extremely talented and we are really excited to be a part of the community and delight people with products that we feel passionate about and stand for the quality of. ”
She said she aims to be environmentally conscious and wants the salon to be part of Green Circle, a program that collects and recycles excess hair color.
“While our products are very naturally derived, we want to minimize impact.” Wyckoff said.
