Its All About Being Beautiful in Wyandotte
Daybreak Salon & Spa is owned by the Rushlow family, which includes Jerad Rushlow (left), Jenee Osborne, Gary Rushlow and Mary Toffoli Rushlow (front, center). Photo by Erica McClain
During the last century downriver families have been coming to the corner of Biddle Avenue and Elm Street in Wyandotte to protect and save their investments; hoping to see beautiful things grow. And since 1973, downriver has been entrusting their hair, skin and beauty to the Rushlow family, beginning with Headway Salon in Southgate and continuing with Daybreak Salon & Spa in Woodhaven.
Today, Daybreak Salon & Spa, the Rushlows and the city of Wyandotte will celebrate the artful transformation of this landmark corner building that until now has housed a bank, as they open their second Daybreak Salon & Spa location on Friday, October 16 with a gala ribbon cutting and celebration.
This exciting new addition to Biddle Avenue promises to deliver an unparalleled, full-service salon & spa experience to its clients. The 3,800 square foot building has been artfully transformed and rendered in sophisticated creams and grays. Its nod to the area’s industrial manufacturing roots are anchored in steel and mirror styling stations that can be easily reconfigured for special events like bridal parties, spa events or continuing education classes.
Competing for top design honors in the new spa are the original steel bank vault that has been transformed into two luxurious massage therapy rooms and the serene pedicure stations facing the Detroit River waterfront, permitting the ultimate in privacy and pampering.
Bright light washes over the expansive 12 station styling floor featuring banks of windows facing a bustling Biddle Avenue. “It is great to be in the heart of downtown Wyandotte, we love the energy and loyalty of this town. We are very proud to be a part of Wyandotte’s Local First movement that fortifies the community,” says Jenee Osborne, Daybreak Manager.
“Daybreak recently participated in the Downtown Development events, the Beer and Wine Crawls, with AVEDA sample giveaways and tours. During the Wyandotte Street Art Fair, over 2,000 people participated in Daybreak’s Day at the Spa giveaway. That’s the spirit of Wyandotte that we love. It feels like family, “ claims Osborne.
It is all about family, according to founder Mary Toffoli Rushlow, whose children are her inspiration and reason for expanding the business. Son, Jerad Rushlow and daughter, Jenee Rushlow Osborne, joined her in vision for the second location once they realized that their Woodhaven salon and spa was growing at record levels.
The reason for their success is simple according to Jerad Rushlow, Senior Stylist and Education Coach. “Our client’s absolute satisfaction is our #1 goal. We are committed to giving our clients an experience that exceed their expectations, we do that through expertise and continuing education. We want our clients to know that they have come to the very best. We work very hard to set ourselves apart, in that way,” says Rushlow, whose credits include styling Miss Michigan Jaclyn Misch and other downriver notables.
Jerad hones his skills multiple times a year as a New York Fashion Week stylist bringing back on trend ideas, techniques and skills to his staff who in turn, develop expertise in weekly continuing education with Rushlow. Daybreak stylists receive regular mentoring and training from Rushlow to keep the them on the cutting edge of more than just great hair. “We know that Daybreak is committed to making us the best that we can be as stylists,” says Rory Kazlauskas, “they really invest in us as professionals, not many salons do what Daybreak does.”
Jerad’s work on Jon Reyman’s AVEDA team for notch fashion designers like Nicole Miller, Dyan von Furstenburg, Nautica and Porsche brings New York and Los Angeles to Michigan. “We want to be the best in Michigan, and we work on perfecting our skills every week to make that happen.”
Evidently, it must be working. Daybreak has achieved numerous awards including Salon Today’s endorsement as a Top 200 salon in the United States, based on their solid growth, scope and volume of services. Daybreak Salon and Spa was recently named one of only three AVEDA Lifestyle Salons in the state of Michigan.
Daybreak’s full service salon & spa features only AVEDA’s 95% naturally derived products in all of their salon and spa services. Unique to the Daybreak experience, guests are greeted with AVEDA herbal tea during their client consultation, and pampered throughout the visit with relaxing scalp and hand massages. Color services are exclusively the 99% naturally derived AVEDA systems and their expansive retail store allows clients to replicate Daybreak’s AVEDA experience at home with everything from top-selling hand relief creams to the Invati systems solution for thinning hair.
Experienced Esthetician, Stacy Whitaker boasts about the AVEDA skin care and therapies, “AVEDA’s naturally derived products based on Ayurveda, a 5,000 year-old Indian healing tradition, helps restore balance and the skin’s beauty. It is a privilege to work with these therapies and make a noticeable difference in my client’s skin.”
Daybreak Salon & Spa is well known among brides and young women preparing for prom and now it can offer two locations to meet this growing clientele. And a visit to either location on a bustling Saturday is a testament to the love of Daybreak among downriver and beyond clients. “ I drive all the way from Chicago. Yes, that Chicago, just to come to Daybreak, and it’s worth it. I’ve paid top dollar there for a haircut and quite honestly, Daybreak does it better, ” says long-standing and long-travelling client Wendy Stone.
Downriver is fortunate, because today it now has two Daybreak Salon and Spas from which to choose, all within minutes from home. The Rushlow family is thrilled to expand their 40 years of outstanding client service, the AVEDA commitment to balanced, healthy products, the expertise of a constantly learning, well-trained staff and the fashion trends of New York to Wyandotte.
And most proud is husband, owner and father, Gary Rushlow who grew up in Wyandotte and beams about being back in his hometown. “With its renowned restaurant scene, preserved historical buildings and waterfront location, Wyandotte is one of Michigan’s best cities. We are so pleased to be a part of this fantastic next chapter of bringing beauty to our downriver family and friends. After all, it’s all about feeling and being beautiful at Daybreak.”
