Page 6 - December 2018 Wheel FINAL

WHAT’S GOING ON AT OUR

COMMUNITY CENTER’S SALON?

By Rashawnda Atkinson

Take a stroll down the Community lash Extensions. Oh yeah, you’ve got first encountered Paul. “I loved work-
Center hallway and, wait...where’s the to try the new massage/pedicure chair! ing with Jane Paul. . . and the clients I
Uni-Hair Salon? Hmmm...there’s still met,” she recounts. “I had no plans to
a salon here, and look, there’s Uni- Paul decided to retire in October after own a large shop again but Jane
Hair’s owner, Jane Paul. The sign is owning and managing Uni-Hair for reached out to me,” she says.
different though. What’s going on? nearly 30 years. But she didn’t want
to sell the business to just anyone; she De La Cruz’s training includes stints
In a word, change. Licensed hairstylist wanted to be sure it would flourish. at BROMS Beauty School, Rob Roy
Dawn Marie De Le Cruz is the propri- Enter Dawn. Esthetics School, and Putnam Voca-
etor of Dawn Marie’s Visage, now tional post-graduate programs. She
located in our Community Center. BACK TO THEIR ROOTS holds certifications from the Ameri-
“Dawn was the first person I thought can Board of Certified Hair Colorists,
The name, she says, evokes her desire Brazilian Blowout, Extreme Eyelash
to “create ‘looks’ for people.” about talking to when I decided to

Never fear, the “best of the best” — in
both stylists and services — is still “When you want to feel good, we want to be your
here. You can still get a Brazilian go-to place.” ~ Dawn Marie De La Cruz
Blowout and Keratin treatment. You
can still have Jane Paul do your hair.
But now you can also get Hair sell,” says Paul. “I knew she would Extensions and Hair Dreams Exten-
Dreams Extensions and Extreme Eye- love and care for the salon like I did.” sions.
Plus, she says, “she BRUSHES WITH FAME
still allows me to
serve my clients,” De La Cruz has had the privilege of
some of whom go working with renowned hair mogul
back 40 years. Paul Mitchell, co-founder of the Paul
Mitchell line of hair products, to cre-
“It’s hard to stop!” ate the signature hair color for two-
says Paul with a time Oscar nominee Carol Connors.
chuckle.
She’s the woman who co-wrote the
Paul now works part iconic theme song for the movie
-time at the salon, “Rocky,” (“Gonna Fly Now”) . To
coming full circle this day, Connors still relies on De La
from her first part- Cruz for her hairstyling talents when-
time gig at Uni-Hair ever business brings her to D.C.
back in the 1980’s But De La Cruz isn’t simply in the
before she pur- business for sheer glamour. She also
chased it. styled hair for women diagnosed with

De La Cruz is no Alzheimer’s disease and little girls
stranger to Wa- who want pink hair — temporarily, at
tergate, either. Elev- least. (“That little girl was living her
en years ago, she dream! That’s what I like most — I
was a stylist for Uni get to be a part of that,” she notes.)
New Salon Owner; Dawn Marie De La Cruz “What touches my heart about each of
-Hair, where she
Page 6 Wheel December 2018/January 2019