The names have changed over the years, but the business that clients have known as Pete & Company, Brady’s Hair Design and Amber Waves Salon has always been a fixture at the same address.
Until now, that is.
After three decades at the south end of Main Street, Amber Waves owner Amber Dalton moved the salon from its longtime space near Gearheads to Suite C at 550 N. Main St.
The onetime home of Sweet Cravings Bakery + Bistro most recently housed The Shoe Shop, and after renovations, Dalton celebrated the grand opening in the new location about three weeks ago.
“It’s a little bit smaller, but it’s more cozy down here,” she said. “I feel that it’s more like a salon than the old place.”
Dalton moved to Moab from Salt Lake City in 1998, and she took over the business that was Brady’s Hair Design about seven years ago. For almost six of those seven years, she has worked with full-time stylist Morgi Croasmun, a former co-owner of the salon.
“She is the other half of this business,” Dalton said.
Together, they offer haircuts for men, women and children, as well as colors, highlights and perms; Croasmun also specializes in facial waxing and body waxing, as well as makeup and updos for special occasions like weddings and parties.
“(Updos are) probably my favorite thing to do,” Croasmun said. “Everybody’s getting ready for some big moment in their life, and I get to be a part of it.”
Straight-razor shaves are another specialty that Croasmun enjoys.
“It makes me feel that I’m part of history,” she said. “It’s old-fashioned.”
For coloring jobs, Croasmun works with Joico’s color line, while Dalton switched to Paul Mitchell’s color line. Amber Waves uses other hair-care products from both companies, and later on in 2016, Dalton plans to incorporate more organic products into her end of the salon.
“I see the nature of the business going into more of a holistic direction,” Dalton said.
“It’s going to be the future, I believe,” she added. “People are more aware of what they’re putting on their hair and skin.”
As fate would have it, the new location is just next door to other health-oriented businesses such as Sundial Medicinals and Lotus Massage.
“We all kind of went in at the same time,” she said. “I think that’s why it’s going to be such a good fit.”
At the other end of the shopping plaza’s parking lot, national restaurant chain Einstein Bagels is scheduled to open in the near future, and Dalton welcomes the business it will bring to the northern end of Moab’s business district.
“I feel like this part of town is more up and coming, with Einstein Bagels coming in,” she said.
For the time being, the salon is not offering nail services, although it will be once Dalton installs a new ventilation system.
Eventually, Dalton is also planning to offer her services as a trained hypnotist for people who want to lose weight, quit smoking or break bad habits, among other things.
“It’s just like another form of meditation to get your conscious mind relaxed so you can talk to your subconscious mind,” she said.
Salon sets up shop at 550 N. Main St.
It’s a little bit smaller, but it’s more cozy down here … I feel that it’s more like a salon than the old place.
Amber Waves Salon is generally open on Mondays from noon onward, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The salon is closed on Sundays. To schedule an appointment, or for more information, call 435-259-7735. You can also reach Dalton at 435-210-8009.