Grateful Head Salon now open on Baltimore Avenue
After a brief stint in the real estate world, hairdresser Richard DeCore is returning to his roots with the new Grateful Head Salon on Baltimore Avenue.
“I spent two years in real estate, and it just wasn’t for me. I’m going back to what I do best,” said DeCore.
Located in Suite B of The Shops at 33 Baltimore Ave., Grateful Head has been open for five weeks. DeCore has been a hairdresser for 27 years, and he’s been around the profession his whole life – his mother was a barber. She was one of the first licensed women barbers in Maryland, he said.
Having spent most of his life in Baltimore, DeCore began vacationing in Rehoboth Beach in the early 2000s. He and his husband and business partner, John, moved to the area in 2014.
“It’s quieter and there’s less crime,” said DeCore. “We’ve always felt so welcome here.”
Grateful Head is DeCore’s first time running his own salon, and permitting delays added lots of unwanted stress. However, he said, he’s proud of how things turned out.
“You submit plans as part of the permitting process, and this looks exactly like my original vision,” said DeCore.
The salon has two cutting stations, a hair washing and coloring station, and a couple of lounge chairs near the windows for hanging out. There are a few shelving units of hair care items – an assortment of Paul Mitchell products – and a selection of framed pictures adorns the walls.
DeCore said he wanted to keep things simple and have a relaxed atmosphere. There can be personality clashes at large salons, and he said he didn’t want to deal with the drama.
Longtime stylist and colorist Aaron Heller has joined DeCore at Grateful Head. He has been working as a stylist for the last 16 years, specializing in haircuts, hair styling, blow-drys and hair coloring. Heller studied at the Matrix Global Academy in New York City, and he is a certified Brazilian Blowout professional.
When someone messes up their hair, Aaron is the person who can fix it, said DeCore. That’s not always something that’s easy to do, especially if someone’s tried to dye their hair from a box, he said.
For now, Grateful Head hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday; noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The salon is closed Sunday and Monday. DeCore said the hours will change next spring.
For more information on Grateful Head, 33B Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, call 302-567-5126, email thegratefulheadrb@gmail.com or go to thegratefulheadsalon.net. DeCore said the website and online booking options will be up and running shortly.
