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Business & Tech

Cedar Lane Salon Owner Works to Grow Business

Transformations Salon owner offers new product line.

Salon owner Mary Ann Echemendia has big plans.

Echemendia, who is married with two daughters, is in the process of starting her own product line.

“It kind of happened by accident,” she said. “I was home struggling with both my daughters hair, so I started putting together some natural products to help detangle and style -- things like cocoa butter, avocado oil -- things like that.”

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 Surprised at how well it worked, she started using it on her own hair.

“It detangled, left my hair with a nice shine and under control, and the best part was that I didn't feel like there was any product in my hair at all,” she explained. 

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Soon after, she brought the mixture into the salon, and the more she used it, the more uses she discovered.

“It's a great haircutting tool; now I use it on everyone. Before I knew it clients wanted it for home use,” said  Echemendia.  From there she bottled ByMA (By Mary Ann) -- the only product a person needs, for men, women and children and all types of hair. “I also have a conditioning treatment that I do here at the salon and retail.”  Echemendia is also thinking of adding more products, like facial and body scrubs, and what ever else comes to her mind.

Echemendia, who has been doing hair for more than twenty years, was working in 2001 for a spa in River Edge and was doing very well. “I had been there for eight years, and the only way I would leave was if I had the opportunity to own my own.”

That opportunity came, although she didn’t choose Teaneck, it chose her.

“Someone mentioned this place (on Cedar Lane) was for sale, and wouldn't you know it, I just so happened to have the exact amount saved. So I jumped on it. I thought it was fate - and it was.”

The specialty service at Transformations is hair, and includes wigs.

Call her innovative, call her a dreamer. She’s making it all happen – in Teaneck.

“Teaneck is a wonderful town to work in. It is like a family. I feel that I offer Teaneck a humble cozy place where you can get good service for a good price," Echemendia said.  "My typical clientele are very intelligent, down to earth people, and it’s my pleasure to make them feel and look better.”

394 Cedar Lane

(201) 692-1313

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