When Tasha Doremus opened The Flow Salon, she wasn’t just building a business — she was realizing a dream shaped by resilience, creativity and a deep sense of community. Rooted in Wyckoff, New Jersey, The Flow Salon has become more than a destination for hair care — it’s a space that celebrates new beginnings.
Doremus always knew beauty was her path. Hair and makeup were her favorite things to play with, and as early as age 8, she remembers family members asking her to style their hair or do their makeup. She applied to her local county vocational high school and was accepted into the cosmetology program in 1999, turning that childhood passion into a lifelong career.
Her creative journey has spanned both coasts — from her early roots in New Jersey to nearly a decade in California, where she studied architectural interior design in Santa Monica and bartended across Los Angeles County, all while continuing to put her cosmetology skills to use in salons in Calabasas and through freelance work.
“I’ve always been drawn to beauty, art and excellence,” Doremus notes. “But more than anything, I’ve always wanted to create a space that feels personal and welcoming — where people feel like they belong.”
That vision became a reality in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, after a layoff from a marketing job the previous fall pushed her back toward her first love: hair. With salons shuttered and uncertainty in the air, she took a leap of faith and launched a mobile salon service.
Armed with a passion for her craft and a website co-created with fellow freelance artist Caitie Means Business — whom she met in New York City while studying at the Academy of Freelance Makeup and participating in the Body of Artists leadership program — Doremus began traveling across North Jersey, cutting and coloring hair in driveways, garages and backyards.
“I was rinsing hair in basement slop sinks,” she says with a laugh. “But I loved it. People were so ready to feel like themselves again, and I was happy to be a part of that.”
Word-of-mouth spread quickly. Doremus, who had settled in Franklin Lakes, found herself becoming the go-to mobile stylist in the area. But when colder months made outdoor appointments less feasible, she attempted to return to a traditional salon — only to realize that fast-paced, high-volume beauty work wasn’t where she belonged.
“I wanted quality over quantity,” she says. “I wanted to use non-toxic products, take my time and focus on the experience.”
That’s when fate — and a “for lease” sign — stepped in. With the help of DeFino Real Estate Co., a family-run business with deep roots in the community, Doremus negotiated a fair lease that made it possible to bring her vision to life. As neighbors and longtime supporters of local entrepreneurs, Frank DeFino and his son, Adam DeFino, offered guidance and support that helped her build what would become The Flow Salon.
That collaborative spirit inspired the name. “FLOW” is an acronym for Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff — the tri-town area Doremus proudly calls home.
“It’s a small-town feel with big-city hair,” she shares. “That’s the vibe.”
Since opening, The Flow Salon has become more than a beauty business. Locals stop in for coffee, to visit the salon’s two beloved dogs — Winslow and Buzz, lovingly known as the “resident Mi-Kis” — or to enjoy the welcoming ambiance of what Doremus describes as “Steel Magnolias meets New York City with Cali-cool vibes.”
Children from nearby schools stop in just to play with the dogs. Community members gather to catch up. And the salon’s reputation for warm hospitality is rivaled only by its expert services — including the in-demand Qiqi Vega smoothing treatment, designed to combat frizz and humidity, and the FLOW Signature Head Spa Treatment, a luxurious, multi-step service featuring deep scalp cleansing and massage.
The Flow Salon was the first to introduce this trending experience to the area, expanding its space in late spring 2024 to include a dedicated spa room and officially add body treatments to its menu.
“There’s a reason people say we have the best coffee in town,” Doremus jokes. “Maybe a private label is next — you never know.” She adds, “I’m always looking for ways to collaborate with local artists and entrepreneurs. The FLOW area has a lot to offer.”
But behind the polish and charm lies a deeper mission. Doremus, who was once in foster care before being adopted, carries a lifelong commitment to lifting others as she climbs. That personal history recently blossomed into a formal partnership with Comfort Cases, a nonprofit that supports children in the foster care system by providing them with essential supplies in a dignified way.
The organization’s mission — “No more trash bags” — is one Doremus relates to on a profound level.
“When foster kids enter a new home with nothing but a trash bag, it sends a message,” she says. “You have to think — these kids are walking into a stranger’s home, often feeling scared or unsure, and the few belongings they may have are in a trash bag. That’s not a good feeling. Comfort Cases gives them something of their own — a backpack filled with toiletries, blankets, school supplies — that says, ‘You matter. You’re cared for.’”
The partnership, sparked by Doremus’s client and Comfort Cases representative Aimee Berger, quickly made a meaningful impact. In May — National Foster Care Month — The Flow Salon hosted a giveaway featuring the Qiqi Vega treatment, with all proceeds benefiting local foster children through Comfort Cases.
“This cause found me at the perfect time,” Doremus explains. “I had been looking for a meaningful way to give back through the salon — something that aligned with our values and allowed us to pay it forward. The fact that it all came together during Foster Care Month felt like more than coincidence.”
Doremus’s team also reflects her values. From a young stylist who grew up and graduated from the local high school — someone who reminds Doremus of herself at that age — to a therapeutic massage therapist originally from Peru with an infectious passion for wellness, every person in her orbit shares a dedication to their craft and to one another.
“These are the people you want to take with you,” she says. “People who want to learn, grow and expand, with the innate skills and heart for this industry. We build each other up. It takes a village, and that’s what we’re creating here.”
As The Flow Salon continues to grow, Doremus remains grounded in her mission: to offer more than just beauty services, but a sanctuary — one built on connection, purpose and community pride.
“It’s not just a salon,” she shares. “It’s a place where people come to feel good — inside and out.”
The Flow Salon
Website: theflowsalon.com
Address: 300 Franklin Ave, Wyckoff
Phone: (201) 800-5374
“It’s not just a salon, It’s a place where people come to feel good — inside and out.” - Tasha Doremus
“I had been looking for a meaningful way to give back through the salon — something that aligned with our values and allowed us to pay it forward. The fact that it all came together during Foster Care Month felt like more than coincidence.” - Tasha Doremus