Flood leads to creation of hair replacement salon

The flood of June 2008 was the catalyst for development of an award-winning Hiawatha styling and hair replacement salon.

Daryl & Judy Grecian created Advanced Hair Technologies, 1202 Dina Ct., after the Cedar River swamped their shop, Daryl's Hair Design, at 610 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids.

“I lost over $51,000 in tools, equipment and goods,” Daryl Grecian said. “I also had more than $50,000 of damage to the shop. Everything has to be stripped down to the studs and we didn't have flood insurance.”

Since clients depended on his hair replacement expertise, Grecian temporarily rented space elsewhere.

“I began looking for a place to buy, but there were so many businesses that had been displaced,” he said. “Forty percent of my clientele live outside of Cedar Rapids. There just wasn't anyplace available to buy that was close enough to the community.”

Grecian looked into leasing and found a developer constructing an office and commercial building in Hiawatha and Advanced Hair Technologies was created.

“We needed water in each room,” he said. “The contractor had not started pouring the concrete floor, so we were able to tell him where we needed pipes for water and drains.”

The Grecians eventually restored and returned to their building on First Street SW in Cedar Rapids and Daryl Grecian works with longtime customers there Thursday mornings.

Advanced Hair Technologies opened in February 2009 with a focus on client privacy.

The waiting room is located in the middle of the salon. Assistant D Vizecky prepares clients in a room connected with Daryl's area.

“We have fathers who come in with their children, who stay in the waiting room while their father gets his hair replaced,” Vizecky said. “They've never seen their father without hair. I prep them for Daryl, they use the sliding door, and they don't have to go back through the waiting room.”

Grecian works with adults and children who lose their hair due to chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Still others have lost their hair permanently due to alopecia.

Grecian, who studied in the United States, Germany and Asia, uses a product called Cyberhair from Japan for permanent hair replacement. Wet or dry, windblown or styled, Cyberhair looks, acts and feels like natural hair.

“We do what is known as a non-surgical graft with a man-made skin membrane,” he said. “The hair is attached to the membrane, we attach the membrane to the scalp with adhesive, and that usually lasts anywhere from three to five weeks.

“We also can use a comb-locking system for hair loss on the top of the head. That way, clients can remove it as needed.”

Advanced Hair Technologies, which also offers massage therapy, serves clients from Iowa and surrounding states. The farthest a client travels to Hiawatha is from Cypress.

“It makes you feel really good to help people,” Grecian said. “You see it make a difference in their lives. For many, it restores their self confidence.”

Advanced Hair Technologies was recognized as National Salon of 2009 by the National Hair Journal, an industry publication.