Salon Gossip has been in business for over 10 years. It is different from other salons in so many ways.  It has often been described as a reality show waiting to be discovered, a living room where hair is done, or the salon version of Central Perk from the sitcom “Friends”. Come check out this eclectic and unique salon today.  

These are the words of Donna Vaicels, a 1990 Bloomfield High School graduate, and owner of Salon Gossip.

Okay, she IS the owner, and she is going to say the above. But there’s something different about Donna Vaicels. She’s got heart in her hands when she does hair, and true heart of heart when it comes to helping others.

And, she paints a nifty floor. “Isn’t this great?” says Stephanie Nieves, Salon Gossip Manager, as she gives a tour of a stretch of flooring in the back of the facility, which opened on May 3, on which a variety of somewhat circular spots are painted in varying colors. “Donna did this part by herself,” said Nieves.

Salon Gossip, a unique unisex hair and facial waxing salon where Viacels specializes in the most natural to avant garde coloring, is a place you can also buy nifty stuff like rock star hair feathers, custom flowers, and vintage button jewelry and accessories, all courtesy of her clients.

She loves helping others. “It’s my way of helping out small business people.”

Carol Garben of Glen Ridge has been coming to Salon Gossip “for a while,” starting with Viacels' former Sunset Avenue location. “She’s avante garde.”

Donna Vaicels describes her haircutting area of Salon Gossip as the “place magic happens.” True, but there's something special happening throughout. Salon Gossip has grown to three times its original size, and a lot goes on here. There is a comfortable and relaxing shampoo, and a room for facial waxing. In addition, there will also be a stress-reducing massage. The waiting room features many ammenities including television, hot coffee, cold water, and free Wi-Fi Internet access.

“Even though we’ve changed to an artsy salon,” says Viacels with a smile, “we haven’t changed. I’m grateful for the clients who discovered me when I was more modest, in my ‘studio apartment’ (Sunset Avenue location). This is home now.”

Viacels refers to the move as a “hermit crab move” into a bigger tank. “Over there we were in a fishbowl; here, an aquarium. It’s pretty cool.”

Jennifer McAdam, one of the regulars who “discovered” Donna Vaicels early on, coins Salon Gossip, “an experience, not just a hair cut." "I’ve been coming to Donna since 2000 – prior to my boys being born!" she added.

Those were the early days, after Vaicels attended Tom Ferrara’s Bloomfield-located Concorde Beauty School, which she opted to attend instead of college. The single mother of two daughters then followed up her schooling with salon stints in Lincoln Park, Parsippany, Pequannock and, of course, Bloomfield. She has also taught classes in New York City.

Many former clients, whether customers or students, continue to visit her now. “Not a day goes by that I don’t enjoy coming to work,” Viacels said. “I believe in a sense of commitment.”

Donna Vaicels is committed to charity work and giving back. She and Salon Gossip have supported Gail’s Angels, Locks Of Love, ran an event for Autism Awareness and a toiletry drive for Covenant House.

When a customer came in one time and asked for a purple streak to be put in her hair in honor of a family member, who had passed away from the illness, Vaicels opted to run in the “Purple for Pancreatic Cancer” event. This past Sunday, she aided the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for kid’s cancer.“

"I said ‘yes’ with out hesitation,” said Vaicels. “I like to do things like that. I’m trying to give back to so many people who have been loyal for so long”.

Salon Gossip, 1036 Broad Street, (973) 429-8955, www.salon-gossip.com