Salon DM celebrates 20 years of business in Clarks Summit

This spring, Melanie Cosklo celebrated a milestone. March marked 20 years in business for her Clarks Summit-based hair salon. Not only has Salon DM stayed in business thanks to Cosklo’s entrepreneurial spirit, good communication skills, and loyal clientele, but it has also been at the same location, 117 N. State St., from the very beginning.

Cosklo said having a great landlord is a big reason why she’s stayed in the same spot.

“I was allowed to decorate it like I wanted,” she explained. “When I said I wanted to redo the floors, she said ‘go ahead.’ Having a good relationship with my landlord is key.”

Indeed, the salon’s aesthetic, a purposeful blend of sophistication and softness, creates a relaxing vibe for customers that stands out from the hard and impersonal ornamentation of many modern salons.

Another reason Salon DM has remained successful is Cosklo’s ability to stay innovative. For example, during the COVID-19 business lockdowns, she sold hair color kits and produced tutorials to teach her clients how to color their own hair. That innovation, combined with her husband’s supportiveness and an understanding landlord, helped her at a time when other businesses were sadly forced to shutter their doors.

Salon DM offers full hair services, but color is what Cosklo says she loves best, noting that the process of mixing hair color and development and matching shades to skin tones combines art and science. The profession also requires good interpersonal relationships.

“I’m talking to 16 different people a day about 16 different things. If you can’t relate to your clients, you aren’t going to be successful in this business.”

That commitment to relationship building allows her to bring a holistic approach to the Salon DM experience. She said she takes a few minutes at the beginning of each appointment to discuss what the client wants and how she can make it happen. If it is a service she doesn’t specialize in — for example, balayage — she collaborates with her stylist, Shannon Newhart, to make it happen.

“I believe my clients should have full access to what they want,” she said.

Staying trendy is also essential. Right now, her favorite trend is men’s hair care.

“I love that men are growing their hair long, and actually taking care of it,” she said.

In terms of trends she hopes she never sees again, Cosklo quickly said “rat tails,” adding that the over-permed and teased hair of the ’80s should also stay in the past.

“I think hair looks best when it’s healthy, and hair was so dry and unhealthy then.”

Cosklo didn’t always think she wanted to be a hairstylist, but she saw her calling when she realized she loves making people feel good about themselves. After graduating from Empire Beauty School, Cosklo worked in salons but soon realized she wanted to open her own business.

The loss of Cosklo’s younger brother, who was only 20 years old when he died, served as a catalyst for Cosklo.

“It made me realize how short life is,” she said.

Eight months after his death, Salon DM opened.

“I named it in honor of him,” she added. “D.M. are his initials.”

Her devotion to family is another major factor in why she strived to start out — and succeed — on her own. Having control of her own work schedule allows her to be there for her son, Parker, 16, and daughter, Sadie, 10, as they grow up and get involved in school and extracurricular activities.

That control still means she has to work hard, however.

“You don’t get a lot of time off when you run your own business,” she explained.

For those looking to open their own business or get started as hair stylists, Cosklo offers the following advice:

“Keep learning. Take continuing education courses. Beauty school will teach you the basics, but this industry is always evolving, so you have to keep learning.”

She added that she feels secure knowing that the skills she’s developed over many years in business and the relationships she’s built can never be replaced.

“AI isn’t going to take over beauty salons,” she said. “A computer can’t do what I do.”

As for advice in keeping hair healthy, she recommended finding a good shampoo and refraining from cutting one’s own hair.

“Color can be fixed, a lot of mistakes can be fixed, but cutting can’t,” she said. “Once it’s gone, you can’t put it back. Put the scissors down!”

For information about Salon DM, call 570-587-1793 or visit the business’ Facebook page.