Meet Our Staff

Dawn Toye/Owner

With nearly 30 years of experience in the Beauty Industry and 24 years as the proud owner of Ambiance Hair Design, Dawn’s success can be attributed to her extraordinary passion for hair, for beauty and for people, as well as to her high standards for both excellence and professionalism.  The “new” Ambiance is a dream come true for Dawn and she is very grateful for the amazing support of all the people in her life that helped in making it a reality: her husband Jeff and her children, Jared & Ali; her amazing Ambiance team; her brother Bruce and his wife Robin; Architect Jonathan Poore; Contractor Andy Stevens; Electrician Mike Bertolino; and all the clients, friends and family for their advice and their support.  Dawn says “I could not have done this without them!” Even after attaining her “dream salon”, Dawn maintains that it is the “people that come through my door everyday” and her “extraordinary staff” that make her salon the success that it is. Outside of the salon, Dawn enjoys yoga, photography and her newest pastime, horseback riding with her daughter.  Her favorite place to shop: Ann Taylor.  Her favorite Paul Mitchell product: Extra Body Thicken Up.  Her favorite Ultimate Face Cosmetic: the Patina Green Eye Shadow Trio.  Her favorite creed: optimism.  Dawn lives in Magnolia with her husband Jeff, her two children Jared & Ali, and her dog, Papi.

Element 4; Hours: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 9:00-3:45 

Janine Fiers

Janine graduated from Essex Aggie School of Cosmetology in 1987 and has been a designer at Ambiance for almost 20 years.  Much has changed in the world of color and design over this time, but that hasn’t stopped Janine from keeping up with those changes.  In fact, this is what she loves most about being on the Ambiance Team—the continuing education in the latest techniques and trends, learning from one another and always growing, always changing.  While Janine thinks the “new” Ambiance salon is “awesome”, she says the best thing about her job is the team itself; “These are the best group of women you could ever hope to work with.”  A long time colorist, Janine highly advocates Paul Mitchell’s The Color as “the best [color] I’ve ever worked with.”  Janine lives in Salisbury and spends her weekends with her husband and her two children, either on an athletic field cheering her son or in the theater applauding her daughter.

Karen Ruphard

A member of the Ambiance Team for 11 years, Karen loves “making the world beautiful!”  A graduate of the Mansfield Beauty Academy, Karen says it’s just “an awesome feeling to make people look and feel great,” and for Karen there’s no better place to do this than Ambiance.  “We have the best team here at Ambiance.  We all work well together; we have a kind, caring and friendly environment that makes coming to work a pleasure.”  Karen loves to garden and shop when she’s not “making the world beautiful”. Her favorite place for clothes shopping:  New York & Co.  Her favorite Paul Mitchell product: Super Skinny Serum.  Karen lives in Rockport with her three children, Jason, Jeffrey and Kailee, her one dog and two cats.

Element 3;  Hours: Tues & Wed 9:00-4:30,  Thurs 12:00-7:45, Sat 9:00-3:45

Kiley Frontiero

Kiley has been a member of the Ambiance Team for the past 10 years upon graduating from Essex Aggie School of Cosmetology.  While a designer at Ambiance, Kiley has continued her education by attending numerous classes and events including Paul Mitchell’s “Signature Gathering” in Las Vegas in 2002 and the Paul Mitchell “Hair Camp” in 2004.  Also a certified National Make-up Artist in Ultimate Face Cosmetics, Kiley takes appointments for both that special occasion and for those in need of refreshing their everyday make-up routine. Her favorite Ultimate Face Cosmetic: the Luminous Treatment Foundation with spf15.  While known for her finesse in make-up and special occasion hair up-styles, Kiley confesses that her real passion is in “making someone’s day” and this is why people love sitting in her chair.  She really enjoys “making a difference in people’s lives”. Her objective: “to make a person feel better leaving than when they came in.”  Kiley lives in Gloucester with her husband of 4 years and her adorable 3 year old daughter.    

Element 3; Hours: Tues 12:45-7:30, Thurs 1:00-7:45, Fri 9:00- 3:45

Catherine Curcuru

As National Senior Educator for JPMS (John Paul Mitchell Systems) for the past 11 years, Catherine contributes her tremendous wealth of education and experience to the team at Ambiance, having worked with the industry’s top leaders and platform artists from all over the world. With 14 years of experience in the industry, Catherine has spent 7 of them as a member of the Ambiance team, and now as the salon’s Education Director, Catherine is able to provide Ambiance with the most up-to-date teachings in the industry. Anyone who has sat in Catherine’s chair knows that she possesses a true passion for hair.  She likes to think of herself as a “Day Maker” because of the unique ability she has “to change how people feel and look about themselves” and this, she says, “is the best part of what I do and why I do what I do.”  Catherine lives in Gloucester with her husband and two children.  Her favorite Paul Mitchell product: Sculpting Foam.  Her make-up addiction: Ultimate Face Brow Wax.

Element 3; Hours: Tues 9:00-7:30, Wed 9:00-2:15, Thurs 9:15-7:45

  Annette Mineo/Salon Coordinator

Annette has been a member of the Ambiance team for the past 6 years.  As Salon Coordinator, she is responsible for customer service, reception, retail sales and ordering and the everyday busy flow of the salon.  With both an undergraduate and a Graduate degree in English, Annette brings a variety of skills to the job, above all, professionalism and friendliness on the front end.  “People,” she says, “are my job. Whether it’s my tone when I answer the telephone, a smile when someone walks through the door, bringing someone a cup of tea or asking about a sick husband, I have the ability to put people at ease, to make them feel acknowledged and welcomed, and that’s what I love most about this job.”  Annette is also the web designer for the salon's website. Outside the salon, Annette is a published poet, having published in a variety of journals and anthologies as well as two of her own chap books.  She loves cooking, yoga, reading and walking her big yellow lab, Jake.

Brittany Benham Viator

After graduating from the Learning Institute of Beauty in 2002, Brittany came to Ambiance as an assistant and was personally trained by the owner to take the floor as a Designer.  She is also an Ultimate Face certified National Make-up Artist in the salon.  What Brittany especially loves about her job is the on-going education she receives at Ambiance; “I love going to a hair show and coming back with fresh ideas and being super motivated!” She also appreciates the guidance and encouragement she receives from her co-workers “to be the best I can be.”  Brittany is proud and honored to be the grand-daughter of the well-known Cape Ann artist, the late Robert C. Benham, and attributes him with her own artistic abilities that she expresses through hair cutting and coloring.  Just married this past July, Brittany lives in marital bliss with hubby Ryan in Gloucester.   

Element 2; Hours: Wed 9:00-4:30, Thurs 9:15-7:45, Fri 8:45-3:45, Sat 9:00-3:45

Elizabeth Buckley

Elizabeth is a 2007 graduate of North Shore Technical High School’s Cosmetology Program.  A member of the Ambiance Team for the past year, Elizabeth says she most enjoys the “team spirit” of the salon, as well as “the knowledge [she] receives from all the talented stylists.”  After numerous classes and in-house training, Elizabeth shines as the newest stylist at Ambiance.  Clients enjoy her friendly smile, her professional attitude and her attention to detail.  Elizabeth lives in Rockport and attends college full-time.  Her favorite places to shop: Urban Behavior and Charlotte Russe.  Her favorite Paul Mitchell product: anything in the Moisture category.

Element 1; Hours: Tues 12:00-7:45, Thurs 12:00-7:45, Fri 9:00-3:45, Sat 9:00-3:45

Kathy Scola/Salon Assistant

Kathy, one of the newest members of the Ambiance Team, is a full-time Cosmetology student at North Shore Community College.  She loves her new position: the girls she works with, the client interaction and especially being a part of such an exciting and busy, progressive salon environment.  Kathy is a fun, friendly and energetic addition to the Ambiance Team.  She calls herself the “Cosmo Diva” and says she loves “helping people to look and feel great about themselves.”  Kathy lives in Gloucester with her family; ask her about her dogs Bella and Bruno.

 Brittany (Haley) Devlin/Receptionist

Haley is one of the newest members of the Ambiance Team; she holds the position of Part-Time Receptionist, working the front desk Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays.  By day, Haley is a full-time student at North Shore Community College, studying Radiology.  She is thrilled with her new job at Ambiance; after traveling the world to play Girl’s Ice Hockey as a high school student (which she also loved with a passion), she finally gets to indulge the more feminine glamorous side of herself.  Her favorite part of the job: her friendly and smiling co-workers and meeting so many new people.  Haley is a fine addition to the salon with her own beautiful smile and pleasant demeanor.  She’s always willing to lend a hand and try new things.  Haley lives in Gloucester with her family and her two dogs, Maddy & Sonny.  And by the way, "Haley" is just her salon name--everywhere else she answers to "Brittany".