Bad Hair Day?

by Lily Burbage

Lewis “Drexel” Davison never expected Bad Hair Day? to become one of downtown Rehoboth Beach’s most recognizable businesses.

When he opened the salon in 1993, it was meant to be a summer experiment. With a $3,000 loan from his father, two used salon chairs, and an empty storefront beside the former Ground Zero restaurant, Drexel transformed a vacant space into what would become a Rehoboth staple.

The business almost had another name. “The salon was supposed to be called Metamorphosis,” Drexel said. “But I had a hat that said ‘Bad Hair Day?’ When people read it, they laughed, so I thought, ‘If it makes people smile, let’s go with Bad Hair Day?’”

More than three decades later, Bad Hair Day? has become part of the fabric of downtown Rehoboth.

The opportunity came unexpectedly. At the time, Drexel was working as a server at Ground Zero, the restaurant that once occupied the space now home to Salt Air. The restaurant owners also controlled the storefront next door but had decided not to open a second restaurant that summer. Knowing Drexel had recently earned his cosmetology license, they suggested he turn the empty space into a salon.

He officially opened Bad Hair Day? the Tuesday after Memorial Day in 1993.

For Drexel, Rehoboth Beach had always felt like home. Growing up in Dover, family vacations to the beach became a cherished tradition. After graduating from Graham Webb International Academy of Hair in Arlington, Va., where he was named Student of the Year, Drexel returned to Delaware instead of pursuing opportunities elsewhere.

“I’ve always been a server,” he said. “I’m a server at heart. I love to be of service.”

That philosophy has shaped Bad Hair Day? from the very beginning.

While the salon has partnered with Aveda for more than three decades and is known for its high-quality, plant-based products, Drexel believes the business is about much more than hair and goes beyond a bottle of shampoo. Every retail purchase is an investment in people. Guests who choose to buy their Aveda products directly from Bad Hair Day? are supporting a locally owned business, helping provide opportunities for the salon’s team, contributing to the community, and directly benefiting the stylist or service provider who cared for them.

His goal for the business, he said, is to create an experience that begins the moment guest arrives. “I hope when a guest walks through the door of Bad Hair Day? that they instantly feel at home,” Drexel said. “I hope they get an immediate welcome. I hope they feel appreciated, and I hope they experience a first-class guest experience.”

During the summer, that hospitality is as simple as greeting guests with a cold towel after they step inside from the heat.

“We are here to be of service,” Drexel said. “We are a team of day makers, grateful for the opportunity to make your day!”

Bad Hair Day? owner and “daymaker,” Lewis “Drexel” Davison

Sometimes, making someone’s day goes far beyond a haircut. Drexel recalled a recent customer who had double-parked behind the salon before her appointment. Offering to move the vehicle, he noticed it could use a cleaning. Knowing she would be in the salon for several hours while her hair color processed, he drove the car through a car wash, vacuumed the interior, wiped down the dashboard and cup holders, then returned it before she finished her appointment.

When she walked outside, she was stunned.

“That is making someone’s day,” Drexel said. “That is customer service above and beyond. That’s what I love most about what we do.”

The experience reflects the culture Drexel hopes every member of his team embraces. He believes even the smallest moments matter, whether it’s taking extra time during a shampoo, offering a comforting touch, or simply making someone feel seen.

“We recognize that we’re one of the very few people who get to touch another human being,” Drexel said. “Many people don’t get touched at all. That shampoo has to be the best shampoo experience ever.”

After 34 years in business, Drexel said one of the greatest rewards is seeing multiple generations of families return to the salon.

“Bad Hair Day? is proud to be in beautiful downtown Rehoboth Beach,” he said. “It blows my mind when I think that we’re on the fourth generation of families, locals and visitors alike, and that we’re a part of the Rehoboth culture now.”

He paused before reflecting on just how long the salon has been part of the community.

“There are people in their 30s and 40s who have never known Rehoboth without Bad Hair Day? What an honor and a privilege.”

Although the business has grown significantly since those first two salon chairs in 1993, Drexel said the mission has remained unchanged.

“We hope every guest leaves here feeling valued, appreciated, and happy,” he said. “Feeling like they look good, they feel good, and they got more than they expected.”