Veteran hairdresser opens salon
HAMBURG — Linda Tribuzio knows her way around a diffuser, rattail and flat iron. Since 1974 she has been turning out bobs, chignons, and face frames, making frizzy follicles into luminously groomed manes.
Opening up shop
This veteran hairdresser realized her long time dream of owning a salon when she opened up Trim 'n' Style hair salon. Located at the Market Place Deli Mall in Hamburg, Tribuzio celebrated it's official grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 10 complete with raffles for gift baskets containing high quality hair products.
Beginning her career in Bergen County where she worked for six years in a salon, Tribuzio relocated to Sussex county in 1980 and spent the last 26 years working in a local salon. Finally deciding to "live the dream," she enlisted the help of her husband, Steve, who did all the remodeling which she describes as, "a modern, yet warm and comfortable look."
Trim 'n' Style Salon, with it's cocoa colored walls and open layout offers cuts, colors, highlights, perms, as well as facial waxing catering to men, women, and children. The salon also does bridal updos, and soon will be featuring the product Cezanne, a formaldehyde free hair smoothing treatment that can transform coarse cobweb heads into smooth, lustrous locks.
"I have always wanted to own my own salon that is dedicated to being outstanding to the clients," says Tribuzio.
The salon is open seven days a week and is strictly on a walk-in basis. Being in the business for so many years, Tribuzio feels this will be an asset to the success of the salon.
"I've found that customers don't really like making appointments and listening to my customers is very important to me," says Tribuzio.
Happy hairdressers
A keen ear for what a client desires, the love of working with the public, and a knack for bringing out the best look in people has gained Tribuzio a long career as well as a dedicated, loyal crew of beauticians. With a staff of six hairdressers, five in which have had a long history with Tribuzio, this stylist believes that happy hairdressers make for a happy salon.
"My first priority is making my customers happy, but my second is making sure my girls are happy," she says.
Tribuzio and her "girls" are a wealth of information, honing in on styles and techniques that are popular. The stylists offer direction to those who are not sure what will work best for their hair, yet still manage to incorporate a sense of uniqueness to each cut, enabling the client's personality to shine through. Although trends may come and go Tribuzio says highlights are always in, and you can't go wrong with some pretty face frames.
"There really is no rhyme or reason to what people want as far as trends go, the main thing is people just like a change," she says.
Hair styles
The summer months tend to be a time when women are after that beachy, sexy ombre look, yet as the days are shorter and temperatures drop, ladies move more towards the reversed, where the hair is blonde on top and the ends are colored dark. Another popular look is what Tribuzio calls the Mohawk. For this look, only the crown of the head is highlighted, which yields a subtle look, and is economical as well.
Asked about the old adage of when a woman turns 40 she should cut her hair, Tribuzio neither agrees or disagrees.
"It really depends on the individual person," she answers earnestly. "Everyone's features are different."
One thing Tribuzio says works on everyone is a healthy looking head of hair, therefore she and her stylist strongly feel that buying quality salon hair products versus shopping the grocery store beauty aisle is a wise splurge. Trim 'n' Style relies on products by Paul Mitchell, Matrix and Biolage, which Tribuzio has used for for years.
"I stay with what works," she says.
Happy customers
Kim Williams, a stylist at the salon, watches out for that certain "look" a customer gets when their new style begins to take shape.
"I watch the customers face, and they get this certain smile, they don't even realize at first but you can see the change in their face as their hair changes," observes Williams.
A passion for the public, and a love for social connection has given Tribuzio and edge in a sometimes difficult business. Pleasing the public may be a daunting task for some, yet Tribuzio relishes her time with clients, often playing therapist, as people tend to open up more about their lives while waiting for their color to set. Sometimes the roles are reversed, and it's Tribuzio who garners advice from her client.
"We learn from our customers, and they learn from us," she says.
When asked what she envisions for her future, and the future of Trim 'n' Style, Tribuzio answers, "Success."
"I love when that person walks in looking like they just need something, then they get that cut and walk out looking and feeling like a new person," says Tribuzio. "That is my reward."