With an almost-empty nest, Rose Scuorzo, of Freehold, took a leap of faith in herself and started her own hair salon.
Clockwise from top: Stylist Jennifer Abt, of Howell, gives Vinnie Scuorzo a trim at Chic salon in Freehold Township. Salon owner Rose Scuorzo, of Freehold, chats with a client. When setting out on her own, Scuorzo was determined to provide a warm environment for her clients and her employees. Scuorzo’s daughter, Laura Napoliello Brenner, of Freehold, applies her own line of makeup, Lyriks, to a customer. After years of working as a stylist in an industry she loves, the timingwas right and the support system in place.
Her husband and father actually spurred her on one day when she described to them how she would renovate a salon she had visited.
“Stylists are notorious for not taking the time to do their own hair, so I was getting a blowout at a salon, and while there, I kept imagining what I would do to make the place warmer, more inviting,” she said.
She was all set to do a mockup of a color chart to show the owner her ideas when “my husband, Tony, and dad, [the late Realtor] Jack Illmensee, said, ‘Why would you give your ideas away?’
“I knew the timing was right and I also knew what I didn’t want,” Scuorzo said. “I did not want a mall salon. I did not want a very modern one. I wanted a salon with a very warmatmosphere, onewhere everyone is known by name, not just by the front desk, but by all the hairdressers.”
At her salon, Chic, at Cousins Plaza, 843 Route 33 in Freehold Township, soft green walls with classic crown molding and soft cushiony loveseats and chairs offer the ambience she had in mind. While the calming classic colors give a nod to the traditional, amenities like wireless Internet access and a beverage bar with coffee, tea and cappuccino offer a modern touch.
Now beginning her third year at the helm of the business, Scuorzo is glad she took that step.
Getting started, she had the help of her son, Bobby Napoliello, 32, for some of the construction work. With the support of her husband and children, Laura Napoliello Brenner, 29; Vinnie Scuorzo, 15; Michael Scuorzo, 34; and Anthony Scuorzo, 31, the salon became a reality.
Her daughter, Laura, helps out at the front desk and now offers her own makeup collection, Lyriks, which has become a hit with clients for weddings, proms and other special occasions.
“For bridal parties, we open early,” explained stylist Lisa Larsen of Old Bridge. “The videographers and photographers come in when the brides are getting their makeup done and often compliment the stylists and [Rose’s daughter] Laura on how perfect they look.”
The salon now also offers custom, organic spray tanning by Jennifer Bucalo of New York.
Scuorzo said the staff is “here for people in joyful as well as sad occasions,” noting that she often sends flowers to customers for the birth of a baby or a death in the family.
Other thoughtful touches that Scuorzo and her staff enjoy doing for their clients include festive food spreads during holidays and special occasions like the grand reopening celebration this summer.
One absolute customer favorite is the long scalp massage during the hair wash. “Many clients have remarked that they have almost fallen asleep during the massage,” Scuorzo laughed.
Scuorzo is also selective in the products that the salon uses. “I believe in using the best products for my customers’ hair,” Scuorzo said. “We use Moroccanoil, Abba, Sahag, Coppola keratin, and Colorly, an exclusive Italian color line, and Brocato. We were also asked to represent Bosley products for thinning hair.”
One hallmark of her satisfied customers is their loyalty.
“We have customers who have moved away from the area, yet still come back to us,” Scuorzo said.
Larsen has a client who travels from Brooklyn, while stylist Jennifer Cabana Abt, of Howell, has several who travel from Manhattan to the Freehold Township shop.
“It’s like they do a reverse commute” to get their hair done, Abt quipped.
Chic’s staff has grown since it opened, and now comprises nine stylists, with the recent addition of several experienced hairdressers from local salons. Other stylists are Michelle Amoia, Manalapan; Heather Lubrano-Lavadera, Howell; Christine Portuese, Old Bridge; Essie Ruiz and Gigi Ruiz, both of Freehold; Jessica Zarate, Barnegat; and Kristina DiSalvo, Manalapan.
A stylist for 15 years, Abt said she is very happy she made the move to Chic. “All of our customers become our extended family. We share stories about our families. I feel very comfortable here,” she said.
Larsen pointed out the stylists “all know each other’s clients.”
Each stylist is capable of doing the hair of any stylist’s customers, Scuorzo added.
“We’re a family-oriented salon,” Larsen said, noting that the stylists’ clients are children, men and women. “Often we start out doing the kids’ hair and end up doing the parents’ too.”
Most important, Abt said, is the work atmosphere that Scuorzo has created.
“I so look forward to going to work here,” she said. “I love what I do. As a mother of two children, it’s also nice to be able to work just three days a week. And I’ve remained close with my clients who have traveled with me from other salons.
“All of us here came from wellknown salons in the area and have found our home here.”