By Julie Asher, Special Writer
FLORENCE — Nestled in the heart of historic Roebling is Highlights Hair Salon at 35 Fourth Ave.
This neighborhood shop’s services feature haircuts, color, highlights, lowlights, permanents, relaxers, updos, hair extensions and facial waxing.
Products include such names as Framesi hair color from Italy, Lakme hair color from Spain and ISO permanents. The shop also carries products for sale from Aquage, Derma Organics, Diva, Framesi, ISO, K-Pak, Malibu, Matrix and Rusk.
Antoinette Trifiletti, owner and proprietor, has been a stylist for 26 years. She studied at Wilfred Academy where she received her license.
After that, she was off to the Gingles International School in New York for further training. Later, she attended hair coloring classes for a full year with Framesi.
She laughed while telling the story of her brief time at another hair color line’s class.
”The instructor actually asked me to leave,” she said. “He said that I knew too much and was making him look bad!”
Officials of Lakme tried their hardest to recruit her to teach for them, Ms. Trifiletti recalled.
”But I’m too busy, and I don’t have the time,” she said.
Her beauty shop in Florence Township boasts a solid clientele that follows Ms. Trifiletti wherever she Goes, she noted. Her next move will be into a newly constructed building at 1301 Hornberger Ave. this fall.
”This is a really exciting project for us,” she said.
She designed and decorated her soon-to-be new location with warm colors, stainless steel accents and bamboo floors.
”The two levels are going to be beautiful,” she said.
Additionally, she will be adding nail services and upper-body massage to her menu.
”I’m proud to be a part of the small business owners of Florence Township,” she said.
Ms. Trifiletti promotes and participates in local events and activities within town. Most recently, she donated a gift certificate to a senior citizens group in Florence and purchased an advertisement to benefit autistic children in Burlington County.
In the past, she has supported the Florence Township Memorial High School football team, the cheerleading squad and Scouts. She also has allowed Girl Scouts to sell cookies at the shop.
Supporting the community as well as her business is time consuming, and “I couldn’t do it without the help of my technical assistant, Gabrielle Mondello,” Ms. Trifiletti said. “Gabby is my right-hand man and (a) certified massage therapist.”
Ms. Mondello said, “Along with up-and-coming stylist Ariana Carannante, who is certified for four different types of hair extensions, our team will make you look great.”
Salon hours are Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
The staff is also available for parties, weddings and special events.
Call 609-499-5991 for an appointment. Those who bring this article with them will receive 10 percent off highlights.