For Michael and Debbie Razzo, Michael Angelo Salon is a testament not only to their love of hair but also their love of each other. After more than 30 years in the business, owning successful salons in New York City and Florida, we sat down with the couple to find out what it takes to last in the competitive beauty industry.
To get the scoop on how the married couple built their impressive salon and why you should book your next appointment at the Michael Angelo Salon, read on.
The Brand
Fifty years in the hair industry sounds like a long time, but if Michael is honest, his love affair with hair goes back further than that.
“I am a third generation hairdresser,” Michael explains. “My grandpa came from Italy, and he opened up a salon on 2nd avenue in New York City...At a very young age, I started working at the salon in New York and I just kept going and going.”
Having discovered his passion in his youth, it didn’t take long for Michael to open up his own salon on Long Island, New York. He met Debbie in 1980 and by 1989 Michael had gone to Debbie with a proposition: What if they sold the salon and started all over in a new location?
The Location
After many years in New York, Michael and Debbie decided they were ready to ditch the brutal North East winters in favor of warmer weather. It didn’t take long for the couple to decide on the sunshine state and they packed their bags, relocating their salon to Boca Raton, Florida. After 10 years of building up an impressive clientele, the Razzos took a risk and moved to a new development in Wellington, Florida.
“Everyone thought we were crazy but we knew what was up here as far as demographics,” Debbie remembers.
The risk ultimately paid off, and the Michael Angelo Salon quickly became the premier high-end salon for the area. The couple credits much of their success to their commitment to staying current and keeping up with the trends.
“When we designed the original space we had graffiti on the walls, faux brick—very urban New York style,” Debbie says. “We revamp the store to give it a new feeling every five years.”
While they haven’t relocated from their Wellington location, the salon has become so popular the couple recently renovated it. The new design expanded the space to host a total of 22 style chairs and eight more specifically for color.
The Products
There are so many salon-quality hair products on the market, choosing which ones to carry in your salon can be a bit difficult. The Razzos didn’t just want hair products that performed well— they wanted to partner with a brand that would help them evolve into better stylists. This proved to be a smart choice—the business has earned a spot as one of the top 100 L’Oréal salons in the country three years running.
“The more we grew with L’Oréal, the deeper we got in the brand because of their loyalty program and the support that they gave us in general,” Debbie explains. “The support they give us is unparalleled.”
While the salon doesn’t exclusively carry L’Oréal products, L’Oréal Professionnel, and Kérastase are some of their bestselling ranges. The business even boasts a specific retail center which allows clients to purchase L’Oréal Professionnel, Kérastase, and Shu Uemura Art Of Hair products. The owners call it "beauty in a bag."
The Services
The sprawling salon offers a multitude of services from hair and makeup to waxing and facials. While the spa-like add-ons make the Michael Angelo Salon the perfect place for a girls’ day of pampering, it’s the award-winning hair stylists that keep the clients coming. The salon offers a wide variety of hair services including women’s haircuts ($55+), bridal hair ($100+), single-process color ($55+), and conditioning treatments such as L’Oréal Power Dose ($20+) and Kérastase 24 Karat Shine ($24+). If you're in the market for makeup, wig styling, or extensions, you're in the right place.
While all of the services offered at the Michael Angelo Salon are top notch, the salon really prides itself on its master color services. Balayage is the most sought-after service in the salon and that’s no accident. Michael and Debbie send their colorists all over the world to learn from the best of the best.
“When Michael and I took a step away from behind the chair, we knew we had to share those classes with the rest of our staff,” Debbie says of the educational trips. “We reward stylists with going to these global experiences...in 2018 we actually brought four people to Copenhagen.”
If you’re looking for world-class haircut, color, and spa services (all while enjoying year-round beautiful weather), the Michael Angelo Salon is the perfect salon for you.
The Details
Michael Angelo Salon is located at 4095 State Rd 7 Suite M, in Wellington, Florida. To book an appointment, call 561-966-1661. You can also book online by visiting www.michaelangelosalonandspa.com. Follow the salon on Instagram @Masalonfl and Facebook for more information.
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