Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Razzo.
Michael, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Michael Angelo Razzo is a third generation hair stylist. Starting at the age of 9, in his grandfather’s salon on 2nd age in NYC. His uncles, mother and sister were in the industry as well. So, it’s safe to say it’s in his DNA. The first salon he opened was on the south shore of Long Island in 1971.
In 1988, he moved to Florida with his wife Debra and their 4-year old daughter, Tess – for health reasons. Two years later he purchased his first Micheal Angelo Salon in Boca Raton, Florida called Ambiance by Michael Angelo.
His reputation preceded him as far north as Palm Beach, working each year for the Palm Beach hospice foundation, and as far south as Miami. Doing hair for an AIDS benefit back in 1991 that Gloria Estefan was involved with.
In 2001, he opened the Michael Angelo Salon in Wellington, Florida’s highly sought after equestrian community. For the past 17 years, he has been on another mission with this salon. It was time to give back to the industry and create a culture that cared about aspiring new talent. So, he created an advanced academy (if you will ) with-in the salon. New talent coming out of school with their hair dressing license become masters of color and cut with his two-year program. He grew this business from 9 stylists into a now booming 18 stylists, that do cut and color with two other color specialist along with 4 new stylist just coming out of their training to date.
Along the way, during these years he was nominated and accepted into the prestige industry organization called Intercouiffure North America and Canada. This is a premier group of high level salons ( the top 1 % ) across the country that have a meeting of the minds symposium every spring and fall. The learning is endless. In fact, this is what keeps Michael Angelo at 70 years old feeling younger each day. The learning! Not just the on going technical education, but the education he is now getting from the up and coming. The minds and ambitions of the millennials has opened up a new world for him. The colliding of the generations in a culture of creative people is what makes the Michael Angeles Salon so welcoming. Clients often say the vibe is happy and friendly. There is a real sense in team condensation and spirit.
The core of the culture is education and this is possible through the partnership he has developed with the Loreal professional brand. They help us make it possible annually to study hair styling – editorial work and the latest color techniques and trends in Paris and other countries around the world. In fact, the last few years Michael has passed on this honor of travel and study to several of his long time employees. In fact, giving back is what makes this entrepreneur and his business so successful. He does not plan to retire.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any thing that doesn’t have struggles isn’t worth the fight. Starting over from LI NY was a bit of challenge. But, the weather made it worth it. Finding a new salon to work with was interesting – I had a new job every month, for the first 10 months.
Getting through the recession of 2008 where clients cut back on mani-pedi-facials and stretched out their hair visits. So not long after, we changed the manicure pedicure rooms to a blow dry bar. Which is now a big success. Salon suites are the biggest obstacle nowadays. As it is unfortunately diluting the talent in the industry. Which creates staffing challenges, finding the right people to fit our culture takes time.
Customer service is a good challenge, clients today are quite savvy with social media and YouTube which keeps us on our toes. But, we consider ourselves a beauty coach, teachers to our clients as well, which helps set us a part.
Please tell us about Michael Angelo salon and blow dry bar .
Our salon company specializes in the balayage highlighting technique. This is a French technique term “to sweep”. The high lights are painted on foil is not used. We are very concerned about keeping the integrity of the hair as beautiful. Which is why we are big advocate of using treatment during and after color.
Our signature massage shampoo is something clients look for every time once they have experienced it.
We have several stylist that specialize in hair extension.
We work with only the best hair extension companies that supply us with gorgeous human hair. These are blended so well no one can tell even to the touch. We just renovated this past summer. So proud of our new trendy open space bright salon. We even created enough space for stylish clients to take a photo shoot for social media. Professional lighting and all.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Favorite memory from childhood is sitting in my grandmother’s basement (very Italian family) in NY surrounded by uncles, aunts, cousins, friend, food… lots of food and love.
Pricing:
- Woman’s cut and style range from * $62.00 and go up to $90.00
- Men’s cut and style range from * $25.00 and go up to $50.00
- Woman’s blow dry and style from * $27.00 to $55.00
- Specialize curly hair cut and style * $75.00 and up.
- Full balayage highlight color starts at * $110.00
- Single global color retouch with ammonia free color *$85.00
- Customize medical grade facial starts at * $ 129.00.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4095 State Rd. 7
Suite M
Wellington Florida 33449 - Website: Michaelangelosalonandspa.com
- Phone: 561-9661661
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Masalonfl
- Facebook: Michael Angelo Salon
- Yelp: Michael Angelo Salon and Blowdry Bar
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
