LOOKING YOUR BEST: “We are first and foremost caregivers for our customers. We specialize in hair services — styling, cuts, and color. In addition, we offer a plethora of experiences in a welcoming atmosphere. It’s a social experience too, and we want people to enjoy their time with us,” says Studio ONE60 co-owner and manager Deborah Salvato. Shown are the stylists at the salon, from left: master stylist and contributing business development partner Allie Colangelo, master stylist Sherri Parker, stylist Amanda Kanitra, stylist Mirana Vyas, and, in foreground, master stylist and contributing business partner Joe Kloss.

By Jean Stratton

Helping customers to look their best is the mission of Studio ONE60, the new salon at 160 Witherspoon Street. Opened last May, it specializes in hair services, and also offers manicures, pedicures, facial waxing, and makeup applications.

“Our salon is intended to provide high quality hair and nail service as well as regularly scheduled social events such as wine tastings, art shows, and music,” points out co-owner and manager Deborah Salvato. “We offer a special atmosphere, with an emphasis on socialization. After all they have been through with COVID, people want to come together for a relaxed social experience. We can combine that with our professional services.”

In the cosmetology business for 30 years, Salvato has been licensed in all services, and has been associated with many salons in the area. When the opportunity to open her own salon came along, she did not hesitate. She and co-owner Laurent Mialhe gathered a staff of five professional stylists with extensive experience, and found the Witherspoon Street location.

An executive in the beauty industry, originally from France, Mialhe moved to Princeton 22 years ago, and looks forward to this new opportunity.

Top Quality

“Studio ONE60 is a new concept: a hair and nail salon that offers top quality service in a fun and less formal environment,” explains Mialhe. “Our professional services are provided in a spacious and very clean space that is very welcoming.”

“The studio was designed to be versatile design space, both for beauty and special events,” adds Salvato. “With their experience and continuing education, our stylists have mastered their craft to give you precision haircuts designed to fit your face, and custom color to complement your skin tone.

“And this all takes place in our friendly welcoming state-of-the-art studio. The most important thing to me is that customers come in and have a really good experience during the time they spend here.”

They will certainly find a very attractive, modern, sophisticated setting — up-to-date in every way. Modern and polished, yet unpretentious and relaxed at the same time, the salon features arresting wall art, displaying vibrant swirls of color, guaranteeing a unique experience from the outset.

Indeed, customers who have enjoyed the services at the salon report enthusiastically about their visit. Starting with their shampoo and the exceptionally comfortable chairs.

These chairs are state-of-the-art, designed to be very safe and comfortable for the neck, explains Salvato. The advanced headrest design offers support for the head and neck, and the footrest adds to the overall comfort.

New Style

Whether the client is just getting a shampoo and blow dry, or a haircut and color, the experienced stylists and master stylists work their magic.

“Everything begins with a consultation,” says Salvato. “Everyone will have a consultation, this is true both for a new client and an established client. We discuss what they want, and even though we know a current client’s hair style, it may be that they want to change and try out a new look, a new style or color.”

“Whether it is color, a haircut, or styling, we take into consideration the client’s skin tone, facial structure, hair texture, and original hair color,” she continues. “All of this is important in deciding on the best look, one that is most complementary for the client. It’s all about the end product.”

Color is major, adds Salvato. “It is a huge part of the business today. No longer just to cover gray, it is a fashion statement for many, and clients are younger and younger all the time. Even kids are now getting color.”

Most people prefer to have a natural look with color, unless, of course, it is deliberately dramatic, such as opting for pink or purple!

Highlights, low lights, and balayage are all popular techniques today, and the stylists at Studio ONE60 are very skilled in applying the various color treatments. There is also temporary color for those trying it out for the first time.

Creating Color

“Creating color is really chemistry, a science,” points out Salvato, “and we have a separate room for mixing color. Everything is very organized with separate rooms and stations for the various services.”

Individual style plays an important part in deciding on a look, and both short and long hair are favored today. And with time an issue for many now, a lot of clients prefer easy maintenance, including styles they can care for quickly at home. Studio ONE60’s stylists are able to help customers decide on a look suitable for them and at the same time offer home care maintenance suggestions.

Another popular service today is the Brazilian Blowout, reports Salvato. “It straightens frizzy hair, also adds volume, and is very long-lasting.”

In addition, the salon offers treatments for thinning hair and color correction in case clients may have had an unhappy home color episode.

Shampoo, conditioning, and color products at the salon include L’ANZA, Wow, and Keune, and they are also in stock for purchase.

Separate rooms are available for waxing and makeup applications, and the implements used for manicures and pedicures are carefully sterilized. The salon also follows all the state regulations for COVID-19.

These services are all popular, and as Salvato says, “We do makeup applications for weddings, proms, special events, or for an evening out.

Caring and Communication

Regarding COVID-19, Salvato points out that “We consider ourselves essential workers — not that perfect highlights are important during a global pandemic — but the human touch, caring, and communication we provide for our clients is. We all collaborated during COVID to bring our ideas together to offer a safe, fun, professional new social spot for work and play.”

Studio ONE60 offers two levels of pricing: for services with master stylist and with stylists. “Our prices are comparable to other salons in the area,” says Salvato.

Discounts of 15 percent are available for Princeton University students, and if clients refer a new customer to the salon, they will receive a discount.

Gift cards are offered, and are an especially thoughtful remembrance for events such as Mother’s Day, proms, anniversaries, or just as a nice surprise.

Being part of the community is an important priority,” emphasizes Salvato. “We look forward to giving back to the community and being a real part of it. We enjoy the opportunity to meet the people here and to offer our special services and socialization.”

She and the Studio ONE60 staff are very encouraged with the warm welcome they have received from clients and the community at large.

“We are pleased that our clientele is growing — we are getting new clients all the time, and we have many regulars. They are men, women, and children — all ages. We look forward to bringing our services to an even wider group, and we also look forward to our series of special events. We want people to know about what we are offering at our exceptional salon.”

Studio ONE60 is open Wednesday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (609) 613-1085; One60.biz.