To people in the know, Joe Zottola is one of the nicest guys in town. He’s also amazingly talented at styling hair. The son of hardworking Italian immigrants, Joe was born and raised in Pittsburgh, where he followed his older cousins into the hair business at age 16. He opened his first salon when he was just 22, ‘Salon Z,’ which he operated in Pittsburgh for 36 years and grew to include 14 stylists. At the same time, he also founded a second salon aimed at strictly men and boys called ‘Game Day Haircuts.’
“I have always loved doing hair, especially coloring women’s hair,” Joe says now at Venice’s Ciao Bella Salon, where he’s been styling for the past three years. “I love making people happy with the way they look. Communication is the most important part of taking care of clients. You learn about your clients’ lives and celebrate their milestones with them. I love the personal aspect of doing hair. This business has been very good to me.”
Grandfather to two-year-old Adam, and father to adult children Justine (Adam’s mother) and Joe Jr., Joe has trained all over the world, from London, to New York, to Toronto, at famous studios like Vidal Sassoon, Toni & Guy, and Jingles International. His four-decade career has seen him master all sorts of trends and styles.
“I really loved the 80’s,” Joe says. “There were so many creative things going on. Today’s styles are relaxed, anything goes, there’s no right or wrong. We used to have a seasonal clientele here, but with all the growth we have had, it isn’t like that anymore. We are seeing more permanent people, and younger people.”
For men, Joe stresses the importance of investing in their hair by regularly going to an experienced stylist. “It makes a difference in finding someone who is seasoned and educated in what they do,” Joes says. “People notice the quality of the style. It certainly helps with the individual’s confidence. Men should get styled once a month. If they are willing to try new things and trust their stylist, they should take a risk on a different style every now and again.”
2161 Tamiami Trail South, Venice. 941.220.7112, Vagaro.com/ciaobella3.
