In 1964 Sebastian Airo was considering his career choices and didn't much like his choices; maybe work in a factory or go to college. Instead, he decided to follow in his brother's footsteps and become a barber.
His brother told him to consider becoming a stylist, instead. It was a time when women got their hair "roller set" every week and the popular hairstyle was beehive updo.
After a brief stint at a Hartford salon Sebastian he went to work at a salon called Parisian Coiffures in Cromwell.
“He worked one Saturday, he was booked all day doing roller sets and he couldn’t believe the money he made," says his daughter, Patricia Barbaro.
From that simple beginning Sebastian's popular Parisian Salon & Day Spa at 9 Berlin Road in Cromwell was born.
Now 74, Sebastian says he’s still amazed by what he built.
"I never thought my business would grow to be this large. I never thought I'd have more than 10 employees working under me, and now I have 35!”
Sebastian became a partner in the business in the 1970s and then bought it out entirely in the 1990s when his business partner retired. That’s when Sebastian decided to build an addition that expanded the salon’s footprint to 3,400 square feet and expanded its services to include a full day spa.
“We always did facials and nails and waxing, but not (services) that would create more of a pampering experience,” Patricia says.
Sebastian hired a salon designer who made the newly renovated Parisian Spa look like a New York-style salon and spa.
“He wanted it to be a one-stop shop, where you could get all your beauty needs met in one place."
The business got so busy, Patricia says, her father needed his family's help running it.
Today, Patricia manages the business and Sebastian’s wife, Josie Airo, is a receptionist. His granddaughter, Alyssa Salafia, is a stylist. Patricia’s sister, Michelle Salafia, formerly worked there as a co-manager with Patricia.
“I never envisioned my family would be a part of Parisian,” Sebastian says. “They have helped me evolve and grow my business to what it is today. I couldn't have done it without them."
Even employees who aren’t related are like family, Patricia says. For instance, one of their stylists, Sookie Pierce, has been with the salon for more than 50 years and there are several other employees who have worked there for between 15 and 40 years.
The little business that started with three hair cutting stations and three stylists today has 12 hair styling chairs and employs more than 30 people.
The salon prides itself on its professional hair coloring services and carries the Goldwell International color brand, a product sold only in salons, Patricia says. Parisian Day Spa has attained the Titanium level of recognition by Goldwell - the highest level possible - based on the salon’s level of education with Goldwell products and the stylists' skills.
Sebastian says he and his employees are constantly educating themselves on ways to improve their services.
"The best part of my career is having the ability to boost a woman's confidence,” he says. “When she looks good, you know she feels good about herself by the way she walks. It's a great feeling.”
