gail
GAIL ARDOLINO
more about gail
Once upon a time…isn’t that how all great stories start? My once upon a time started out when I was a little girl, accompanying my mom to her weekly Friday “beauty salon” appointments. How I loved watching the uniform-clad “beauticians” curl and tease and spray and sculpt beautiful hairstyles. My mom looked like a movie star when she left the Princess Beauty Salon and I was hooked!
Welcome to the ’80s. The salon industry had been evolving over the years…”Celebrity Hairdressers” were emerging as innovators and pioneers of the beauty and fashion world. Vidal Sassoon, Kenneth, and Jose Eber had become household names, and women (and men) were becoming more educated and more selective about where they went to have their hair styled. I loved going to get my hair cut at the hottest salon in town, New Designs. The stylists there were like rock stars—designer clothes, designer handbags, designer everything…and could they do great hair!! I would sit in awe, with disco music thumping in the background, and watch as women were getting their hair permed, cut, colored and highlighted, their nails manicured and their makeup done, thinking all the while “THIS IS IT! THIS is what I want to do, where I want to be!” The salon atmosphere was high-energy, glamorous, FUN…how cool to get to be creative every day and make people feel and look so fabulous!!! I wanted to be part of it, to do what they were doing…so off to cosmetology school I went!!!
Fast forward 28 years…I still love everything about this amazing industry and could not imagine ever doing anything else. Throughout my career I have had so many wonderful opportunities to learn from and work with the best in the business: Vidal Sassoon, Sebastian, Aveda and Davines, among others. In the mid ’90s, I was selected to be part of Aveda’s National Education team…As a “Purefessional” I was certified to teach classes, participate in regional and national hair shows, doing both hair and makeup, and even had the opportunity to assist backstage at Radio City Music Hall at an Aveda Congress Festival. It was during this time that I was introduced to Ted Gibson, at the time one of Aveda’s Master Trainers, now celebrity stylist extraordinaire and star of the hit TLC show “What Not to Wear”. I had the good fortune to be trained by Ted along with other incredible Master Trainers, and had the opportunity to work with Ted and his team at a regional show. I even got to drive him to the train station after the show…how lucky can one girl get???!!! It’s an experience I will never forget!
In August 2005, I realized a long-time dream and opened G SALON. Create an environment where creativity flourishes, offer the very best in service and products, exceed expectations on a daily basis…this was (and still is) my vision for G SALON. I have a team of the most creative, talented, warm and professional stylists I’ve ever met and am so fortunate to work alongside and learn from them every day. We continue to grow as a team, constantly striving to be better by attending many types of advanced education, locally, in-salon and all over the world. Since 2007, I have attended the Davines World Wide Hair Tour in Barcelona, Venice and Miami, and look forward to many exciting educational opportunities in the future.
My work is my passion…I look forward to learning, growing, creating and sharing with my team and with our clients, while offering the very best service in a place where creativity is nurtured and excellence is achieved. That’s my commitment…and what a great time I’m having doing it!!
kathleen
KATHLEEN ROCHELEAU
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I first discovered my passion for hair at 3 years old, when I took scissors to my own head of hair, chopping my bangs straight up to the hairline. Luckily, my skills have improved since then! I began my career at G SALON as an assistant in 2006, becoming a full-time member of the G SALON team after graduating from North Haven Academy, a Paul Mitchell Partner School, in March of 2007, and I truly can’t imagine working anywhere else. I have learned so much working at G SALON, most of all the importance of building a good relationship with your clients, and always continuing your education.
In school, I trained with the Paul Mitchell Education team, including creative directors Robert Cromeans and Stephanie Kocielski, and have continued to attend advanced coloring, cutting, and texture classes with the Davines Global Education team since graduating, with my most exciting educational experience being the 2009 Davines World Wide Hair Tour in Venice, Italy, where I studied trends and techniques with international hairstylists. I have been certified with Davines in their Mask Color and A New Colour lines, as well as in the GK Hair Taming Keratin Smoothing System. I am excited to continue to learn and grow in this ever-changing industry!
I have a passion for both coloring and cutting, and love creating an overall look with my clients from beginning to end. I look forward to prom and wedding season each year, as I love creating classic and creative updos and looks. Each client is different and I strive to provide each with an experience and result as unique as the individual. I feel fortunate to have a career where I feel I can make a difference in someone’s day and make them look and feel beautiful!
erika
ERIKA CARR
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After graduating high school in 2009, I began my education at North Haven Academy, A Paul Mitchell Partner School to pursue a career in cosmetology. Shortly after graduating I started working at G SALON as an assistant, and after one year of apprenticeship, became a full time stylist.
This industry is constantly changing, so I strongly believe in continuous education. I frequently attend advanced classes, both in-salon and locally. In January of 2012, I attended the Davines World Wide Hair Tour in Miami, to learn new cutting, coloring and styling techniques with some of the best educators in the Davines Company, including Angelo Seminara, 3 time ‘British Hairdresser of the Year’ and Davines Artistic Director. I’ve trained with industry leader Robert Cromeans during my education at Paul Mitchell, and have also had certification training with the leaders of the GK Taming Keratin Smoothing System. I am excited to participate in many more educational experiences in the years to come!
I have a passion for making my clients feel happy and confident with their look when they leave my chair…nothing is more gratifying!
meredith
MEREDITH CELLA
more about meredith
Hairdressing is in my blood…LITERALLY! With a cousin, uncle and great aunt in the industry, there were great footsteps in which to follow.
My passion was really ignited when I was living in Minnesota. A friend’s sister was part of the Horst Salon (now Juut) creative team. As part of the team, she had to invent different looks and ways to execute them, so I was the guinea pig for most of her trials! The behind the scenes was amazing, and (usually) so was the end result.
After high school, I worked at Horst Salon as a salon receptionist, during which time I attended many classes at the Aveda Institute.
When we moved back to Connecticut in 1996, I was determined to go to “beauty school” and I was blessed with an opportunity to work at a salon prior to and while attending The Connecticut Institute of Hair Design. I was able to learn advanced techniques from the amazing stylists at the salon while getting all the basics at school. I fell in love with it immediately…the balance of creativity and technicality…and what could be better than making someone feel beautiful?
Throughout my career in this incredible industry, I have attended many advanced cutting, coloring, technique and product classes, some locally and some in Minnesota, and with some of the best in the industry such as Aveda, Davines and Paul Mitchell. To become an accomplished make-up artist, I trained under the best: Gail Ardolino…Yes, the “G” of G SALON!
A lot has happened during the 16+ years that I have been a stylist. I am now a proud wife and mother of 2, and am a part-time member of the G SALON team. This industry that we have chosen, like life, is always changing and evolving…that’s the beauty of it.