Business Profile: Salon Bella

By Craig Whitney

Photos by Shannon Lynn Photography

Salon Bella has been a part of Marple for decades, consistently improving upon a reputation of quality service and dedication. Families who have been salon customers for years have become close friends with their stylists, and there is a level of communication that only comes from a true personal connection.

Owner and Stylist Mary Rosato has run Salon Bella for many years, and this is something she takes pride in. “I was the type of person who knew what I wanted to do from a very young age,” Mary explained.

Mary grew up in Havertown. Her family was known for cutting hair. Her grandfather, George, owned a barber shop in town, and his two brothers also had shops in the area.

Salon Bella Owner Mary Rosato, cutting a client's hair

Photo by Shannon Lynn Photography

Mary distinctly remembers the years she spent as a child sweeping the hair after every cut and watching with pride as her grandfather worked. She and her siblings had their hair cut by their grandfather, and Mary watched with an intense focus as he trimmed her bangs or cut her hair to a very specific length. She still remembers the day when her grandfather was about to cut her brother’s hair and instead turned to Mary and offered her the scissors. She was only 14 that day, but her life was set on a new path from that point on.

It was my passion my whole life,” Mary glowed. “I loved to style hair and to make people feel good about themselves.”

After graduating and getting licensed, Mary started working at salons in Philly. After several years of that fast pace and surrounding distractions, she knew she needed to find a town where she could settle down.

When she found Marple, it felt like the perfect community for her: A place full of supportive and enthusiastic people. Families came into the salon together and shared stories and laughs while they had their hair styled. Soon after joining the team, Mary felt like a true member of the Marple community. Salon Bella became her second home.

Mary worked as a stylist for many years, getting to know all the other employees and forming close relationships with the clients. When she had her two children, Victoria and Julia, she started working one day a week.

After her children were older, Mary returned to a full-time schedule. Being back at Salon Bella was refreshing and rejuvenating. And with her return, came a stronger drive and a larger ambition. In 2008, Mary approached the owner, Joanne Booth, to express her interest in owning the company.

I wanted to do more. I didn’t want to be just behind the chair all the time,” Mary explained. “I wanted to manage the company, market it, and see it grow.”

Mary became salon owner, and after several years, the company began to grow and change. Now, there are 17 chairs and a team of stylists with many specialties and personalities. Mary takes great pride in how different all of her stylists are, and she makes it a priority to make each stylist feel fulfilled.

I stress being professional but also personal in our work,” Mary explained. “It’s very important to me that our clients feel comfortable and that the salon is a clean, state-of-the-art environment. That all starts with making sure the stylists feel comfortable and that their needs are taken care of.”

There are currently 19 stylists, and Mary works hard to nurture a close relationship with all of them. Having spent many years as a full-time stylist herself, Mary knows the demands of the job and how she would like to be treated by management.

The stylists’ workstations at Salon Bella

Photo by Shannon Lynn Photography

Most of all, I want everyone to be able to come to work, enjoy themselves, learn something new, and express themselves creatively, because we are all artists in the way we style and design each person’s hair.”

In recent years, a new challenge to the salon industry is the level of information social media provides to clients. People come into the salon with a specific look or technique they found on Instagram or Pinterest, and they want to talk to their hair stylist about what they can do. Mary takes her employees’ continual education very seriously, partially because of this new challenge. The stylists are expected to stay up-to-date on the most recent trends and be prepared to provide such services as they become more popular. Steady professional development has led to a wide range of skills and specialties across all stylists who can be matched to each client’s needs and interests.

Helping Mary with managing this vibrant business is Salon Coordinator, Missy Nestoras. She has worked at the Salon almost as long as Mary has. Missy is the friendly face that greets every client. She has a natural gift for understanding personalities and matching people with their needs. When she is on the phone with a new client, Missy can tell by their voice and a small conversation which stylist will be perfect for them.

I’m so grateful to have Missy on our team,” Mary raved. “She has always been so important to me and to all our stylists and assistants.”

One example of the personal connection between stylist and client is Linda and her two daughters. Linda first started coming to Salon Bella when her children, Erica and Brook, were very young. Over the years, Mary and the other stylists got to know Linda’s whole family. For every school dance through high school, Erica came to Salon Bella, to have her hair styled. Mary still remembers Erica coming in before the senior prom. Pretty Woman was a worldwide sensation at the time, and Erica had her hair styled just like Julia Roberts. Years later, Erica chose Salon Bella to style her hair the morning of her wedding. Now, Erica brings her own children in, to have their hair cut and styled by Leslie. This is just one example of many generations who trust in Salon Bella.

When I see people come in to get their hair done and get completely transformed, I get the most uplifting and satisfying feeling,” Mary glowed, smiling as she spoke. “We have the chance to turn a person’s day around and make them feel better about themselves, and that is such an amazing thing!”

The Salon Bella products shelf

Photo by Shannon Lynn Photography

From styling a young girl’s hair for prom to styling her hair on her wedding day, Mary Rosato has played an important part of many local families’ lives for generations. Walking into the salon and seeing the prom photos and the wedding photos around the room, warm conversations at every chair and the excitement when a client has had their look transformed, it's clear that this salon is bigger than its four walls. In many ways, Salon Bella has been a powerful and deeply personal piece of the Marple story, affecting the lives of people and making our community a happier, more beautiful place to live.

SALON BELLA

Broomall's Destination Salon for Prom Season ...and ANY Season!

Formal Hair & Makeup • Formal Styling Creative Cuts Hair Coloring • Smoothing Treatments Hair Extensions • Perms and Relaxers • Waxing Services • Sunless Tanning • Eyelash Extensions • Make Up Services

610-353-9133

590 Reed Rd, Suite 5, Broomall

www.SalonBellaBroomall.com