by Lesley Bowen
It’s not everyday you get to sit down with Salon Scavo owner, Gianfranco Scavo and discuss his last four decades (yes, you read that correctly, FOUR) working with hair. Located in uptown Toronto at 1470 Yonge St., you cannot miss this spectacular venue. The space is never ending and adorned with shimmering mirrors and remarkable lighting to take your perfect selfie.
Upon entering I am immediately greeted by Gianfranco, his warm demeanor and smile makes me instantaneously comfortable.
With the perfect cappuccino in hand (made by Gianfranco himself) I begin to chat with him about his early days in hair and some of his inspirations. He drew influence from Italian hair guru Coppola and his father at a young age. Gianfranco fondly shares how his father was a fashionista, and how he would take him and his cousin to the first unisex salons in downtown Toronto. He simply “loved the vibe”.
Born in Toronto but holding deep roots in his southern Italian heritage from Puglia, you can feel the “famiglia” in the atmosphere he has created. Serving generations of family members and nurturing these relationships is key to Scavo.
“For me it’s all about that, make people feel special. Doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from.”
Creating a progressive salon with a family style approach, you truly receive the best of both worlds. One thing of great importance to Scavo is continued education, this occurs like clockwork every Wednesday. Investing in his 30 something staff members truly sets this salon above the rest. His roster of talented artists consists of specialists dedicated to one particular aspect of hair. No matter what brings you through to doors, you are taken care of by a seasoned team member.
True to his mission of making people feel special and leveraging the staff’s expertise he has so seamlessly built into his team culture, Scavo stands by his commitment to personalization when discussing trending hair styles. Scavo mentions that bringing warmth back into hair colour and collar bone length cuts are currently trending, but always bringing it back to the client. Considering aspects like face shape, hair colour and eye colour is imperative to consider over any trend he says.
As we wrap up our chat, and my delicious Cappuccino made with love, I am ushered to the back of the salon to receive a wash and blowout by the masterful hands of Gianfranco. If you are anything like me, the hair wash and massage is what it’s all about. I melt further into my seat and enjoy every second of it. From there I am taken to a station where the magic begins. I’ve had my hair blown out many times, but I must say this was one of the best I’ve ever had. I never once told Gianfranco how I style my hair, but he tousled my hair perfectly and gave my thin hair vitality and beautiful volume.
Speaking to Gianfranco was effortless, we chatted like old friends spending the afternoon catching up. He has such a calming and down to earth presence. His welcoming demeanor combined with his artistic talent for hair has kept his doors open for decades. No matter what age or background, anyone is welcome to Salon Scavo. This experience was nothing short of true hospitality at its finest. – VV
Photography by Scott Lennon, Videography by Mark Cannataro, Editing by Amy Pigeon
