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Calia, a Lodi native with a lifelong love of hair styling, is planning a grand reopening and anniversary celebration of the unisex salon at 315 Boulevard.
There was no conclusive reason for the fire, said Calia, who was able to reopen the shop in August, just in time for its anniversary.
“In second grade, my mother took me to a beauty salon and I fell in love with the hair lady,” Calia said. “I thought she was so cool and decided that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up.”
Calia began honing her talent on whatever and whomever she could find.
“My barbies were my first models,” Calia said. “When I was little I also had a shoulder head mannequin type toy and then I moved on to every friend and every family member.”
In high school, Calia moved forward with her profession where she began studying hair and going to beauty school at night.
After graduation, she began working at a number of places including a barber shop and hair salons, where she learned the ins and outs of unisex styling. She worked in North Arlington and Nutley before opening her own place, R-Tist, in East Rutherford.
She stayed at the East Rutherford location on Park Avenue for 10 years before moving over to her current location in Hasbrouck Heights. She runs the entire salon by herself.
“I love my salon,” Calia said. “It’s unisex and I have a great crowd — children, families, men and women. I do up dos, bridals. My passion is definitely is for hair coloring and cutting.”
The celebrations begins at 2 p.m.
CLICK HERE for more info. R-Tists Hair Studio, 315 Boulevard is open Tuesday to Friday 12 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (201) 727-1373 for an appointment.
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