Prom Season Busy Time for Croton Hair Stylists

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – Local high schools are in the midst of prom season, and professional stylists in the area are committed to helping students have a night to remember.

“It’s very exciting, even for other clients that are here and not going to the prom,” said Vinny Marano, owner of Sonny Abbott’s Salon in Croton. “It’s a lot bigger than it was back then.”

“It’s fun and it’s different because you don’t get to do it every day,” said Leslie Lebitsch, a stylist at Backstage Salon.

Most girls this season opt for natural looking styles as opposed to constructed updos.

“I’m seeing a lot of soft styles off the red carpet,” said Marano. Lebitsch described those styles as an “organized mess.”

Marano emphasized the importance of girls coming in ahead of time for a consultation. “You should come in when there’s no pressure,” Marano said. He noted that girls today can post pictures on Facebook so friends can leave comments.

Lebitsch said she doesn’t have many clients that come in ahead of time, so she tells clients to bring in a picture to ensure customer satisfaction.

At Backstage, girls make appointments with Marlene Taccariello, owner and makeup artist at the salon. Known as “the brow queen,” Taccariello relies on her skills for creating suitable looks.

“Most of the time I just decide with their skin tone and their eye color what would be best,” Taccariello said.

Prom season also brings customers for Gina Deleo, who works at Croton Florist. “Going into summer it gets a bit slower, so it's good to have a busy June,” she said.

“Sometimes they come in with a swatch of the dress and ask for our advice, and most often they leave it up to me,” Deleo said of creating corsages.

Stylists and florists have to be ready for clients at any moment—most book appointments weeks before the event, but some come the week or day of the event. For Marano, even last minute clients deserve the best.

“To me there really isn’t a good excuse not to have a good style. On the spot, you have to make it happen,” he said.

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