By Bonnie Mason
Tired of the same old look? Abby Harris, the owner of Bella Mia Hair Designs, and her team of stylists have the knowledge and experience to give you the best cut and style to complement your features and fit your lifestyle. Whether it’s a classic look like the “bob,” one of the latest outré styles or an ombre hair color technique (where hair is colored lighter at the bottom and darker at the top), the pro stylists at Bella Mia Hair Designs, conveniently located in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., at BBD’s intersection with New Tampa/Cross Creek Blvd.
Abby Harris purchased Bella Mia Hair Designs nearly six years ago. The salon’s previous name was The Bostonian and Harris was a stylist there for 8 years.
“I want to bring a complete salon experience to local residents,” says Harris, who explains that there is a big difference between “getting a haircut” and a true salon experience. “We work with our clients to make sure they have the information they need to make the right decision about the hair style they choose.”
For example, a bob may not be the best style for someone with an oval shaped face. And, a longer hair style may not be the best for someone always on the go. An informative and honest consultation before the cut is what all clients at Bella Mia Hair Designs always receive.
“If I have a client who wants a style that I know is not exactly the right one for their specific features or lifestyle, I will tell them,” Harris says. “Ultimately, it’s still the client’s decision, but we try to guide them with the knowledge we have.”
Harris received her cosmetology license through a vocational school in New Jersey when she was 18 years old, before studying with renowned hair care expert Vidal Sassoon in London.
“Education is what really sets us apart from our competition,” Harris explains.
The stylists at Bella Mia have all studied in New York City, London, Miami, Las Vegas, Italy and even Bulgaria. Each year, Bella Mia’s team of stylists attends a Redken educational training program in which they learn the latest and greatest in color and design. The “Redken method” is the educational technique of cutting and styling that all Bella Mia stylists are trained to follow.
Harris explains that utilizing the one method of education allows for more uniformity in colors and products at Bella Mia. Also, the Redken “language” is universal among its stylists.
“Our belief is that we have learned from the best and use the best products in the industry,” says Harris. Other product lines carried in the salon include Rusk, Wayne Grund, Chi and Tigi.
Training To Be The Best
After almost three years working at Bella Mia, senior stylist Martina Petrova left Tampa for an opportunity to join the Arrojo Studio, NYC, owned and operated by Nick Arrojo, the original stylist for The Learning Channel (TLC)’s “What Not To Wear” TV program.
“I completed my fast track apprenticeship program in a few months and became a full-time stylist at Arrojo Studio,” says Petrova, who returned to Bella Mia two years later and has worked with Harris since then to develop a training program for the other stylists at the salon.
“Basically, I’m teaching classic fundamentals of hair cutting and design,” Petrova explains. “The idea is to master the classics, and when you do, the creativity is limitless. There is always something to be learned; I’m learning every day. Excellent results set us apart and continued education is the key to success.”
Petrova says that she loves being able to create easy-to-care-for hairstyles for her clients, through proper shape and using correct products.
“Beautiful hair should be a complement to someone’s lifestyle and personality,” Petrova says. “I love the craft and the pursuit of perfection. Hairdressing creates works of art. It has to be both beautiful and functional.”
In addition to in-service training for stylists, two associates, who also are licensed, also work at the salon. Harris offers her associates a chance to learn from her in-service training and day-to-day operations in styling techniques. The program is approximately 10 months of an apprenticeship with the salon.
For nearly four years, prior to settling in Tampa where her immediate family moved from New Jersey, Harris says she traveled the world while working on cruise ships in her early years. Having visited more than 40 different countries and designed hair for thousands of cruise ship passengers, Harris says with certainty, “Hair with big waves is still popular and of course, the classics with structure within a haircut like a ‘bob’ will always be here.”
Bella Mia Hair Designs stylists strive to make their salon a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for families.
“We want our clients to bring their entire family to Bella Mia –— everyone should experience the salon style — even children,” says Harris, whose chic salon portrays a sense of pampering to everyone who visits, but with a family feel. “We work together as a family — there is a caring camaraderie between stylists and we are in a great place to offer our clients the best techniques known worldwide. I’m definitely very excited about the future of Bella Mia Hair Designs.”
Need more coaxing? “I am truly impressed with Bella Mia Hair Designs,” says Mariana Iordanova, a Bella Mia customer. “I always feel warmly welcomed and like part of their family when I am there. The staff is made up of friendly professionals who can meet all of your different styling needs. My personal stylist is Martina, who is a very highly trained professional and always gives me the best hair advice. I recently had an agave hair treatment that was superb. From specialized treatments to just a quick trim, Bella Mia is the place to go!”
Harris lives in Wesley Chapel with her husband David, who also helps out at the salon with daily operations and marketing. The couple has a two-year-old son, Luca, and another baby due in October.
Bella Mia Hair Designs is located at 19038 BBD Blvd. in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza. The salon offers cuts and styles, hair color and highlights, body perms and straightening for men, women and children. Facial waxing also is available. It is open Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sat. For more info, including about Bella Mia’s $69.95 color, cut, treatment & blow dry special (restrictions apply), call 632-3552, visit BellaMiaHairDesigns.com.
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