One of New Canaan’s most popular salons has a new owner.
Gianna Parente has been with the salon formerly known as “Divaz”, now Dashing Diva Beauty, since she was 17 years old.
The native New Yorker, who took over the store’s lease in August after the previous owner decided not to renew it, has ties to New Canaan over his years working there.
“To tell you the truth, I feel like I grew up here,” Parente told the New Canaanite. “I’ve been here since I was a little kid, and when my boss wasn’t going to re-sign me, I was like, oh my god, I can’t believe we’re not all together, I can’t see it. Our customers are leaving. We really wanted to introduce more services, build the place, and cater more to everyone because we can’t afford not to be here. It was a dream come true for me to incorporate both, and although I never thought I would become an owner, I am so grateful. ”
If it wasn’t for her sister Amanda, a senior stylist at Dashing Diva Beauty, Ms. Parente probably wouldn’t have taken over the salon, she said.
“She’s been working here longer than anyone else,” Parente said. “I started this field because she wanted to go to hair school. I also wanted to go to hair school, but then I felt like I was thrown into this field. When I was in high school. To be honest, I didn’t want to work and they needed help, so I entered this world, started working, and never quit after that.The only time I went back was when I went back to school for skin care. And then I came back.”
There were several reasons why Parente stayed at the salon for so long, but ultimately it was her passion for the job that kept her there.
“I love making people feel good about themselves,” Parente said. “We’re almost like a family here, especially with our clients and staff. So even when my previous boss was gone, it felt great, and even though it’s been crazy here, they still kept coming and… You could do the following.” You learn a lot about them over the years and they become family. Learning about their personal lives makes them feel good because it’s so similar. ”
Dashing Diva Beauty has traditionally been purely a hair salon, but Parente hopes to expand the business by introducing more services.
“I’m an esthetician and cosmetologist, so I had this overall vision to incorporate more skin care,” Parente says. “We brought in HydraFacial, eyebrows and eyelashes and renovated it. I’m just trying to bring it back to life. I want to accommodate more weddings and have more girls here. The hair is mine It’s my life, my highlights, my blowouts, my haircuts. So I’m trying to incorporate more into my skin care and what I do.”
Despite the stress of being a new owner, Parente said she is happy with her decision.
“I feel great. I love this community. I think everyone is so great,” Parente said. “As a new business owner, it was very difficult but you all made me feel so comfortable. It’s definitely very different and very stressful, but the whole community has been very supportive. And like I said, they’ve made it a lot easier and really comfortable. Ta.”
Dashing Diva Beauty (203-966-3337) will host a grand opening party with champagne and light refreshments to welcome community members on Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. The salon, located at 111 Cherry St., is open by appointment only on Sundays and Mondays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
