Hair designs are labor of love
HBy By Gary S. Hatrick
Hair Designs by Jay
Jay is a labor of love for owner Jay Martello.
Since he opened the salon at 38602 South
t ll Si h d th
Avenue in Zephyrhills in Oct 2012 he has
been doing the work he feels he was
meant to do.
-
lo said. “I’ve had my license since
I got out of high school. I’ve had
a lot of other careers and I realized
by the time I was in my
early 30’s that I love this. When
you’re young you want to experience
so many other things
and I did then I came back to
where I belong. I live for it. I
dream about it. It’s my life.”
Martello takes a holistic
approach to operating a salon.
“I believe in making
the client look as beautiful
or as handsome as they
possibly can be. I’m also
extremely realistic and
honest with people.
My ultimate goal is to
have your hair looking
the healthiest and shiniest
and best it’s looked
in years,” he said. “I will
nutrition supplementation.
I’m very well-versed
in that and have studied it
for many years. I believe
people should look and
feel the best they can at
any stage of their life.”
Martello also sells
retail products, costume
jewelry and decorative
handbags. “I was in the
retail business for years,”
he explained. “I had a boutique
years ago in Fort Lauderdale
- I missed it and I kind
of put a little bit of it in here for
fun. It’s nice to see people have
fun. I also have hair products. I
purchase things that I like and I don’t really push any brand. I
carry several different brands that I feel are good quality and
at a good price and going to be an asset to your hair. If there
is a particular product a client is looking for and I don’t have
it I will get it for them.”
The hours at Hair Designs by Jay are 9 a.m. To 6 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. It is a unisex salon and so accepts both women
and men. Martello prefers appointments, but will
do his best to accommodate the client. “I’m very
versus having them work around mine because I
basically have no life but this,” he laughs.
The salon is not a full service salon. For services
beyond eyebrow waxing, haircuts hair coloring,
and hair styling Martello refers clients to other
salons. “I love it all,” Martello said. “But coloring,
cutting and styling are my favorites.”
His approach keeps people coming back. Leida
Foster and Debbie Vessella have been coming to
Jay for several years apiece. I have been
coming to see Jay for the last
four years now,” Foster said.
“I came in and I loved it and
I’ve been here ever since. I
look forward to coming
here he is such a wonderful
person.”
Vessella echoes Fosters
sentiments: “I’ve
been coming to Jay for
about nine years,” she
said. “I have previously
tried every hair salon in
Zephyrhills until I found
Jay. He was at another salon
at the time and when he
bought this I moved here with
him. My hair is healthier now
than it has ever been. He
is also a good friend. My
mother recently passed
and he came to the funeral
home. He is a very caring
and generous person.
“I want people to come and
relax and feel that this is an escape
from the reality of some of their lives,” Martello said.
“I want them to come in here and feel like this is their home
while they are here. I want them to leave here not only feeling
good about themselves or beautiful or handsome, but I want
them to have a good feeling about life and having a wonder
day and a wonderful week and a wonderful year.
16 • JAN/FEB 2019 813.682.9364 FLORIDA WOMEN MAGAZINE