LONGTIME BUSINESS
Town & Country, Where Every Day is a Good Hair Day
By Janice Llanes Fabry
Town & Country Hairdressers owner Rocco Briganti is celebrating 50 years in Rye. Like many “celebrities”, he’s known to all simply as Rocco, a star in his own right on Purchase Street.
“We’ve been here so long because of our hard work, dedication, and respect for our clients. And we’ve always done quality work,” he said. “We have many generations of clients coming back.”
In addition to hair styling, the full-service women’s, men’s, and kids’ salon specializes in color and color correction with top of the line, non-ammonia color products.
“To do color, one has to have a good eye and keep up with technology,” noted Rocco.
He started his career as a hair color technician at L’Oreal in Manhattan before coming to Westchester Country Club to work for “Mr. Gene.” When Town & Country owner Alice Lavigna offered him a spot at her then-30-year-old salon, he became one of 16 hairdressers at her salon. “After a while, Alice asked me if I’d like to buy the place,” recalled Rocco. “I asked, ‘Why me?’ and she said she appreciated my dedication and liked the way I worked.”
That was in 1969. The rest is history as Rocco has worked there and lived in the area ever since. A devoted staff includes hairdresser Rosie Miele, who just retired after 36 years; Laura Brigante going on 15 years and specializing in Balayage and make-up for weddings; Maria Ibanez a stylist, colorist, and men’s hair expert for 14 years; manicurists/pedicurists Dottie Viscone and Hilda Jacobo who’ve been doing nails and waxing for 20 and 16 years, respectively.
Master colorist Carole Pellegrino moved to Town & Country four years ago, after 20 years at Milano’s Hair Salon. “Customer service is number one here,” she observed. “It’s a family-oriented salon with old-school Rye values that keeps up with all the latest technology.”
The shop offers foil frosting, highlighting, lowlighting, glazes, Balayage, Keratin treatments, perms, Brazilian blowouts, and hair extensions, along with 10-minute color to cover gray and 10-minute split end repair. A rarity these days, Town & Country also offers manicures and pedicures, waxing, massage, facials, eyelash extensions and tinting, and tanning. It’s popular for weddings and kids’ parties.
On the retail side, it stocks the best and latest hair-care products, including Nioxin, Avena, Moroccan oil, and Chi.
To celebrate his golden anniversary, Rocco is offering all customers a 10% discount on services throughout the summer. Expressing his gratitude for a faithful clientele, he remarked, “People in Rye and my clients throughout Westchester and Connecticut are wonderful. They’ve been very loyal through the years.”
For an appointment, call 967-3998. Visit townandcountryhairdressers.com.
CAPTION:
Rocco Briganti, outside Town & Country Hairdressers, which he has owned for half a century.