Paul’s Haircutters Opens in Monroe

Paul’s Haircutters may be the newest barber shop and salon in Monroe, but you wouldn’t know it from the loyal customers already waiting for a cut. The family business relocated from 6523 Main Street in Trumbull, near Marissa’s Restaurant, to 439 Monroe Turnpike in Monroe, the former location of Colonial Flooring. 

“I saw it as a good business opportunity,” says owner Paul Provenzano. “Now we have two separate entrances, one for the barber shop and one for the salon. Most unisex hair-cutters have one space.”

It’s a family business. The day I stopped by, there were four generations of Provenzano’s at Paul's Haircutters. “I have my grandson Tony and granddaughter Tina working with me,” Provenzano explained.

Tina Provenzano, Paul’s granddaughter is in charge of the women’s salon and has been a hairstylist for six years. “I do everything, but I really love color,” she said.  The salon is a Loreal and Redkin salon.

This day, Provenzano was cutting the hair of Al Sobocienski of Stratford, something he’s done countless times before.

“I’ve been following Paul for 37 years. He’s the best hair cutter in the area. I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” Sobocienski said. “I’m 55-years-old and Paul did my prom cut.”

His style has changed through the years, from a '70’s layered shag to giving Sobocienski a close buzz cut.

“(I’ve been cutting hair) since I was 12 years old, working with my father at the Sandyhook Barbershop in Newtown,” Provenzano explained.

He opened his own shop in Bridgeport on Main Street 45 years ago before eventually moving to Trumbull, where his barber shop remained for exactly 11 years.

“We closed on Saturday, the day before Easter and opened here on Monday, the day after Easter,” Provenzano said.

“We never shut down,” Tina added.

“We’ve seen a lot of familiar faces. A lot of (our customers) live up here so when we told them we were moving here, a lot of them said it was closer to home,” said hair stylist Laura Yarish, who does both women’s and men’s haircuts.   

“We’re unique because it’s not a typical unisex salon," Yarish said. "We do both but the women have their privacy and the men have their side. (The men) like that it’s a real barbershop. There’s a big screen TV.”

“People like that it’s old school barbering,” Tina explained. “We do the hot towel straight edge shave. It’s like a facial for a man. We also do men’s color. It just looks like you are having a shampoo done. So no one would even know you were getting color. It’s really subtle. It just blends the greys.”

“We want people to know that we have a separate personalized area for women. We are here for kids, the whole family,” Yarish said.

“People love Tina because she is young. She’s up on all the latest trends,” Yarish added.

“I’m super excited,” said Tina. When asked about the new location she added, “I love it! We have two rooms upstairs that we are planning to expand with and offer nails and facials. We want it to be more of a spa.”

Paul’s Haircutters has five barbers on Saturday. Cuts for men start at $17 with shaves starting at $16. Women’s cuts start at $25 and children’s cuts start at $16. The women's salon is currently offering half price off any service for new clients.  The barbershop takes walk-ins only and does not take appointments. The salon recommends appointments, but will take walk-ins when available. To reach the barbershop, call (203) 445-1321. Call (203) 395-0651 to reach the salon.