Cira Creation Salon: A Unique Hair Experience

When Cira Lo Bue was 16 years old she was fascinated by the art of hairstyling. The first step in following her dream was to enroll in one of the areas top schools, Capri Beauty School. Cira’s sister, Connie Fiduccia, also shared a passion for hairstyling, often styling family and friends' hair for special occasions. At Cira’s urging, she too decided to enroll at Capri Beauty School.

At school, as well as at various hair salons, the two learned the trade and became actively involved in the beauty industry. Eventually, Cira began working at Olga’s Salon on Palisade Avenue and Connie at Sheer Honesty on Lemoine Avenue, both in Fort Lee.

In September 1991, Olga decided to retire and offered Cira the chance to buy the salon; hence, began. Initially the salon was located on Palisade Avenue, but in 2000, the salon relocated to its current location at 1640 Center Avenue. Maria Vilardi, also a sister, with a financial background, joined Cira part-time and managed the finances. In 1995, Connie joined Cira and Maria, and they've been together ever since. Maria now manages the salon on a full-time basis.

The clients from Cira’s and Connie’s former salons have followed them to Cira Creation Salon. The client-base is so loyal that not only do their children go to Cira’s, but also their grandchildren, some of whom come from outside of Fort Lee in the tri-state area.

Even during challenging economic times and in keeping the business stable, Maria said, “Cira or Connie never compromise on the service they provide or the products used in their salon.”

They prefer using natural, organic and sulphate-free products, as well as high quality color and relaxing products. Their goal is to have the customer leave the salon happy and looking their very best.

“From the moment a client walks into the salon, they are welcomed and treated with respect," Cira said. "A good stylist listens to their client to ensure the end result is the hairstyle the client envisioned and one that is right for the client.”

Connie said she loves her "precision haircuts."

"I love to see hair moving and falling into place," she said. "The idea of people going home and being able to style their own hair is very rewarding to me. We are constantly looking to add new services, meet current trends and to meet our customer’s desires. We are our own competition in that we try to provide the best service we can.”

Cira added, ”Once a client walks into the salon, they are considered part of the family and partake in the home made treats that are available.”

The hairstyles created by Cira and Connie speak about their personalities. Maria speaks of her sisters' intuitiveness, passion, talent and vision as an expression of their creativeness. Cira recalls giving a one-year old boy his first haircut.

"He is now 18 and lives in South Jersey," she said. "Through the years he has learned that he can trust me in receiving a hairstyle that will suit him best, changing with his age and lifestyle. I strive to be able to bring out the vision they individually picture for themselves. My haircuts are totally personal, nothing is repeated twice.”

According to Maria, what she loves most about working at the salon is “meeting amazing clients on a daily basis and watching them being transformed into beautiful looking individuals by just a change in hair style.”

Through the years, the salon has acquired a reputation among men of all ages that when they come they will receive a stylish haircut that is current to go along with excellent service.

Cira noted that during this economy clients are stretching time between haircuts, but because of their loyal customer base they continue to come on a regular basis.

Besides Cira, Connie and Maria, other employees include Carol, a stylist who has created hairstyles for 201 Magazine; Monica, the manicurist, who has been with Cira since opening; Piera, the stylist assistant, who is currently recommending that Cira’s starts to carry feather extensions, the current teen style and a service she will soon provide and Nina, Cira’s daughter, who specializes in hair extensions and will join the family business after gaining experience at other salons.

Cira Creation Salon is located at 1640 Center Avenue; 201-947-9696.