Anton's Hair Design: The Right Relationship is Everything

“I try to keep Anton’s a family orientated salon and provide service the right way,”
said Anton Ayvas, owner of Anton’s Hair Design. “I try to make working here a
fun atmosphere.”

This is what has made Anton’s Salon popular since 1978. “We treat our customers the way we would like to be treated.”

Anton Ayvas is the son of Greek immigrants, who was born and raised in Hackensack and then in Emerson. As an Emerson High School graduate, Anton excelled in sports.

“I was on the football, wrestling and track teams while I was attending the
high school and knew I wanted to pursue sports while I was in college.” Anton
continued his education at the University of Miami, trying out as a walk-on to
the football team, then on to Fairleigh Dickinson, all while pursuing a degree
in physical fitness.

It was when he came home to New Jersey; his life took a different turn.

“My family has a long line of people in the hair care industry,” Anton explained.
“My parents owned and operated together a salon in Emerson for 33 years named
the ‘Mona Lisa Salon’.  My mother’s sister was also in the business as well as my sister worked in my parents shop for a while. My uncle Plato had operated a salon in Hasbrouck Heights for 19 years and was very successful. When he wanted to retire and sell the business, I took this as a sign and bought the business. I attended cosmetology school for two years to get my license and Anton’s Hair Design was born. “

“The location of my uncle’s business was right across the street, where the dance
studio is today and when the opportunity to open in this location came up in
1990, we moved into it. We have been here ever since. My biggest cheerleader in
the success of the business is my wife of 34 year, Irene. She has always
encouraged my success.”

What a lot of patrons don’t know about Anton is both he and his family’s professional music background.

“My father is a professional musician and was a member of the 802 union in New York City. My dad played several instruments and was very talented at all of them. I also inherited my father’s love of music and have played the drums and keyboards since I was in high school.

"I credit my love of music to me meeting my wife. I met her at one of the weddings that I was playing at and meeting was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Asking her to marry me was one of the best decisions I have made in 34 years.”

“The one thing that my father taught me through music is how to get along with people from other cultural backgrounds. I think that has translated into why our business is so successful. When you deal with people from different backgrounds from yourself, you learn they are more similar then you think. You earn a respect
and trust when you treat people in a friendly, understanding way. My love of
music translated that across many ethnic boundaries,” Anton explained.
 
This has also been inherited by Anton and Irene’s four children.

“My eldest daughter teaches music and voice at Wood Ridge High School, where she is an Alumni and my son is a composer, who is freelancing around the world. He has written much of his own music. My other daughters have branched out into different fields but all of my children have played one instrument or another in their lives as well as have a love of the arts,” Anton said proudly.

Anton has also proudly welcomed in a new granddaughter, who will no doubt inherit the love of music. Anton also added to his love of engaging people by participating in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a clown for the last three years.

Anton and his wife had lived in Wood Ridge for 32 years and were very involved in the schools and recreation program. They raised their family there and their
children went through the Wood Ridge school system.

“This is why it was easy for me to set up a business in Hasbrouck Heights. Through sports, I got to know many of the families that lived here and became future customer. Also, the towns are very similar and many of the residents know one another. It has been good word of mouth,” Anton explained.

Anton caters to all members of the family and is now working with second and now third generations of customers. The key to the business’s success is its friendly atmosphere, a lot due to his staff.

“Many of my employees have been here for over 12 years. It’s a friendly relaxed environment where we treat our customers as if they were members of our extended family. I think that is the true key to success,” Anton noted.

Anton’s Hair Design
212 Boulevard
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
201-288-9705