Every Day Beautiful for Salon Owner

Uncle Bob had a favorite greeting for Robi-Ann Medeiros when he was working on the plumbing at her new salon on Maple Avenue five years ago.

“Ciao bella” he would say.

“He always used to walk in the door saying ciao bella,” said Medeiros. “It means hello and goodbye, beautiful.”

Medeiros was looking for a name for her salon, and Uncle Bob’s greeting seemed just the thing to embody what she hoped people would feel whenever they came to see her - beautiful.

As a little girl growing up in a large Italian family in Seekonk, Medeiros used to help out in her aunt’s hair salon in Greenville. She would sweep up after the clients, and when she was a little older, she’d cut her dad’s hair for him.

She never intended to become a stylist though, and after high school she studied teaching at the Community College of Rhode Island. Medeiros spent 10 years working in the special education field, where she met her husband, Matt, who also worked with developmentally disabled adults. The couple have three children, Ciara, Corissa, and Storm.

For the last several years she was involved with special education, Medeiros also worked at a salon in North Providence for extra income, and realized how much she loved working as a stylist and colorist.

In 1999, she decided to attend Arthur Angelo’s School of Cosmetology & Hair Design in Providence. After graduating, Medeiros worked for four years at a hair salon in Lincoln.

Although she loved her job and the salon she worked at, Medeiros knew she needed to run her own place. She belonged to a gym in Barrington, and had seen that a building at 68 Maple Ave. was available.

“I love the small town feel of Barrington. It’s very friendly,” said Medeiros.

After some soul-searching, Medeiros took a deep breath and decided to make the move.

“It was really difficult to leave the other salon, but I just wanted to be my own boss,” she said.

Medeiros considers herself lucky to have a thriving business, particularly during these economic times.

“Having your own business is a lot of hard work,” said Medeiros. “I have been very fortunate. I built my business primarily through word-of-mouth."

One of the things Medeiros said she most enjoys about her business is that people feel they are able to relax when they come in to see her.

“Our salon is a bit like ‘Cheers’,” laughed Medeiros. “Everybody knows your name here.”

“You can come from the gym, from doing yard work, without having to change your clothes, and it doesn’t matter," she said. "Everybody feels comfortable here.”

Ciao Bella Salon specializes in color and styling services, and offers hair styling and makeup services for weddings and other special events. They also provide facial waxing, nail services, and ear piercing.

The salon is also participating in the Barrington Business Association's 'Passport to Savings' promotion, with $10 off any full service color and cut on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“I love my salon. I really do. It’s never, ever boring,” said Medeiros. “I’m a people person, and it’s nice being able to make people feel good.”