Today we’d like to introduce you to Chiara Savastano.
Hi Chiara, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I was given a very vibrant childhood. I was surrounded by art, different cultures and music. Both of my parents have artistic talents , my mom is a fine arts major and art teacher. For fun, she would draw fake tattoos on me, spray paint my hair different colors, and put different colored extensions that were sold at hot topic at the time in my hair. I would dye all of my Barbie dolls hair with sharpies and learned how to braid on them. My mom would lighten her hair with a cap, and I would help.
I first started dying my own hair when I was 12, eventually, my friends would come over and get their hair dyed. In high school, my friend stole his dad’s clippers and gave them to me, and I started learning about barbering. Even though my parents were always supportive they honestly weren’t very fond of the idea of me doing hair for a living, but eventually in my junior year, they asked me if I wanted to go to tech for cosmetology, but I could not at that point. My dad had created a little makeshift salon for me in the basement, my friends and I would call it “Chiara’s ratchet salon”
My senior year I was 18 years old. I had always done poorly in school and didn’t really fit in too well, I decided to drop out. That same day, I visited artistic Academy in Morris Plains and they told me that I needed my GED. I proceeded to get my GED within two weeks and then enroll myself into cosmetology school. That was 10 years ago! After being in the industry for about six years and working for someone, I decided to go my own way. In 2022 I opened up Fae & Phantom, a salon specializing in gender affirming haircutting and color that doubles as a vintage boutique. That has been what I’ve been doing for the last four years.
Funny sidenote, about five years into my career my dad pulled me inside and gifted me my great uncle shears he said “hey Chiara look! Uncle Vinny’s shears!” I had no idea that there was a barber in the family, I had to get the passion from somewhere! I have them framed and they are so beautiful. I am so happy to have them in my shop and to look at them every day.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it was a smooth road. There were definitely some potholes are along the way, but I think every career has its challenges. As I mentioned before, I wasn’t really great at school. I’m very late diagnosed ADHD and dyslexic which honestly explains a lot. Let’s just say it took me 11 months instead of nine months to complete cosmetology school… and craft scissors and kitchen scissors are not the same as Shark Fin or Hattori Hanzo shears. I definitely was very intuitive once I got started in salons and that journey was a lot easier than school. I am so grateful for my mentors and every salon experience I had both good and bad. They taught me the morals I want to have as a boss, and the kind of environment I want to provide owning a salon and providing a service.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When I was in cosmetology school, we had a teacher ask what haircuts we wanted to learn. My answer? A shag! My teacher looked at me and responded with “honey, shags will never make a comeback”. He was playful and his words, I guess, but I wish he could see where I am now and that I literally make a living cutting shags, mullets, chelsea cuts, mohawks, bi-hawks you name it!
What I really love about the industry is how the creativity is endless. I also pride myself on having a very inclusive space where everyone is welcome and it is very important to me every single day that I make sure that whoever sits in my chair feels seen and heard. A very large part of my clientele is the LGBTQ+ community. I understand what it feels like to ask for a certain haircut at a salon and be told no, to be told that it is too masculine( or feminine) and to feel shame over the look that I am trying to achieve. I will never make a clients feel shame, and I will always do my absolute best give them exactly what they want. I really do owe my career to the LGBTQ+ community and our allies, I am grateful every day for the people that sit in my chair.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love to hold events at my salon and collaborate with performers and artists. Sometimes, different organizations will sponsor events and I greatly appreciate that. In general a follow on Instagram is a great way to help out with engagement and spreading awareness about what I like to do with the shop. My Instagram is @Faeandphantom
Pricing:
- My haircuts range from $70-$90
- Consultations are free
- Hair color is a sliding scale
Contact Info:
- Website: https://faeandphantom.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/faeandphantom
- Other: https://share.google/I9u0DGzeBSLMxmiec
