With the snap of a red ribbon, Elie Tanous celebrated his new hair salon at The Shops at Riverside on Friday afternoon, January 5. Clients, friends, family and staff joined the grand opening. The festivities included champagne, a custom-designed cake and cookies from Cake & Company, and wraps and sushi from Glatt Express. Tanous said it was very important for him to serve kosher refreshments so his many Orthodox clients in the area could enjoy the party.
Owning his own hair salon is an exciting new adventure for Tanous, and also something of a homecoming; he has been styling hair in the area for 10 years and had worked for the salon under previous owners. Now he is at the helm, implementing everything he’s learned from training with experts around the world, including London and Italy, and in other NYC area salons.
“I’m trying to bring a New York/Beverly Hills experience to New Jersey,” Tanous said. “I want people to walk out happier than when they came in.” For Tanous, that means giving customers a style that works well when they do it themselves at home, or come in for a blowout when they want a more formal look. Making clients feel welcomed and appreciated is equally important to Tanous. The atmosphere is comfortable, inviting and casual.
Tanous has a team of stylists with whom he has worked before and he has taught them his techniques. “I train them the way I was trained, something from each place around the world where I have learned, and I melded them together into my own version.”
In addition to hair styling, the salon has a full range of services by appointment: hair extensions, color, eyebrow threading and makeup. The salon does hair and makeup for special occasions, on and off premises. Religious clients who want privacy can request the salon’s secluded VIP room.
While the experience is on the level of a high-fashion New York salon, the prices stay on this side of the bridge. A package of five blowouts is $119. A wash and blowout for a sheital is $40. “There’s something for everyone,” Tanous said.
The salon is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, or to book an appointment, visit www.elietanous.com or call 201-489-7300.
By Bracha Schwartz
