May 1, 2017

Meet Nina Marie Zaranti of Nina Marie Hair in Westmont

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Marie Zaranti.

Nina Marie was born and raised in the Western suburbs of Chicago, and at 17 moved to her favorite City in the world (Chicago of course) in pursuit of her dream, hair!

Nina was always more interested in being not only the stylist behind the chair, but ultimately becoming her own boss, so she began extensive research about the hair and beauty industry. After graduating from beauty school, her plan: owning and running her own salon. When Nina’s stylist career progressed to a comfortable point, she began mapping out a business plan for herself. After obtaining legal and accounting advice, Nina then focused on the most important detail in her plan, finding the perfect location.

For weeks Nina scouted out spaces. She walked the streets, spoke with building owners, toured possibilities, and sometimes drove in circles, always ending up feeling discouraged that nothing would meet her guidelines. Such as the saying goes, just when you least expect it, that’s when it happens. Nina was just to put her search on hold when she noticed a sign while walking her dogs by her home in Westmont, it read “COMMISSION or CHAIR RENTAL”. She called the number on the sign, and within minutes she was walking through the most beautifully designed photography studio space that had a two-chair salon set in front. Nina knew immediately that this space met all her criteria and vision, this was her hair sanctuary.

Nina Marie trained and worked with some of the best mentors and educators from coast to coast – all the way from NY to LA, with Chicago in between. Although Nina traveled across the country, what remained constant was her burning desire to make people not only look good, but feel good as well. September of 2016, Nina made her dream a reality and founded Nina Marie Hair.

Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing in life is ever a smooth road!! Plus, if it were, what fun would that be? Every day I learn something new, I have the choice to learn from it and make a change, or add it to my bag of tricks to use in the future. I have a very strong support system, but I am proud to say I have started from the bottom, and taught myself everything I currently know and provide to my new business. My life consists of many endless days of work and sleepless nights, but I feel there’s only one way to go through life, and that is to be successful. In order to achieve this success, I continue to eat, sleep and breathe Nina Marie Hair every day of my life!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Nina Marie Hair specializes in color and extensions, but I love every aspect of this industry and I love the variety my days consist of, no one day is the same as another. My creative juices are always flowing and I am always up for a challenge. I currently offer the following services for both men, women, and children of all race and age. Haircuts, I specialize in both long and short straight razor cuts, curly hair and men’s hair are a few of my personal favorite canvases. Color services from bright neon pink to dark midnight blue, bright beautiful blonde highlights, warm, rich brunettes, and fiery vibrant redheads, to 100% grey coverage or as I like to call this service “The Roots” touch up, Styling in my chair is definitely set to basic, I include a beautiful blow dry style following any color or cut service, and I offer add on services to create beachy waves, sophisticated curls or smooth sleek flat iron work. Alongside my love for the art of hair, I have a special bond with Halloween Special Effects Makeup. You name it, I’ll create it, from The Terminator and comic book pop art, to blood curdling clowns and Voo Doo zombies. I have won first place contests on many of these projects over the years. My most cherished, gratifying service is Tony Odisho Fusion Extensions, based out of Chicago, Illinois. Where their warehouse is located with a full stock of inventory, and the best customer service staff around. He also offers local training for all three types of extensions sold. Fusion extensions have changed my life in so many ways I will never go a day without them. I have made my decision at NMH based off personal and professional experience. That being said, I currently exclusively offer Fusion extensions only. Over the past ten years I have had my hands and hair on a handful of different methods and brands of human hair extensions. Tony Odisho and the Keratin Fusion Bond method is by far my favorite for many reasons, the hair is consistently healthy and beautiful, the price is on point, they are easily accessible, the local warehouse team can answer any and all questions I have ever come across, the flat bond is practical to apply as well as the most seamless and flat to the head and hair, they mold perfectly to any hair type and color, application time is valuable as a stylist, profitable and manageable, and the wear time has lasted me up to six months without hesitation. Price is as reasonable as they come, and hair is top of the line quality, I personally have tried them all, and I would never ever have been able to have long gorgeous, full bodied hair like I had always wished for if it wasn’t for Tony Odisho Hair Extensions.

As an artist, my creative juices never stop flowing, and in this industry creativity and an artistic eye are key elements to keep one afloat. After years of offering these wonderful ideas to my previous managers and salon owners, some taking them and putting them into action (so I only made them richer) and some completely ignoring my suggestions and never took me serious, I decided to make the biggest, & scariest decision of my life. Today, I can proudly say this was the absolute best decision I have ever made in my life. Nina Marie Hair will never be dull, or out of date, this is my promise to all of my lovely clients and myself. Just like my constant change in my own hair, you never know the change you may walk into or see in the window at Nina Marie Hair. I enjoy keeping up on any, every, and all of the current trends and researching as much as possible. Staying current with my Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, and Google business and personal pages are a few extremely beneficial marketing tools I enjoy keeping up to date with 24/7 for NMH.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chicago, has my heart and soul until the end of time. There are many pros and cons to any big city, but this windy city gets all pros from my life long residence here. Chicago, and the Midwest is populated by some of the most down to earth, loyal individuals.

I would definitely recommend Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. I began my hair styling career in high school, which allowed me to graduate from both high school and beauty school at the age of 17. One of the best decisions I have ever made in my life was attending the beauty school course my junior and senior year of high school, I knew from the time I was 15 years old this was my passion in life. Little did I know, this was only the beginning and I had much more to learn to be right where I am today.

Shortly after graduation, I started my next chapter and moved to the crazy big and bustling city of Chicago, where my heart remains forever. Finding a salon you vibe with, and sense it is a place you can call home, is incredibly important for success and happiness. Salon Blue located in the Lake view neighborhood was my first home. I was hired on and started at the front desk, which is still something I enjoy doing because I know I am a people person and it takes excellent personality, and communication skills to succeed in this position. Rest assured, I was anxious to begin my career as a stylist and as ready as they come to tide the long road ahead. I worked a full time forty hour week assisting all of the stylists and the owner’s solid booked days. Once or twice a week I would attend class for around two hours a day, seeking out at least one hair model for each class, and more often than not, I would leave in tears because it was so intense. As I got closer and closer to what I thought was the end and earning my own chair, I called my Mother hysterical and wanted to just give up and quit. I felt weak and defeated, as if I knew nothing about doing hair, and I thought maybe this career path was just not for me. Very shortly following this breakdown, and with the love and support from my parents, Steve and Debbie O’Brien, I had finally made it. I was a stylist behind the chair at Salon Blue in Chicago, Illinois. All day every day from then until now I take great pride and thank my lucky stars to have Emily by my side every step of the way, Emily Rogers-Schultze, was my coworker, idol, mentor and great friend. She was Bumble and Bumble trained in NYC and to this day the most precise, and meticulous stylist. In addition, she was an educator, and employee at the B&B salon in New York City, before making her way to the windy city and Salon Blue. Emily was what they call, an artist, a hair artist. Each client of hers, was the most fascinating and beautiful representation of her knowledge.

As the years went by, changes had been made and I was ready for my next mission, Avieve Salon & Day Spa in Chicago, Illinois. A coworker and friend opened Avieve allowing me to stand by her side, from day one to watch her dreams come true. I walked away with handfuls of information and leadership skills that I can still use today, At the same time, while keeping a positive mindset, although often disagreeing with the owner’s protocol, I was able to experience the ins and outs of the salon’s behind the scenes, and use the faulty lessons to my advantage moving forward.

The chaos of both my personal life at the time, and what had become a poorly managed salon, I decided it was time for me to take a leap of faith and pursue my dream and move out of state to San Diego, California. This path was a wild, unsuccessful, very hard lesson which I believe I had to experience to eventually guide me into the right direction. During this short visit, I enjoyed life’s obstacles and enjoyed the sunshine, but I never found my place or my “home” in California. From this moment on, I know without a doubt that my heart was left in Chicago and that was right where I needed to be. It was the easiest goodbye, because from the time I drove up to my new life, I really never felt that hello, you’re home feeling. In the end, this journey was short lived and poorly planned, in turn I experienced a true jolt of reality, allowing myself to travel and enjoy life’s lessons every step of this way.

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