ION Studio: An Eco-Friendly Salon for Everything

"ION Studio" opened in May 2008. It is the brainchild of three co-owners from Italy: Leonardo Manetti, Marco Santini, and Pasquale Ferreante. All are active freelance artists who have worked on a wide range of magazines, including "Vogue," "Harper's Bazaar," "ID," and "Dazed and Confused."
Each of them is a talented artist, highly respected in the industry, but what I admire most is their individual charm and personalities. The three are longtime friends; Leonardo and Marco have known each other since high school in Italy.

ION Studio was started in May 2008 by three Italian hair stylists: Leonardo Manetti, Marco Santini and Pasquale Ferreante. Their prolific editorial work has been seen in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ID, and Dazed and Confused. I had met all of them before visiting the salon at photo shoots. They all are extremely talented and well-respected hair stylists in the industry. But what I love the most about them is their personalities and charm. They have been very good friends for a long time; Leonard and Marco have been friends since a high school.

"I wanted to create a smaller, more family-like salon, one that also felt green. We wanted to connect with our clients on a more personal level. That's why we found this space, not facing the street. It took us quite a while to find it."
Leonardo shared how he was inspired to open this eco-friendly salon after working at Bumble and Bumble for 14 years.

"Everything in this salon is made from recycled materials. All the furnishings, including the chairs, are custom-made. All the lighting we use is eco-friendly, and we utilize wind power."
"For hair products, we use the Italian line Davines. It uses natural ingredients, and the company has environmentally conscious policies, working with Life Gate, a pioneer in renewable energy in Italy, to avoid carbon emissions."
Leonardo explains about opening this eco friendly salon after having worked at Bumble and Bumble for 14 years. “I wanted to do a little more small company and a little more family oriented and the same time feeling green. We wanted to be more personal to our clients so we found a place with no street front. It took a while to find this space.” He continues: “We are 100% sustainable. Everything is custom made from the chairs to all the stuff in the salon are all reclaimed materials. And all the lighting we use are eco friendly and we also use wind power.” Then he shows me a line of products. “We also use Davine that is an Italian eco friendly line. They use natural ingredients and have a good philosophy that produces no CO2 and work with Life Gate that is Italy’s leading supplier of renewable energy. ”

What We Want Now: Something More Sustainable

The salon space is spread across three levels. Everything here is simple. It feels like there is only what is truly necessary. Leonardo continues:
"It would be wonderful if people who come here feel even a little inspired and take that feeling home with them."
Now, with the collapse of America's economic bubble, this approach feels perfectly suited to a country that once embraced "more is better" and excessive, thoughtless consumption. Something more sustainable.

The salon has three levels. Everything here is very simply made. It has just what it needs, the minimum. Leonardo says, “It would be nice if people come here and get inspired a bit and go home with it.” And after a few years of the housing bubble that made us feel like more is better and consume recklessly, it feels just right this way- something that is sustainable.

I asked about the balance between salon work and editorial shoots.
"I started as a hair stylist in a salon. After ten years there, I began my freelance work, which I still actively pursue. However, I feel it's essential to return to the salon and serve my clients. It keeps me grounded. Furthermore, on photo shoots, I rarely cut hair; it's mostly styling. I find happiness in doing both. A great haircut can transform someone instantly, and the energy a client gives back at that moment is immense – far greater than what I gain from a photo shoot."
I ask him about balancing salon work and a freelance career. “I started being a hair stylist in a salon. Then after 10 years working in a salon I started doing freelance work that I still actively do. But I have to come back to a salon to do my clients. That keeps me grounded. Also it’s really rare to cut hair on a shoot. It’s normally more about styling. I need to do both to be happy. And it’s an instant redefinition when you do a good haircut, when you please a client. The energy she gives back to you is so much more powerful than actually being on a photo shoot.”

A Salon Filled with Love for Hair, Art, Life, and Laughter

They also exhibit art here.
"Just until yesterday, we were showing fine art photographs by my friend, the photographer Dusan Rejin. The new opening is this Thursday evening. We'll have an open bar and music, so you should come."
They also show art here. “We were just showing my friend photographer, Dusan Rejin’s fine art until yesterday. And we have a new opening this Thursday evening. We have an open bar and music, you should come.”

I returned to the salon for the opening that week. The space had been cleared to showcase the art, and it was indeed a wonderful venue for an exhibition. The previously empty space quickly filled with people. Everyone was enjoying conversation over drinks, creating a pleasant atmosphere. It was then that I truly understood Leonardo's words from the interview.
"We don't see this space merely as a hair salon; it's also a place for connection. By exhibiting various artists, we allow people to spend enjoyable time together while exchanging ideas. It's incredibly stimulating to see what others perceive through art."

They don't charge artists for exhibiting here. It's almost unbelievable. But as I got to know them, I understood: this place is imbued with their love for hair, art, life, and laughter. It's something that cannot be measured in money.
Later that week, I returned for an opening. It is also a great space to show art. They cleaned out everything for the opening. Soon the empty space was filled with people talking and having a good time. And I realized that what he said to me in the interview is true: “We don’t see the space just as a hair salon, it’s also a meeting place. When we show different artists, people exchange their ideas and have a good time. It’s inspiring to learn what other people see through art.” They don’t charge for the artists they show here. It’s almost unreal. But getting to know them made me also understand that their love of hair, art, life and laughter, is all here: it’s priceless.