A family-run business for over six decades, Salon Figaro has survived while the businesses and hotels that surround it have disappeared from the landscape. Owner Angelo Venticinque spoke to TOM OGG about making a post-Covid comeback, his pride in maintaining his father’s legacy – and wacky haircut requests from tipsy customers
THERE are few businesses, big or small, that weren’t negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and, in particular, by the rules and regulations that were put in place in its wake.
The difficulties varied in severity from one business to the next, but there were surely few who found themselves quite as flummoxed by governmental edicts as barbers and hairdressers.
After all, how on earth can anyone cut a person’s hair when mandatory face masks and two-metre social-distancing have become the norm?
Someone who experienced such challenges firsthand is Angelo Venticinque, owner of Salon Figaro in St Helier, and a professional barber since his teenage years.
“Oh, Covid was very difficult,” said Angelo, speaking between haircuts in the Salon Figaro premises on St Saviour’s Road.
“There was lots of hand gel and face masks involved, which is something I was delighted – delighted – to get rid of in due course. Cutting hair in high summer temperatures when you and the person whose hair you are cutting are both wearing masks, yeah, it was a real struggle.
“It was hard to bring the business back, post-Covid, to where it had been financially, pre-Covid,” he continued. “But our customer base has returned fully – in fact, it has even increased somewhat – and we have worked hard to make a comeback.
“I think the cost-of-living crisis is so excessive that many people are looking for more reasonably-priced services, and that includes us.”
Ever optimistic and good-humoured, Angelo says that there were lighter moments to be found even amid the Covid doom and gloom.
“I was amused to receive some beautiful images of ‘home haircuts’ during lockdown,” he laughed. “Sadly, I am sworn to secrecy and so I’m afraid I can’t share any names or pictures.”
For those who support local Jersey businesses, the long-lasting and continued success of Salon Figaro is to be welcomed.
A family-run business for over half a century, the much-loved barbershop first opened in the late 1950s, before being taken over by the Venticinque family in 1960, with Angelo’s father, Ignazio, acting as manager and his brother – Angelo’s uncle – taking over ownership of the business.
“We’ve been here for well over 60 years now,” said Angelo, his pride evident. “My dad bought the salon from his brother in the early 1980s and he continued to manage it until 2007 when, sadly, his health deteriorated. This prompted me to step up and take over the business in order to continue the family ownership, and also because I wanted to make my dad proud.”
The words “pride” and “proud” are ones Angelo uses time and again when talking about Salon Figaro, and he often appears genuinely moved when discussing the family legacy.
“It really is beyond words – it’s an honour,” he said. “When my father first became ill, I felt a great deal of pressure taking on the management of the business. When he later passed away, I wanted to continue to do him proud and give my heart and soul to the salon.
“I enjoy my job every day,” he continued. “I know I am blessed to get up every day and to actually look forward to work and to seeing who will pop into the salon, and I remind myself of this often.
“I feel very lucky to have fallen in love with the first job I ever had.”
Indeed. It was shortly after leaving school at the age of 16 that Angelo – a former d’Hautree student – picked up a pair of scissors and began working alongside his father in Salon Figaro.
“I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life so my dad made sure I worked while I thought about it,” said Angelo with a laugh.
“My dad was my hero, and I was more than happy to follow in his footsteps. When I left school with no plans, he said to me: ‘You’re not going to be lazing around. If you don’t know what you want to do, you can come and work for me until you do’. I never left.”
Born and brought up in St Helier, Angelo was raised alongside his older sister, Anna-Maria, by his Italian parents, both of whom had moved to the Island in the years when “hospitality and tourism were booming”.
Sadly, neither industry could be said to be booming here in 2025, a state of affairs made apparent by the closure or demolition of the shops, pubs, hotels and restaurants that once surrounded Salon Figaro on St Saviour’s Road. The Apollo Hotel, the Mayfair Hotel, the Boot & Ball pub, the New Raj restaurant – all have now vanished from the landscape.
“Oh, there has been a complete change in the area,” said Angelo. “There have been so many businesses coming and going, hotels developing and then closing down. It has been really quite sad to see the demise, to be honest.
“At the moment, the area is looking pretty run down. We’ve got building sites around us and scaffolding all over the premises and empty retail units alongside us.”
The disappearance of the aforementioned Apollo and Mayfair hotels, in particular, has impacted upon Salon Figaro.
“During the booming tourism years, we would meet customers who would return to the Island – and to the salon – every year, and naturally we would build up a rapport with them, and now that has gone.
“We also had a lot of staff from both hotels using our services for many years. We have a historical connection with the hospitality industry since the 1960s when individuals would come to us because they knew of our European connections. It was something they could relate to and it helped them to feel more comfortable. Quite often, no English speaking was necessary. There is always a way to communicate how to cut hair.”
The loss of the Boot & Ball pub – which was situated directly opposite Salon Figaro – has similarly resulted in a decline of offbeat haircut requests from tipsy or drunken customers.
“Being across the road from the Boot & Ball – RIP – we often had customers who would partake in some Dutch courage before requesting a completely different haircut,” recalled Angelo with a laugh.
“It could be a shaved head or a mullet or sometimes they’d even want lines or words or images shaved into their hair. I have been asked to create many different designs over the years, some of which cannot be shared in a family newspaper.
“It’s interesting because some styles, such as mullets and curtains, make a comeback,” he added. “It feels really strange to be cutting the same styles today as I did many years ago. It’s always a blast from the past.”
The dramatic haircuts occasionally stem from something altogether more serious, however: “For me, the most memorable haircuts are for those customers who have entrusted me to shave their hair due to cancer or medical treatments. I find their bravery is second to none. I never charge for this service – it is an honour to support someone going through such tough times.”
In addition to this, kind-hearted Angelo also holds a weekly “autism-friendly session” in which, for several hours, the salon is adjusted to cater to those with autism and their families. It is, said Angelo, something of a passion project for him and for his wife, Louise, who works for Autism Jersey.
“Through working at Autism Jersey, Louise came to realise that there are many autistic individuals who struggle having their hair cut within a salon environment. She researched and discussed what could be done to help those individuals feel more comfortable, and we created our “autism friendly” hours as a result.
“It takes place during our quieter times. We reduce the lighting, we turn off the radio, and we support any additional needs the customer may have. There are also a range of sensory items which can really help to soothe anxieties or stresses, particularly in children.
“We treat everyone as an individual and make whatever adjustments are needed to suit their needs. We also offer ‘familiarisation visits’ which is really helpful to some, especially children.”
It can, he said, take a lot of time to build trust with young autistic customers.
“One child that will always have a special place in my heart is a little boy who spent about three months visiting us with his mum and getting familiar with myself, with the salon, with the fidget toys and, eventually, with the scissors. Slowly, we were able to progress, week by week, to a full haircut. Time is a resource we can all give and the rewards can be priceless.”
It was over 20 years ago when Angelo first met Louise and, having married in 2006, the couple today have “two fantastic boys”, both teenagers.
“Louise is a massive support to the business,” said Angelo. “She keeps me on track with all things digital because, well, let’s just say I am definitely better with scissors than I am with a keyboard.”
An enthusiast of all things historical, Angelo said that, when he isn’t visiting local beaches (“Being Italian, I love the sun”), he enjoys researching the Occupation of the Island, an interest shared by his youngest son.
“He is equally fascinated by it. We have started to build a collection of Occupation artefacts and we can often be found exploring the German bunkers at weekends.”
Asked what he most enjoys about the day job, Angelo replied: “The customers. I enjoy the conversations. They share their views on life, whether it’s football, politics, family life or otherwise. I have many customers that I have built up a rapport with over the years. It is great to see them transitioning from being a child coming in with their parents to being an adult getting a hair cut before their first job interview or before they get married. And, of course, they then return with families of their own. It genuinely is a privilege to share their transition through life.
“I’m always happy to help and advise where I can. I believe it is important to offer a confidential listening ear, something that is imperative in these times in which mental and emotional wellbeing for men is rightly being promoted. We all need to talk and share our burdens.”
As our conversation drew to a close, there remained one last question that any self-respecting journo has to ask when talking to a barber or hairdresser: who cuts Angelo’s own hair?
“Well, as much as my wife tells me she could do it with no problem, I usually ask one of my staff to do it,” laughed Angelo. “Sometimes I will visit a local salon out of town, just for a little personal pampering.
“You know, I have been cutting hair now for over 33 years and, hopefully, I will continue cutting hair until I’m in my late 60s, just like my dad did.
“Mind you, with the economy as it is, I might have to work into my 70s.”
