Q&A: Marco Pelusi of Marco Pelusi Hair Studio

Marco Pelusi, a West Hollywood salon owner and colorist who counts many celebrities among his clientele, points to a single “aha” moment that kick-started his career.

“I was about 21 and had just finished at Penn State,” says the Pittsburgh native. “I was a licensed stylist, and I saw a trainer stand up and talk about hair color. I fell in love and I knew I wanted to do more on a larger scale.”

Pelusi had a natural advantage: His father and uncle run a chain of salons in Pittsburgh and both have served as longtime trusted mentors.

After working for two hair color companies, Pelusi opened his own studio in West Hollywood in 2005. The following year, he launched his Marco^® Collagen Color Guard™ hair care system. The signature product is his Anti-Frizz Leave-In Conditioner, which has earned widespread acclaim and media attention. He has been honored by the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the West Hollywood Design District Board of Directors.

We caught up with him recently to talk shop.

What’s special to you about working in West Hollywood?

West Hollywood is the epitome of the creative class (artists, designers, performers, writers, etc.) and especially the Design District where I’m [located]—it’s the ultimate in creativity. The more you don’t fit into the societal norm, whatever that is, the more creative and successful you can become in West Hollywood.

What are some unique aspects of the Design District?

It’s all about businesses helping each other. We usually have the same type of customer—someone who is discerning and looking for quality—so we help each other, we refer business, and we find support within the community.

What are your favorite hair care tips for hot weather?

My first tip is for going to the pool. Basically the hair is like a sponge—it’s very porous. So the first thing you introduce to the hair, it will suck up. Getting into a pool [you’ll find the hair] will immediately suck up the chlorine. The chlorine dries out, damages, and can ruin the hair color. Get the hair wet with water prior to getting into a pool, or add conditioner to the hair to provide a barrier, so the chlorine can rinse off the hair instead of being sucked into the hair.

Sunlight is the number one culprit of ruining a hair color job because it oxidizes the hair. It’s also really drying and damaging to the hair. Look for hair care products with sunscreen built into them. The main ingredient to look for is benzophenone.

Another big culprit is the summer wind. It feels great, but it’s got a lot of heat and humidity, and it can really wreak havoc with the hair. When you color your hair, or even just sit out in the elements, you can get little holes in your hair, and then the hair can look frizzy or just not pretty. It can lose its style. So one of the things you want to do is use a leave-in conditioner, such as Marco Anti-Frizz Leave-In Conditioner. The leave-in conditioner provides a barrier and helps to fill in the holes.

The hair needs so much extra moisture during the summer. Do deep conditioning treatments once a week. You can leave your regular conditioner on your hair for 30 minutes, or you can buy a deep conditioner. In this one instance, you can take advantage of the sunlight and the heat and the humidity. Sit outside in the sun with conditioner and a plastic cap on your head or a wet towel on your head.

Any fun ideas for special hair looks?

Play with the seasons and ask your colorist or your hairstylist for some highlights. It’s a good time seasonally to play with color. You want to brighten and lighten the color for summer. And then, you want to get more into lowlighting for the fall, a little softer and deeper. But try to maintain the integrity of your hair—don’t overdo it.

Visit marcopelusi.com to learn more about Marco Pelusi Hair Studio and shop Pelusi’s product line, or contact the salon to set up a complimentary consultation.

636 N. ROBERTSON BOULEVARD, UNIT B, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069
310-967-0999, MARCOPELUSI.COM

Updated from the original article written by Jacqueline Fitzgerald