Giovanni Cudia

Polished's preferred Hairstylist

I sat down with Giovanni Cudia, Polished's preferred hairstylist, to talk with him about his expertise in coiffure, and from the very moment we started talking, I knew he was going places.

Wunderkind

Giovanni is the third child in a family of hairstylists, and since the age of 10, he has been cutting people's hair. He received his license from Blaine in Malden, MA, and he officially started his career in a salon in Bedford, MA in 1997, but his past experiences aren't the only thing about him that set this hairstylist a cut above the rest. Before committing to styling hair, Giovanni was very interested in clothing design. He uses his eye for fashion to bring a certain je ne sais quoi to his current profession, so much so that Instyle Magazine called him a "Wunderkind".

His Take On Choosing A Stylist

I asked Giovanni what women should look for when choosing a stylist, and here is what he told me:

Attitude is key! Confidence makes for a brilliant hairstylist. If he/she isn't projecting a positive image, how can you trust him/her with your own image? You want someone who will make you look better, not worse.

A good hairstylist will take the time to listen to you. The primary reason for this is because the stylist must be able to take your lifestyle into account so that he/she can provide you with a look that will compliment your job, your personality, and your preferences.

Honesty is important. You're not buying a car. If you don't like your decision after leaving the salon, you cannot return the product. This mistake is now a part of your image for the next couple weeks or months. Your stylist should take that into consideration and give you the best possible advice without making you feel badly in the process.

When I inquired how someone could be sure that they were seeing this type of stylist, Giovanni told me that you should always, always, always have a consultation before you ever let someone you do not already know touch your head. This gives you options that you may not have thought about, and it allows you to assess the stylist as well. If they are not confident, or they want to reproduce a look they saw on someone else for you, they lack vision. Thank them for their time and find someone else.