"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled,
And that has made all the difference." — Robert Frost
Jo (Jojo) Passeggio Barone took "the road less traveled" as her career path and although long and tedious, that made all the difference.
In 1972, she gravitated to barber’s school and while working as a barber’s apprentice during her schooling. She became more aware of the bad hair systems which were more prevalent then than now. She avowed that some day she would enter the hair replacement business and provide a service that was a cut above the rest.
Jojo enrolled in cosmetology school while still in barber’s school and invested more than 2 1/2 years there part time before receiving her state license, while barbering to make a living. Then one day in 1974, she responded to help wanted ad for a hair replacement stylist and got the job at DK Studio’s, a hair replacement center located in Hicksville, Long Island.
Two weeks into the new job, she replaced another technician and took over her clientele. At the same time, the center’s chief stylist left for vacation. Fortunately, she had been a quick study and was able to provide an excellent level of service. The center, for men only, used synthetic fibers and most attachments were done by the fusion method. After 5 years, she certainly became adept at working with synthetic hair and permanent, non-surgical attachments. "I made the fiber dance," as she puts it, but it was time for her to move on and so she did. Jojo wanted opportunities to learn and practice the variety of hair and attachment options that were becoming available.
Jojo went to work for another Long Island center in 1979. This center mainly used human hair and clips or tape for attachment. Her boss wanted to know more about synthetics, just as she wanted to learn about human hair and the attachments he used. They made an agreement to exchange knowledge and to teach each other. She was a seasoned hair replacement professional by now. But in addition to really learning the profession from the ground up, this location gave her an opportunity to work with wig makers. She says the time was well spent because they shared their knowledge about the manufacturing and repair processes. Jojo did whatever she could to expand her education.
She took a month off to take a course in teaching advanced hair cutting techniques offered by Martin Parsons in Toronto as well as enrolling in motivational and business courses offered by Redken Laboratories. After 5 years, she decided to apply her 11 years of experience and education to her own enterprise.
In 1984, JOJO CONCEPTS HAIR DESIGN was born. During the start-up phase, she supported herself through real estate investments she had made some eight years eariler and by doing hair styling at the center. Jojo worked hard for two years before she decided to exclusively deal in hair replacements systems.
J0JO CONCEPTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. began in Bethpage, New York had 1,000 square feet and was designed to replicate a doctor’s office to accommodate a reception area, four private styling rooms, a workroom and an office. Her business flourished and coupled with her understanding of the importance of service, Jojo opened another studio in a brownstone on East 39th Street in Manhattan. "I have clients who travel from out of the state and ever from out of the country, coming as far as Germany, Sweden and even Abudhabi, she say's.
Since 2001, she has expanded her establishment yet another time. Now conviently located in a Wantagh Professional Building, on Long Island. What once served as a Doctors Suite is now JoJo Concepts. Private rooms enclosed with a shampoo sink and styling area are for the clients personal comfort and private visits.
Most of her business comes from referrals, but she maintains a presence in print, advertising in Yellow Page Directories in Long Island. In the 90's her new clients were 50/50 men to women, although her total client base was 80/20 men to women at that time. However, the women's hair loss business has been increasing since the 90's and of new client's 8 out of 10 are women.
At JOJO CONCEPTS, there are three (3) New York State Licensed Hair Technican's and all are experts in non-surgical hair replacement and hair restoration options for both men and women. JoJo, Joyce and Dawn make an amazing team and are very creative and talented as well as experienced in all types of hair replacement and hair loss solutions. The consultation team consists of AnnMarie, Gwen and John. All of whom are down to earth, caring people just wanting to help make a difference and share the possiblilities and successes. The rest who make JoJo Concepts the best Hair Replacement & Hair Restoration establishment is the clients, who allow the team to recreate the hair they once had or venture to the hair they want. Without the great clients we would just be great hair stylists, instead they allow us to be extraordinary ...say's jojo!
