I sat down with the pair to chat about the salon’s journey, their approach to hairdressing, and what\u2019s kept clients coming back for nearly two decades.<\/p>\n
Not your average neighbourhood salon<\/p>\n
Their\u00a0story starts all the way back in 2008, a time in Toronto when\u00a0there was an almost magical feeling of hope in the air, and where new things were right on the cusp of explosion. Enter the two spunky dual-specialist stylists, Volovik and Calandrino, who opened Bob + Paige<\/a> just east of Broadview and The Danforth.<\/p>\n Trained by the some of the city’s OG hairdressers, Volovik and Calandrino have a master technique background, which\u00a0results in jack-of-all-trades stylists. Equally trained \u2014 and now experts \u2014 in cutting and colouring, the salon quickly became known for its\u00a0talent and, simply put, a really good haircut.<\/p>\n \u201cWe support artists. That’s\u00a0kind of always been our focus, like raw talent and artists. We have always believed that those make for the best hairdressers and that’s what we built the space for,” Calandrino tells us.<\/p>\n What started as just the duo has grown into a space where talent flourishes, rooted in a deep respect for the craft.\u00a0Without ever using job postings, the salon has continually welcomed new talent, passing down that same appreciation and classic training.<\/p>\n Hairdressing as an art form<\/p>\n The salon itself perfectly embodies that vibe, where clients new and old (and many who have left the city altogether) come for a trusted service.<\/p>\n Scissor work, balayage, blue hair \u2014\u00a0you name it, Bob + Paige can do it (and has probably done it\u00a0thousands of times before), with the help\u00a0of the\u00a0salon-exclusive colour and products from the renowned German brand Goldwell<\/a>, plus luxury Oribe<\/a> haircare too.<\/p>\n “They took us in like family, they are very ‘support local’,” said Volovik. Meanwhile,\u00a0Calandrino also acknowledges the “tremendous support,” from the neighbourhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n As we continue to speak, the respect and love for the craft is what stands out to me the most.\u00a0Both Volovik and Calandrino exude a feeling that I can only describe as a confident love \u2014 they both know how talented they are, but never come off as cocky, and they always show love to the client, the city and the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n When discussing what he thinks makes Bob + Paige special,\u00a0 Calandrino drops a line that he was taught back in school:\u00a0“some people cut hair, and some people do haircuts.”<\/p>\n Good hair days start here<\/p>\n Now with 17 years under their belt (and many, many mentions on blogTO’s best of lists<\/a>), both\u00a0Volovik and Calandrino have their eyes set on the momentous 20th anniversary.\u00a0The pair is far from hanging up their shears and say they will continue to serve the community and train the next generation of stylists.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Bob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775597720-20260407-BobPaigeSalon-2.jpg\")
Fun fact: Bob + Paige is named after two iconic haircuts, the Page, where the hair lies below the ear and curls under, and the closely related Bob,\u00a0a blunt cut that hits right on the jawline.<\/p>\n![\"Bob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775597758-20260407-BobPaigeSalon-41.jpg\")
“I just wanted somewhere cool to work, with good music and with someone who is talented. You’re never lacking inspiration, and it’s kind of a really cool place to work,” says\u00a0Volovik.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Bob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775597783-20260407-BobPaigeSalon-76.jpg\")
Opening up shop just as the Riverdale and greater Danforth community started to become recognized for its family-friendly living opportunities, the locals welcomed Bob + Paige with open arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Bob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775598288-20260407-BobPaigeSalon-15.jpg\")
It’s all about a customized cut for each and every client. Of course, there is always a time and place for trends, but Bob + Paige has made its name on the art of hairdressing \u2014\u00a0something one might argue is no longer mainstream.\u00a0After all, “real hairdressing is what looks best on the client,” says Calandrino.<\/p>\n