STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Bella Podurgiel was still in high school, working nights and weekends as a salon assistant, washing hair, sweeping floors and dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur.
“I always knew I wanted to own my own salon,” Podurgiel said.
Podurgiel poses in front of the wash station at Positivity Hair Studio.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
And now it’s her reality. Standing at the center of Positivity Hair Studio, the posh space which she recently revamped and officially opened earlier this week, Podurgiel described her journey to salon owner.
“I started working at Positivity Hair Studio when I was 16,” she said, detailing the shop’s original Charleston location. “When I graduated from beauty school, I continued working there but was crushed when the owner announced that she was ready to retire. But with my parents’ support I was able to take ownership in 2022.”
The Redken-certified salon is splashed in warm earthy tones and softly illuminated by modern crystal chandeliers and panels of LED mirrors.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
Podurgiel ran the shop at its former Johnson Street address for three years before moving the salon to 655 Rossville Ave. earlier this month.
“There’s a lot of love and hard work in this room,” she said, detailing how her father, Bill, who owns ServiceMaster by Complete — a restoration and disaster recovery company that handles residential and commercial properties — helped to make her dream come true. Her mother, Stacey, offered guidance and helped to design the space.
Staff members at Positivity Hair Studio cut a ribbon during the salon’s grand opening.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
“We wanted to relocate to a place with more foot traffic,” Podurgiel said of the move. “All of our clients are so happy, because there’s more parking here, and we really are at the center of it all.”
Located in the Woodrow Shopping Plaza, Positivity Hair Studio can be found near Dunkin, Walgreens and other major retailers in the strip. The bright red signage is part of Podurgiel’s design aesthetic.
Podurgiel celebrates her salon’s grand opening with her parents, Stacey and Bill.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
“We wanted to help the studio stand out,” she said of the shop’s exterior. “But inside it is a quiet, peaceful retreat.”
The Redken-certified salon — which is splashed in warm earthy tones and softly illuminated by modern crystal chandeliers and panels of LED mirrors — specializes in color, extensions and Brazilian blow-outs. But Podurgiel noted the most unique aspect of her salon is its positive vibe.
Positivity Hair Studio is located in the Woodrow Shopping Plaza, near Dunkin, Walgreens and other major retailers in the strip.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
“Positivity isn’t just the studio’s name, it’s what you’ll feel as soon as you walk in the door,” Podurgiel concluded. “We offer very personalized services and do everything we can to make the salon feel like home. Every client is a part of our extended family.”
New Businesses in Focus is a column that tells the stories of new Staten Island business owners. If you run a new business on Staten Island and would like to be featured, e-mail jgorman@siadvance.com.
Positivity Hair Studio at a glance:
Address: 655 Rossville Avenue, STE 202
Phone: 718-356-4247
Website: www.positivityhair.com
Instagram: @positivity_hairstudio
Email: info@positivityhair.com
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