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Rock Styles Rule

We have been receiving lots of hairstyle collections this season with the word “Rock” in the collection’s title.

by Jan Hillenmeyer
July 11, 2011
3 min to read

We have been receiving lots of hairstyle collections this season with the word "Rock" in the collection's title. There is no doubt about it-rock star looks from the 80s, or even back to the 70s, are coming back strong.

One person for whom rock star hair never went "out" is rock star Jim Peterik.  A Grammy winning singer and songwriter, Jim founded the band Survivor in 1978 and was responsible for several iconic tunes during the band's hit years in the late 70s and early 80s as well as for the band Ides of march. He is still a prolific songwriter.

Peterik lives in the Chicago area and his go-to stylist, who has maintained and tweaked his rocker hair for years, is Ross Bartolomei, owner of Salon Hype in La Grange, Illinois.  Bartolomei reports that many clients are requesting rock inspired looks, but Jim Peterik is the real deal.

The shag is hot again and Peterik is right back in style.

"My hair style is a huge part of who I am as an artist. Along with clothes, it gives me energy to look a certain way," says Peterik. "My hair hasn't changed much since the 70s-still longer in back, still full on top. I did have the mullet thing going on then, but through the years it has modified. Now it is a bit longer on the sides and collar-length in the back."

Bartolomei has had a lot of practice honing the rock star cut and style after fine-tuning Peterik's look for years. He's developed some pointers for giving clients wearable rock looks that will keep them coming back.

"The cut's proportion has to be absolutely right. Whether it's longer on top, on the sides, somewhat shorter length in the back-it all has to work in balance", he says.  "The rock mullet is a definite ‘fashion don't'.  And, you can't overlook color-it is a major component of the look; it can be chunky and random, as long as there is a certain flow."

Peterik has his own advice for clients who want to successfully pull off a rocker vibe.

"The client has to wear rock star hair with attitude, confidence and the right fashion. If you aren't ready to wear the clothes, you shouldn't do the hair," he says. Time has caught up to me. Now what is considered rock star hair is a legitimate cut and style that people are asking for. I had great hair back in the 70s and 80s. It wasn't outrageous for the time, but it was great hair ‘back in the day' and I'm delighted to see that it's back," Peterik adds.

According to Ross, "The forecast for spring and summer is straight hair and the rounder, concave shapes from the 70s are coming back with the fuller, bigger look of the 80s still lingering. What was old is new and it is our job as stylists to make it fresh," he says.

Bartolomei and his staff dispense rocker looks along with an extensive menu of hair, nail and skin care services in a city-chic salon. Check out salonhype.com or call Ross Bartolomei at 708-352-4222.


Ross Bartolomei, owner of Salon Hype in La Grange, Illinois, styles rock star Jim Peterik, a long time client who has maintained his rocker hair since the 1970s.

Topics:In The KnowIndustry News

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