Quarzo’s Family Hair Care Center continues lasting legacy
Diane Quarzo, her father Richard "Dickie" Quarzo and her brother, Ricky Quarzo run Quarzo's Family Hair Care Center in Brownsville.
Richard "Dickie" Quarzo styles a happy customer at Quarzo's Family Hair Care Center in Brownsville.
In 1910, Leo Quarzo was a barber in downtown Brownsville. He had eight children; six of whom went into the hair care industry, and a family legacy was born.
“I remember getting together for Sunday dinner at my grandparents house and with eight siblings, the majority barbers or hairdressers, that was all they talked about,” Diane Quarzo said.
Leo passed the barber shop down to his son (Diane and Ricky’s father), Richard “Dickie” Quarzo.
Diane said as with many strong Italian families, the importance of going to school and securing a future was always a factor.
“Dad supported us in everything, but if we have this knowledge, then we always have somewhere to work,” Diane said. “I grew up with it and never considered doing anything else. Neither did my brother Ricky.”
Today, Dickie is 87 and still works a few hours each day in the family shop he owns, and Diane and Ricky manage.
“I think for dad, he enjoys the social atmosphere of it. Before he started cutting hair, he was shining shoes but from the age of 10 or so, this was the environment he knew and loved,” Diane said.
He was even willing to go back to school to obtain licensing when the time came.
“There used to be line as far as licensing goes. You could be a barber or a hairdresser. I’ve been doing women’s hair for 47 years and Ricky has been a barber for 40 or more years,” Diane said. “At the time, a hairdresser couldn’t work for a barber and vice versa, so I managed a salon for 10 years before we were able to combine them under one roof. Dad had to go back to beauty school to (obtain) both licenses for the shop.”
Finally, Dickie and his son and daughter were able to work together, and the rest is history.
But, said Diane, things have changed over the years.
The pandemic hit the Quarzos just like it took a toll on every other small business in the country. They were shut down for several months, and men went out and bought clippers to do their own hair.
“They’ve all come back to us, but it seems like haircare just isn’t as important anymore,” Diane said. “The big social events that would bring women in to get their hair done have gone by the wayside. Those women who still want their shampoo and set are never replaced, but the business has always been good to the Quarzo family. I’ve always loved what I do.”
Customers love what they do as well.
The old adage of the hairdresser being part-hairdresser and part-therapist still rings true.
“I always joke that I’m not charging you for your haircut but I do have to charge you for your therapy,” Diane said. “We have such good clients with such loyalty to our family. We’ve made so many friends along the way and we know their kids and their fathers and their spouses. It’s kind of like an open house in here all the time. It’s personal.”
Quarzo’s Family Hair Care is located at 115 Thornton Rd., Brownsville. Call 724-785-2750 for more information.