While he’s famous as a hair stylist, Paul Mazzotta is also a creator of hair and skin care products and an innovative, forward-thinking businessman. Born in Italy, Mazzotta immigrated to Pittsburgh with his family when he was 11. He went into the beauty industry and was recruited to Berks County by Boscov’s salons in the early 1970s. In 1976, he founded his own salon, Paul Mazzotta Hair Design (then located in Wyomissing), and has since added product creation and manufacturing to his list of professional credits. At the time of our interview, he was in talks to appear on NBC’s Today Show to showcase his is latest product line, called BLnK.
Q | BLnK is creating quite a buzz in the industry and with consumers; can you describe it?
It’s a product line of totally unique formulations – a shampoo, conditioner, styling spray and a finishing spray – made with all-natural ingredients, many of which are organic. The other truly unique thing about it is the delivery system because all are non-aerosol sprays.
Q | The environment has long been a passion of yours, with BLnK and with Ecocare, the hair products company you founded in the 1990s. Are you still involved with Ecocare?
I actually started in 1987 when I developed the Paul Mazzotta Collection for Boscov’s salons. That and everything since have been manufactured in a small factory run by my family – my brother, Joseph, who is now retired; my wife, Jean; our daughter, Nicole Townsend; and our son, Paul Jr. My products have always been environmentally-friendly and animal-free. It stems from the way I grew up. In Italy, people were very careful to reuse or recycle everything and to use all of something. I knew nothing else. So when we moved to America, we continued to live that way. Also the women in my family always used herbal oils. Ecocare was a tribute to my grandmother. I sold the company in 2006 but it still exists and sells online and to professional salons.
Q | You’ve been very vocal about your loyalty to Berks, so I guess BLnK is made here?
Yes. Aside from family and business, my other passion is our community. We’ve had opportunities to move our business out of Reading, but I don’t want to do that. We’re downtown trying to help the local economy, create jobs, remain in place. I want to do some good. I encourage others to start and keep businesses in this area so we can work together to help it thrive and succeed.
Q | I know your work involves family and your devotion to good causes, so what do you like to do when you’re not at the office?
My number- one favorite thing to do is play and spend time with my three granddaughters – Olivia, 10, Ella, 7, and Sadie, who will be 1 in March. They are my little gems. We like to do [jigsaw] puzzles and last summer finished one that was complicated and had 1,000 pieces. They enjoy a challenge. And shopping, which they do plenty of because my wife and I like to take them to stores. I also love to read, so I’m always searching for books, particularly inspirational books that are motivating and positive. I’m fortunate I have a profession I adore. Even today, I’m immersed in it and enjoy creating; I do it because I love it, and that’s one of my biggest gifts.
by Michelle E. Biggerstaff | photo by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
