MEMBER ARTICLE

The Salon With a Conscious

Sid Munger | 1/22/2019

For all those who enter Lincoln, Nebraska’s, Modafino Salon, a new hair salon at 5600 South 59th, the experience is as much about how they observe nature as how they feel when they leave. Tommy O, owner of Modafino Salon says, “The name of the salon actually means High Fashion. I didn’t want to use the French ‘Haute Couture’ like they do on the runways. I wanted it to be unique, so I used a combination of Italian and Latin to form the word Modafino.”

Tommy has been in the hair business for over 25 years, working in salons, runways, movie sets and doing platform education from Beverly Hills to Miami to New York City. Modafino salon was officially opened on June 5^th of 2018, but just started full operations on January 1^st, 2019. The salon offers all hair services for men and women including hair cutting & styling, hair coloring, perming & relaxing and hair extensions.  

What sets Modafino salon apart from other salons in the area, is Modafino’s concern for the environment, Tommy says, “We are part of the new wave of sustainable salons.” He adds, “We try to recycle 100 percent of all of our salon waste, and we are the only salon in the area that offers organic hair coloring services.”

Glass, paper and metal recycling is not a new concept however, Tommy says his salon was built from re-purposed and recycled materials. “I always try and use environmentally friendly materials, from gloves to bottles, the disposable items are up-cycled into energy when possible.” And he says, “Most people don’t know that even shorn hair can be used. It can be placed into pantyhose and used to absorb oil spills.”

Tommy says that since construction was complete last June, he has continued to find the most environmentally friendly and/or re-purposed equipment and materials, including the hair stations and dryers. “We use Eco-heads on the sinks,” he says. “They use 65 percent less water than standard ones.” Tommy says the heads also help provide comfort for the person in the chair, with minimal splash.

The salon is teamed up with Modafino hair-care products and Seven hair-care products another independent and environmentally friendly hair-care company out of Seattle.  According to Tommy, both Modafino and Seven use organic materials in all their products. “We don’t use any petrochemicals in our products,” he says. “They build up and make hair feel heavy.” Tommy says the company works in conjunction with Seven products. “It’s more of a partnership,” he says. “I wanted to build a company that has a conscience and a mission and so does Seven.”

Teresa Chaffin, a hair color manufacturer representative in Lincoln and Omaha, says more environmentally conscious salons are needed in the area. “Lincoln is long overdue for businesses with this kind of practice,” she says. “It clearly sets them (Modafino Salon) apart from their competition.” Chaffin says, that she has been going to Modafino since before they were officially open, and besides getting a great service for her entire family, she knows Tommy is trying to do all he can to help sustain the environment. “It makes it that much easier to come to my brother’s salon when I know he is on the right track,” she says.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment visit modafinosalon.com.

• What: Modafino Salon.
• Where: 5600 South 59th | Suite 105 | Lincoln NE 68516
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday & Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday &  Thursday; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Offers: Student discounts, Referral Program and many more benefits and rewards.
• For information: Visit modafinosalon.com or call 531.500.4880.