Bruno Meglio and Soonie Paik came to each other with very different backgrounds, but with essentially the same goal in mind: To create beautiful hair. They’ve been on a 30-year journey together, and each day is a new experience with new challenges and exciting new creative endeavors for the two.

When Bruno Meglio was 11 years old, his father insisted he learn a trade. The determined elder Meglio took his son to a friend who cut his hair and said, “Teach him your trade.” Within the next five years, Bruno had mastered his craft in Rome, and at the age of 16, moved to Ireland, England and the France. At 19, Bruno grew tired of the business of cutting hair. “There seemed to be no challenge or creativity in the shops where I was working,” he says. “I became bored with doing the same styles on the same women week after week and decided it was time for a career change. I came to the United States, and for the next seven-and-a-half years I studied theater arts.” This may have proven to come in handy many years down the road when in 2003 Bruno would be featured in one of the most successful infomercials on QVC for the RevoStyler, for which he was one of the co-creators.

It wasn’t until Bruno’s wife made the introduction between then hairstylist John Peters and her husband that he made his way back onto the path in which he started. Peters questioned Bruno as to why he turned his back on the industry. After he explained, Peters suggested he give the profession one more shot—perhaps at his salon in Beverly Hills? Bruno agreed. There he found the creativity and excitement he was longing for; Peters had delivered his promise. For the first time, Bruno enjoyed hairstyling. Within two years he became the salon’s Styling Director and frequently taught evening classes. By 1978 he was so enthralled with the industry that he decided to approach friend and fellow Peters employee, Soonie Paik about opening their own salon together, and the rest—as they say—is history.

Soonie Paik, in addition to being the preferred hairstylist to some of the most famous names in Hollywood, still finds time to attend and teach hair shows and seminars throughout the country. Soonie’s passion for new techniques and new styles is just as fresh as when she started more than 30 years ago. Soonie started cutting hair in her native Seoul, Korea in one of the most famous and prestigious salon’s called Bando Salon in the 1960s. While she enjoyed it very much, and was very successful there, she very much desired to work and experiment with different colors and textures of hair. She dreamed of moving to America where this dream would become her everyday reality. She knew in America she would have a better opportunity to accomplish her passion for the beauty of healthy hair.

Before Soonie came to America, she worked in Guam for two years, and it was there that she really learned the English language and the culture of America as well as earned a permanent residence. Upon her arrival to Southern California in the 1970s, Soonie studied for three months, obtained her California license and soon after began working at small salons where she quickly became disenchanted. There just weren’t enough clients to keep Soonie’s creative talents and needs satisfied. It wasn’t until she interviewed with Jon Peters in 1972 that she found the activity, pace and opportunity for creativity she so greatly desired. Following a demonstration of her abilities, Peters hired her on the spot. During her six years at Jon Peters, Soonie built an enormous clientele and participated in a number of regional hair shows.

Bruno and Soonie worked back to back at Jon Peters Salon, and it was their initial admiration and respect for the other that drew them to one another. Bruno was so impressed by Soonie’s talents and gained an immediate respect for her when it came to hair. The more he came to know her, he learned she had integrity that went far beyond hair. Soonie remembers being struck by how wonderfully Bruno handled people. Not only was he an amazing haircutter, but he was truly entertaining to both his men and women clientele. As more than 25 years have gone by, things have only gotten better. They have not only survived in this industry, but have thrived in it and they both attribute it to dual support and respect.

When the two opened their salon Bruno & Soonie Salon over 25 years ago, they were excited, scared, stressed, as any new business owners would feel. However, considering they were the biggest moneymakers at Jon Peters, they knew they couldn’t fail. So, they opened the salon with five people and within three years, they quickly grew into a packed salon full of 20 people where tour busses would make routine stops as they passed by Bruno & Soonie to point out it was the “salon to the stars.”

One common theme holds true for both Bruno and Soonie: They are firm believers in perfecting and fine-tuning this craft. Even after 30 years, these two hair experts still attend classes and continue their education because they have a constant desire to stay on top of the latest techniques and trends. Where the two both have excellent foundations of their craft, their execution can sometimes be different. Where Soonie may be more technical, and detail oriented, Bruno is much freer with his work. However, the outcome of their work is similar in the sense that the results always show amazing style and continue to keep with the hottest trends. Bruno and Soonie always try to bring newest trends over from Europe and their appetite to stay at the top never tires. In 1994, Bruno and Soonie were named the Associate Artistic Director for Matrix (responsible for the Diva, Chelsey, Nomad and Hampton trends) and would hold the position for approximately three years.

Twenty-five years later, their commitment to their craft is still the same. Bruno & Soonie grew because they believe in continuing education. Their success and belief has been: Any hairdresser to cut hair at Bruno & Soonie Salon would be trained by them to represent their style, flavor and love of success. Every decision that Bruno & Soonie have made has never been for personal gain or to satisfy each other’s egos, but was always made for the well being of the salon. The increase in numbers of salons that have opened on Canon Drive has tripled, but Bruno & Soonie always welcome the competition. They consider it healthy and it keeps them sharp. Bruno & Soonie received the Gault, Milleau Salon of the Year award in 1987 and was rated the best salon in Los Angeles Magazine in 1994.