Today marks the end of an era for a very dear friend. Renowned hairstylist Bruno Meglio is retiring and my life has been so richly blessed for knowing him.
Bruno and I first met almost 25 years ago. He was the Italian usher at my church who did the infomercials on TV. Later on, I became an usher too and got to know Bruno quite well.
Gregarious and dapper, with a shock of white hair I can only envy, Bruno not only made everyone who came through his door feel welcome, but made them feel like a member of his family.
Over the years, we have traded travel help for haircuts. I help him use his miles to get where he needs to go and he keeps my hair looking neat.
But our relationship was more than a transactional exchange: we truly became friends.
In 2017, Bruno invited me to his childhood town of Atina, about an hour south of Rome. I wrote about my visit here. In 2019, I returned. I look back so fondly on my trips to Atina and hope they will continue, even as I will not see much of Bruno any longer.
He retires at the top of his game, a beloved hairstylist who has had to turn down work for years he is so in-demand.
This week, I drove down to Beverly Hills for my final haircut with him (well, I secretly hold out hope he’ll still cut my hair whenever I see him, but I’ll never ask him for another haircut). As I arrived, he was finishing up another client, a man who looked to be in his late 40s or early 50s.
The man was weeping as he embraced Bruno after the haircut and showered him with hugs and kisses. Over the last six weeks he had been getting his hair cut every two weeks, even though it looked great and he had no need for one. He just wanted to see Bruno.
Bruno explained to me he had been cutting his hair since he was 14 years old.
It made me feel all the more special for Bruno’s generosity in squeezing me in during his busy final week at the salon.
As we approach Christmas, I am so thankful for Bruno: for his friendship, his work ethic, his honesty, and his brotherly love.
He and his dear wife Judi are moving across the country and I can only say grazie mille amico mio.
Very sweet story. Best in your retirement, Bruno.
I wish I could say the same as far as a relationship with a stylist. The extent of mine is 5 minutes at some random place in the world and a number three all over. Street barbers in Asia being my favorite!
Is Bruno’s shop exempt from the mask mandate? Even if you don’t care about your own health, try to think about the health of others.
Come on. While I wouldn’t have taken off my mask for the photo, you can clearly see masks in-hand and on customers in the background. This is not an anti-masking situation.
We’re still in the early stages of a global pandemic. Anyone not wearing a mask, especially in close contact with others indoors, is creating an anti-masking situation. The virus doesn’t take a break for photo ops. That’s why Dr. Jill Brandon and I always wear our masks.
Tired.
Moving across the county isn’t that far, I’m sure you’ll still see him plenty 🙂
I must comment because I was thinking about what will happen when my hair stylist retires yesterday as she was cutting my hair! She’s cut my hair for well over 30 years and I’m not sure how much longer she’ll want to keep her shop open especially because she has grand children now. I thought if she leaves to be with her grand children I would fly to her to get my hair cut, lol. Small, but important things. Thanks for posting this.
Quite a touching eulogy for Bruno. Like the famous Italian song lyrics : “When a friend leaves an empty space remains…”
Mithew what happened to your hair? You are going bald and looking like an old geezer.
C’mon man. He has a magnificent mane. So thick and lustrous. I’m sure Bruno loves running his hands through it, and perhaps he even takes a sniff or two.
Ugh, maybe they just lowered their mask briefly to take a photo? There’s no need to be calling out people and assuming the worst. Merry Christmas!
For all he has done for you, you should probably take him on a trip to Thailand since you say it’s the greatest place on Earth.
Never said greatest place on Earth – I enjoy it, but there are many places I would rather go, including where I am now in Germany.
Whose Christop? (On smock) Doing a little part time shampooing?
https://www.cristophe.com
So posh!
I go to the same barber (in the Midwest we call them barbers) for 16 years every 3 weeks. The only thing we don’t talk about is hair. I sit down and he knows what to do. Hope he never retires. 🙂
If you’re in the market for a new stylist in Beverly Hills, can’t recommend Rodante on Rodeo enough.
He’s the only person I trust to touch my hair.
Great story! Personal relationships still mean something to those willing to turn off tweeter or facebook for a while.
Great story I was Bruno’s plumber I did the original plumbing when it first originated and always enjoyed seeing Bruno and joking around , I think are last conversation was who was going to retire first we are the same age, if anyone talks to Bruno tell him Marty says hello.
Great story, I was Bruno’s plumber and actually did the original plumbing when Bruno and Sooner salon started he is a really nice person and I always like talking to him, Are last conversation was who would retire first since we are the same age, if anyone talks to Bruno tell him Marty said hello.