Hidden Gems: Meet Kristina Marra of Figo Salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Marra. 

Hi Kristina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I always knew I wanted to go into the hair industry. It was actually my uncle, who was a life-long hairdresser, that inspired me to go to beauty school after I graduated high school. And of course, all of the music videos my sister and I would watch on MTV growing up played a huge role too. I love fashion and beauty and always knew it would be my life-long career. 

I eventually found my way to a salon in Royal Oak where I met my husband and co-owner of our salons, Rino, and the woman who we originally opened our salon with, Laura. We opened Figaro in ’97 with Laura as our partner, and eventually took over when she retired in ’04 and changed the name to Figo. 

We’ve been at it ever since. We’ve had some amazing opportunities that I am so grateful to have been a part of, working with some of the best people in this industry. The glitz and glamour of Fashion Week in New York is unforgettable. 

My husband and I had our son in 2008, I officially have a teenager. My biggest blessing in this world. And now I’m just really looking forward to seeing where this business takes us and what our next adventure will be. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My biggest personal struggle was definitely putting too much pressure on myself. I had this mindset that if I was going to be in this industry, I had to be the biggest and the best there was. I always thought I wasn’t doing enough, that I wasn’t moving fast enough, and that I always needed to do more. I had trouble finding my niche and what I really loved doing because I liked doing everything. The more fashion shows I did and people in that industry I met, the more confident I became. If I could go back, I would tell myself to not put so much pressure on myself and to simply enjoy the ride. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a hair salon, located in downtown Birmingham and downtown Rochester, and our mission is to provide our clients with a superior salon experience through the harmonious fusion of superb hair design, fashion, and customer service. We have an internal education program, Figo Accademia, that all of our stylists finish before earning a chair at our salon. The goal of the Figo Accademia Curriculum is to ensure our stylists have a balanced background in all aspects of hair design, and the ability to execute and create anything they can dream of. 

Some of the services we offer are cut, color, highlights, corrective color, smoothing treatments, perms, makeup, extensions, bridal styling, and more. 

We also do facial waxing, eyebrow laminations, and lash lifts and tints out of our Birmingham location. 

We are proud and grateful for all of our partnerships. We believe in the power of branding whether it’s a business or individual. We are currently the only salon in Michigan that offers the luxurious haircare line, Rossano Ferretti. We are proud partners of Neiman Marcus, The Detroit Lions Cheerleaders, Lox Extensions, and more. It is because of those partnerships that we’re able to give back as well. We work closely with an organization, Wish Upon A Teen, that provides resources, time, and opportunities to teenagers with severe life-limiting medical conditions. It’s an organization very near and dear to my heart and it’s an honor being able to work with them. 

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Simply come in and ask! For any collaborations, the best point of contact is to email the salon at [email protected] or email our Salon Director directly at [email protected]. 

Support us by following us on social media. Or if you’re in need of a new salon, come in and try us out! We are always accepting new clients. 

Contact Info:

• Website: figosalon.com
• Instagram: figosalon
• Facebook: figosalon
• Twitter: figosalon
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdwqf9Bu/

Image Credits
Jeff Wagner
Detroit Lions Cheerleaders