Shecky’s

It’s not every day that you get your hair done by a reality TV star (no, I did not call Snooki up and have her give me her signature poof), let alone someone who regularly works with Naomi Campbell. Okay, I’ll stop teasing you. I’m talking about Amoy Pitters, famed celeb and runway stylist, also star of Oxygen’s House of Glam (Tuesdays 10/9c) series.

Yep, with Women’s Small Business Month winding down, it’s only fair to honor a woman who started off small and made it to the big time. Queens and Bronx-raised Amoy always had an interest in hair, attending beauty school straight after high school and working in a salon soon after. While working at the salon, a friend connected her with runway shows in Paris. She not only landed the gig styling runway models for the Christian Dior couture collection in January 1998, she was also asked to do John Galliano’s hair. Galliano began requesting Amoy as his personal hairstylist, and Donatella Versace soon followed. Today, her handiwork has been seen on everyone from Rihanna to Sheryl Crow.

That’s not all she has accomplished. Under the tutelage of industry icon Odile Gilbert, Amoy’s celebrity contact list grew and her skills blossomed—especially with her sought-after extensions. Fine-tuning her craft led her to open an ethereal, exclusive salon (look at the pictures, it was like getting your hair done in heaven, surrounded by white orchids, dark wood accents, and white, white, white!) Amoy Couture Hair on Manhattan’s prestigious Upper East Side. Oh, and she decorated and oversaw everything with the salon while she was shooting House of Glam (P.S.—catch an episode if you can. The B. Lynn group is driven…and hysterical!).

Of course, I was completely psyched when I got the opportunity to have my hair done in Amoy’s salon. I’ve never had someone give me such an exacting blow-out, straightening my knotty hair to perfection, but still giving it plenty of volume. Everyone at the salon seemed to be friends with Amoy (unfortunately, Naomi did not stop in while I was there). I got a homey feeling, like my best friend was doing my hair, not to mention that the end result was amazing!

Amoy will continue to give amazing blow-outs, unparalleled extensions and friendly customer service for years to come. In the future she wants to work with Angelina Jolie, expand her salon to other cities and her own personalized product line is in the works. Amoy’s style and drive is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere!

-Cait Rohan

GIRL TALK TIME: Do you know any women who started off with a small business and made it big time? What is your favorite success story? Are you into hair? Who is your tried ‘n’ true stylist? Do you watch House of Glam?