Hard to believe it’s been almost 60 years since Philip started his 1st hairstyling job right out of beauty school.  And no less his first job was at the prestigious Saks Fifth Avenue Hair Salon in downtown Pittsburgh.  His story is pretty cool and so are these rare photos…

Philip shares, “I dropped out of high school to work as sheet metal worker and I was a proud member of Sheet Metal Local #12.  I respected the value of a hard day’s work and earning a paycheck.  I also knew I wanted to do something creative, perhaps in fashion I thought.  Then started attending Pittsburgh Beauty Academy and on my first week I knew I found my calling.  I sold my car to pay for beauty school and started on this exciting journey.  I opened my first salon at the tender age of 20 and still love every minute.  I still have something to say, create and be, so our journey continues!”

Behind The Scenes…

Photo of Philip Pelusi circa 1964

Hair by Philip Pelusi

Shoot Location Saks 5^th Avenue downtown Pittsburgh

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

It was arguably known as one of the coolest spaces in Pittsburgh in the 70’s and 80’s, The Philip Pelusi Bank Center location opened in 1977 in downtown Pittsburgh.  Along with the totally unique space, was a team of superstar talents, Philip’s Designer staff circa 1979.  The Designers in this photo were the winners of a Philip Pelusi Volumetric Haircutting and Design Contest!

Mega talents from back in the day like Toni (far right batwing sleeve dress) and legendary mega talent Jeffrey can be spotted in photo too (in motion at the top right of group).  Jeffrey joined Philip’s talent team in 1979, eventually becoming the 1^st Philip Pelusi Creative Director and then eventually the 1^st Philip Pelusi International Creative Director.  And today the Philip Pelusi legacy of talent continues now and into the future!

Behind The Scenes…

Photo by Philip Pelusi

Shoot Location Bank Center Salon circa 1979

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

Recognize any familiar faces?  Here’s the team at the Philip Pelusi Squirrel Hill location back in 1972.  Like all Designers at Philip Pelusi everyone started somewhere, sometime, and grew into powerhouse bookers and reaching the tops in hair artistry talent.  And today this legacy of achievement continues now and into the future!

Do you recognize superstars such as Leonor (far right wearing glasses) and Joann (far back right of center, curly hair wedge haircut) and Monica (kneeling far right curly hair mullet wearing solid black outfit) just to name a few!

Behind The Scenes…

Photo by Philip Pelusi

Shoot Location for image above Squirrel Hill Salon 1972

Shoot Location for images below Squirrel Hill Salon 2022, 2022 & 2023

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

Philip Pelusi Designers are known are their beautiful hair artistry for women’s cuts and color services.  But equally important are the incredible men’s styles created everyday in Philip Pelusi Salons and in photoshoots over the decades by Philip’s Designers and Trend Teams.

Men’s focus on grooming is at an all-time high today.  Everything from traditional to edgy styles, crisp short or long layered cuts, and even hair color ranging from subtle to bold.  Take a look at this collection of men’s hairstyle images from over the decades at Philip Pelusi.  Truly “A Cut Above The Rest”!

Behind The Scenes…

Photoshoot Photos & Lighting by Philip Pelusi

Miranda Hair & Photo by Miranda A @ RTM

Regina Hair & Photo by Regina M @ BL

Hair by Philip Pelusi, Jeffrey R, Lisa K, Sam C, Miranda A and Regina M

Shoot Location Philip Pelusi Center for Talent Development, Philip Pelusi Salons & the Tela Design Studio, Meatpacking District NYC

Philip Pelusi Products ~ P2 by Philip Pelusi Roots for Men plus a variety of P2 Styling Products

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

Rebel (noun); someone who breaks the rules or otherwise challenges the status quo.  Take a walk on the wild side with this rebellious hair collection by Philip Pelusi and his Design Team, Runway Rebels.  Rock star hair, a dusky runway, and couture clothing!  What more can you ask for!

Philip, Creative Directors Jeffrey R and Lisa K, RTM & New Talent Salon Leader Christy S, Designer Teri H, and the rest of Philip’s Runway Design Team, created these fierce hair designs for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week for fashion house Outlaws of The Boarder circa 2008. 

Behind The Scenes…

Hair by Philip Pelusi, Jeffrey R, Lisa K, Christy S, Teri H

Runway Show & Shoot Location Tela Design Studio, Meatpacking District NYC

Clothing by Outlaws of The Boarder

Photos by Ben Jack and Philip Pelusi

Philip Pelusi Products ~ Almost every Tela Beauty Organics haircare product & P2 by Philip Pelusi Holding Sprays

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

Introducing Freeform by Philip Pelusi!  One of the most prolific photoshoots by Philp Pelusi and his Design Team circa the 1990’s.  Why the name Freeform?  So many incredibly diverse looks!  From dressy to corporate, from glam to sporty.

And do you notice a famous face among the models?  If you guessed, Joe Manganiello you are correct!  We are honored to say this Pittsburgh native who currently stars as the host of Deal or No Deal Island (and previously Magic Mike and True Blood), was one of our models (and Frequent Guests) for several years at Philip Pelusi.  So professional and amazing to work with, plus his hair is off the charts amazing!

Check out all the beautiful looks in this photospread exclusively at Philip Pelusi!!

Behind The Scenes…

Photos and lighting by Philip Pelusi

Hair by Philip Pelusi, Jeffrey R and Sam C

Photo Styling by Philip Pelusi and Jeffrey R

Makeup by Nikki B, Joe M (at Southland), and The Philip Pelusi Design Team

Clothes by Max Alto

Philip Pelusi products Almost every P2 by Philip Pelusi haircare product!

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

Time to celebrate!  2013 marked the launch of the revolutionary Tela Beauty Organics by Philip Pelusi Color Lock for both in-salon color services & follow-up color protection!

Behind The Scenes…

Tela Beauty Organics Founder, CEO & President Philip Pelusi

Tela Beauty Organic Partner & VP of Branding, Concept & Marketing Jennifer Pelusi

Models holding Tela products at this Tela Color Lock product launch

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

Philip’s first official photoshoot took place in the 1970’s, born out of his genuine desire to immortalize his work & that of his creative teams.  This shoot was the genesis of hundreds of future Photosynthesis® and Philip Pelusi Center for Talent Development events to photograph his & his Design Team’s hair artistry. 

Over his career, Philip photographs over 50,000 images that were published internationally, plus displayed as ads, billboards, & artistic décor in his salons & The Philip Pelusi Center for Talent Development.  Take a look at these images from Philip’s first official shoot!

Behind The Scenes…

Photo and lighting by Philip Pelusi

Volumetric Haircut and Design by Philip Pelusi

Hair color by Philip Pelusi

Philip Pelusi products P2 Lustre Shampoo (updated formula known as P2 Age de Phy), P2 Xtreme, and P2 Glaze for styling

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

The year was 2000 and Philip turned his creative genius to fragrance.  He created a totally unique fragrance line paying homage to the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui.  The practice of Feng Shui is based on the idea that personal peace and calm could be achieved by decluttering and arranging one’s home to be in harmony, decluttering your home and therefore decluttering your mind.

The name of his like-minded fragrance line was Shuisense by Philip Pelusi.  Harmony, balance and energy resonated through the 7 fragrances designed for everyone.  These beautifully crafted fragrances ranged from spicy to floral and were designed to be layered to customize the fragrance to match, enhance or change your mood.  Long lasting, they smelled like heaven in a bottle!

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)

It all started organically, Philip simply wanted to take photos of his and his Designer’s work.  The outcome was a burgeoning photographer, himself!  Shooting an amazing 50,000 photographic images starting in 1965 usually from 2 cameras, one color and the other black/white film.  Sometimes shooting 1,000 images in one day! 

He saw photography as a way to not only immortalize the work he and his team created, but also an avenue for more creative expression.  Hair, makeup, photo styling, the works!  These photos also served as an original source for TV, billboard, and print ads as well as artistic décor for the salons and The Philip Pelusi Center for Talent Development.  Most images were photographed in the Talent Center but also in NYC, Italy, Japan, and more!

BuZZworthy is fun facts and photos about how Philip got started in the industry, his salon journey, the history of his products, with more adventures on the horizon!  See ALL BuZZworthy on BuZZworthy (busystylist.com)