JUNE 2018 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 77
NUBEST SALON AND SPA CELEBRATES
45 YEARS OF BEAUTY, FAMILY
By JEFF BERMAN
Since opening its doors in Manhasset
on June 19, 1973, nuBest Salon and
Spa has provided several generations
of customers with a combination of
exceptional service and unparalleled
quality, combined with an experience
that includes the latest, cutting-edge
trends in beauty and fashion.
Celebrating its 45th year in business
this month, the two generations
of family at the helm of nuBest
continue to provide a diverse
customer base from across Long
Island, New York City and beyond
with the same winning combination
that is key to its long success.
“This is Michael’s legacy,” Christian
Fleres, nuBest artistic director/
colorist, says, referring to his uncle,
Michael Mazzei, the salon’s founding
owner. “There’s something to be said
for being in business for 45 years and
still be considered cutting-edge.”
Mazzei is one of the most beloved
and well-respected individuals in
the professional hair care industry.
His vision of beauty and avantgarde
approach to style has inspired
stylists from all over the world. He
has been instrumental in defining
modern hair for men and women.
Mazzei and his collaborator, Leland
Hirsch, also developed ARTec
Worldwide, an innovative global
hair care brand that was purchased
by L’Oreal in 2002.
“Celebrating nuBest’s 45th anniversary
feels like a dream,” says Mazzei. “I am
so proud of what my family and I have
been able to achieve with nuBest. We
have created a community for our
clients, with the help of some of New
York’s best stylists.”
Michael’s son, Jamie Mazzei, joined
his father in the business about 30
years ago and serves as creative
director and senior stylist. Michael’s
nephew, Vincent Cascio, also joined
the business about 30 years ago and
serves as senior stylist, too.
Their clientele has included
countless celebrities who have
pampered themselves at nuBest over
the years, including Lance Bass and
Joey Fatone of boy band ‘NSYNC.
But bringing in big names isn’t
necessarily the endgame. Mazzei’s
ultimate goal is to make every
single client feel like a high-profile
glamorous superstar.
nuBest stands out from competitors
on numerous levels.
“We change our uniforms every
six months,” Fleres says. “It’s not
just about your hair. It’s an entire
experience that we’re selling.”
Although nuBest’s customers used
to be mostly women, it’s now close
to 60 percent female and 40 percent
male.
“There’s a lot more men that come
in and have their cut, as well as
Left to right: Jamie Mazzei, Vincent Cascio, Michael Mazzei and Christian
other services on a regular basis,”
including hair coloring, than was
the case several years ago, Fleres
says.
NuBest has also become more social
media-driven in recent years, he
adds, explaining that to “attract a lot
younger clientele, you have to move
with the times.”
“Everything here is always
evolving,” he says. “From the design
of the salon to the way that we do
hair to the way that everything is
followed.”
The Manhasset location on the
Miracle Mile has also been a key
to nuBest’s success. Noting that it’s
“very centrally located,” near the
beginning of Nassau County and
end of Queens, Fleres says the Gold
Coast location adds to the diversity
of nuBest’s clientele and helps keep it
“very family oriented.” At the same
time, “it’s not that far away from
Manhattan” and “we have the Long
Island Rail Road that’s walking
distance,” he says, noting some
clients come in from the city… and
even as far away as Connecticut.
As the business celebrates its
milestone anniversary this month,
he adds: “We really strive to be at
the forefront of the industry. We’re
constantly working on different
things to improve ourselves. A lot of
times, people kind of stay stagnant.
But we really understand the fact
that you have to move with the
times.”
nuBest Salon and Spa is located
at 1482 Northern Boulevard in
Manhasset. They can be reached at
516-627-9444 or nubestsalon.com.
Fleres mark 45 years of nuBest.
The main styling floor at nuBest, with photo on back wall of supermodel Janice Dickinson, styled for the
shoot by Michael Mazzei circa 1980s for a fashion magazine.