Bella Capelli on ‘Cutting Edge’

By Dayton P. Strickland / STAFF

Bella Capelli means “beautiful hair” in Italian and at Bella Capelli, The Salon Spa, that is exactly what owner Nancy Boyk and her team of hair stylists and master colorists intend for you to have.

Founded in 1995, the salon moved to its current Roswell location at 710 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 206, Sept. 13, 2001, just two days after 9/11, at a time when the country was in turmoil and the economy was taking a nosedive.

“It was scary because of the economy then,” said Boyk, who is in partnership with her husband, William, and partial employee-owner Russell Baggett, one of the team’s three master-certified hair colorists.
“But, it turned out to be great. In two years or less, we tripled our sales after doubling the physical size of the salon. In this business, when the country is in recession, the beauty business doesn’t suffer as much because people want to feel good.”

Nancy Boyk, owner of Bella Capelli, The Salon Spa, opened the salon in September 1995 and expanded it in 2001. The high-end beauty center is one of the finest in the Southeast. Boyk currently employees 30 people. (Daniel Tyree McElrath / STAFF)

“We provide all hair services — cutting, color, perms, up-do’s (bridal) and styling. We are a full service salon, which means you can get everything done, nothing fru-fru, everything serious. Our skin care is very meticulous. Skin care is geared toward first getting our customers’ skin really vibrant and healthy, and then maintaining great skin.  We also do manicures, pedicures and waxing,” said Boyk.

“Our stylists are many of the best in the entire southeast, and they provide our customers with outstanding results,” said the proud owner.  “It’s the best work I have ever seen. Our color department is exceptional. We have three mastercertified hair colorists out of only 10 in all of metro Atlanta and 16 in the whole state of Georgia.”

How did Boyk attract such top talent? “We actually recruit, train and cultivate our own future stylists and colorists. Most of our stylists started here as shampoo assistants, and worked their way up to master stylists through our rigorous training program, commitment to excellence and culture of outstanding performance. To work at Bella Capelli, you have to strive to be the best – our culture demands it and now our customers expect it,” Nancy reiterated. 

On the service side, Boyk believes in customer satisfaction and education.

“We also provide an education to each of our valued clients on how to take good care of their hair. So many times a client goes in to get their hair cut and I’ll ask why they use a certain product. We teach them how to use different products available to achieve what they want.”

Boyk said great customer service is the cornerstone of her business. “I want to make the experience of our clients consistent and exceptional so they go ‘wow.’ This is right down to the little things.”

This is Boyk’s first entrepreneurial experience and she gives the following advice to those thinking of taking the plunge:

“Be prepared to work really hard. Know every aspect of the business. Know every type of job that has to be done. I started as a receptionist, as an assistant, and I have done every job and known every job which helps you relate to every worker. And still be able to do that. And mainly be fair and communicate — communicate, communicate. Also go with your gut. If it feels right it probably is, if not, it probably isn’t. I do that a lot,” she said.

Stylist Meghan Bridges has been with Bella Capelli for more than 10 years and did her apprenticeship there. “She (Boyk) teaches you more personal skills, more realistic skills,” said Bridges. “We have great people to work with; very talented people. This career field provides for a lot of creativity and it lets you be your own person. And it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Master colorist and sought after color guru Bagget, a partner with Nancy in the business, has been in the hair business since he was 19. “It’s in my blood”, said Bagget, and I decided early on to dedicate myself to becoming the best colorist in the country, and I still learn things every day.”

Bagget was on of the first Master Colorists ever to be certified by the national board and leads a distinguished team of three Master Colorists at Bella Capelli.

Roswell Councilwoman Lori Henry, a long-time patron of Bella Capelli’s, sums her experience up this way, “Years ago I decided to ‘refresh my color’ so to speak, and, being as thrifty as I am, I decided to do it myself. Well, one day I really messed it up! So I put a hat on, and went straight to Nancy who cut my hair and I asked what they she could do to help me. She brought me to Russell and after I unveiled it and they both gasped, he fixed it right then - and in several hours he made my hair come to life and look great!”

“I have been going to Bella Capelli for many years; it’s like a second family to me now. They do a great job, the service is world class, and the atmosphere is as pampering as it is electric”.