Roberto Pozzato’s considerable skills, honed in major fashion centres, now belong to the Australian national capital. Photos: Bentley’s Hair of Canberra.
After a quarter-century of cutting and styling hair in some of the world’s most high-profile locations, including a stint as a heavyweight for a global hairdressing juggernaut, Roberto Pozzato has a surprising yet glowing verdict on his new home at Bentleys of Canberra.
“I have never, ever, seen a salon so busy with returning clients,” he says.
The salon’s new Artistic Director is a striking figure at the Jamison Centre. But for the local clientele, the real revelation is discovering that Canberra is home to a bona fide hairdressing guru of international calibre.
For anyone currently on the hunt for a new stylist, Roberto’s chair might just be the capital’s premier destination.
Roberto started tinkering with hairdressing scissors in his home country of Italy in his early teens, first experimenting on his own hair before friends started requesting a cut. At 15, he scored his first salon gig, and by the time he left Italy for London, he was a fully qualified and highly sought-after hairdresser.
Unable to speak a word of English upon arrival in the UK, he had to prove himself from scratch, starting as an apprentice at Toni&Guy. Just one year later, he was managing their flagship store and went on to become the national educator for Toni&Guy Australia.
“If I didn’t have an alarm in the morning and a schedule to follow, I would call this a hobby, not a job,” Roberto says.
“I am genuinely passionate about what I do, and I think that’s what’s driven my success.”
Upon moving to Australia, Roberto continued his streak with Toni&Guy at their luxury Grace Hotel salon in Sydney before relocating to the capital, where he has quickly established a loyal local clientele. His track record speaks for itself.
“If you sit in my chair, you’ll always be back,” he says.
It’s a bold claim, but true: Roberto has a reputation for topping salon leaderboards in client retention.
Exceptional technical skill is only a fraction of the formula, he explains.
“I see it all the time: hairdressers who are not at the top skills-wise, who are very busy and on the other hand, hairdressers who are technically highly skilled, who can’t build up a full clientele,” Roberto says.
“What makes a good haircut? Yes, it’s when you nail it in relation to the client’s face and head shape, hair texture and density and personal preference. But really, it’s when the client leaves feeling like a million dollars.
“To do that, the way you treat and communicate with a customer goes hand in hand with your technical skills.”
Roberto with Bentley’s Hair of Canberra owner June Irving.
This philosophy is exactly why clients at Bentleys are never rushed straight to the basin. Instead, every appointment features Roberto’s signature masterclass: a bespoke, face-to-face consultation.
“The consultation is probably the most important part of the service because it is when you are going to truly understand who you have seated in front of you,” Roberto says.
“It’s a kind of contract with your clients. Before you wash, apply colour, cut, this is when you identify the shape, texture, density and shade of the hair, but also when you can get into your client’s mind and understand what they actually want.”
It’s the same standard he has drilled into the apprentices he has mentored over the past decade, a coaching role he admits he might love even more than styling.
That passion aligns perfectly with the ethos at Bentleys. The salon was built from the ground up by Canberra’s own June Irving, with a dedicated focus on elite training for the next generation of stylists.
“I love building confidence in people, not just in cutting hair, but also ethos — working for every client as hard as if you own the place, being always amazing, bringing always the best of yourself,” he says.
“That’s the culture June brings to Bentleys, and it has to be said, it’s why people always come back.”
For more information, visit Bentleys of Canberra.
