Richard grew up in Boston, launching his styling career in the city's salons as a precision haircutter and a Ouidad-certified stylist. His career took him all over as he worked for fashion shows, news stations, extreme-makeover shows, and movies. Eventually, though, he opened Jon Richard Salon and launched a line of styling products.

Today, inside his airy, white-walled salon, which has been written up in So Rhode Island magazine, he rallies his team with a call to defend clients from anything that hinders confidence and beauty. Stylists welcome guests to leather styling chairs for cuts, color services, and Yuko straightening treatments. They also stock Ouidad products enriched with proteins and vitamins and designed especially for curly hair and shag rugs with ringlets. Spa technicians reveal glowing skin with facials and microdermabrasion treatments and transform nails with pink-and-white polish or Shellac mani-pedis. Clients can also stop in to get their bodies beach ready with spray tans, body waxing, or Cry Baby semipermanent mascara, which stays put no matter how many hours they've been manning the dunk tank.