Salon Resta / Delray Beach
Eric Perna
Eric Perna grew up surrounded by art and hairstyling. His father, an artist in Brazil, taught him the importance of a well-planned sculpture. He also taught him to look for art in everyday things and to be open minded. His mother, a salon owner in Boston, Massachusetts, ignited his passion for hairstyling. From an early age, Eric thought he would somehow combine both of his passions and turn them into something unique.
Pursuing his dream, Eric moved to South Florida, studied hairstyling and trained with Toni Guy and Vidal Sassoon’s Advanced Teams. He learned cutting-edge techniques, then mastered and adapted them to his own style. He soon became well-recognized, gaining customer loyalty for his unique approach and excellent customer relationship skills.
The Artist Evolves
Eric’s desire to express his creativity grew stronger, and he began experimenting with other forms of art. His father’s teachings, combined with his excellent eye for color and composition, led him to combine various media (such as oils, acrylic, driftwood, etc.) to create one-of-a-kind paintings that attracted the attention of art dealers in the area. Eric is now recognized as a commercial artist in his own right. His paintings are occasionally displayed on the walls at RESTA.
Hairstyling and Art “Walk Together”
Whether he is painting on canvas or styling a client’s hair, Eric uses his natural talent to turn the ordinary into a work of art. Just as his father taught him to work with the raw material while sculpting to bring out its natural beauty, Eric works to understand your hair—how it naturally grows and behaves—as well as your unique personality. The result is a modern, hand-crafted style that’s all about who you are.
In Eric’s mind, hairstyling and art walk together. It’s the philosophy that prompted Eric and his partner Carolina Sole to open RESTA in Delray Beach, Florida, in February 2009. And it’s the philosophy that keeps the salon vibrant and innovative to this day.
Carolina Sole Perna
Carolina Sole Perna was born in Argentina and raised in Brazil. She is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Her exceptional cross-cultural experience combined with her degree in psychology enables Carolina to communicate effectively with a large cross-section of the South Florida population. Her communication skills, along with her passion for the arts and critical eye for color, give her a unique advantage when discussing hair color options with clients.
Coloring Her World
Carolina has always loved color and how it impacts people’s lives. Growing up, she took several art and painting classes, and she learned that through color she could express herself and inspire others.
Carolina moved to the U.S. upon earning a Bachelor’s degree in psychology in Brazil. After much soul searching, she decided to pursue a career that would put her in touch with her creative side. She remembered pretending to be a hairstylist as a child, and began to picture herself as a professional stylist—or more specifically, a colorist. The idea of transforming someone’s image through hair color energized her.
A Career Takes Shape
Carolina started her beauty career in Boston, Massachusetts where she met her partner Eric Perna. Eric and Carolina soon realized they shared a passion for the same things: art and style. A great idea started to form in their minds: why not create a salon that combined hairstyling with art? They moved to South Florida to pursue this idea.
Carolina gained industry experience working in high-end salons in Delray Beach and Boca Raton. She also enrolled at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to pursue a B.A. in Studio Art.
The more Carolina and Eric got involved with various forms of artistic expression, the more they knew it was their mission to open a business combining art and style. In February 2009, the couple opened RESTA, an independent hair salon and art gallery in Delray Beach, Florida.
Carolina’s formal training in color and her deep understanding of how to capture the distinctive characteristics of each individual are the keys to her success. She views her work as an expression of art and as such, pays special attention to composition and individuality.
Eric and Carolina’s mission is to provide a special space in Delray Beach, where you can chill out with friend, discover local artists, get the best hair style in town and enjoy an environment created with the love of art at heart. Fun, inspiration and relaxation are words that best describe their unique spot in this vibrant and hip community.
