By Hayleigh Gowans

Staff Writer

Ever since he was a little boy watching his Polish immigrant grandfather work as a barber, Matthew Dydo has had an interest in working in the hair care and beauty industry. And for the past 30 years, Dydo has owned and worked as a stylist his own salon, Matthews Salon Spa, to provide hair care for clients in the greater Syracuse area.

Enjoying a childhood in New Hampshire watching his grandfather work in his barbershop, Dydo said he became fascinated with the craft of cutting hair. His grandfather passed away when Dydo was 13, and left him his barber clippers — and since then Dydo hasn’t looked back.

“I love the craft,” said Dydo. “I love shaping and working with hair. I guess it was in my genes to go into this business.”

Dydo moved to Syracuse in his early 20s because his sister went to school here and he wanted to get a fresh start. After moving here, he cut hair at another shop for about five years, and then got the opportunity to open his own salon in downtown Syracuse in the Hills Building. After about five years there, he moved his salon to Bridge Street, and then about two years ago to its current location at the DeWitt Town Center plaza, 3179 Erie Boulevard East, Suite 210 in DeWitt.

After running the original salon for about 17 years, Dydo said he felt his business was going strong and he opened a second location on Lincklaen Street in Cazenovia. To keep in touch with his grandfather’s barbershop roots, Dydo holds barbershop hours at the Cazenovia location every Sunday and Monday using the same cash register his grandfather used in his barbershop.

Both locations of Matthews Salon Spa are full service salons, and offer haircuts and colors for all genders, highlights, stylings, facials, massages and body waxing, among several other services.

Matthews Salon Spa is affiliated with the Aveda Corporation, something Dydo said has helped him be able to offer the best service to his clients and to stay educated in the newest hair care trends and products, and he even worked as an educator with the company for about nine years.

“I chose to work with Aveda because they really care about the source and quality of their products. They were a ‘green company’ before it was ever a thing,” said Dydo. “They’re also wonderful with education and I think the success that we’ve had is from surrounding myself with the great people at Aveda.”

In addition to a good partnership with Aveda, Dydo said he believes he has made it to 30 years in business thanks to a strong customer base, a dedicated and hard-working staff, and his wife, Colette, and three sons who have supported him throughout his career.

“We’re like family here. We care about the well-being of everyone who comes through those doors,” said Dydo. “I think it’s incredible for any business to stay in with the ups and downs to get through 30 years. I really does make you feel like you’ve accomplished something and it only makes you feel better and stronger for the future.”

As a way to celebrate 30 years in business, Matthews Salon Spa is offering 20 percent off of all Aveda product purchases through the month of April.

For more information about either location, or to set up an appointment, call 315-446-4800 or go to matthewssalonspa.com. You can also follow them on their social media profiles by searching “Matthews Salon Spa” on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.