the stylists

Our history

Richard Penna Salon was opened in 1978 by founder Richard Penna and has remained in its same location on Whitney Avenue throughout the decades, solidifying it as a Hamden staple. Richard’s efforts working on Channel 8 and the Sally Jessy Raphael Show in the 80s and 90s gave both him and the salon notoriety as being the “it” place to get your hair styled in Connecticut. In 2019, longtime employee and protégé Michael Cantarella purchased the salon from Richard and renamed it Richard Penna Hair - allowing for its iconic influence to remain while also re-affirming its legacy as Hamden’s premier modern hair salon.