dana ionato | colorist

When you visit colorist Dana Ionato at Sally Hershberger Downtown, don’t be surprised if you leave with those perfect natural highlights that can only come from playing in the sun for an entire summer as a child (or so you thought). With each stroke of the brush, Dana will transform your hair, as an artist paints a canvas Using only the Balayage technique, which only a true artist can master, Dana paints in color where it would naturally be; no foils, no stripey highlights at the root  and no orange.

With original aspirations to come to New York and return to her home state of Vermont to open a salon, she quickly found New York City had other plans for her.  She got her start uptown with celebrity colorist Rita Hazan. Downtown soon called, and for four years she apprenticed under famed Parisian colorist, Reynald Ricard.  It was here that Dana quite literally learned to ‘forget the foils’ and she mastered her technique as a colorist.

With her cheery disposition and perfectionist approach, it wasn’t long before she was the buzz among the “it” girls and editor circles.  Dana is known for the art of hand painting each individual without compromising the dexerity of the hair. She takes a “less is more” approach, and her stand-out:  highlighted brunettes; making seamless natural highlights on the brown-haired set that always get lighter towards the end, without any red. Dont forget her talent for blondes as well. There is something to be said for her signature surfer chic beach-y blonde, full of dimesion and depth.

Always taking goal results, skin tone, eye color, hair texture, and lifestyle into much consideration upon consultation and prides herself on her ability to explain the hair coloring process to her clients so there are no false expectations

Dana was featured in the selective 2013 September Directory of Allure Magazine for best hair colorist in 2013. Her work has appeared in editorials for leading beauty/fashion magazines and blogs including: Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post, elle.com, and Teen Vogue, just to name a few. A rising star and colorist to watch, Dana is the go-to for Victoria’s Secret models and celebrities alike.  Not to mention she also colors the tresses famed founder of the namesake salon where she applies her talents, Sally.