In more ways than one, hair styling is in Silvana Commisso’s blood.

In fact, it runs in the family. Her daughters, son, sisters, brothers, uncles and cousins, are all in the business. All told, there are a hundred relatives who are or have worked as hair stylists.

“My uncle, way back, started a business on Simpson Street, and we all followed him,” Silvana explains of the extended connection. “It’s like a family tree. Everyone wanted to follow everyone else.”

It was at the age of 14 she decided to follow in her uncle’s footsteps.

“I was never afraid to hold the scissors and cut,” she says with a laugh. “You follow your dream and you become good at it.”

Today, nearing her fourth decade in the business, Silvana operates her own salon, Avante Hair Studio, with her daughter Rosie.

Avante offers the traditional menu of colouring, highlights and perms, as well as all aspects of natural and synthetic wigs and chemo headwear.

“I enjoy making people look good,” Silvana says. “They come in, they’re feeling down, they don’t like their hair. We just perk them up and with some colour, highlights, and a great cut.”

But a notable part of her business is customized wigs. The interest in wigs came about when her young daughter had cancer and there was nothing available locally to cover up the hair loss. Now she caters to cancer patients and those suffering ailments such as alopecia and hair loss.

“I think I just love helping people and I enjoy what I’m doing,” she says.

“All I can say is, follow your dream and if you follow your dream you will be happy in your life.”