Mario Alonso
Vision Hair Salon

1059 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Colorful art deco buildings line the avenues, exotic cars block traffic and beautiful men and woman stroll along the busy streets. Yes, this is South Beach and Mario Alonso is the Ambassador of Fun! Charismatic with dark good looks, Mario came to the U. S. from Cuba at the age of 15. He and his family settled in West New York, New Jersey. Mario had a thirst for adventure and an eye for style. He went to Manhattan to get his hair styled; the owner of the shop convinced him to become a hairdresser.

In 1970 he got his hairdresser license and went to work at “Heads West” a busy Greenwich, Village salon.

He learned the new techniques for hair styling from Bruce Miller, a disciple of Vidal Sasoon, won first prize in a hairdresser’s contest and opened his own successful salon in New Jersey. Mario moved to Manhattan where he conquered the disco scene, promoted private parties, and made friends with celebrities: Melanie Griffith, Kristy McNichols, Andy Garcia, Robin Williams, John Tesh and others.   

But the party scene and night life in New York City got too crazy, so the Ambassador of Fun moved to L.A. for a change of scenery. In L.A., the handsome Cuban got a job at the elegant Guiseppe Franco Salon and became hairdresser to the rich and famous. Mario basked in the light of L.A.’s stardom for 3 years and moved back to New Jersey to be with his Mom.  Tired of the cold, dreary New Jersey weather, Mario and his mom moved to sunny Miami. 

mario & eric estrada

In 1989, the talented hairstylist got a job working in Saks Fifth Avenue in the exclusive Bal Harbour Shops. Saks treated him like a celebrity, but Mario wanted his own hair salon in South Beach. He knew that South Beach would soon be the new Mecca for international celebrity. He found a partner and opened Thee Salon on Collins Avenue and 11^th Street.

With his golden touch on the scissors and charming personality, Mario couldn’t help but be successful. For 5 years he immersed himself in the wild South Beach night life, mingled with celebrities and partied with the likes of Mickey Rourke, Eric Estrada, Kenny Loggins, Irene Cara, and many more. Everyone knew Mario Alonso; by hanging out with the stars, he became one them. But the nightlife, the partying, drinking and drugs took its toll. Mario wanted to party more than he wanted to work and in January 1996, he lost Thee Salon. Mario hit bottom; he had no car, no apartment and no clothes. To top it off, his mother got very sick. On August 21, 1998 the hairdresser checked himself into The Faith Farm, a rehab center in Ft. Lauderdale.  At the Faith Farm, a miracle happened. He read the Bible and prayed for God’s forgiveness. Mario told me, “I learned about compassion, about being humble and to love everyone especially God.” He recovered from his addiction in only one month when most people in his condition take a year to be cured. “I knew that everything would be alright, because Jesus would lead my life.”

Mario left the Faith Farm and moved in with his sick mother in Miami Beach. He got a job in Hialeah and commuted via public transportation. His Mom passed away 45 days later. Mario continued to work hard and save money. The owner of the building on Collins and 11^th Street gave Mario the keys to his old space and said, “For now it’s free. Don’t pay me rent until your business is a success.” Friends and clients gave him equipment, a stereo system and lent him money to beautify the little salon. Now Mario has a new apartment, new car and beautiful clothes.  On November 8, 2000 his friend and well-known party promoter, Tommy Pooch, hosted a birthday party for him at the famous Forge Restaurant. Forever a star, Mario’s new salon is a big success.  He goes to church every Sunday and gives Bible classes. Mario says he named the salon, Vision Hair Salon because the neon sign already said Vision. But I think it was named after the vision of God that cured his drug addiction and saved his life. Mario Alonso still lives his life with zest and enthusiasm; he has evolved from Ambassador of Fun to Ambassador of Love and Peace.  

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