April's been cutting hair for over twenty-five years and she still loves it. "It's an inside job," is one of her philosophies on life, "And that's how I cut, from the inside out." Using a distinct style she created known as "interior shaping," her cuts last for months and grow in beautifully. She's worked with Bono, Matthew Modine, Jake Gyllenhal, Adrien Brody, and Willie Nelson.
Although most famous for her men's grooming, she is equally adept at styling fabulous women such as Bonnie Raitt, Mary J. Blige and Avril Lavigne. Artists, musicians, actors and TV personalities regularly visit her salon. From the corporate giant to the super's daughter, she discovers her clients' comfort zones and creates something for them that is uniquely their own.
Finding herself smack dab in the middle of a vibrant 80's punk scene in London, April helped open the Robert Heeds School of Hairdressing, the first of its kind. She thrived in that rock and roll environment, and it was there that she adopted her signature sharp style, but her heart longed for New Yor k and she decided to come home and cut her way to the top. Never one to settle for the norm, in 1995 she opened up her own salon, Suite 303, in the Chelsea Hotel, previously home to such legends as Jimi Hendrix, Sid Vicious and Janis Joplin. "I want my clients to feel the incredible creative spirit that lives within the walls of The Chelsea Hotel. It's part of the whole experience."
April works in film, TV, commercials, and music videos. She was featured in the documentary Women on Top. In 2007 she was Chief Hairstylist on TLC's 10 Years Younger, and appeared on Bravo's reality series Shear Genius in 2010. Her work has been in top magazines such as Rolling Stone and GQ, working mostly with photographer Mark Seliger. Features about her have been published in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire and The New York Times.
In early 2004, Heather Ritchie decided she wanted a career change that would inevitably, change her. A stylist at the salon, Ritchie adds color to Suite 303, literally and figuratively. "Cutting and coloring has been such a rewarding art form for me," says Ritchie, "I'm constantly learning and growing. April has taught me some of her tricks and I'm discovering a few of my own."
Native New Yorker, Gabriela Langone has been working in the beauty and fashion industry for almost a decade now. Having the opportunity of working along side some amazing stylists in both hair and wardrobe for editorials such as Vogue, V Magazine, and Italian Elle has truly rounded her knowledge within the industry. Suite 303 challenges her to surpass the norm and to reach her full potential as an artist in hair design with a signature style. Keeping up with the latest in cut and color, she's doing just that.
Katie Riesco from Massachusetts honed her creativity from a young age, painting and drawing. She went to Italy to study painting and then set her sites on NYC. She trained at Arrojo Studio, traveling with the artistic team to many cities. Four years later she found herself drawn to the magnetic energy of April Barton´s Suite 303.
Life has worked with April Barton and Suite 303 since 2005 as a makeup artist and is available for salon appointments, weddings, and special events. Please contact Salon 303 for rates and availability.
Kristen took off on her own and started working for Suite 303 in the hip Chelsea Hotel in 2007. She was learning under an eclectic mix of artists, and also had the opportunity to work on 36 episodes of TLC's 10 Years Younger assisting April Barton. Here is where Kristen learned to perfect the craft of her clients' hair beautiful, edgy, and unique.
Kristen relocated to Los Angeles in summer 2008. Since then she has worked with Paula Abdul, Pharrell, Little Boots, Jake Abel, Jena Malone, Steve Aoki, Piper Perabo, Martha Wainwright, Carney and more. She has also worked on advertising jobs for Roxy, Stella, Puma, Nixon, KIA Motors, Alternative Apparel, Free People, Zanetti, and more. She currently splits her time between NYC and LA.
Gabriel Marchisio is a Tarot cards readings expert at Suite 303.
In the last 25 years had been doing readings in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Holland, France, Hungary, Italy, Egypt and USA. From 1992 to 1997 he hosted an interactive Tarot live show at Oceano FM Uruguay.
