The Tricoci University of Beauty Culture movement would not be possible without the man who started it all. Though Mario is no longer involved with the schools, he is a critical part of Tricoci University’s history, and we are so proud to have grown from his innovative, expert roots.
Mario began his career in Italy at an early age. After gaining notoriety through many international competitions, he began his American hairstyling career in Chicago in 1960. In 1963, Mario opened his first salon in Villa Park, Illinois and eventually moved to a larger location in Des Plaines, Illinois. In 1977, he opened the first domestic, privately owned salon in a major shopping mall. After nurturing these salons until they were a flourishing business with multiple locations, Mario set his sights on a new venture once more. In 1986, Mario Tricoci Hair Salon & Day Spa in Arlington Heights, IL became the first Day Spa in the Midwest, and the brand continued to grow. After merging with Elizabeth ARden Red Door Spas in 2001 and serving on the board for years, Mario bought back his branded salons and spas in 2018 and continues to focus on the growth and expansion of this venture today.
Mario also serves as the Honorary President of Fondation Guillaume, a sub-organization of Intercoiffure Mondial that helps develop young hairstylists on an international level.
In 2004, Mario opened the doors of the first ever Tricoci campus as a way to give back to the beauty industry and create a space to nurture the next generations of top-tier beauty professionals. The curriculum he helped develop continues to produce salon-ready professionals and push the envelope of what a beauty school education can and should be.
Mario’s innovative vision and steadfast values helped Tricoci University expand to the multi-state, multi-campus educational hub that it is today. We are proud to expand this vision to serve more students in new markets, equipping them with the best knowledge and tools to thrive in today’s beauty industry.
