Elena Linares, Founder/Owner of Razzle Dazzle Barber Shop

Elena Linares grew up in the Bronx, New York. Even as a young girl, Elena loved cutting and styling hair. In 1983, to escape an abusive marriage, Elena boarded a Greyhound bus headed to Miami with her son, a backpack and $200. She spent six months living in a shelter with her son. She found work at the Supercuts on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, where her employers recognized her special spark and amazing work ethic.

Elena opened her first Supercuts franchise on South Beach in 1989. South Beach was different then, and many saw the venture as risky. Despite her success with three franchise locations, she was unable to expand in South Florida; she opened eight francises in Puerto Rico instead.

In 1995, Elena married Marc Randazzo; they have two children together, Linda Marie and Marc Anthony. After a time, Elena sold her francises to focus on their Italian restaurant, Randazzo’s.

In 2009, Elena opened Razzle Dazzle Barber Shop. “The idea behind Razzle Dazzle is to pamper men in a flirty but wholesome, professional manner. It looks racy, but it really isn’t...When they come in with their girlfriends or wives, we pamper the ladies even more than we do the men."

Now, there are Razzle Dazzle locations in South Beach, Brickell and Coral Gables, and the shop will be featured on an upcoming reality show.

Elena Linares knows what it takes to be successful. She’s tough, determined, ambitious and full of joy. Amid the “razzle dazzle” of her life, Elena finds time to helpdomestic abuse victims through her support of Safe Harbor and other organizations.

For more information, visit www.razzledazzlebarbershop.com