The Good Life: Accessory Nick Berardi

Nick Berardi and his café racer

Nick Berardi, the owner of Richard Nicholas Hair Studio, has always been ahead of the curve: Back in the ’60s, after being kicked out of three high schools, the South Philly native started styling hair — before the rise of celeb stylists (or, for that matter, straight

Nick Berardi, the owner of Richard Nicholas Hair Studio, has always been ahead of the curve: Back in the ’60s, after being kicked out of three high schools, the South Philly native started styling hair — before the rise of celeb stylists (or, for that matter, straight male ones). When other businesses fled for the ’burbs, Berardi stayed — craving Center City’s energy and trusting in his gut that Philly was on the rise. And before today’s boomers got permission from their wives to buy motorcycles, Berardi had been building and riding his own for years. “In the ’60s, it was crazy to see this motorhead guy doing hair,” he says. “But I love the problem-solving nature of hair and bikes — experimenting until you find what clicks, then moving on to the next thing.” For Berardi, there’s always a next thing — from hitting the road with his sons (and fellow stylists) Nick and Joey, to watching his six-year-old grandson ride. “I flipped when my son got my grandson his first mini motorcycle,” he says. “Until he reminded me that I got my sons riding when they were six and three.” And while Nick — and Philly — have come a long way in 40 years, some things haven’t changed. “I still ride my bike to work every day,” he says. “But now, instead of just my bike, our stretch of Sansom is lined with my boys’ bikes, too.”

Richard Nicholas Hair Studio, 1716 Sansom Street, 215-567-4790; richardnicholas.com.