Leonardo Di Fronzo has been cutting hair and piercing ears and noses at the University of Canberra for almost as long as the university has existed.
He opened Leonardo's Uni Salon in The Hub in 1994, four years after the Canberra College of Advanced Education became the University of Canberra, in 1990.
Since then, he's cut the hair of everyone from uni students to vice-chancellors; Brumbies players to visiting academics.
"I like to think everyone is equal but it is a bit of a buzz when you see someone from TV come in," he said.
His is also the longest-running piercing studio in Canberra, it's believed, but he hasn't added any body jewellery to a vice-chancellor. Yet.
Leonardo, 53, always knew he wanted to cut hair.
The former Marist College student wanted to leave school in year 10 to pursue the trade but his parents, Joe and Teresa, persuaded him to finish year 12.
"Which I'm always grateful for, but I always knew from a young age what I wanted to do," he said.
"I enjoy a chat, it's creative, you make people happy. Same with body piercing."
As soon as he finished his apprenticeship, he opened the salon at UC, which had a spot for a hairdresser.
"I've been here ever since. Same spot. Same door for 30 years," he said.
He started nose and ear piercing after opening the salon, adding on extra qualifications as he went to meet all demand.
"There's no weird spot in our industry. It's all art," he said, with a laugh.
'THE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN VERY LOYAL'
Leonardo, a father of two who now lives in Sutton, is looking forward to a few more years at the uni.
"I've got a lease for another five years," he said.
"The university has been very loyal, and you don't get that much these days. And I've been loyal too, so it works both ways.
"I enjoy the learning here as well.
"Our clientele is just so diverse. It just makes it enjoyable. There's not one day when I haven't hard a laugh or I haven't learnt something."
Leonardo's business survived the pandemic when the university shut down on-campus learning. He's seen it grow over the years, in student numbers and facilities. And hair fashions shift from perms when he opened to the return of the mullet.
Leonardo's parents, Teresa and Joe Di Fronzo, of Isaacs, are his biggest supporters. Mrs Di Fronzo was his "apprentice" for many years.
"We are very, very proud of him and we just couldn't be happier for him," she said.
He learnt a lot from his parents.
"They taught me to have a good work ethic," Leonardo said.
"And I think the reason we have been here for 30 years is because we care. Dad always instilled, 'Whatever you do, you enjoy'.
"They were disappointed I wasn't academic but they'd never realise I'd be coming to uni for 30 years."
There's that laugh again.
UC student Peter Searles said Leonardo was a welcoming presence on campus.
"He's one of those people on campus that everybody knows," he said.
