Although ABC6 may lag behind its competitors in the ratings, the station has one asset that the local NBC and CBS affiliates can't help but envy: the lush, auburn red 'do that sits atop 11 p.m. co-anchor John Deluca. Since moving to the anchor desk, Deluca, who started at ABC6 as a reporter in 1999, has perfected that most quintessential of male newscaster hairstyles - the wave, rising and then receding with a gentle, soothing slope. Ron Burgundy, eat your heart out.
But the ever-modest Deluca told The Herald that his signature hairdo is not just a one-man effort.
"Without my parents, the John Richards Salon and American Crew products, I would not be here today as your top head of hair in Rhode Island news," he said. The salon, which Deluca visits once a month, serves as the go-to stylist for the ABC6 news team, he said.
Although he said it only takes "a couple of brushes here and there" to get his locks air-ready, Deluca used to sport a longer style, which he said required an "epic" effort to train.
Deluca, who grew up in Worcester, Mass., and received a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1990, served stints in Fresno, Calif. and Columbus, Miss. before returning to the Ocean State. His wife, Amy, co-anchors the 5:30 p.m. newscast on Fox Providence.
"Was it my goal to stay in Rhode Island? Not necessarily, but it worked out that way," he said. And we're glad that he - and his hair - returned to the Ocean State.
