SALON MAGAZINE: SPRING 2026

CONTESSA

2026

WINNERS

SUSTAINABILITY

SUCCESS

Inspiring salon stories

to motivate you to do your

part for the planet

BOOST YOUR

BUSINESS

How to make

meaningful changes

to help maximize profits

PANTONE BLONDES

Expert advice on

creating and maintaining

cool blonde tones

SPRING 2026 | salonmagazine.ca

NOW AVAILABLE IN CANADA

DISCOVER THE

NEXT LEVEL OF BONDING

A fully customizable in-salon service, starting

with deep repair in-salon for long-lasting

results that keep reactivating at home

©2026 Henkel Consumer Brands Canada Corporation.

2515 Meadowpine Blvd, Mississauga, ON L5N 6C3

Entering a new era

The future of color – dedicated to you, the culture shapers and community

makers creating a brighter world with every stand and every story. Discover a

new era of Goldwell built on an iconic legacy, powered by innovative science.

From ultra-sustainable dispensing systems to high-performance products

and world-class education, Goldwell empowers your artistry with the tools

and confidence you need to master your craft.

LET’S COLOR THE FUTURE TOGETHER.

Discover more at goldwell.com

Spring 2026

14

CONTESSA 2026

CANADIAN HAIRSTYLIST

OF THE YEAR,

ERIN FERNANDES,

BON BON SALON,

LONDON, ONT.

“[Competing] just unlocks

a different side, and it has

taught me so many lessons.

It gives me strength when

I haven’t had the outcome

that I want and it teaches

me not to give up.”

— CONTESSA 2026 WINNER, ERIN FERNANDES, BON BON SALON, LONDON, ONT.

46

WINNERS & PRESENTERS

Winner’s Circle

See who earned a trophy and

presented an award at the 2026

Contessa Awards gala.

48

TEAM CONTESSA 37

Abyssal

Take a closer look at the

water-inspired collection and

show-stopping presentation by

Antoinette Beenders for Aveda

and find out more about her

creative process.

50

TEAM CONTESSA 37

Quantum Evolution

Get to know the Madrid-based

founder of Quantum Hair,

Jorge X, and the Canadian

team—Norm Wright, Antonio

Quintieri and Monia Grieco—

behind the collective’s

groundbreaking presentation.

ON THE COVER: CANADIAN HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR: ERIN FERNANDES, BON BON SALON, LONDON, ONT.

MAKEUP: MARLENE GERSCHON, WARDROBE STYLING: ERIN FERNANDES, PHOTOS: NATASHA GERSCHON

52

SHOW OPENER

New Noise

Peek inside Glassbox

Education’s latest collection and

presentation, which kicked off

the Contessa Awards gala.

54

GALA

Making Memories

Reminisce about some of the

most talked about moments

from the 37th annual Contessa

Awards gala.

56

COCKTAIL RECEPTION

Get the Party Started

Take a look at how the evening

began at the pre-gala cocktail

party, featuring red-carpet

interviews and fun activations

from Contessa sponsors.

58

AFTERPARTY

Contessa x Elevate Hair

To conclude the awards gala and

kick off the first-ever Contessa

Connective education day, Tatum

Neill, founder of Elevate Hair,

hosted an epic bash with a live

DJ and hair-jam session featuring

past Contessa winners and

finalists.

60

EDUCATION

Highlights from

Contessa Connective!

Read our breakdown of the lookand-learn

presentations from the

first-ever Contessa Connective

education day.

salonmagazine.ca / Spring 2026 5

14

Canadian Hairstylist

Erin Fernandes,

Bon Bon Salon,

London, Ont.

16

Canadian Colourist &

Canadian Salon Team

Armineh Damanpak,

Beau Salon,

Vancouver, B.C.

18

Elite Master Hairstylist

Robin LaChance,

Tinted Love Hair Studio,

Barrie, Ont.

19

Master Colourist

David Vendittelli,

Industry Hair & Esthetics,

St. Catharines, Ont.

20

Collaboration

Dana Lyseng & Lisa Smith

22

Barber & Men’s Hairstylist

Anica Iordache,

Modmop Hairdressing,

Ottawa, Ont.

25

Session Hairstylist

Robin LaChance,

Tinted Love Hair Studio,

Barrie, Ont.

26

Emerging Hairstylist

Shohré Kavari Boushehri,

Moods Hair Salon,

Vancouver, B.C.

27

Emerging Colourist

Mai Nguyen,

Suki’s Salons,

Vancouver, B.C.

28

International Hairstylist

Emma Simmons,

Salon 54,

Thirsk, U.K.

48

ANTOINETTE BEENDERS FOR AVEDA

29

International Colourist

Andrew Smith,

Andrew Smith Salons,

Hampshire, U.K.

30

Multicultural Hairstylist

Michelle Oliver,

Freelance,

Edmonton, Alta.

31

Texture Hairstylist

Jorge Joao,

Koi Hair Studio,

Brampton, Ont.

32

Avant Garde Hairstylist

Antoine Vadacchino,

Le Salon Mods,

Montreal, Que.

33

British Columbia Hairstylist

James Valiant,

Suki’s Salons, Spa & Academy,

Vancouver

34

Alberta Hairstylist

Jenna Engel,

Plush Salon & Spa,

Medicine Hat

35

Saskatchewan/Manitoba

Hairstylist

Natashia Gagnon,

Pretty Young Thing Studios,

Saskatoon, Sask.

36

Ontario Hairstylist

Jerica Wentzell,

Gingersnap Salon,

Sudbury

37

Quebec Hairstylist

Jose Osorio,

SACO,

Montreal

38

Atlantic Hairstylist

Sharon LeClair,

DastousDio, Dieppe,

N.B.

39

Freestyle

Kye Pyeon,

Suki’s Downtown,

Vancouver, B.C.

40

Canadian Nail Artist

Shayna Osazuwa,

Shayna O Esthetics,

Regina, Sask.

41

Makeup Artist

Angela Balbon,

Mz B Artistry,

Vancouver, B.C.

42

Salon Interior Design

Thatch & Fringe,

St. Jacobs, Ont.

43

Sustainability Achievement

Salon Freyja,

Montreal, Que.

44

The John Steinberg Award

for Community Service

Capucci Salon,

Toronto, Ont.

8

Editor’s Letter

64

WHAT’S NEW

Hairlines

Spring forward this season

with a roundup of the latest

and upcoming launches in care,

colour, styling and more. Plus,

get the lowdown on the Pantone

Color of the Year and discover

how it will impact your blonding

services.

72

FEATURE

Protecting the Planet

With Earth Month around the

corner, there’s no better time to

reflect on your salon practices and

see where you can improve on

reducing your carbon footprint.

Get inspired by these salon

owners’ stories and learn how you

can make minimal yet meaningful

changes that will improve your

business and bottom line.

76

FEATURE

Minding Your Business

From rising costs to lower service

tickets, many salons are facing

similar challenges in business.

Learn how to implement

strategies and tips to stay ahead

of the curve.

79

Events + Scoop

6 salonmagazine.ca / Spring 2026

Salon Magazine

ISSN &, VOLUME &, ISSUE

SALONMAGAZINE.CA

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Veronica Boodhan

veronica@salonmagazine.ca

Editor’s Letter —

ART DIRECTOR Barbara Burrows

DIGITAL SPECIALIST Shanice Romelus

shanice@salonmagazine.ca

PROOFREADER Corinna Reeves

CONTRIBUTORS Aleah Balas, Lauren Farrugia

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Marc Gadbois

marc@salonmagazine.ca

PRODUCTION MANAGER Alan Swinton

production@salonmagazine.ca

Embracing Change

OFFICE MANAGER Lucy Arkell

lucy@salonmagazine.ca

CIRCULATION MANAGER Adrian Holland

helpdesk@subscriptions.salon

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PUBLISHER

Tom Arkell

tom@salonmagazine.ca

With the start of a new year and spring just around the corner, now is the time to

reflect on our past successes and challenges.

While you may have met—or exceeded—some goals, others may have fallen short

of your expectations. It’s important to learn from these lessons and not let them

hold you back.

It’s this type of resiliency that’s on full display at the Contessa Awards gala. As

we share stories about the journeys of this year’s winners in both the industry and

competition, it’s inspiring to hear how so many of them never gave up on their

dreams, which serves as a constant reminder that you’ll never know if you don’t try.

For salon owners, I know it’s a tough time out there. Many businesses are still

dealing with challenges, ranging from rising costs and tariffs to higher staff turnover

and decreasing client visits. In “Minding Your Business” (page 76), we address some

of these issues head on and consult with business coaches who offer their tips for

getting back on track.

Though change can sometimes be unsettling, it’s often necessary for growth.

For us at Salon, it’s been an exciting time with our recent acquisition by Colin

Sutherland, a Canadian media executive and owner of Bobit Business Media, the

parent company of Modern Salon, Salon Today and Nails. I’m looking forward to

opportunities to expand Salon’s reach and connect with more of you across existing

and future platforms.

We have even more change on the way for the Contessa Awards. With the

competition entering its 38th year, it’s time for a refresh, including a new venue and

show format, as we look to evolve the competition and awards gala.

As we at Salon remain committed to being the authority in professional beauty

in Canada, I personally remain dedicated to putting you—hairstylists and beauty

pros—!irst. I appreciate being able to connect with so many of you throughout the

year, hearing your stories and !inding ways to support initiatives and efforts that are

close to your heart. We’re in this together!

Veronica Boodhan

Editorial Director

PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG MCMILLAN, HAIR AND MAKEUP BY DIANA CARREIRO

Salon Magazine

info@salonmagazine.ca

www.salonmagazine.ca

Subscription Rates

For Canada 1 year (4 issues) $40.00 + tax 1 year

(3 copies each of 4 issues) $60.00 HST included.

Canadian orders only, must be to same location

US 1 year (4 issues) $50 USD

Address Changes

helpdesk@subscriptions.salon or send your

cover label and new address to: Salon Magazine

Subscription Services, Salon Magazine,

365 Evans Avenue, Suite L10 Toronto, ON M8Z 1K2

641,218 professional and consumer readers every issue (source:

Market Facts of Canada Ltd.)

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation

Department, Salon Magazine, 365 Evans Avenue, Suite L10,

Toronto, ON M8Z 1K2

Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product

Agreement No. 40011270

This magazine is recyclable.

Printed Please recycle on recyclable where paperPRINTED IN CANADA

facilites exist.

The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents

of any advertisement and any and all representations or warranties

made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of

the publisher. The publisher is not liable to any advertiser for any

misprints in advertising not the fault of the publisher and in such an

event the limit of the publisher’s liability shall not exceed the amount

of the publisher’s charge for such advertising. No portion of this

publication may be reproduced, in all or part, without the express

written permission of the publisher.

From time to time we make our subscription list available to

select companies and organizations whose product or service

may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to

be made available contact us via one of the following methods:

phone 416.869.3131 or e-mail helpdesk@subscriptions.salon. Our

privacy officer is Adrian Holland.

This project has been made possible

[in part] by the Government of Canada.


DARE TO SHINE.

DEFY THE FADE.

Meet LumiShine’s PowerHouse

Reds - a collection of vibrant

reds that stay bold and true,

defying everyday fade for shiny,

healthy-looking color that lasts.

8RRV

6RRV

4RRV

6RR

5RR

3RR

5RRV

6CCR

8RR

4RR

Scan to learn more about

LumiShine Color and our

PowerHouse Reds

MODEL HAIR & COLOR: Megan Nevins, Curriculum Manager

COLOR FORMULA: LumiShine Permanent 5RR, 6RR; LumiShine Demi 6CCR

© 2026 Henkel Consumer Brands Canada Corporation, Mississauga, ON, L5N 6C3

JOICO.CA

@JOICOCANADA

salonmagazine.ca

Inspiration

Awa it s

Discover an expansive

archive of hairstyling

collections from around the

world, ranging from avantgarde

artistry to modern,

wearable trends. Whether

you’re working in the salon

or creating for a photo

shoot, these looks are sure

to ignite your creativity.

FASHION FORWARD

Get a preview of upcoming hair

trends, as seen on runways

around the world, with detailed

breakdowns on how to recreate

the styles in the salon.

ON THE

HUNT

Growing a successful

team starts with the

right people. Our

industry job board

helps you reach and

connect with skilled

professionals. Post

a free job listing

or browse open

opportunities now.

Get the Look

Contessa

Central

Whether it’s the latest

category changes or

tips for entering, we’ve

got everything you

need to know about the

38th annual Contessa

Awards. Reminder:

Sign up for our weekly

newsletter so you don’t

miss out on any of

the exciting news and

announcements!

Crown

Your

Picks

READER’S

CHOICE AWARDS

2026

Who’s going to

own the throne in Salon’s

15th annual Reader’s

Choice Awards? This April,

vote in any (or all) 40

categories for a chance to

win a $100 Visa gift card.

Stay ahead of client requests with how-to and

step-by-step articles that break down some

of the latest celebrity hair moments. From redcarpet

styles to eye-catching cuts to striking

colour transformations, discover the techniques,

products and pro tips you need to recreate the

looks with confidence.

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE): HAIR: EFI DAVIES, TONI&GUY, LONDON, U.K., MAKEUP: LAN NGUYEN-GREALIS,

WARDROBE STYLING: BORNA PRIKASKI, PHOTO: DAVID MANNAH, HAIR & PHOTO: JAMIE MCDANIEL,

SAM VILLA, ST. LOUIS, MO., HAIR: TONI&GUY FOR AHLUWALIA SS26, LONDON, U.K., PHOTO: REDMANE MEDIA


“

SCHWARZKOPF

PROFESSIONAL

MAKES ME

A BETTER

COLORIST

THE BEST DON’T SETTLE, THEY SWITCH

FOLLOW TRACEY’S JOURNEY IN MASTERING SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL

Conversion

Guide

Number System

Training

Alkaline Demi

Color Explained

More!

@SchwarzkopfCAN @SchwarzkopfCAN @SchwarzkopfProfessionalCanada Schwarzkopf Professional Canada

© 2025 Henkel Canada Corporation

The Color

you’ve

been

Craving

NEW

NEW

JUICY - Level 8

CRUSH - Level 8

Adds shine and deposits vibrant color that

lasts for up to 30 washes *

Intermixable with all VIVIDS shades

*when using a non-conditioning shampoo

© 2026 Henkel Consumer Brands Canada Corporation, Mississauga, ON, L5N 6C3

CO NTE

SSA

37

For full winning

collections and

Q&A interviews, visit

salonmagazine.ca

Erin Fernandes

BON BON SALON, LONDON, ONT.

Contessa Winners — CANADIAN HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR

Erin Fernandes has been working in the industry

for more than 25 years. As a past Contessa winner,

she has earned wins for Ontario Hairstylist and

Canadian Colourist. This is her !irst win for Canadian

Hairstylist of the Year—an award she’s been eyeing

since she !irst began competing more than two

decades ago.

INSPIRATION

“[For my previous collections], I was on a journey

of doing all the colour, texture and shapes. It became

so saturated for me that with this one, I just wanted

to focus on streamlining it—making it quiet but strong

and really perfecting each look and letting each have

its own mood.”

POWER OF PERSEVERANCE

“In 2010, I entered and didn’t even make it to the

semi-!inals. I told my dad, ‘I don’t care how long it

takes me, I’m going to keep entering until I win.’ I’ve

found success in the past couple of years and he’ll

ask me, ‘When is it enough? When will you stop?’

I told him, ‘I’m not stopping until I get [Canadian

Hairstylist].’ He was very competitive in sports and

won championships, and I think this was my way of

saying I can do this, too.”

“I feel like I manifested this. I felt like if I’m not

going to get it this year, it’s not going to happen. I was

in disbelief, but it was actually relief. As far as how it

affects my career, I just say ‘yes’ to everything, even if

I’m terri!ied. I think I’m just really competitive, and I

want to keep pushing myself to see how far I can go.”


“Entering the

Contessa Awards

is more than a

competition—it’s

a chance to push

myself, explore

my creativity and

measure my craft

against the best

in Canada.”

CANADIAN HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR Erin Fernandes, Bon Bon Salon, London, Ont.

MAKEUP Marlene Gerschon WARDROBE STYLING Erin Fernandes PHOTOS Natasha Gerschon


Armineh Damanpak,

Beau Salon

VANCOUVER, B.C.

Contessa Winners — CANADIAN COLOURIST & CANADIAN SALON TEAM

Getting her start as a receptionist at a hair salon while

attending university, Armineh Damanpak quickly

developed a love of the craft. It wasn’t long before she

began apprenticing and gaining hands-on experience

that eventually led her to becoming an award-winning

hairstylist, salon owner and educator. Opening Beau

Salon three years ago, she works closely with her

longtime colleague and friend Freddy Sim and credits

their collaboration and mentorship with helping her

salon team learn and grow. This is Beau Salon’s second

consecutive win for Canadian Salon Team.

INSPIRATION

“We’ve always gone with a more editorial look, with

really strong hair. I wanted everything to move and

flow very beautifully together while using opposing

contrasting colours but still keeping it quite soft. I

think inspiration for me usually comes from a lot of

shapes. The mood really sets the vibe that we go for,

and I kind of create the hair off that mood and vibe,

which is also seen through the fashion. A lot of it

comes from the models as well.”

“Colouring hair is being able to take painting in

human form, and it allows me to combine my love

for art with my love for hair.”

BETTER TOGETHER

“Whenever we do a team collection, Freddy and I are

the ones that push forward with doing it. Because

our team is newer to the Contessa world, they’ve

assisted us throughout the whole process.”

“I’m extremely grateful for my team—we all work

and blend so well together even though we’re all such

different people.”


“[Winning] is

surreal—it’s

unbelievable. It

has put such a pep

in all of our steps,

just being able to

be a part of this

team. I can’t wait to

see what’s in store

because I really

believe in the team

that we have.”

CANADIAN COLOURIST & CANADIAN SALON TEAM Armineh Damanpak, Beau Salon, Vancouver, B.C.

MAKEUP Karla Cruz WARDROBE STYLING Layla Gill-Desjardins PHOTOS Kate Whyte


Robin LaChance

TINTED LOVE HAIR STUDIO, BARRIE, ONT.

Contessa Winners — ELITE MASTER HAIRSTYLIST

Working in the beauty industry for more than two decades,

Robin LaChance began her career as an apprentice in a small

local hair salon, whose owners took her under their wing to

help grow her skills. She recalls the times she spent browsing

through magazines, which turned out to be past copies of

Salon’s Contessa winners collector’s issue, which LaChance

credits with opening her world to other possibilities in

the industry. Little did she know at the time that she

would go on to be published several times as a multi-

Contessa winner! This is her !irst win for Elite Master

Hairstylist—a nomination-only category that requires

more than 15 years of experience to enter and garners

entries from some of the top hairstylists in the industry.

INSPIRATION

“I was really inspired by Salvador Dalí and his works—which

really express abstract geometric shapes—and using shapes,

colour and texture to create a sense of emotion and movement

without relying on facial features, like a lot of his works. I

started thinking about what things mean in his artwork, and

I started looking at the ants [in his artwork], which tend to

represent death but also transformation. The death for me was

to take out the face and do something that I’d never done before

in any other collection and have this transformational rebirth

into something different for myself in my artistic career.”

“There’s

something so

special about

being able to

transform and

put that out

there. It’s very

empowering.”

FINDING HER CREATIVE VOICE

“We get to do some fun things behind the chair, but we’re doing

things that people bring to us or we’re sugesting something

that we feel is based on their lifestyle or suitability and really

customizing it to them. But when we compete in the Contessas

and do photo shoots and other competitions, we’re exploring

our own art and putting out what we would like to see and what

inspires us. It’s like a little part of our soul.”

ELITE MASTER HAIRSTYLIST Robin LaChance, Tinted Love Hair Studio, Barrie, Ont.

PHOTOS Paula Tizzard


David Vendittelli

INDUSTRY HAIR & ESTHETICS, ST. CATHARINES, ONT.

“Don’t ever

feel like

you’re not

going to

win or that

you’re from

too small of

a town. Just

push yourself

to be better.”

Contessa Winners — MASTER COLOURIST

While originally pursuing a career in

business, David Vendittelli credits his

wife, Marilyn, with opening his eyes

to the world of hair. Throughout their

years of working together, co-owning

their salon, collaborating on photo

shoots and competing, Vendittelli has

been a past Contessa winner. This is

his !irst win for Master Colourist—a

nomination-only category that he’s

dreamed of winning for more than

seven years.

INSPIRATION

“The inspiration originally came from an

old-school vibe—from when I was a kid

playing Atari and seeing those simple,

pixelated graphics where it was just hard,

square lines. There was nothing fancy

about it—I just knew I wanted to see it

come to life.”

WORTH THE WAIT

“[In 2016], when I won New Hairstylist

and Marilyn won Session Hairstylist, it

felt like our dreams came true in that one

year. After that, I kept chasing Master

Colourist. I kept on trying and would

make the !inals but never won. You’re

always a little disappointed to lose, but

you also learn from those who beat

you. And there were many spectacular

collections that gave me inspiration.

My hat goes off to all those who have

beat me and made me better. If those

seven years didn’t happen, I don’t think

I ever would have made this collection,

to be honest. So it’s a journey. A lot of

times, you’re falling on your face but also

growing and getting better.”

MASTER COLOURIST David Vendittelli, Industry Hair & Esthetics, St. Catharines, Ont.

MAKEUP Kim Creton WARDROBE STYLING Marilyn Vendittelli PHOTOS Natasha Gerschon


Dana Lyseng & Lisa Smith

Contessa Winners — COLLABORATION

“We created

something

beautiful in a

dark and scary

time. It gave us all

something positive

to focus on.”

— LISA SMITH

As salon owners based in British

Columbia and members of the Wella

artistic team, Dana Lyseng and Lisa

Smith became fast friends and bonded

through their mutual passion for hair.

As a past Contessa winner, Lyseng

has mentored Smith, which led them

to compete together for the !irst time.

Since being diagnosed with Stage 4

neuroblastoma and undergoing her

second craniotomy, Lyseng persevered

to compete and attend the Contessa

Awards gala, where she and Smith shared

an emotional and touching speech about

their journey that’s truly an inspiration

to us all.

INSPIRATION

“We wanted to work together, especially

since we’ve never created a collection

together. We decided right away that we

were going to completely step outside

of our comfort zones. We wanted to do

something that we don’t typically do—

neither one of us has ever entered or

done anything avant-garde or even built

hairpieces. We really had no idea what we

were doing. What makes our relationship

wonderful is that there’s no judgment—

it’s a very open space to create.” — Lisa

Smith

LEANING ON EACH OTHER

“I don’t want to control anyone because

they’re going to come up with an idea

that I wouldn’t have thought of. I’m not

competing to win—I’m competing to

learn. I haven’t won in 10 years, but I’ve

learned.” — Dana Lyseng

“You have to completely trust your

partner and trust the process. There can’t

be any ego. We didn’t create the collection

to win—we created the collection to learn

from each other.” — Lisa Smith

COLLABORATION Dana Lyseng & Lisa Smith

MAKEUP Timothy Hung WARDROBE STYLING Wendy Cook PHOTOS Joan Novak


READER’S

CHOICE AWARDS

2026

Who’s going to

take the crown?

Vote for your favourite products,

brands and tools for a chance to win

a $100 Visa gift card!

SalonMagazine.ca/RCA

Anica Iordache

MODMOP HAIRDRESSING, OTTAWA, ONT.

Contessa Winners — BARBER & MEN’S HAIRSTYLIST

“If you keep up

with the industry,

this is where

everything

happens. You

see what’s going

on, and that

forces you as a

professional to

stay on top of your

game.”

Growing up in a rural area of Transylvania in

northern Romania, Anica Iordache learned haircutting

from a young age, practising on her family before

formally pursuing both hairstyling and barbering as

a career.

INSPIRATION

“The name of the collection is They Come As They Are,

and the inspiration came from my son, Adrian, [who is

the curly-haired model in my collection] and his friends.

They’re at that stage where they’re growing up, !iguring

out who they are and stepping into their own. I didn’t

want to change a thing about them. I just wanted to

introduce a bit of grooming—something small to help

them look a little more put together while still being

completely themselves.”

“I do a lot of men’s hair behind the chair, and I’ve

always loved doing men’s hair. It’s one of my

favourite things. And I really love short hair—it’s

such a big market. [My blonde model has] a haircut

that many people are wearing right now—a very

modern mullet. It’s flat layers, 90 degrees, and I

just did a little fading into the side so I could show

more of my barbering skills. I think a lot of people

in this industry need to stay in touch with the new

generation.”

LEARNING AND GROWING

“[Competing and winning] are so ful!illing and feel

amazing. It doesn’t get better than that! As soon

as I !inish a photo shoot, I already have an idea

for what I want to do next, regardless of if I win or

not. Winning is the cherry on top, but I think an

advantage I have is that I go in with good energy and

I just want to learn and do better.”


BARBER & MEN’S HAIRSTYLIST Anica Iordache, Modmop Hairdressing, Ottawa, Ont.

MAKEUP & PHOTOS Anthonia Bejide WARDROBE STYLING Anica Iordache


Save

the

Date

for the

38th Annual

Contessa

Awards

NOVEMBER 8, 2026

JOHN BASSETT THEATRE, METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE

New Venue. New Format.

25 Award Categories

All finalists receive a complimentary ticket to the awards gala!

Robin LaChance

TINTED LOVE HAIR STUDIO, BARRIE, ONT.

“Don’t let

fear decide

your fate. If

you don’t try,

you’ll never

know.”

Contessa Winners — SESSION HAIRSTYLIST

With a love of art, Robin LaChance

dreamed of becoming a hairstylist.

At an early age, she recognized the

power of transformation. Now, as an

award-winning hairstylist and educator,

LaChance has been published in

magazines and participated in hairshow

presentations and education on

stages across Canada—including at the

Contessa Awards gala and Contessa

Connective education day. This is her

!irst win for Session Hairstylist—a

collection she worked on with Contessawinning

hairstylist Erin Fernandes.

INSPIRATION

“We decided that we wanted to build

something together but also throw in

a couple of our own flair pieces. When

you shoot, it’s always good to have a

couple of extra looks just in case you

do something and it doesn’t translate as

well as you wanted it to or if it doesn’t

flow together. I really wanted to focus on

clean, beautiful shapes with interesting

textures.”

UPLIFTING EACH OTHER

“The Contessa Awards are so beautiful

because we pour our heart and soul

into a collection and we get there, see

all of the work and are just so elated for

everyone. I don’t want to say winning

doesn’t matter because it does, but when

you see someone else win, you’re just

so happy for them. Even if you’re up

against them, it doesn’t matter that you

didn’t win in that moment because you

want to celebrate each other. To be on

the other side and be celebrated by other

people who understand your artwork and

your concepts, and they look at it, are

admiring it and telling you what they like

about it is such a cool feeling. I feel like

the Contessas have given me this huge

family and collective community. It’s a

very unique feeling and experience. It’s

almost like going to a family reunion.”

SESSION HAIRSTYLIST Robin LaChance, Tinted Love Hair Studio, Barrie, Ont.

MAKEUP Marlene Gerschon WARDROBE STYLING Brittney Clarke PHOTOS Natasha Gerschon


Contessa Winners — EMERGING HAIRSTYLIST

Shohrè Kavari Boushehri

MOODS HAIR SALON, VANCOUVER, B.C.

Growing up in a Middle Eastern family !illed with hairstylists and

makeup artists, Shohrè Kavari Boushehri always had an af!inity

for beauty. While studying law and earning her master’s degree,

she owned a beauty salon in Iran before moving to Canada and

following her passion to become a full-time hairstylist. Through

the support of her Contessa-winning team at Moods Hair Salon,

Boushehri says she’s learned invaluable lessons about the

competition process—and herself.

INSPIRATION

“My inspiration for the colour palette that I chose was

the ocean: the waves, ups and downs and constant

movement. It really reminded me of my own journey and

the challenges I had, and then !inally reaching a place

that I’m proud of. Every part of this collection tells a

story. Some pieces are smoother and calmer, while others have

intensity and texture, but all of them have a harmony and a

rhythm, just like my life.”

ADVICE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

“As a new stylist, be passionate and creative and never give

up. Just stay consistent. Make education part of your work,

and strive every day to be a better version of yourself. Enter a

competition and let your name be heard. Even if you don’t win,

you’ll grow. Step out of your routine and show a different talent

or side of yourself. Keep learning, creating and growing.”

“Winning this award has been amazing because I realized the

great community I’ve built for myself. My clients, family, friends

and co-workers were all so happy and supportive. I’ve also had

such a boost in my con!idence. When I talk with my clients, they

can trust me even more now that I have this experience. This has

made a big difference in my career.”

“I want to keep

creating, learning

and sharing my

work. I believe

that if we want

our name to last

in this industry,

we have to offer

something.”

EMERGING HAIRSTYLIST Shohrè Kavari Boushehri, Moods Hair Salon, Vancouver, B.C.

MAKEUP Jacqueline Parker WARDROBE STYLING Shohreh Kavari Boushehri PHOTOS Kezia Nathe


Mai Nguyen

SUKI’S SALONS, VANCOUVER, B.C.

“It’s not about

winning, but

the more you

try, the more

you learn.”

Contessa Winners — EMERGING COLOURIST

Beginning her hairstyling career during

the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t easy, but

perseverance paid off for Mai Nguyen

when she was hired as an apprentice at

the renowned Suki’s. At the salon, she

met her mentors and colleagues Kye

Pyeon and Tai Do, whom she credits with

helping to start her career as a haircutter

before exploring the world of hair colour.

INSPIRATION

“My collection was inspired by the magic

of the Northern Lights in the Yukon

sky. I wanted it to capture more than

a moment—it’s about the connection

between the land, the light and the

strength I found in the north of British

Columbia.”

“Working at Suki’s and learning from

Suki, I learned a lot from her. She has

inspired me a lot. She taught me that we

always have to try something new and

be more creative, have an open mind and

be more artistic in our work to create

something different.”

BEYOND THE WIN

“I’m very lucky and very happy that I got

this award this year. It means a lot to me.

The Contessa Awards are not just about

winning but pushing myself beyond my

comfort zone and to discover myself.

Entering the Contessas taught me to be

more disciplined, patient and confident

in my work.”

EMERGING COLOURIST Mai Nguyen, Suki’s Salons, Vancouver, B.C.

MAKEUP Andy Le WARDROBE STYLING Anna Tran & Tony Nguyen PHOTOS David Cooper


Emma Simmons

SALON 54, THIRSK, U.K.

Contessa Winners — INTERNATIONAL HAIRSTYLIST

Throughout her childhood, Emma Simmons had an interest in

hair. Once she completed school, she began an apprenticeship at a

city-centre salon, where the busy environment helped her develop

the speed, precision and people skills that she considers to be a

fundamental part of her foundation. It also helped build the discipline

that led her to becoming an award-winning hairstylist, a salon owner

and a brand artist. Renowned for her haircutting skills, Simmons

also has a passion for curly-textured hair, offering education to help

hairstylists grow their skills and build con!idence.

INSPIRATION

“The collection explores controlled structure versus organic

movement. I mix my love of classic cutting with inspiration from

architectural lines and shapes and the contrast between precision and

softness. This collection was about modern strength and silhouettes

that feel powerful—almost sculptural—but still wearable and

commercial.”

CONQUERING CANADA

“The Contessas are known globally for high creative

standards. I started entering because I wanted to test

my work on a world stage, not just nationally in the U.K.

I’m always very self-critical, so I enjoy entering awards

to keep pushing my creativity and help with my selfcon!idence.”

“Canada has a serious creative scene. The standard

of photography, !inish and technical execution of the

hair is extremely high. There’s a real mix of commercial

polish and avant-garde experimentation, which makes the work

exciting and very inspiring.”

“Winning at the

Contessa Awards

is a huge personal

achievement. It

reminds you that

your creative voice

is strong enough to

travel. It’s not just

a trophy—it opens

conversations,

education

opportunities and

industry respect.”

INTERNATIONAL HAIRSTYLIST Emma Simmons, Salon 54, Thirsk, U.K.

MAKEUP Lauren Mathis WARDROBE STYLING Borna Prikaski PHOTOS Richard Miles


Andrew Smith

ANDREW SMITH SALONS, HAMPSHIRE, U.K.

“The level of

hairdressing

[in Canada]

is extremely

high. What

strikes me

is the level

of creativity

and strength

in the colour

work.”

Contessa Winners — INTERNATIONAL COLOURIST

Growing up as a competitive !igure

skater, Andrew Smith was on track to

become a skating coach before eventually

deciding to apply for an apprenticeship

at a local salon. Finding a passion for his

craft, Smith is now an award-winning

hairstylist, a salon owner and a brand

ambassador, who already has his sights

set on competing again to continue to

share his artistry with the world.

INSPIRATION

“When light is obstructed, it !inds

a new path. It doesn’t stop or give

up—it reflects and adapts to create

beautiful returns to the eye, occasionally

reinventing itself into stunning new

shapes. I wanted to play with this

concept within the colour placements

and try to imagine how different returns

of light could inspire me.”

INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM

“It’s one thing entering and winning

awards in your home country, but to test

the waters internationally and see if you

have what it takes is a whole different

ball game. Every country has its own

tastes and trends, so when you win an

international award, it really is such an

important milestone, which kind of says

to the world that you’re here and to take

notice.”

INTERNATIONAL COLOURIST Andrew Smith, Andrew Smith Salons, Hampshire, U.K.

MAKEUP Louise Lerego WARDROBE STYLING Borna Prikaski PHOTOS Richard Miles


Michelle Oliver

FREELANCE, EDMONTON, ALTA.

Contessa Winners — MULTICULTURAL HAIRSTYLIST

Working in the beauty industry for more than 20 years, Michelle

Oliver is a longtime Contessa entrant and multi-award winner. As

a brand educator and creative manager, she is renowned for her

editorial styling, which has appeared in magazines and on stage—

including at the Contessa Awards gala and Contessa Connective

education day. This is Oliver’s third win in this category.

INSPIRATION

“My team and I wanted to create something that was

really powerful, almost interstellar, which is actually the

name of our collection. We wanted it to have a very strong

feel, with a little bit of modern mixed with futurism.”

“There was a collection of AI images that kept coming

up, and I thought to myself, I could really bring this to

life—in real life. When doing avant-garde work, you have to

consider the weight of the hair and the headpieces that have to

be worn and if all of that is even physically realistic. There was

so much to consider bringing something that wasn’t real to life.

It was an interesting challenge.”

REPRESENTATION MATTERS

“I just really love the beauty of diversity—people, hair, fabric,

anything—because this variety is the spice of life. I like to see

the beauty in all different textures and diversities. It’s important

to me to have diversity in all my collections—it doesn’t matter

what the category is. If you look back on any of my work over

the past 20 years, it’s going to have diversity. And I think that’s

important because I want to represent and connect with the

industry through my work. It’s supposed to be inspirational to

others. It also builds my skills—and my skills keep growing.”

“I learn a lot

through working

with different

textures. I

just think it’s

important to

represent in the

industry.”

MULTICULTURAL HAIRSTYLIST Michelle Oliver, Freelance, Edmonton, Alta.

MAKEUP Vasiliki Venetsanopoulos WARDROBE STYLING Pascal & Jeremie PHOTOS Morgan Gold


Jorge Joao

KOI HAIR STUDIO, BRAMPTON, ONT.

As a salon owner, a styling expert and

an educator, Jorge Joao is known for

transforming texture with looks that have

appeared on stages, in magazines and

on runways at fashion weeks around the

world. This year marked his comeback at

the Contessa Awards after more than a

decade since his !irst win.

“When I shoot,

it’s not just for

the trophy. I

like getting my

team together,

especially as a

salon owner. I

like that we’re

all learning from

each other and

it’s a creative

moment for

them, too.”

Mistakes are how you learn, and the

quicker you accept that, things start to

happen.”

Contessa Winners — TEXTURE HAIRSTYLIST

INSPIRATION

“At the end of the day, it’s about the

models, taking their energy, flow and

natural texture and thinking about how

you can take who they are, their culture,

ethnicity and texture and amplify it. I was

going for a more over-the-top vibe, but

we took the models and their energies

and created a story out of that, thinking

about how we can push it to the limits.”

“I like a challenge. If I’m too

comfortable, that means something

is wrong. Working with different hair

textures and ethnicities was always like,

how do I approach this? I went straight

to the source and they told me what they

do. So I tell stylists not to be afraid. Some

of us are scared to mess up in front of

others or to look vulnerable, but you have

to drop that. You can’t get anywhere until

you put yourself in a vulnerable spot.

FEELING UNITED

“The Contessa Awards help you connect

with people you normally may not see.

You’re in a room with people who do

what you do, have a passion for it and

love it. Stylists get recognition and the

spotlight put on us, and it creates unity.

It’s a huge part of the industry when you

have something that keeps us together

and puts attention on certain people that

wouldn’t normally get it.”

“At the awards, everyone drops

everything for a moment and we’re all

hairstylists and here for the same reason.

It doesn’t matter who you work for or

where you work, that night we’re all the

same. It’s nice to see everyone on the

same page. It brings us all together for

one evening. Everyone is shooting for the

same goal, and I think it’s amazing and

such a huge part of our industry.”

TEXTURE HAIRSTYLIST Jorge Joao, Koi Hair Studio, Brampton, Ont.

MAKEUP Marie-Laure Larrieu WARDROBE STYLING Pascal & Jeremie PHOTOS Alain Comtois


Antoine Vadacchino

LE SALON MODS, MONTREAL, QUE.

Contessa Winners — AVANT GARDE HAIRSTYLIST

Growing up in a family of barbers, Antoine Vadacchino is

celebrating his 40th anniversary working in the beauty industry.

From years of working as a brand educator to competing in hair

competitions, this is Vadacchino’s !irst Contessa win. He credits

his friend and colleague Vanessa Secondino—who is also his

photographer—with helping to capture his vision, as well as his

team on working together to help bring it to life.

INSPIRATION

“We wanted to capture both the power and intimate

qualities of our models with a black-and-white

silhouette. Through visual narratives of shadows and

compositions and the ability to capture movement and

emotion, we wanted images that would be striking,

simply beautiful and timeless.”

“Learning to work with shadows, shapes and both high- and

low-contrast resolutions, as well as bringing out the details of

what I had created, was amazingly challenging. My creative

process was to create the voids and spaces to have the light

shine through and capture all the details and movement that

I wanted to appear in a black-and-white photo. It was very

emotional and challenging.”

“Competing in

the Contessa

Awards keeps

me current and

motivated. It

pushes me to

create every day.”

STAYING MOTIVATED

“[Competing] keeps you on a journey, and it’s all about the

creative process. The journey keeps you motivated and pushes

you. Working behind the chair is good, but sometimes as an

artist, we need a creative outlet, and we need to be with other

colleagues who are just as passionate as we are.”

“I think it’s important to keep ourselves motivated. When we

have the guts, patience and time and put that into a collection,

we’re all winners. A collection takes months to create and shoot.

It’s a lot of work, but what it brings you as an artist is priceless.”

AVANT GARDE HAIRSTYLIST Antoine Vadacchino, Le Salon Mods, Montreal, Que.

MAKEUP Keven Chi WARDROBE STYLING & PHOTOS Vanessa Secondino


James Valiant

SUKI’S SALONS, SPA & ACADEMY, VANCOUVER

“The

Contessas

offer me the

ability to

showcase

my authentic

creativity.”

Contessa Winners — BRITISH COLUMBIA HAIRSTYLIST

James Valiant was !irst introduced to

the vast opportunities in the world of

hair nearly 20 years ago, when he started

as an apprentice at Suki’s, and he has

been working there ever since. Now, as

a celebrity hairstylist, an educator and

an ambassador, Valiant leaned into his

personal and emotional journey in his

winning collection, which he calls a “love

letter” to his late mother. This is his !irst

Contessa win.

INSPIRATION

“This year, I made a collection that

looked into my emotional journey in

the last three years—ever since my

mother’s passing. I knew that my

collection was going to be black and

white because that really represented

the days that I’ve had in the past three

years. The white represents the light, and

the black represents my grief. I also knew

that my hairpieces were going to have a

hat shape to them, which was a way for

me to really symbolize the weight of the

grief that I can’t remove from my head—

the idea that the feelings remain and that

they’re a constant presence in my life.

I also included the holes in the hair,

which symbolized the multitude of

emotions I have experienced over the

years. Those imperfections also reflect

the depth of my journey and, even though

it’s not a linear process, it’s a winding

path !illed with both challenges and

triumphs. The clothes I picked were quite

high fashion, big and avant-garde—that’s

kind of the same persona that I present to

the world.”

PROVING HIMSELF

“Working in this industry and especially

working at a company like Suki’s, it’s so

big. Everyone around me is so good, and

they all inspire me. Year after year, I’ve

tried to prove to myself that, with my skill

level and creativity, I’m good enough.

Winning this Contessa award was about

creating my own space and cementing

to myself who I am and what I can do. It

helped me see who I am and learn what I

can do in the future.”

BRITISH COLUMBIA HAIRSTYLIST Suki’s Salons, Spa & Academy, Vancouver

MAKEUP Dwija Patel WARDROBE STYLING Mandi Whyte PHOTOS David Cooper


Jenna Engel

PLUSH SALON & SPA, MEDICINE HAT

Contessa Winners — ALBERTA HAIRSTYLIST

While she originally had dreams of becoming a dentist,

Jenna Engel began working with her mother—who is also a

hairstylist—in high school and quickly developed a love for

the craft, opening her own salon 15 years ago. As a longtime

Contessa entrant, Engel credits her husband, Kenton—who is

also her photographer—with helping her through the creative

and competition process to achieve her !irst win.

INSPIRATION

“The inspiration behind it was cyberpunk—a

combination of futuristic and old elements—like a crazy

world where cars were [powered by] steam, but there are

also holograms. I wanted to focus on blending pops of

colour but also keeping them very punchy and poppy—

vibrant but blended at the same time.”

FEELING THE LOVE

“[Working with my husband, Kenton], is like the greatest part

of it all. He’s such a creative person, but he’s not in the hair

industry, so it’s amazing to collaborate with somebody who has

very different ideas that we don’t see in the hair industry. He

thinks of things that I would never even think could be possible

with hair. Being able to create a collection with him—where

he has the creative vision and then I follow through with the

hair—is honestly, the best part about it. It’s just so much more

meaningful being able to do it with my husband.”

“It’s very full circle. My mom has always been one of my

bigest supporters, in terms of everything I’ve ever done in the

industry. Having her [at the Contessa gala] meant everything to

me and my career because she’s the reason I even started.”

“You’ll never

win if you quit.

Never give up,

especially if

you’re extremely

passionate and

love what you’re

doing.”

ALBERTA HAIRSTYLIST Jenna Engel, Plush Salon & Spa, Medicine Hat

MAKEUP Prab Sandran WARDROBE STYLING & PHOTOS Kenton Engel


Natashia Gagnon

PRETTY YOUNG THING STUDIOS, SASKATOON, SASK.

Unlike those who explore alternative

occupations before pursuing a career

in beauty, Natashia Gagnon knew at a

young age that she wanted to work with

hair. More than two decades later, she is

now an award-winning hairstylist, salon

owner and educator. This is her !irst

Contessa win.

INSPIRATION

“My Inspiration was rust and the way

that, over time, rust changes colour

as it oxidizes. Through this process,

it makes cool patterns and colours,

so I really liked that. I also love the

resiliency that you see in metals and

how they last forever, even though they

change over time, depending on the

environment, seasons and weather.

I tried to mimic that in my collection.”

“I’ve also been doing tons of

research into my family history.

We’re Métis, so I’ve been learning more

about my Indigenous side. Resiliency

is such a big word when it comes to

Indigenous people, so I pulled a lot of

inspiration from that as well.”

“Winning has

been such a

big milestone

for my career

and a huge

eye-opener

for me. I want

to do more.”

ELEVATING HER CRAFT

“I feel like [winning this award] has

been a huge milestone in my career.

I’ve been doing hair for so many years

behind the chair and I’ve specialized

in vivids, but I’ve always really loved

doing outside-the-box stuff. At !irst, I

felt a little intimidated, but now I’m like,

‘Why wasn’t I doing this years ago?’ It’s

so much fun! This has been the coolest

creative outlet for me. It’s like therapy—

just getting to go in and do whatever hair

I’m thinking in my head, not necessarily

on a client. I’m just doing it for myself.”

“It’s incredible to win, but it’s also

incredible to just enter and challenge

yourself. The win is an extra bonus.

Even just sitting [at the Contessa gala]

and being around all these incredible

hairstylists and seeing everybody’s work

up on screen is so inspiring. I feel like

every hairstylist that’s remotely interested

in this type of hair needs to sit in that

room at one point in their life to just feel

the energy and creativity.”

Contessa Winners — SASKATCHEWAN/MANITOBA HAIRSTYLIST

SASKATCHEWAN/MANITOBA HAIRSTYLIST Natashia Gagnon, Pretty Young Thing Studios, Saskatoon, Sask.

MAKEUP Derek Caplette WARDROBE STYLING Anna Gagnon PHOTOS Natashia Gagnon


Jerica Wentzell

GINGERSNAP SALON, SUDBURY

Contessa Winners — ONTARIO HAIRSTYLIST

As a past Contessa winner for Freestyle and Collaboration,

Jerica Wentzell credits her latest win to her friendship with

fellow hairstylist Lukas Press, whom she collaborated with for

the collection. With a passion for hair colour, she has her eyes

set on Master Colourist—a category she’s had the honour of

being nominated to enter in the past.

INSPIRATION

“We took inspiration from science !iction and were heavily

inspired by Star Wars and Mad Max. To me, I feel like what’s old

is new again, and both of these are retro and futuristic at the

same time. As far as the colour story went, I was highly inspired

by infrared photographs of planets. I took the colour palettes for

each of the looks and designed them around different infrared

photos of a planet.”

“I’m always thinking about how the colour and cut will speak

to each other.”

STICKING WITH IT

“I think I entered the Contessa Awards !ive times before I even

made the !inals. It’s not an easy journey, but I feel like it speaks

a lot about how you can achieve your goals with perseverance.”

“I had a mentor say to me one day, ‘If you continue to knock

on that door, one day it will open.’ I really took that advice to

heart. It’s normal to feel disappointed when you don’t do well or

win a competition, but one thing that also makes me feel a lot

better is work that has garnered no awards in one competition

has gone home to take home trophies in others. It’s very

important to remember that art is only subjective and maybe

your work isn’t exactly what the judges are looking for this year,

but it doesn’t speak to the quality of your work overall.”

“It’s extremely

validating to see

that my work

does have value.”

ONTARIO HAIRSTYLIST Jerica Wentzell, Gingersnap Salon, Sudbury

MAKEUP Becky Grimman WARDROBE STYLING Daria Zotova PHOTOS Natasha Gerschon


Jose Osorio

SACO, MONTREAL

“I feel very

honoured to

represent the

province of

Quebec.”

Contessa Winners — QUEBEC HAIRSTYLIST

INSPIRATION

The collection was based on concepts

from Saco’s global collection, Urbane,

which combines ’90s-inspired

minimalism with the power of selfexpression.

Like many collections, it

was a collective effort for the Saco

team, however Osorio was instrumental

in bringing the art of the collection’s

precision haircuts and textured styles to

life through hair colour.

Following years of working under the

mentorship of renowned hairstylist

Richard Ashforth and Saco founder Aldo

Furfaro, Jose Osorio earned his !irst

Contessa win for a collection that was

also showcased at Intercoiffure’s Spring

Gathering 2025.

PAVING THE WAY

With Saco marking its 20th anniversary

last year, Osorio says winning the award

means more than a title and trophy.

“I feel a great sense of pride. It’s an

honour, but I also believe it’s a great

responsibility. Working at Saco, it’s not

just a place to get a haircut—they’re truly

creating artists.”

QUEBEC HAIRSTYLIST Jose Osorio, SACO, Montreal

MAKEUP Ekaterina Ulyanoff PHOTOS Ara Sassoonian


Sharon LeClair

DASTOUSDIO, DIEPPE, N.B.

Contessa Winners — ATLANTIC HAIRSTYLIST

Growing up with a family connection to arts and crafts, Sharon

LeClair developed a love of hairstyling that !irst began as a

hobby with her friends and later evolved into a career that lets

her express her creativity both behind the chair and in hair

competitions. She credits her mentor, multi-Contessa winner

Michelle Pargee, with helping to re!ine her craft and grow her

con!idence to compete. With her second consecutive win in this

category, LeClair already has her sights set on competing next

year and working with her friend and past Contessa winner

Tina Casciato.

INSPIRATION

“I’ve always liked black, so I knew I wanted that colour in the

collection, which is called Noir Voltage. It’s inspired by the

tension between shadows and the electric energy and contrast

between the darkness with the precision and the modern age.

[For the colour], I looked at pop art from the ’50s and ’60s, and

that’s where I got a lot of my inspiration.”

“[Competing] gives you a lot of motivation, and I always tell

people to enter. When you enter, it makes you want to push

yourself. I !ind it very rewarding to see what you can actually do.”

POWER OF LEARNING

“Hard work really matters, and I’m really thankful for all the

support behind me, especially this year—I had even more

support.”

“I feel that education is a big part of growing. I !ind that when

you’re around your peers, that drives you to do more—you can

grow from that. This past year, I had support, and I think being

around people who compete allows you to push yourself more.

You see how to build a collection—a strong collection—because

you’re around people who are so much [more experienced]

than you.”

“I’m grateful

and proud.

It’s amazing—

it’s everything.”

ATLANTIC HAIRSTYLIST Sharon LeClair, DastousDio, Dieppe, N.B.

MAKEUP Mia Nowlan PHOTOS Denis Duquette


Kye Pyeon

SUKI’S DOWNTOWN, VANCOUVER, B.C.

“My advice

is to create

as a way

to express

yourself and

not to follow

others.”

Contessa Winners — FREESTYLE

Born in Korea, Kye Pyeon worked in

the government for more than a decade

after graduating with an MBA. With a

passion for fashion design, she emigrated

to Canada and decided to explore

hairdressing as a way to experiment with

different shapes and patterns. She works

at Suki’s downtown salon in Vancouver,

where she was mentored by the late

hairstyling icon Suki Takagi.

INSPIRATION

“The image [symbolizes] a tropical bird.

I was inspired by one of Suki Takagi’s

creative haircuts. When I was thinking

about my inspiration, I wanted to !ind

one of Suki’s memories to help me

remember her when I looked at my work.

This work is a tribute to her legacy.”

SPREADING THE LOVE

“[When I won], I thought, ‘Finally!’ I was

so happy, but at the same time, I miss

Suki so much. This trophy is for her. I

couldn’t make it to Toronto [to accept

the award in person], but my team was

so excited and we screamed and cried

together over the phone.”

“I’ve mentored many young coworkers,

and !ive juniors were !inalists

before. From mentoring, I learned that

strong teamwork comes from trust and

being open-minded.”

FREESTYLE Kye Pyeon, Suki’s Downtown, Vancouver, B.C.

MAKEUP Andy Le WARDROBE STYLING Kye Pyeon PHOTO David Cooper


Shayna Osazuwa

SHAYNA O ESTHETICS, REGINA, SASK.

Contessa Winners — CANADIAN NAIL ARTIST

With fond memories of having her nails done throughout her

childhood, Shayna Osazuwa decided to pursue a career in

nail artistry after high school and has now been working in

the beauty industry for more than a decade. This is Osazuwa’s

second consecutive Contessa win.

INSPIRATION

“I knew I wanted to have a handheld prop for my

designs and that it had to be cohesive among all three

sets. I wanted all three sets to be unique and for each of

them to represent the crystal in the picture. I wanted to

fashion-match but also show my creativity. Each look is

a different colour representing the crystal that’s being

held in their hand.”

“I always kind of start with a piece that I want to

design around. So whether it was for this competition or an

extreme set, I pick something that I want a fashion-match to—a

ring, a piece of clothing or costume, makeup or something that I

can design around.”

“If you want

to keep growing

[in your craft],

you have to

keep moving

yourself

forward.”

CELEBRATING HER WINS

“[Winning] is such an honour. [Competing] has pushed me

outside of my comfort zone, and I’m very grateful for the

experience, which was magical. Even just to be a !inalist is an

honour.”

“Honestly, when you have outward recognition, it really does

affect how your clients see you. They’re so proud. It makes

my day when they share my stuff, and it really makes me feel

special—like they’re watching and they’re proud of me.”

CANADIAN NAIL ARTIST Shayna Osazuwa, Shayna O Esthetics, Regina, Sask.

PHOTOS Shayna Osazuwa


Angela Balbon

MZ B ARTISTRY, VANCOUVER, B.C.

After graduating from Blanche

Macdonald’s Global Makeup Program

15 years ago, Angela Balbon realized

she was able to combine her love of

burlesque and !ilm with the creativity of

makeup artistry, working with people to

“help create a more elevated version of

themselves.” Now, as an award-winning

makeup artist and instructor at Blanche

Macdonald, she credits the work of her

friend—Contessa-winning hairstylist and

photographer Joan Novak—with helping

her build the con!idence to showcase her

talent and take her craft to the next level.

INSPIRATION

“The idea was to do something fun and

colourful because I tend to wear a lot of

black, so I wanted to push and elevate

myself by doing more colourful things.

Being in Vancouver, where it rains a lot of

the time, I wanted to bring an element of

colour and fun to the collection.”

“We called the collection ‘Fire and

Ice,’ embodying the juxtaposition of

how things can be so hot and so cold

but also both evoke a lot of emotion.

When we think of something as burning

hot, it’s striking, and when something is

ice cold, it’s also very striking. Infusing

those colourful looks in with !ire and

ice, plus the combination of lighting that

Joan used for the photography, created

“Don’t be

afraid to

take the leap

because

once you get

recognized,

you don’t

know where

it’s going to

lead.”

a beautiful end result. It ended up being

ethereal, too, which I really loved. I love

bringing fantasy elements to life.”

BELIEVING IN HERSELF

“I’ve been feeling like I’m living in

someone else’s skin this whole year with

these competition wins. We all put 110

per cent in, so I learned that I need to just

trust myself and know that I am as good

as everybody says I am. I need to believe

in myself. We can be our own worst

critics.”

“I’m grateful to have entered

competitions this year, and I’m so

grateful to Joan and the models for these

images and this collection because it

has elevated everything. I believe in

myself, and I just can’t wait to see what

2026 brings. There are question marks

everywhere, but I know it’s going to be

biger, better and more colourful and

experimental. I hope to be able to reach

the world globally.”

Contessa Winners — MAKEUP ARTIST

MAKEUP ARTIST Angela Balbon, Mz B Artistry, Vancouver, B.C.

HAIR, WARDROBE STYLING & PHOTOS Joan Novak


Thatch & Fringe

ST. JACOBS, ONT.

Contessa Winners — SALON INTERIOR DESIGN

Growing up with an interest in beauty, Charise Bauman

began pursuing a career in hair after high school. She

attended the Aveda Institute in Toronto and eventually

worked as a creative director, travelling around the

world to participate in hair shows and teach classes.

She always dreamed of owning her own business and,

when she moved to St. Jacobs, Ont., opened her !irst

salon. After outgrowing the space, she opened Thatch &

Fringe, a 4,000-square-foot space, in 2018.

INSPIRATION

“For the design concept, I wanted something that

was very cool and modern but still had deep layers

of warmth to it. I worked with a designer, Kahley

[DeVries] from Ambiance Interiors, and had a mood

board. The vision was not about replicating the mood

board but !inding things that I liked or that sparked joy.

Kahley was instrumental in holding my hand through

the process, but I still had the !inal say on everything.”

“The compliment we constantly get is that it feels

very modern and relevant, but it also warm, which I

think is a very hard thing to achieve when designing

a hair salon without it looking ‘shabby chic.’”

COLLECTIVE DECISIONS

“There were some design decisions where I leaned

on my stylists for input. When it came to the colour

of the stations, we tried out different lighting and

took photos of different people in front of it so that

we could pick out what was going to be the most

flattering, neutral tone against people’s skin.”

“When I was designing this space, I knew I

wanted to do something that could be very content

focused—a place where no matter what the lighting

is or where you’re standing in the salon, you’ll be

able to grab a great photo or video without having

to try too hard. I really try to set my stylists up for

success.”


“For the client, comfort is

important, but it’s really

where the stylists are

spending every day and it’s

important that they have a

space they can move and exist

comfortably in.”

SALON INTERIOR DESIGN Thatch & Fringe, St. Jacobs, Ont.

DESIGNER Ambiance Interiors PHOTOS Sandra Monaco


Contessa Winners — SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENT

Salon Freyja

MONTREAL, QUE.

While working together in a salon, co-owners Mike Chacko

and Ewelina Wnek decided to open Salon Freyja in 2018 and

focus their business “around respect and artistry—changing

how the industry treats people and how it aligns with the

planet.” A couple of years later, Sarah Le Masson joined the

team and is now a business partner, overseeing the salon’s

sustainability and impact. In 2025, she led Salon Freyja to

become the !irst Quebec-based salon to be B Corp-certi!ied—a

designation that requires businesses to meet speci!ic

standards that assess their environmental and social impact.

The team also works with Green Circle Salons to recycle and

Davines to offer sustainable and re!illable products.

SUSTAINABILITY FOCUSED

“We wanted to build a healthy work environment—a

workplace with balance, care and longevity in an

industry that can easily lead to burnout. Over time,

that mindset naturally expanded into a very important

part of the salon, and our choices and systems matter.

Our waste matters, and so does the way that we show

up for our community.” — Ewelina Wnek

“Last year, one big project was to create our very !irst impact

report, which we have listed on our website, and a physical

copy that we leave in the waiting area of the salon. In

there is everything you need to know about our mission,

values, objectives, commitments, what we do now and

what we want to improve. It’s more about transparency

with clientele—they’re asking for it and have lot of

questions, so it has a big impact.” — Sarah Le Masson

“[Winning] felt

surreal. I also

feel like it was

a full-circle

moment. All

those years of

invisible work

that you’re doing

and all of a

sudden you get

reminded that

what you’re doing

matters.”

— MIKE CHACKO, CO-OWNER

SUPPORTING EACH OTHER

“To anybody that’s having a hard time, ask for help.

Reach out. It’s so much easier to do things when we work

together. We’re open books—

our impact report states

everything that we’ve been

doing. Part of where we want

to go is that we want to help

other salons. We don’t want to

gatekeep the information.”

— Mike Chacko

SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENT Salon Freyja, Montreal, Que.


Capucci Salon

TORONTO, ONT.

For its second annual charity event,

Capucci Salon decided to partner with

Starlight Children’s Foundation to help

sick kids. From selling raffle tickets for

prizes to hosting its Charity Cut-A-Thon,

Capucci Salon raised more than $7,000.

The salon is already planning its third

event, which will take place in the spring.

TEAM- BUILDING EXPERIENCE

“Our team has been together for a long

time. That’s very rare. We get people

who start off as apprentices and we

train them. They become hairdressers,

and they stay with us for a very long

time. This event was a way for us to get

together on a Sunday, have fun and put

music on, and the rules are a little bit

more relaxed. They get to wear what

they want, and it’s about giving back to

the community and having fun. It builds

an even stronger team than we already

have.”

PAYING IT FORWARD

“Our salon has won many Contessa

awards—Salon Team of the Year and

Canadian Colourist—but that was more

“It’s important

to find out what

the need is in

your community.

It doesn’t have

to be a big

charity—it could

be something

small or local.

Clients are very

generous, and

I think they

like when you

do this kind of

stuff because

it’s about the

community.”

— GINO MAZZEI, CO-OWNER

than 25 years ago. We decided to focus

on our community by hosting an event

every year. We’ve been in business for 38

years and we started with the Parkinson’s

Foundation. When a stylist starts with

our team, we let them know that, once a

year, we expect everybody to give a few

hours of their time for charity, and it’s

just kind of our culture.”

Contessa Winners — THE JOHN STEINBERG AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

THE JOHN STEINBERG AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE Capucci Salon, Toronto, Ont.


Contessa 37 — WINNER’S CIRCLE

Congratulations to All

Contessa 2026 Winners!

Take a closer look at this year’s award recipients,

sponsors and presenters.

Capucci Salon, recipient of the

John Steinberg Award for

Community Service, presented by

Palma N’Sheluvzit and Sal Leonetti.

Anica Iordache, Barber, presented by

Peter Gosling of Glassbox Education.

Shayna Osazuwa, Canadian Nail Artist,

presented by Shanice Romelus of

Salon.

Jorge Joao, Texture Hairstylist,

presented by Anton Ranchin of Oligo

Professionnel.

Sharon LeClair, Atlantic Hairstylist,

presented by Tania Lacoste Major and

Lindsay Amadori of Moroccanoil.

Lisa Smith and Dana Lyseng,

Collaboration, presented by

Maggie Melrose and Natalie Basolini

of Wella Company.

Shohrè Kavari Boushehri, Emerging

Hairstylist, presented by Nicole Pede

of Schwarzkopf Professional.

Antoine Vadacchino, Avant Garde

Hairstylist, presented by Lucas

Postigo-Rombola of Redken.

Jenna Engel, Alberta Hairstylist,

presented by Kelly West of Chatters.

Robin LaChance, Session Hairstylist,

presented by Antoinette Beenders of

Aveda.

Angela Balbon, Makeup Artist,

presented by Ekaterina Ulyanoff.

Natashia Gagnon, Saskatchewan/

Manitoba Hairstylist, presented

by Lorraine McAndrew and Tricia

McQuillan of Sassoon Academy

Toronto.


Mai Nguyen, Emerging Colourist,

presented by Laura de Sousa of

Goldwell.

Salon Freyja, recipient of Sustainability

Achievement, presented by Alejandro

Lopez of Davines.

Jerica Wentzell, Ontario Hairstylist,

presented by Armineh Damanpak of

Joico.

Anica Iordache, Men’s Hairstylist,

presented by Marilyn Vendittelli.

Michelle Oliver, Multicultural

Hairstylist, presented by

Caroline Verreault of L’Oréal

Professionnel.

Andrew Smith, International Colourist,

presented by Natashia Gagnon of

Pravana.

James Valiant, British Columbia

Hairstylist, presented by Lisa Steacy

of Goldwell.

Thatch & Fringe, Salon Interior Design,

presented by Lara Leckie.

Emma Simmons, International


Dawn Miyazaki-Jovel of Aveda.

David Vendittelli, Master Colourist,

presented by Sara Dickson and

Zachary Ferguson of Wella Company.

Robin LaChance, Elite Master


Megan Nevins of Joico.

Jose Osorio, Quebec Hairstylist,

presented by Ilan Cohen of Oligo

Professionnel.

Armineh Damanpak, Canadian

Colourist, presented by Erinn De Luca

of Schwarzkopf Professional.

Kye Pyeon, Freestyle, presented by

Katrina Smiley of Redken.

Erin Fernandes, Canadian Hairstylist,

presented by Lisa Dinh and Kevin

Hughes of Moroccanoil.

Beau Salon, Canadian Salon Team,

presented by Amélie Choquette of

L’Oréal Professionnel.


Abyssal

Team Contessa 37 — AVEDA

For Aveda’s show-stopping presentation,

Antoinette Beenders, senior vice-president

of global artistry, shared her latest collection,

which was inspired by underwater creatures

and the beauty of the unknown.

HAIR Antoinette Beenders

HAIR SUPPORT Robert Grimes

MAKEUP Anna Conte

PRODUCTION Kevin Molin

For the collection’s images,

Beenders used the power of

AI to create the wardrobe.

“The opportunity to have your

clothes done in AI means

you can dream big and have

whatever you want,” she says.

“One thing I’m firm on is that

I do the hair and that the

models are real. I like the idea

of blending real with AI.”

Garnering inspiration from David

Attenborough’s documentary

about ocean life, Beenders

wanted to showcase the beauty

of movement, pairing her classic

precision haircutting techniques

for the collection’s strong, graphic

looks with bold yet soft ethereal

styling that features high-shine

and glossy finishes reminiscent of

ocean waves and fish scales.

“My last few collections have

been long hair and colour

focused,” she says. “I just

felt like I needed to do cuts

again because, originally, I’m a

haircutter, so I wanted to bring

haircuts back. That’s how it

started, and then things morph. I

work very much like how fashion

designers work: it’s not one to

the other—it’s a gradual build

onto something else.”


“Short hair is not as popular as it

was in the ’90s. Back then, everyone

had short hair. And I come from

the ’90s, so I just felt it was time to

bring it back but in futuristic shapes.

We’ve had a lot of curls and glam,

but that’s not my thing. I’m very

much about trendsetting fashion—I

would like to even think couture

because I like to do custom things.”

Team Contessa 37 — AVEDA

PHOTOS: MAJA HAJDUK, JENNA HUM & AARON SAMBEY; COLLECTION PHOTOS: HAIR: ANTOINETTE

BEENDERS FOR AVEDA, HAIR SUPPORT: ALLEN RUIZ & LUIS GONZALEZ, MAKEUP: WALTER OBAL,

PHOTOS: ED MAXIMUS, PRODUCTION: CODE CREATIVE SERVICES

Beenders has attended

the Contessa Awards

for three consecutive

years. As a multiaward-winning

editorial

hairstylist herself, she

enjoyed the opportunity

of presenting the

Contessa award for

Session Hairstylist.

Working with Aveda for more than

27 years, Beenders says it has

completely changed her perspective.

“I was London trained, and [when I

first started in the industry], it was

more about the outcome of what you

were trying to create, and we would

use anything. When I joined Aveda,

it truly changed my life. You have to

walk the talk. I always say that I’m a

part of Aveda and Aveda is a part of

me because we’re so detailed in not

just being about creating a product

but considering where it comes from.

Where is it sourced? How is it made?

What are the ingredients? What is

the technology? That all needs to

be sustainable for us to be Aveda.

Innovation is really important to

us because we want to show that

we can create fashion with natural

ingredients.”

“It’s a true honour to be at the Contessas and represent Aveda artistry,” she says. “I’ve been

manifesting it for three years, wanting to show Canada what Aveda artistry is all about. The Contessa

Awards are very highly regarded in the rest of the world. I’m Dutch and a global citizen and I’ve entered

a lot of international awards. The Contessas are definitely up there with the big ones.”


Team Contessa 37 — QUANTUM HAIR

Quantum

Evolution

For the Canadian debut of his latest project, Quantum

Hair, Jorge X teamed up with Contessa-winning

hairstylist Norm Wright, Wella top artist Antonio Quintieri

and master colourist Monia Grieco to showcase the

team’s mastery in hair colour, avant-garde styling and

precision haircutting.

PHOTOS

HAIR Jorge X, Norm Wright, Antonio Quintieri, Monia Grieco,

Rocky Villanueva, Marcus Koehler

HAIR SUPPORT Dana Coates, Aubrey Stephens,

Victoria MacInnis

MAKEUP Ekaterina Ulyanoff

WARDROBE STYLING Alfonso Perez Alvarez

VIDEO Jorge X

No stranger to the Contessa stage as both a

past winner and stage presenter, Wright was

instrumental in bringing the Quantum team

together. “It’s an opportunity to get the word out

about what strategic hair colouring can do for your

perspective, your ability, and to help move the craft

forward,” he says. “We strongly believe in all the

work Jorge has done for the past 20 years. He’s

been an inspiration to us the entire time, so to be

able to work together on this project is a dream

come true for all of us.”

With Quantum Hair, X is

combining his love of hair

colour with technology,

exploring the use of AI

to further bring the hair

art to life. “I’m still doing

the hair, which I love, but

using AI to enhance the

movement,” he says. “It’s

an evolution that’s going to

happen, so it’s about being

clever enough to embrace

this technology in a way

that’s going to help in your

business—both in the salon

and on the artistic side.”

Wright combined his

passion for robotics and

holographic technology with

3D printing to create the

out-of-this-world looks.

Wright, Quintieri and Grieco

travelled to Madrid to meet

and train with X. “The intention

behind all of this was to

create a connectedness—a

togetherness,” says Grieco.

“And it wasn’t just to connect

anybody—it was to collect and

connect people that had these

flames in their hearts, creating

a torch of light and something

very honest and true for people

that they would recognize.

And people are starting to

recognize it—what we’re doing

is really strong, and I think it’s

incredible for the industry.”

PHOTOS: PHOTOS: MAJA HAJDUK, JENNA HUM &

AARON SAMBEY; COLLECTION PHOTOS: HAIR: JORGE

X, QUANTUM HAIR, MADRID, SPAIN, MAKEUP: LEWIS

AMARANTE, WARDROBE STYLING: AFLAME, PHOTOS:

JAVIER MÁRQUEZ


As the co-founder of X-presion Creativos, a

renowned creative collective based in Madrid,

Spain, Jorge X launched his latest project,

Quantum Hair, in 2024. “This has been the

mission of my career,” he says.

“Trying to bring something new to

the industry and share it.”

“You can do the same technique

on 10 different people and it

looks completely different, or

you can increase or decrease

your sections and it completely

changes the look,” says Quintieri.

“I think the beauty of all of this

is that everything we do here is

completely unique.”

Showcasing his signature pixel-colouring techniques,

X is known for pushing the boundaries of hair colour

with his innovative placement and application.

Supported by Goldwell

and Wella Company, the

presentation was a first for

both brands and artists.

“For me, it’s a super special

moment because after

20 years of travelling the

world, this is my first time

in Canada,” he says. “Two

years ago, [the Quantum

Canada team] finally met

in person and started to

develop this project for

Canada, so now to present

it here for the first time, it

means the world to me.”


New Noise

Team Contessa 37 — GLASSBOX

Glassbox Barbershop & Education co-founder Peter

Gosling kicked off the Contessa Awards gala with a highenergy,

punk-rock showcase of his team’s latest collection.

HAIR Peter Gosling, Hugh Kingston, Nina Ponte, Jazzy Bayoumi,

Karly Cotton, Andre Costa, Ethan Bosnjak, Archie Slayer

HAIR SUPPORT Ethan Quintela, Marie-Eve Faucher, Glammy

COLOUR Lindzie Geroni

MAKEUP Angie Dibb

WARDROBE STYLING &

CHOREOGRAPHY Pascal & Jeremie

VIDEO Scott Waring, Andres Billiald

PRODUCTION Andrew LaGrave,

Mitchell White, Katrina Smiley

Supported by Redken, the

presentation featured a wide

range of women’s, men’s and

gender-neutral cuts and styles

that combined Gosling’s classic

precision haircutting skills with

modern barbering techniques.

“We opened up a school this year, and a lot of that collection was

actually designed by our students—with six to eight months of

experience—and assisted by us,” says Gosling. “It’s not about me—

it’s about the people we raise, coach and take care of. That’s when

you’re going to see future industry leaders.”

FUN FACT:

GOSLING FIRST

ATTENDED THE

CONTESSA AWARDS

20 YEARS AGO,

WHEN HE WAS

STARTING IN THE

INDUSTRY. “FOR THE

YOUNG PEOPLE OUT

THERE, WHAT YOU

ACTUALLY PUT YOUR

MIND TO YOU CAN

DO,” HE SAYS. “I WAS

ONCE A VIEWER AND

NOW A PRESENTER.”

In addition to bold editorial

styles, the team showcased

classic, short-hair looks.

“We don’t necessarily call

it ‘barbering’ anymore

because everyone who

comes into our businesses,

shops and salons is their

own walk of life, and we

need to make sure that we

make everyone feel they

can have an accessible

haircut,” he says. “We’re

showing people what it

looks like to get accessible

hair that’s easy for

anybody to do.”

Shortly following the presentation, Gosling

returned to the stage to present the firstever

Contessa award for Barber of the Year.

PHOTOS: MAJA HAJDUK, JENNA HUM & AARON SAMBEY


We help you narrow the search.

PRODUCT GUIDE

spg.salonmagazine.ca

Search by product category or keyword.

Also, find a comprehensive list of Canadian

manufacturers and distributors.

Contessa 37 — GALA

Making

Memories

There was no shortage of

emotion at the 37th annual

Contessa Awards gala.

Take a look at a few of our

favourite onstage moments.

Jorge Joao celebrates his win for

Texture Hairstylist.

After missing out on the

opportunity to attend the

Contessa Awards gala last

year, Shayna Osazuwa

celebrates as she retains her

title of Canadian Nail Artist

for a second consecutive year.

|

|

—

After years of entering

the Contessa Awards,

Erin Fernandes gets

the win for Canadian

Hairstylist of the Year.

|

Charise Bauman, owner of Thatch & Fringe salon

in St. Jacobs, Ont. jumps for joy, accepting her

award for Salon Interior Design.

Contessa 2026 co-hosts Sal Leonetti and Palma

N’Sheluvzit raise a glass to kick o! the festivities.

|

|

Vancouver-based Beau Salon retains its title of

Canadian Salon Team for a second consecutive year.

It was also the second award of the night for the

salon’s owner, Armineh Damanpak, who was named

the Canadian Colourist of the Year.

— Hard work pays o!! Natashia Gagnon accepts

her first-ever Contessa award for Saskatchewan/

Manitoba Hairstylist.

PHOTOS: MAJA HAJDUK,

JENNA HUM & AARON SAMBEY


—

Collaboration winners Dana Lyseng and Lisa Smith

share a heartfelt moment onstage.

Jerica Wentzell is all smiles as she takes the stage to

accept her award for Ontario Hairstylist.

|

|

The Montreal-based team from Salon

Freyja celebrate their Contessa award

for Sustainability Achievement.

—

Robin LaChance

accepts her second

Contessa award of

the night for Elite

Master Hairstylist.

|

Edmonton-based

hairstylist Michelle

Oliver is speechless

as she accepts her

award for Multicultural

Hairstylist.

|

It was a big night for Suki’s

salon in Vancouver with

Mai Nguyen taking home

the win for Emerging

Colourist.

—

James Valiant twirls

onstage in celebration of

his first-ever Contessa

award for British Columbia

Hairstylist.

—

Anica Iordache takes

the stage as the firstever

Contessa winner

for Barber of the Year.

She also earned the title

of Men’s Hairstylist.

Text tk


Time to Shine

Contessa 37 — COCKTAIL PARTY

Hundreds of finalists, sponsors and

attendees gathered for the 37th annual

Contessa Awards’ cocktail reception for

a chance to mix and mingle before the

gala. Among the festivities were sponsor

activations, including a champagne

cart by Joico, a cocktail bar by Oligo

Professionnel, a red-carpet photo booth

by Schwarzkopf Professional and an

aura reader by Pravana, along with a

spectacular model presentation by Pascal

& Jeremie and red carpet presented

by Salon. Take a look through a few of

the snaps from the night and see if you

recognize any familiar faces.

PHOTOS: MAJA HAJDUK, JENNA HUM & AARON SAMBEY



Contessa 37 — AFTER PARTY

Club Contessa

x Elevate Hair

To continue the celebration after the awards gala and kick off the

first-ever Contessa Connective education day, we teamed up with Tatum

Neill, founder of Elevate Hair, to host Club Contessa. Featuring a live DJ,

dancing and an onstage hair jam with past Contessa winners, finalists

and attendees, the lively bash brought an

exciting energy to the night. Check out

some highlights from the epic celebration.

PHOTOS: MAJA HAJDUK,

JENNA HUM & AARON SAMBEY


WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Be the First

to Know!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to be among

the first to receive the Contessa semi-finalists list,

ticket alerts, industry news and more.

Sign up now and receive a free Salon digital subscription!

Highlights from

Contessa Connective

Contessa 37 — EDUCATION

For the first-ever Contessa Connective education day, 23 artists from

seven brands took the stage with engaging look-and-learn presentations

that spotlighted haircutting, colour, styling and more. Relive the inspiring

day and discover what you might have missed from this milestone event.

“WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY

AS HAIRDRESSERS TO PUSH THE

INDUSTRY. I WANT PEOPLE TO

BE INSPIRED, TO DRAW THEIR

OWN INSPIRATION AND FIGURE

OUT NEW WAYS TO PUSH OUR

INDUSTRY FORWARD.” — JAMES ABU-ULBA

—

To kick o! the day, James Abu-Ulba,

a Davines showcase artist and

past Contessa winner for Canadian

Hairstylist of the Year, shared how

he pushes the envelope by creating

editorial and abstract shapes that stand

out in his photo shoots and competition

work. Reflecting on his most recent

collection, Fray, he encouraged stylists

to transform everyday styles into bold

editorial masterpieces and discussed

the importance of learning how to

confidently work with all hair textures.

“I’M A HUGE FAN OF THE CONCEPT OF

BUILDING EDUCATION INTO ONE OF

THE BEST NIGHTS IN THE CANADIAN

HAIRDRESSING INDUSTRY. THAT’S

WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS ALL ABOUT:

EDUCATION. WE’RE HERE FOR GREATER

GROWTH AND

INSPIRATION FOR

OUR INDUSTRY,

AND I FELT REALLY

PROUD AND

HONOURED TO BE A

PART OF IT.”

— MICHELLE OLIVER

|

Next up were Leonardo and Marco Redavid, co-founders of the

Canadian haircare brand Redavid, who were joined by artistic team

member Katherine Sims to share their signature long-layer haircutting

techniques and Hollywood-inspired styling tips.

—

To close out the

morning, members

of the Schwarzkopf

Professional

Canadian artistic

team, Michelle Oliver,

Robin LaChance,

Nicole Pede, Mario

Cicciarella and

Jessica McColm, led

a dynamic session on

high-fashion styles

and texture-focused

looks influenced by

1970s glamour.

PHOTOS: ALAN SWINTON


“BEING IN A ROOM WITH THE

BEST OF THE BEST IN THE

INDUSTRY IS PRETTY COOL.

TO SEE THAT THEY’RE STILL

CHASING EDUCATION AND

LEARNING IS WHAT HELPS OUR

INDUSTRY CONTINUE TO GROW.”

— MARCO REDAVID

|

Following the lunch break, Sassoon

Academy Toronto’s team, featuring

Joseph Santiago, Lorraine McAndrew,

Kat Ginga and Kimberly Wallace,

debuted the global brand’s latest

collection, Libertine. The team’s

presentation focused on Sassoon’s

iconic precision cutting and timeless

design, with an emphasis on foundational

shapes developed through technical

craftsmanship.

In a presentation supported by Redken, Glassbox Education

co-founder Peter Gosling and creative director Hugh Kingston

showcased fashion-forward barbering and short-hair grooming from

the brand’s latest street-style collection, New Noise, highlighting

structure, confidence and technical detail.

|

|

Moroccanoil’s team featuring

vice-president of artistry

Kevin Hughes, global colour

ambassadors Lisa Dinh and

Jessica Scott Santo and artistic

team member Tania Lacoste

Major presented salon-ready

colour applications with

polished styling and included a

“Salon to Social” walkthrough

that showed how to refine

a finished look for content

creation. “Moroccanoil started

in Montreal, so Canada is home,”

says Hughes. “Whenever you

add education to a show, it’s

really good. People get to see a

little more about what the artists

do and how they create.”

|

Ending the day on a strong note, Quantum Hair’s global team, including founder

Jorge X and Canadian hairstylists Norm Wright, Antonio Quintieri and Monia Grieco,

supported by Goldwell and Wella Company, took the stage for a presentation in which

they unveiled their innovative artistry featuring avant-garde styling and dimensional

pixel colour techniques, blending creativity with advanced colour formulation.


YOUR YEAR.

YOUR MOMENT.

Showcase your talent

and creativity by entering the

38th annual Contessa Awards

ENTRY DEADLINE

September 2, 2026

Important category changes and entry rules here:

LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER ® | REGISTERED CHARITY #13374 0316 RR0001

HELPING HELPING

WOMEN WOMEN

WITH

CANCER FEEL LIKE

WITH

THEMSELVES CANCER FEEL

AGAIN

LIKE

THEMSELVES AGAIN

With 1 in 2 women facing a cancer diagnosis in

their

their With lifetime, lifetime, 1 in you 2 women can you help can facing the help women a the cancer women in your diagnosis in life your through in life

through their Look lifetime, the Good Look you Feel Good can Better help Feel the workshop. Better women workshop. in your life

through the Look Good Feel Better workshop.

Our complimentary workshops help help women

learn

learn Our to manage complimentary to manage the the appearance-related workshops help impact women impact of cancer

of learn treatment. cancer to manage treatment. Topics the include Topics appearance-related skincare, include skincare, cosmetics, impact hair

cosmetics, of alternatives cancer treatment. hair and alternatives breast Topics care. and include breast skincare, care.

cosmetics, hair alternatives and breast care.

Even The small-group more, the small-group format allows format allows connection for and

connection Even sharing more, between and the sharing small-group women between going format women through allows going a for similar

through connection experience. a similar and sharing experience. between women going

through a similar experience.

Tell a woman you love about the LGFB

supportive

supportive Tell care a workshop woman care you workshop – available love about – available online the LGFB and in-person.

and supportive For more online. information, For care more workshop information, visit lgfb.ca. – available visit lgfb.ca. in-person

and online. For more information, visit lgfb.ca.

To find find out out how how you you can have can an have impact an by

impact by

partnering To find out with how LGFB, you can contact have ota ota ota ota ota ota an Claire impact Crawford Sargeant by

at

at

dcrawford@lgfb.ca.

partnering csargeant@lgfb.ca. with LGFB, contact ota Crawford at

dcrawford@lgfb.ca.

@LGFBCanada | lgfb.ca | | 1.800.914.5665

| @LGFBCanada | lgfb.ca | 1.800.914.5665

LOOK LOOK GOOD GOOD FEEL BETTER FEEL BETTER ® | REGISTERED ® | REGISTERED CHARITY CHARITY #13374 #13374 0316 RR0001 0316 RR0001

PHOTO: HAIR: SALLY BROOKS, BROOKS & BROOKS, LONDON, U.K., MAKEUP: JO SUGAR, PHOTO: JACK EAMES

BOOST

YOUR SALON

OFFERINGS

THIS SEASON

WITH THE

LATEST CARE,

COLOUR AND

STYLING

LAUNCHES.

Bringing together a love of art with

her passion for hair, British awardwinning

hairstylist Sally Brooks

presents her latest collection,

Artlife, which showcases sculptural

shapes and textures with masterful

colour placement and whimsical

styling. As with art, the looks are

open to interpretation and meant to

evoke emotion while igniting one’s

imagination and creativity.


Care to Repair

Hairlines — NEWS

Customize your client’s in-salon experience and

at-home haircare routine with Schwarzkopf Professional’s

new Fibre Clinix.

As more guests look for personalized in-salon experiences and products

designed for their individual haircare needs, Schwarzkopf Professional

is introducing its new Fibre Clinix, with in-salon products such as

Nourishing Shampoo and Purifying Shampoo, as well as Treatment

(for !ine to medium to coarse hair) and Boosters, which can

be combined to address clients’ unique hair concerns. Fibre

Clinix also includes four at-home haircare ranges: Fortify,

which is formulated with multi-peptides to strengthen

damaged hair; Vibrancy, which contains AHA to prolong

colour’s vibrancy and shine; Hydrate, which includes

electrolytes to moisturize dry strands; and De-Frizz,

with passionfruit oil to smooth hair and reduce frizz.

To further support stylists with increasing their add-ons

and service tickets, the brand has also launched the Fibre

Clinix Bond!inity Method, a customizable service that

begins in the salon and continues the repair at home.

SAY BYE TO DRY

Hydrate hair with

Joico’s Moisture

Recovery 24Hr

Moisture Recharge.

This leave-in treatment contains the brand’s

SmartRelease Technology, a unique liposome

delivery system that continuously releases a

blend of rosehip oil, arginine and vegan keratin

to mend, strengthen and protect hair. It’s also

formulated with sea kelp—known for being

packed with essential vitamins and minerals—

and olive ester, a silicone alternative that helps

provide long-lasting hydration. O!ering heat

protection up to 450°F, it provides smoother,

softer and instantly detangled results.

New Year, New Look

Goldwell unveils its new look with

the Goldwell Glow Up relaunch—and

introduces its Color of the Year, Bellini.

One of the industry’s beloved colour brands has had a major

makeover. The Goldwell Glow Up marks an exciting era for the

brand, which is centred around its commitment to stylists, salons

and the future of hair colour. For more than 75 years, Goldwell

has valued its partnership with salon professionals by providing

innovation and expertise, showcasing the importance of this

collaboration in its latest brand campaign, Color the Future.

In addition to its new logo and campaign visuals, Goldwell

has launched Color CoLAB, a program that enables stylists to

work with the brand to test, refine and shape upcoming services,

campaigns and education. Its first initiative has been the naming

of Goldwell’s 2026 Color of the Year, Bellini, a peachy pink shade

that radiates optimism and expresses the brand’s vision of colour

as a vessel for creativity, connection and transformation. The

shade was developed in collaboration with international colourists

Salomé De Wet, Zachary Norman, Peter Wu and Neil Barton.

PHOTO (CLOCKWISE): SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL, MOROCCANOIL, OLAPLEX, REDKEN, MILK_SHAKE, GOLDWELL, JOICO


Dropping Balms

Moroccanoil enters a new beauty

category with the release of three

lip balms.

As salons look to diversify

their retail offerings to meet

more of their clients’ needs,

Moroccanoil is celebrating

the launch of its luxurious

lip balms. Available in three

Mediterranean-inspired

flavours and tints—Moroccan

Mint Tea (transparent), Berry

Pomegranate (sheer berry)

and Vanilla Date (sheer pinknude)—the

lip balms contain the brand’s

signature ingredient, argan oil, as well as

argan butter, peptides and hyaluronic acid,

to provide up to 24 hours of nourishing

hydration.

Total Care

Tackle hair damage from the

inside out with Olaplex’s No.3 Plus

Complete Repair Treatment.

This innovative pre-shampoo

treatment contains the brand’s

patented Bond Building

Technology and new Damage

Defense Cationic Complex,

which deeply penetrates strands

to rebuild disul!ide bonds, salt

bonds and hydrogen bonds for

stronger, softer and healthierlooking

results in only three

minutes.

Hairlines — NEWS

Modern Makeover

Get to know milk_shake’s

new and improved

Lifestyling collection.

From upgraded formulas to new products to revamped

packaging, milk_shake’s Lifestyling collection is

setting stylists up for success in the new year. With

high-performance ingredients, including the brand’s

signature blend of milk proteins, quinoa proteins and

Integrity 41 (which is derived from sunflower seed

extract), the styling products are versatile and designed

to enhance, define and protect all hair types. Its latest

innovations include Bodifying Cream, a lightweight

volumizing cream for body, definition and flexible hold,

and Let It Shine, an ultra-lightweight spray o!ering

maximum shine with an instant gloss e!ect.

Conditioning

Colour

Transform hair’s vibrancy

and condition with Redken’s

Shades ALK Liquid-Cream

Alkaline Demi.

For clients in search of caring

colour options that provide

coverage and shine, the latest

alkaline demi-permanent

colour from Redken offers up

to 75 per cent grey coverage

and eight weeks of vibrancy.

The liquid-cream formula

combines the power of colour

with the conditioning bene!its of gloss

for hair that’s visibly healthier after

just one use.


Hairlines — NEWS

Real Talk

Get candid about colour with the

one and only Tracey Cunningham.

Tracey Cunningham is coming to Canada!

The celebrity hairstylist and Schwarzkopf

Professional’s creative

director of colour and

technique is hosting Real

Color, No Filter—a day

of education featuring

look-and-learn demos,

live models and candid

conversations—on

March 23 in Toronto and

March 30 in Calgary.

Known for her colour

mastery and no-nonsense

attitude, Cunningham is sure to deliver a

one-of-a-kind learning experience. Check

out @schwarzkopfcan on Instagram for more

information.

NOW REINTRODUCING…

Meet the new and improved

Sebastian Professional.

After more than 50 years since the brand

was founded in Los Angeles, Sebastian

Professional is kicking off 2026 with

a makeover. The major brand restage

includes revamped packaging for its

signature lines—Shaper+, Dark Oil,

Drench, Penetraitt and Potion 9—and

new campaigns that embody its core

values of celebrating artistry, selfexpression

and individuality.

A Promising Partnership

STMNT Grooming Goods expands its

Canadian distribution with Cosmo Prof.

With a growing demand for short-hair styling and men’s grooming products,

STMNT Grooming Goods is continuing to shake up the beauty world with

its innovative brand that unites the barbering and hairstyling communities.

Now available at all Cosmo Prof locations across Canada, STMNT is

strengthening its position in the industry by reaching more artists and

fostering a deeper connection with its community of partners, professionals

and consumers. Spearheaded by industry-leading barbers Julius Arriola

(a.k.a. Julius Cvesar), Sofie Pok (a.k.a. Staygold) and Miguel Gutierrez (a.k.a.

Nomad Barber), STMNT has brought innovation and craftsmanship to the

forefront while celebrating the power of community and individuality.

Curls Forever

Celebrate the beauty of texture

with Oribe’s Eternal Curls

collection.

Showcasing its love of texture,

Oribe has launched the

Eternal Curls collection,

a 12-product curl range.

Formerly the brand’s

Moisture & Control line,

the new products are

designed to care for every

curl type, ranging from 2A to

4C. Its hero product is the new

Eternal Curls Polish & Protect

Oil, which has been specially

formulated for curls and coils with a

blend of 17 botanical oils—including castor

seed, apricot and coconut—to seal in moisture while

softening and smoothing hair and providing a polished

and shiny !inish. Pro tip: The oil can also be used as

a pre-wash treatment on damp or dry hair to provide

intense nourishment to dry and damaged hair.

PHOTO (CLOCKWISE): SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL, STMNT, COSMO PROF, DANGER JONES, UNITE, REDKEN, ORIBE, SEBASTIAN PROFESSIONAL


FRIZZ FREEDOM

Complete Colour

Danger Jones enters the

permanent hair-colour category

with the launch of Epilogue.

As the brand’s !irst foray into the world

of permanent hair colour, Epilogue

includes 84 shades that provide

100 per cent grey coverage and are

formulated for precise application, rich

saturation and clean results.

FUN FACT:

DANGER JONES

RECENTLY DEBUTED

EPILOGUE AT THE

!! GRAMMY

AWARDS, WHERE

HAIRSTYLIST SKY

KIM WORKED

WITH SINGER

LOLA YOUNG FOR

A JET$BLACK HAIR

TRANSFORMATION!

Create smoother

styles while

shielding humidity

with Unite’s

7Seconds Anti-

Frizz Leave-In

Thermo Mist.

With spring just around the

corner, help your clients lock

in their styles with this ultralightweight

and versatile

styling mist that offers up to 72 hours of

humidity protection. This heat-activated

formula seals in shine and promises

frizz-free hair thanks to its powerful

blend of ingredients, including Silsoft

CLX-E (which blocks humidity, repels

frizz and protects against thermal heat

and UV damage), hydrolyzed pea protein

(to enhance moisture retention for added

elasticity and strength) and vitamin E

(which nourishes strands and protects

against environmental stressors).

Hairlines — NEWS

READER’S

CHOICE AWARDS

2026

Reign

Supreme

Crown your favourites

in Salon’s 15th annual

Reader’s Choice

Awards!

From haircare and colour to styling

products, tools and more, get

ready to vote for your favourite

brands in Salon’s 2026 Reader’s

Choice Awards. With 40 products

(including four new categories: Hair

Tool, In-Salon Treatment, Night

Product and Smoothing Product),

the awards let you cast your votes

in any or all categories for a chance

to win a $100 Visa gift card. Who’s

going to take the throne this year?

Don’t miss your chance to have your

say. Voting opens April 1!

Big and Strong

Improve hair’s strength and density with

Redken’s Acidic Grow Full.

Whether it’s due to genetics, health, lifestyle or stress, more people are

experiencing an increase in hair fall. To help reduce breakage and create

the look of fuller hair, Redken has launched Acidic Grow Full—a fourproduct

system that’s designed to improve scalp care and hair density.

The Shampoo, Conditioner, Scalp & Hair Serum and Instant Densifying

Spray are formulated with the brand’s Advanced pH Science (4.5–5.5) and

a proprietary Densifying Complex featuring Azelaic Acid, Caffeine and

Prebiotics. Acidic Grow Full helps rebalance the scalp while strengthening

weakened hair !ibres for instant volume and hair that’s twice as strong.


Hairlines — COLOUR

Cloud

Dancer

WITH PANTONE’S COLOR OF THE

YEAR INDICATING A SHIFT TO

COOLER AND MORE NEUTRAL

TONES, TWO COLOURISTS SHARE

HOW THEY EXPECT THIS SHADE TO

IMPACT BLONDING SERVICES THIS

YEAR AND OFFER TIPS ON HOW TO

PREPARE FOR THIS NEW DIRECTION

FOR YOUR CLIENTS.

Following years of warmer tones and

low-maintenance colour services,

Pantone’s Color of the Year, Cloud

Dancer, is a cooldown that many have

been waiting for.

“Since I’m a blonde specialist who

specializes pre-lightened tones, this is

right up my alley,” says Ashley Hood,

artistic team director for Suki’s in

British Columbia and a national artist

for Goldwell Canada. “It’s a great way

to be able to elevate your blondes. If

you’re someone who wants to make your

techniques a bit higher end, this is a

great way to introduce it.”

“For Pantone’s Color of the Year,

we’re almost always expecting to see

something a little bit more impactful

than something that looks to be almost

white,” adds Eryn Wall, owner of The

Headroom Salon and Spa in Paradise,

Nfld., and a Wella top artist and national

educator for Great Lengths. “First

impressions might be that it’s kind of

a bit basic, but thinking about it and

talking about blondes going in that

direction, you can see where it makes

sense.”

The New Cool

Unlike the platinum, ice and ash blonde

trends of the past, Cloud Dancer is a

neutral tone that can be flattering for

more clientele and shifted based on your

client’s features, including skin tone and

eye colour.

“It’s more of an iridescent cool—

almost like a milky white or really

PRO TIP

ACCORDING TO HOOD, THE

HAIR SHOULD LOOK LIKE

THE INSIDE OF A BANANA

PEEL (NOT THE OUTSIDE) TO

ACHIEVE THE IDEAL LEVEL

OF LIFT AND CREATE A TRUE

CLOUD DANCER LOOK.

soft pearl,” says Hood. “It’s more of

a blue-based blonde but with a teeny

background of warmth, so there are a

few different ways that you can take

it. You can really add it to any of your

blonde services because it’s a very

premium look.”

Just like any colour service, a

shift to a blonde tone or a change in

tonal direction still requires a good

consultation to ensure that you’re

managing your client’s expectations

while being on the same page with them

about their current and future hair

goals.

“As we go into summer, more people

want to lighten their colour,” says Wall.

“Regardless of what’s trending, not

everybody can go light. You really need

to check out the integrity of the hair. Is

it able to be lightened? Are you able to

push it to a certain level? Are we able to

get it up to a level nine or 10? It depends

on what they’ve had previously on their

hair, as well as their hair’s integrity and

texture.”

Return to High Maintenance

Unlike the balayage and blended tones

that have long been requested by many

clients, Cloud Dancer marks a return to

higher-maintenance colour, which will

often requires more frequent visits to

the salon.

“If we’re doing a full bleach-out,

the maintenance involved is pretty

significant,” says Hood. “The client

needs to commit to coming back every

four to six weeks to touch up regrowth

touched up, and possibly have glosses in

TEXT: VERONICA BOODHAN, PHOTO: HAIR: BRIAN LEO MCCALLUM, ROAR HAIR & BEAUTY,

GLASGOW, U.K., MAKEUP: LAUREN MATHIS & BETHANY KING, PHOTO: RICHARD MILES &

AGA BANSK, HAIR & PHOTO: SONIA JIMÉNEZ CAMBRONERO, CATALONIA, SPAIN


“WE’RE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF COOLER,

SOFTER AND MORE NEUTRAL SHADES, SO THAT’S A

GREAT WAY TO TALK ABOUT IT TO CLIENTS. IT’S NICE

THAT THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU’RE UP ON

WHAT’S TRENDING, AND THE PANTONE COLOUR IS A

GREAT WAY TO START THAT CONVERSATION.”

— ERYN WALL, OWNER OF THE HEADROOM SALON AND SPA, PARADISE, NFLD.

between services, depending on the hair.

They’re going to need to invest money

in themselves and understand the

importance of using the proper products

at home to maintain these looks.”

“I would definitely make sure they

understand that this is an effect,” she

adds. “They need to come in for regular

toners for upkeep because the blue will

leave the hair quite quickly and they’ll

be left with a more neutral blonde. If

you really want to have that milky,

ethereal blonde, they’ll need to have

continued touch-ups with your toners,

coming in every four weeks to touch up

the colour and using a purple shampoo

to maintain that colour at home.”

Open to Interpretation

For clients who can’t fully commit to

the look, it’s important to find ways

to customize the trend. Whether it’s

adapting it to a more pastel colour

or Pantone-inspired shade, it’s about

finding a solution that suits the client’s

features, lifestyle and budget.

“It’s a conversation that certainly

Goldwell

Lightdimensions

Oxycur Platin

This multipurpose

lightening powder

offers up to nine levels

of lift and is integrated

with BondPro+

technology to protect

the hair structure.

Wella Blondorplex

Offering up to nine

levels of lift, this highperformance

powder

lightener contains a

vegan formula with

anti-brass technology

and offers up to 97

per cent less hair

breakage.

Product Picks

needs to be had, and honesty is

absolute,” says Wall. “This means

sitting down and going through all of

the details for the consultation, which

can certainly be a little bit more in

depth to make sure there are realistic

expectations on both ends.”

According to Hood, you should be

lifting the hair to at least a level nine to

achieve a true Cloud Dancer tone, but

lifting to a level eight and toning the

Goldwell Colorance

Balance, correct,

tone and gloss with

this demi-permanent

colour, featuring

pastel shades for prelightened

hair.

Wella Shinefinity

BThis ammonia-free,

zero-lift glaze is

ideal for toning and

conditioning hair for

smooth and shiny

results.

hair can also create a beautiful creamy

beige result.

“It can be some lighter pieces,

perhaps as a balayage or highlights, with

inspiration taken from this trend,” she

says. “Not everybody wants to be lifted

all the way up to a level nine and be

super bright. Some people want to have

a beautiful neutral blonde but still feel

light.”

“Honesty is the best policy for all of

us,” adds Hood. “I feel like now, with

the digital age we’re in with a lot of

AI, clients are seeing things that seem

like they’re happening overnight when

that’s not necessarily the case. We have

to be mindful of that while having a

thorough conversation and adjusting

accordingly.”

For darker-haired clients who may be

looking for a change but aren’t ready to

take the full plunge into Cloud Dancer,

Wall says there are variations of the

trend that can work for them.

“You can definitely play around

and translate Cloud Dancer into more

of a caramel tone, playing with the

iridescence and warmer tones,” she

says. Or you can slowly shift them to a

more neutral tone by taking a bit of a

warm tone and a cool tone and mixing

them together to create beautiful, soft

neutrals that are almost powdery and

cloud-like.”

“Universally, if you can get a little

bit of warmth and a little bit of cool

in any of your formulas, that’s always

going to be the most complementary

for any client’s skin tone,” adds Hood.

“Sometimes, a silvery or ashy blonde

can be way too much on some people’s

skin tone and make them look really

drab. With Cloud Dancer having an

iridescence while still leaning toward

the cooler end, it’s going to complement

most people’s skin tones and be more

accessible.”


ROTECTING

THE PLANET

April marks the

celebration of Earth

Month, when salon

teams take stock

of their impact,

thinking about the

environment and the

role they play beyond

the chair. We spoke

with owners across

Canada about why

sustainability matters

in the salon and how

simple, intentional

changes can make

a real difference

without overhauling

your budget.

BY ALEAH BALAS

Whether it’s reducing waste, rethinking

day-to-day operations or choosing

cleaner products, eco-conscious

decisions are becoming an essential

part of how modern salons operate.

“As a hair salon, we !ind it hard to

be fully sustainable because we’re

using chemicals and foils,” says Crista

Quijada, owner of Xtophers Salons in

Vancouver. “The good thing is that we

can partner with companies to recycle,

so that makes me feel a little bit better.

Plus, we measure our hair colour to

reduce waste.”

Finding Your “Why”

Building a more sustainable salon begins

with understanding your motivation and

what impact you realistically want to

make. Honing in on this “why” will help

create a foundation for changes that

feel intentional, achievable and true to

your values.

“For me, !irst and foremost, it comes

down to leaving the planet better than

we found it, which is not easy but is

a good goal to strive for,” says Alicia

Lumsden, owner of Toronto-based

salon Queen’s Shop Fine Hairdressing,

which was a !inalist for Sustainability

Achievement at the 2026 Contessa

PHOTO: ADOBE IMAGES


Awards. “That helped me have better

health, body, mind—everything.”

“I think it comes from my personal

life and how I grew up,” adds Quijada.

“Because I come from Switzerland, we

were more environmentally friendly.

Also, I think Vancouver and the

West Coast are just closer to nature.

Sometimes, other big cities are a bit far

away from nature and kind of forget

about it. In Vancouver, we’re a bit more

connected to nature.”

For Lindsay Larsen, owner of Salon

Bowie in Calgary, Alta., it was less of a

personal motivation and more of an eyeopening

professional choice after seeing

the waste from working in a salon.

“Sustainability has always been

a top priority,” she says. “Knowing

what we’re doing in the industry and

how our salon can have a more gentle

impact on the environment. I know we

can’t be perfect—we produce waste,

we’re doing a lot of foils and working

with chemicals—but, for me, it was

really important that when I was

making decisions for my salon, I was

doing the proper research to !ind the

best, sustainable methods for my own

conscience.”

Minimal Effort, Maximum Impact

Sustainability doesn’t always require

a full overhaul. Often, it begins with

thoughtful updates to everyday

practices, as many of the most effective

efforts come from rethinking small, dayto-day

decisions.

For business owners who may be

short on time or working within tight

budgets, making changes can feel

overwhelming, but it’s often these

everyday choices that quietly add up

to meaningful impact, and they may be

easier to implement than you think.

A good spot to start is the sink, which

can range from investing in eco-friendly

showerheads, nozzles and hoses to

adopting more eco-friendly habits at

the backbar. “An easy solution is when

you wash colour, I !ind that if you

emulsify it quickly, the colour comes

off way easier,” says Quijada. “You can

really reduce water that way because

you use a lot of water when you wash

hair colour.”

“The other thing is that, of course, we

need to use towels,” she adds. “But if we

can be conscious of how many towels

we use, we will have fewer towels to

wash in the long run.”

Small adjustments like these may

seem minor, but when repeated

consistently, they can make a noticeable

difference in water and energy use

over time. Another way to make

gradual changes is to be mindful of

replacements.

“I think the simplest way is when

you’re out of something, that’s the time

to swap it out,” says Lumsden. “Don’t

stress about throwing things out or

changing everything all at once. When

it’s done, that’s the time to swap it out.”

Lumsden notes that some of the

simplest switches include swapping

regular light bulbs with LEDs when they

burn out, changing appliances to Energy ➤

“IT’S AN ADDITIONAL COST, BUT AT

THE END OF THE DAY, IT ACTUALLY

SAVES THE SALON MONEY AND YOU’RE

ACTUALLY MAKING MORE MONEY

BECAUSE YOU CHARGE THAT EXTRA

COST BACK TO THE CLIENT, ALMOST

LIKE A PARTS-AND-LABOUR FEE.”

— LINDSAY LARSEN, OWNER OF SALON BOWIE, CALGARY, ALTA.


PRO TIP

Star versions when you have to upgrade

and looking into flow-conscious sink

hoses when your old ones give out.

“There are a lot of these things that

help you save on your electricity bill

because you’re using less,” she says.

“Even if your sole focus isn’t about the

planet, you’re still saving money for

your business, which is a win-win for

everyone.”

With sustainability on many people’s

minds, support is growing. Many

professional beauty brands have more

eco-friendly options or do their part

with refillable products and recycled

packaging. Seek out more options for

tools, solutions and programs that can

make adopting eco-friendly practices

easier for your salon.

For Larsen, she works with Vish to

help reduce colour waste in the salon.

“Every drop of colour we mix for clients

is tracked on a back-end software

system,” she says. “So going forward,

the next time they come in, we know

exactly how much colour to mix. We

find that we have way less disposal of

unused colour. We’re not guessing—we

know, down to the drop, how much that

client needs, and it tracks it all for us.”

Reducing waste is a massive

consideration for becoming more

sustainable, but colour is just a drop in

the bucket. Recycling programs offered

by companies like Green Circle Salons

are a great way to get started.

“We use Green Circle Salons to

recycle everything, but we also try

really hard not to waste things just

to go through them,” says Quijada,

adding that since she has to ship the

recycling to Green Circle, she takes

the extra step of cutting up the plastic

to decrease the number of boxes being

shipped, further reducing her salon’s

carbon footprint.

Finding Your People

Building a sustainable salon isn’t just

about the products and practices—it’s

also about the people who make it

possible. Attracting clients and team

members who share your values creates

an environment in which eco-friendly

choices are understood and respected,

even when they come with extra effort,

higher costs or minor trade-offs. When

everyone is aligned, sustainability

becomes part of the salon’s culture

CONSIDER REACHING OUT

TO OTHER GREEN-MINDED

SALONS IN YOUR AREA TO

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT

THEY’RE DOING AND HOW

THEY CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR

SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY.

rather than merely a set of rules.

For Larsen, this attraction to the right

customers tends to feel very natural

because of the foundational work she

has done.

“The people who tend to align with

these values are doing their own

research and finding us,” she says.

“We’re trying to attract clientele that

really value the effort, being conscious

of the brands we choose and how

they’re naturally aligned with new

PHOTOS: ADOBE IMAGES


“I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SALON OWNERS

HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING, WHICH

MEANS ALL THE BUSINESS DECISIONS ARE

YOUR DECISIONS. A SALON ISN’T GOING TO BE

SUSTAINABLE OR HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF

CUSTOMER SERVICE LEVEL UNLESS YOU SET IT UP.”

— ALICIA LUMSDEN, OWNER OF QUEEN’S SHOP FINE HAIRDRESSING, TORONTO, ONT.

clients finding us and knowing that we

have their best interests in mind.”

The functionality of your salon may

be impacted by your geography and

the ethos of your community, so it’s

important to be connected and mindful

of their values, too.

This recognition and alignment

have been helpful in attracting both

clients and employees. Quijada notes

that clients tend to cite the salon’s

sustainable efforts as a predominant

reason for finding them, as well as her

employees’ adherence to the policies

put in place to maintain that reputation.

For Lumsden, sustainability starts

long before a stylist picks up a brush.

She begins in the interview process,

looking for artists whose values align

with her own so that eco-conscious

practices are embraced naturally across

the team rather than imposed after

the fact.

“Whenever someone wants to work at

Queen’s Shop, one of my first questions

is what sustainability means to them,”

she says. “For us, it means being more

mindful of how you’re leaving the planet

and your actions in day-to-day life.

Asking this helps me weed out people

who are just looking for a job, or maybe

they’re a great stylist, but they belong

somewhere else versus someone who’s

naturally a part of our ethos.”

Progress Over Perfection

Ultimately, going green doesn’t happen

overnight, and it doesn’t have to be

flawless. Embracing progress over

perfection means celebrating small wins,

learning as you go and understanding

that every step toward sustainability

counts, even if it’s not perfect.

“The recycling program we work with

recycles 80 per cent of our waste,” says

Larsen. “It’s not perfect, but that’s a

pretty amazing percentage for us. Of

course, we’re being conscious of our

overall everyday usage while making

sure we’re shutting things down at the

end of the night.”

We’re at a point where there are a lot

of incredible options that help owners

meet their sustainability goals. There is

a long way to go, and sometimes

we need to remember to do the best we

can while delivering superior services

to clients.

“I’ve seen some brands trying to

produce reusable foils, which sounds

amazing, but it’s hard to do,” says

Larsen. “I don’t know if anyone’s really

perfected that formula yet or what that

looks like, but, for now, at least we’re

able to recycle our foils properly.”

Lumsden also notes the importance

of setting an example as both an owner

and an industry leader.

“There are little things; if someone

leaves the back room and has left the

light on, I walk back and turn the light

off,” she says. “When the boss does

something, people notice. It’s not a

perfect world. If you’re striving to be

perfect or do exactly the right thing

all the time, you’re not going to do

anything because you can’t be perfect.

It’s important to give yourself grace and

focus on doing one thing at a time.”

“Don’t be afraid to be a shape-shifter

when it comes to this,” adds Larsen.

“Within our city, a lot of other salons

look to us for advice. We’re proud to

be setting the tone for sustainability

and standards.”


INDING

OUR

USINESS

As salon owners and managers reflect back and

look ahead, we’re spotlighting concerns that

are plaguing many businesses. From increasing

service tickets and improving cash flow to

retaining and recruiting staff, two salon coaches

share their strategies for success. Plus, we chatted

with a salon owner who’s taking a more proactive

approach to their business with education.

BY VERONICA BOODHAN

In recent months, it’s safe to say

that many salon owners are facing

similar challenges. No matter the size

or location of your business, some

challenges have transcended borders

and are a shared pain point throughout

the industry.

“When I look at the industry across

Canada and in the United States, it’s

very consistent,” says Glenn Baker, vicepresident

of Salon Resource Group and

senior director of coaching for Summit

Salon Business Center. “I would say

number one would be recruitment—

!inding, hiring and training the future

stylists and service providers in our

industry.”

Renewed Perspectives

While it goes without saying that the

pandemic has changed the beauty

industry forever, it doesn’t stop there.

According to Baker, many of the

changes in work habits we’re seeing

today are on more of a generational

level. “The people we’re hiring today

have a different mindset and value

system of how they want to do things

and how they want to work,” he says.

“I’m not saying that’s a good or bad

thing—it’s just a different mindset.

For salon owners, the inability to be

more flexible with your staff is a real

challenge.”

Catherine Allard, a Montrealbased

coach for the L’Oréal Business

Academy, says she’s been working with

salon owners to help shift their mindset.

“One of the bigest things right now

is the culture,” she says. “We need to

remove the idea of working for the

client. As we know, clients can come in

at any moment of the day. Some stylists

are !inding that they don’t need to work

weekends or evenings anymore. They’ll

need to if they’re trying to build a

clientele, but if your salon’s culture isn’t

strong enough to support what your

staff is looking for, you’re going to lose

talent to other businesses.”

While promoting a healthy salon

culture that accommodates your staff is

one thing, it’s still important to continue

to have a clear set of standards that

keep both your team and your business

in check.

“When you look at the people we’re

hiring today, we know that a lot of them

don’t want to work 36- to 40-hour

weeks anymore, so we have to unlearn

that,” says Baker. “We also have to

understand how to hold people more

accountable. I think that’s a big part

of the challenge that owners today are

having—not being willing to understand

how to evolve and adapt to the changing

needs of the people we’re hiring day in

and day out.”

PHOTO: ADOBE IMAGES


“THE PEOPLE GROW THE SALES—THE

SALES DON’T GROW THE PEOPLE. IF

WE’RE NOT COACHING AND SPENDING

TIME DEVELOPING PEOPLE, WE’RE

GOING TO HAVE CHALLENGES.”

— GLENN BAKER, VICE-PRESIDENT OF SALON RESOURCE GROUP AND

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COACHING FOR SUMMIT SALON BUSINESS CENTER

“The key is not to compromise

accountability because, at the end of

the day, people may want to work less

hours, but they still want to make the

same type of money as if they were

PRO TIP

TO HELP MANAGE AND

MAXIMIZE THE BOOKING

WINDOWS IN YOUR STAFF’S

SCHEDULES, CONSIDER

INVESTING IN A BUSINESS

SOFTWARE THAT USES YOUR

SALON’S DATA INSIGHTS

AND AI TO HELP YOU

GENERATE MORE REVENUE.

working 40 hours a week,” he adds.

“I think a lot of owners today are

struggling with staff retention because

they’re afraid to hold them accountable.

The key today is not holding people

accountable to a sales number or goal

as much as it is to be in the business of

growing people.”

Increasing Profits

As some salons continue to struggle

to stay profitable—or even afloat—

since the pandemic, improving cash

flow is a common goal for business

owners, especially amid the continued

rising costs and tariffs. Baker says it’s

important to factor in your gross profit

margin.

“If I take all the revenue that goes

into a salon and subtract the wages

and products I have to buy, that

margin has probably dropped two

or three percentage points since the

pandemic,” he says. “For a lot of salon

owners, that’s been a struggle trying

to understand how to grow that gross

profit margin. A big part of it is making

sure you have sales growth in your

company to support that number and

become very diligent in the amount of

inventory you’re buying.”

While some owners may be taking

a more conscientious approach to

ordering backbar, colour and retail

products, take-home product sales

are more important than ever. With

that said, many stylists also consider

retail to be more challenging due to the

competition of ecommerce and directto-consumer

channels.

“As an industry, we’ve kind of

believed that everybody’s buying retail

everywhere else and not buying in

the salons, and that’s not necessarily

the case,” says Baker. “I just think we

have to do a better job of explaining

the products we’re using, why we’re

choosing to use those products and

how to use them. It’s about spending

more time educating the client in the

chair versus just believing that they’re

going to go somewhere else to buy the

products.”

While raising prices may seem like the

logical solution to help increase your

profit margins, it’s still possible to get it

wrong. Whether you’re increasing prices

too much or too frequently that clients

are being “priced out” of your business

or not enough or too low out of fear of

losing clients, it can seem like a loselose

situation. ➤


“TAKE A STEP BACK AND DON’T BE REACTIVE—

BE PROACTIVE AND MORE STRATEGIC. ’ IF YOU

TRY TO DO TOO MUCH, IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING.

IDENTIFY AND FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME

AND IT CAN CREATE A DOMINO EFFECT.”

— CATHERINE ALLARD, SALON COACH, L’ORÉAL BUSINESS ACADEMY, MONTREAL

Depending on the business, Allard

recommends raising prices twice a year

and suggests applying the increases to

different services—for example, colour

in the spring and haircuts in the fall.

“If you raise everything at the same

time, it’s more noticeable,” she says.

“The customer will feel it. If you split

it, it’s better because you have two

opportunities to manage it.”

Another area of concern has been

around the decline of client frequency in

the salon. With the lower-maintenance

trends of the past, clients were able

to stretch out their appointments as

they embraced more lived-in colour

and styles. As more businesses look

to increase service tickets amid rising

costs and inflation that has impacted

every industry—including professional

beauty—Allard says now is the time

to get creative with your service menu

options.

“You can offer a promotion on a

treatment or an add-on service,” she

says. “Or with backbar services, you can

offer a promotion on retail products.

That’s a great way to really generate

new business.”

Staying Ahead

No matter where you’re at in business,

working with a salon coach and seeking

out business education can have

tremendous benefits that help set you

up for success.

Crystal Brevik, owner of Theory

Hair Studio in Calgary, Alta., recently

attended From Numbers to Next-Level

Success, a business education event

hosted by Strategies, which offers

training and coaching for salon owners,

stylists and teams. The event, which was

held in both Calgary and Ottawa, offered

a deep dive into salon metrics to help

attendees discover growth opportunities

and gain more confidence in their

businesses.

“The majority of salon owners,

especially those who are used to

working behind the chair, are incredibly

talented and hard-working, but a lot of

people seem to be struggling because no

one has given them access to practical

business education,” she says. “I would

hear other salon owners, managers

and team members talking about not

failing because they’re careless—they’re

struggling because they’re running

businesses on instinct instead of

education.”

Strategies, which has partnered with

Henkel to offer business education

through Henkel’s Club H Rewards

program, has enabled salon owners

like Brevik to easily access in-person

education classes and online training

resources.

“The beauty industry is unique, so

you need to have somebody there who

understands the creative side of it, too,

and the struggles that we go through,”

says Brevik. “As a salon owner herself,

[Barbara Pierce, owner of Strategies]

was able to relate to everyone at the

event, and that’s a really big deal for

stylists. She made a lot of great points

and really connected with us, which

made it easier to engage and ask

questions.”

“I hope this encourages other salon

owners to invest in themselves the way

they invest in their clients and their

teams,” she adds. “As the team leader,

you need to realize that you deserve

that education. When you can truly

understand your numbers, you can

gain confidence, clarity and a sense of

freedom that just changes everything.

With Henkel recognizing that our

industry needs this, it just feels like

when the salon owners are supported,

the whole industry gets stronger. It

starts from the top.”


BRANCH OU T

Help Plant Our Urban Forests

—

Heather Bagby, vice-president

of Summit Salon Business

Center, shared tips for

cultivating a healthy growth

mindset.

Events —

|

Phorest hosted a VIP cocktail reception and dinner at The

College Green Hotel, where founder and CEO Ronan Perceval

thanked guests for their support. The dinner was sponsored

by Canadian-founded colour software company Vish, whose

co-founder and CEO, Joshua Howard, credited Perceval for the

long-term partnership between both brands.

Inside Phorest’s 2026

Salon Owners Summit!

More than 600 salon owners, managers and industry pros from

around the world travelled to Ireland to attend Phorest’s 2026 Salon

Owners Summit. Held at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, the

annual event celebrated its 10th anniversary and marked one of its

largest gatherings to date.

When & Where: January 25-26, Dublin, Ireland

Calvin Stovall, a customer experience and hospitality

expert, offered insights on creating “wow”

experiences for clients and employees alike.

|

|

To welcome attendees to Dublin,

Phorest’s marketing and events

team hosted an afternoon tea and

bus tour of Dublin. Among the

attendees were Phorest’s strategic

partnership development manager

Siobhan McCaffrey and marketing

executive Casey O’Halloran.

|

To mark the official kickoff of the summit, Perceval took the

stage to share his opening remarks and shed light on the event’s

theme, Thrive. “We’re making a fundamental commitment to our

community with our new mission statement,” he says. “More than

software, we’re on a mission with all of you to build a stronger

industry. Everything we do, from building innovative tools to

enabling brands to market on your behalf to working with industry

bodies, will aim to strengthen our salon community.”

|

Erin Kuhn Bhansali, president of Qnity,

shared strategies to optimize business

growth using industry data.

PHOTOS: PHOREST, SALON STAFF


Among the guest speakers was Dr. Lollie

Mancey, a innovation strategist who led an

insightful presentation on the ethics of AI and

how to maximize its use for business.

—

Events —

Phorest’s leadership team took the stage to share insights and

preview upcoming features, giving exclusive first access to summit

attendees. Patrick Monaghan, chief product officer, highlighted

success stories from salon owners and shared how the new

features and tools will help businesses thrive.

|

Throughout the day,

Phorest engineers, product

designers, data experts

and managers showcased

innovations designed to

improve calendar efficiency,

team appreciation, retention

and client engagement, as

well as AI tools to streamline

problem-solving and

business decision-making.

Among the Canadian

attendees were Nicole

Dietze of Essense Salon

& Sanctuary in London,

Ont., and Tanya Ayres of

Salon O in Oshawa, Ont.


IN MEMORIAM

Remembering Kim Vo

Scoop —

Celebrity hairstylist Kim Vo passed away

on January 19, 2026, after a years-long

battle with colorectal cancer. The 55-yearold

was known as a master colourist and

blonding specialist, who worked with

celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow,

Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Vo was

named the “best blonder in the business”

by Vogue and has appeared on TV in

programs like Extreme Makeover and Shear

Genius. After moving to Beverly Hills and

working in some of the most prestigious

salons, including Christophe and Privé, he

opened his first salon, B2V, in 2000. Today,

his flagship location, Kim Vo Salon, can

be found in the heart of West Hollywood.

Vo has also worked as a global brand

ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional

and L’Oréal Professionnel.

Powerful Partnership

Salon Communications, the parent

company of Salon Magazine and the

Contessa Awards, has been acquired

by Canadian media executive Colin

Sutherland. Sutherland is the owner

of Salon Today, Modern Salon, Modern

Spa & Wellness, Nails, and Barbering

Today, as well as the Data-Driven Salon

Summit, Data-Driven Salon Tour, and

Modern Salon Boot Camp. “I could

not imagine a better steward for Salon

Magazine and the Contessas than Colin

Sutherland,” says Tom Arkell, CEO

and publisher of Salon. “His passion for

the beauty industry, combined with his

deep experience in media, marketing

and technology—positions him to

elevate Canadian creators in meaningful

ways. Colin understands the heart of

this industry, and I’m excited to work

alongside him as Salon Communications

enters this next chapter.”

“As a Canadian and a long-time

supporter of the beauty industry—from

brands to professionals in the salon,

from established business owners to

tomorrow’s emerging entrepreneurs—I

am deeply committed to sharing,

inspiring and helping the Canadian

industry navigate a strong path

forward. Growth and evolution come

from people and partnerships,” says

Sutherland, CEO of Bobit Business

Media. “The Salon Magazine and

Contessa teams are incredibly inspiring

to me. I look forward to supporting

Tom and the Salon Communications

team, our valued readers, our social

media community and past and present

Contessa nominees and award winners.

I am fully committed to supporting and

growing our Canadian creators and

highlighting a Canadian beauty industry

that is truly world-class. Salon Magazine

and the Contessas will continue to

represent Canada first. We will share

our Canadian stories nationally and

internationally, across print, streaming

and social media and through the

annual celebration of excellence at the

Contessas.”

“To our loyal brand partners, thank

you. Your support of Salon Magazine,

our digital platforms and the Contessa

Awards has been essential. We look

forward to a new year filled with new

activations, new opportunities and even

stronger connections.”


DISCOVER

MORE–

RIGHT AT YOUR

FINGERTIPS

BUILD A

REWARDING

CAREER

GET THE

LATEST

INDUSTRY

NEWS

SEE STUNNING

COLLECTIONS

FIND THE

TECHNICAL

ADVICE YOU

C R AV E

alonmagazine.ca

salonmagazine

SalonMag

Salon_Magazine

83 salonmagazine.ca / September 2020

SalonMagazine

Lock In Your Look

Sleek Styles That Last

From the #1 Pro Styling Brand in Canada*

introducing the new

Style Control Stick 22

*Based on 2024 Kenra Professional Masterbrand sales value (CAD), Kline’s Salon Hair Care Global

Series, professional hair styling category, published April 2025.

Visit KenraProfessional.com for more info and follow us on social

© 2026 Henkel Consumer Brands Canada Corporation, Mississauga, ON

@kenraprofessional

SALON MAGAZINE: SPRING 2026

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?