“How long have you been in the industry?”
I’ve been working in the industry for over 10 years, I was working as a receptionist and everyone said I should go to hair school. I’ve been doing hair professionally for about 7 years now and I love the laid-back, no-drama side of the industry. I went to the Aveda institute in Victoria and then returned to my home town of Penticton and started working at that same salon where I had worked as reception. I decided to relocate to Kelowna because I was Aveda trained and I wanted to pursue that further but eventually I found barbering, fell in love with it, and have never looked back.
“Why did you choose to become a stylist/barber?”
I was basically born with a pair of scissors in my hands! I was always tinkering and playing with hair; I have a very vivid memory of when I was about 5 or 6 and I would line up all my teddy bears and give them hair cuts. I would cut my hair and my brothers hair (my mom would freak) and as I got older I would colour my hair myself all the time. It just came so naturally to me. When I was working as a receptionist my aunt told me I really needed to take advantage of my natural talent. That’s what convinced me to make a career of it.
“What techniques do you specialize in?”
Since re-focusing my skills on barbering I have been doing men’s hair exclusively. I like a challenge, like when someone with really long hair comes in and says “Do whatever you want”. As much as women love a good makeover, men do too and are under appreciated in that area I think. I love doing an extreme makeover on a guy and giving him a whole new look.
I love doing fades, traditional comb over styles, all practicing all kinds of cutting techniques.
“Describe your personal style.”
I’m fairly casual, maybe a little bohemian and eclectic some days. Mostly just laid back.
“Tell us about your worst personal haircut/hair day.”
I’ve had so many… One time in high school I went in to this random salon to get my bangs cut and this really old lady, like with a cane, came up and I knew it would be bad. I wanted really modern blunt bangs and as I sat in her chair I just knew she was going to butcher them… so I left. I guess that was more of an averted crisis than a disaster. But I’ve so many bad looks it’s hard too pick just one because I’ve experimented with my hair in so many ways over the years.
“If you could be any Hollywood movie character, who would it be and why?”
I would like to be Salem the cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch because how awesome would it be to be a talking cat?!
“If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and could only take 3 albums with you, what would they be?”
Shania Twain – The Woman in Me, Death Cab for Cuties – Plans, and Notorious B.I.G. greatest hits.
“If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and could only take 3 movies with you, what would they be?”
I’m so bad with movies… Umm, The Aristocats, Garden State with Natalie Portman, and Bridesmaids.
“What’s your most embarrassing moment?”
I can’t say I’ve had too many moments that I’ve been embarrassed of, maybe some awkward ones but nothing that stands out as embarrassing.
“We’re not trying to pick you up…but what’s your astrology sign?”
Virgo – the best. I take it with a grain of salt, my friend has an astrology book that talks about the characteristics etc. and I really think my sign fits me.
“Do you have any nicknames?”
Hails and Quaily – I’ve had that one forever and I don’t even know why.
“What’s one product you simply cannot live without?”
I love Layrite super shine and Layrite matte pomades – they smell amazing and the hold is perfect without being too much or too little – the finish with both products is always perfect.