Stylin’ Hairstylists: 5 of Toronto’s coolest cutters (and colourists) talk fashion favourites, signatures and more
Who has better style than those who help you look your best from day to day? In theory, no one should. Hairstylists have long since had their own thing going on and we sought out to prove it by quizzing five of Toronto’s most stylish on their tricks of the trade, favourite hair styles and keeping it together from day to day.
June Croken
Owner, Hairdresser on Fire
Do you think your personal style plays into your job at all? If yes, how so?
Fashion touches everything a stylist works on, it is lines, balance, colour, contrast all wrapped up in a pretty three dimensional person.
How did you get into hairstyling?
A dare! No joke. I worked a part-time gig at Civello as holiday retail staff and the owner Ray Civello met me and thought I was an apprentice, when I told him I was actually a senior graphic designer by day, he said that ‘I would make a pretty good stylist with that training to detail.’ The man was right and here I am.
What’s your favourite thing to do?
Education, education, education, my intro to every new client is an extensive 1 hour hair tutorial giving everyone the 101 on how to tame their own manes, that way when they return they are happier and so is their hair!
Who has your ideal haircut?
David Bowie circa 1976 “The Man Who Fell To Earth.” His style is timeless and keeps making an appearance.
What’s your own hair like and why?
It’s blonde and long (as requested from my dear old dad) with some acid yellow to shake things up. He requested the long as I have favoured short & sweet cuts for most of my life, it has allowed me to fully understand the long hair clientele and helped me to find unique ways to up style for fun instead of being a slave to constantly cutting the hair off. I created a YouTube channel to offer this library to the masses, the series is called ‘Styling Saturday’s – The Mane Event’. Enjoy quick and easy self-hair help under a song long!
How often do you switch up your own hair?
Every single day, I wear my hair in a different up style to inspire my clients and to keep myself fresh and forward thinking.
Veronica Chu
Hairstylist and celebrity makeup artist
How would you describe your personal style in one sentence?
I would describe my personal style as modern, edgy, predominantly black and very comfortable.
Do you think your personal style plays into your job at all? If yes, how so?
Yes absolutely. Dressing comfortably is key as I work long hours. I need lots of options of great shoes and more shoes!
How did you get into hairstyling?
My mom use to own a beauty clinic and she did hair there. I would watch her as a young child work and mimic everything she did and then I started doing girls hair in high school for proms to make some extra money. Now I do both hair and make up for fashion editorial, advertising and celebrities.
What’s your fall style like? What are you feeling this season?
Fall is one of my favourite seasons. I am definitely feeling black leather mixed with lots of structural layers.
Who has your ideal haircut?
I think Alexa Chung has such great hair. She’s not afraid to play with different styles and colours.
How often do you switch up your own hair?
I try and switch up my hair quite often. I go back and forth from wearing bangs to no bangs on a regular basis and I’ve been colouring my hair recently trying different colours out! I just try to have fun with it.
Sean Godard
Artistic director, Salon Tocci and international performing artist, Redken 5th Avenue
Do you think your personal style plays into your job at all?
It totally does. Being fashion forward allows me to gain trust in my clients to be able to do whatever I want and they trust me because I look the part.
How did you get into hairstyling?
I found that my friends and me could never get exactly what we wanted when we went to a salon so I decided to take matters into my own hands
What do you love most about it?
The ability to make people feel great about themselves and give them a boost of confidence and help them with their hair challenges. I also travel internationally teaching classes and workshops to help other stylists become better at the craft.
What’s your favourite thing to do (i.e. Do you have a signature cut/colour? Something you are known for?)
I’m known for strong shorter shapes and the best reds and coppers in the city.
Who has your ideal haircut?
Kim Kardashian has beautiful long flowing hair and always has great color. I’m loving her new blonde. I’m loving Miley for embracing the short hair and it has inspired a lot of women to consider shorter hair. Also Michelle Williams has great hair in the new Louis Vuitton ads
What’s your own hair like and why?
I like to keep my hair dark with a strong side part. I like to actually shave the part in to give it an extra detail. And a super short old school fade on the sides.
How often do you switch up your own hair?
I try to switch it up often and play around with different lengths and styles and textures. Colour wise I usually keep it dark but more recently I have rocked blonde and then a dark blue/purple inspired by super heroes’ hair in comic books so that when it’s black it always has a strong blue reflect, like Wonder Woman.
Patrice Clayton
Apprentice, Vidal Sassoon
How would you describe your personal style in one sentence?
Influenced by ‘80s goth And Morticia Adams
Do you think your personal style plays into your job at all?
Yes, definitely. Clients often compliment me on my wardrobe and hair. Because they trust my style choices, I believe that they trust me to make the best choices for them, too.
How did you get into hairstyling?
I modeled for a Sassoon Master class taught by Sassoon’s International Creative Director, Mark Hayes. I immediately decided I had to work there one day. Sassoon training is very technical but also very creative.
What do you love most about it?
Making clients happy and confident! I especially love when clients choose a dramatic cut or colour and can’t imagine going back to their old look. It’s a great feeling when clients put that much trust into my skills.
What’s your fall style like? What are you feeling this season?
A lot of black. Big, boxy coats are really stylish and comfortable. I pair them with skinny black pants and a pair of vintage black suede Docs that I found at a second hand store.
Who has your ideal haircut?
Diana Ross from her disco era.
What’s your own hair like and why?
I have a huge ‘fro, I’ve stopped trying to control it and let it do whatever it wants. I enjoy low maintenance so I start with a great cut by my fellow Sassoon stylists and it grows out perfectly.
How often do you switch up your own hair?
I’m currently growing it so I get a trim every two-three months to keep the shape. It can be boring and time-consuming growing it out but I’ve added a red tone to my hair to keep it interesting!
Margot Keith
Junior stylist at Day/Night Salon and freelance makeup artist
Do you think your personal style plays into your job at all?
My style plays a role in my job for sure. Many of my clients I have met at art shows and drag nights, so our personal tastes are already in sync before they get in my chair. That being said, I like to collaborate with clients on their looks, not dictate.
How did you get into hairstyling?
I have been a makeup artist for many years, over a decade, and found that all of the shoots I went on in Canada required you to do both hair and makeup. So, I decided to go in full force to hair about three years ago and I haven’t looked back! I still do both, but hair has become an all-encompassing passion!
What do you love most about it?
I love meeting people and developing relationships in every part of my life. I consider it an honour to be able to do hair for so many of my friends and clients. Hair is our crown and often one of the first things you notice on a person, so to get to know my clients, know about their lifestyles, what new ideas they have, and create a look that represents who they are is a truly amazing gift.
What’s your favourite thing to do?
I would say the thing I am known best for is my drag makeup, but the best thing I’m known for in hair is bleaching and toning. I love getting the hair to a dreamy light blonde while maintaining the integrity of the hair as much as possible.
Who has your ideal haircut?
I love bowl cuts. Carol Channing is my style hero. I also loved Ann Jillian’s hair from the 1980s hit TV show Jennifer Slept Here. I love roller sets on bleached hair so love the classic styles of Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe and Mae West. Morrissey has the best men’s hair of all time.
What’s your own hair like and why?
I have short bleached hair that is none straight and to be honest, it’s at an in between length at the moment. I am growing my bowl cut in so I can do more roller sets for winter. There’s nothing like a faux fur coat and glamorous wavy blonde hair to lift your spirits in the dark, cold winter.
