I've been doing hair for 14 years and makeup for the last 9. It was originally supposed to be something to fall back on while I figured out what career path I wanted to take (I was 15 at the time) but a couple weeks into the program and I was hooked - I fell in love with doing hair! I apprenticed at salon on the weekends for two years and once I graduated high school I started working full time and taking clients. My dream job was to work on a Cruise Ship doing hair so when I was 18 I decided to look into it and applied for the job. I  flew to England for training and got assigned on the P&O Azura where I embarked on my dream job. Working on a cruise ship was quite the experience,and it’s a whole other story time - but you can ask me about it anytime and I’ll tell you all about it!

 

Working on the ship introduced me to the world of weddings - I didn't realize so many people got married on Cruises and since the weddings could only take place on ‘Sea days’ I would have 2-4 weddings on those days and do back to back brides while the other stylists did the bridal parties and family members. When my contract ended I came back home to Victoria, worked at a salon and continued to do weddings.

 

I always wanted to do makeup and decided to move to Vancouver in 2015 to attend Canada’s top makeup school Blanche Macdonald. I ended up staying in the big city and have since competed in makeup competitions, managed a Blow Dry Bar, worked with well known bridal teams in the Western and South Asian Industry and various salons until I found the perfect little studio salon in Gastown. I opened shop in November 2020 - as risky as it was to pursue my dreams during a pandemic, it was my biggest adventure yet. I was finally a salon owner! It's been a great three years and I’ve learned so much through this process. I have burnt out multiple times and have yet to find the perfect work life balance but I am so lucky to love what I do and I wake up so excited every morning to see my clients who have become friends.

 

I told myself after 10 years of being in the industry I would go into teaching so I could pass on what I’ve learned and give back to the community the same way my mentors did for me in this industry. After 12 years I did just that - I now teach hair at Blanche Macdonald where I went to for Makeup school so it’s a very full circle feeling for me. I am so grateful for where this industry has taken me and I’m so happy to share my knowledge with students and encourage them to make a fulfilling path in this career as well. I honestly thought I would be sick of hair by now but I still love it! It’s been 14 years since I graduated and I take classes every year to keep myself up to date with current trends. I still love learning and I absolutely love being an artist.

I currently take clients a couple days of the week and teach four days a week. I also do weddings throughout the year and it may seem like a lot but I’m so lucky to love what I do and spend my days with you!

 

My goal this year is to have more of a work life balance and have more days off to enjoy time with family and friends so I would recommend getting in my books as soon as you can as I’m only behind the chair a couple days a week. I can’t wait to see you in my chair and please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Xo,Kareena