Canadian hairstylists and colourists gathered at the Hyatt Place Toronto/Mississauga Centre for Oligo’s Reunion Tour Toronto 2023.
Held in four cities across North America and featuring eight of the brand’s artists, the event aims to reconnect with the industry while providing an education lineup that focuses on providing attendees with insights on colour trends, inspiration and more.
Hosted by Los Angeles-based salon owner and distributor Victor ValVerde, the event was kicked off by Oligo’s marketing director, Caroline Coté, who took the stage to thank the brand’s team for helping to put together the event.
Oligo’s Ontario-based distributor partner, CanRad and their executive vice president of sales & marketing, Jack Stern, also took the stage to welcome attendees to the event. “I want to thank Oligo for developing a vision, as Canadians, we’re so proud of them,” he says. “This day is the perfect storm for us, we have a premier colour brand, we have a great team helping you to learn about the brand, and we even have a group of students here today from one of our salons.”
Los Angeles-based hairstylist and Oligo’s chief brand ambassador, J Ladner, showcased his techniques for achieving a dimensional and expensive brunette look.
After his stage presentation, we caught up with Ladner to learn more about the tour and his thoughts on education events. “We did this before the COVID lockdown, and something that was a non-negotiable for us was leading with education,” he says. “We really want to encourage [colourists and hairstylists] to lean all the way in.”
“Over time, we almost get in a habit of autopilot and playing it safe,” he adds. “With this tour, in all four cities that we’ve been to, we want to spark that curious colourist within and say that we can look at the credibility that we all have as colourists, and trust that while making better decisions. Understanding why we’re doing something, instead of feeling burnt out and stressed. Education events are powerful because when we tap into that curiosity, there’s unlimited opportunities for growth and education sparks that curiosity.”
Next to take the stage was Connecticut-based hairstylist and Oligo sponsored artist, Ivan Hernandez, who showcased hair painting and balayage techniques.
Following Hernandez was Alberta-born, Cayman Island-based hairstylist and Oligo artist, Kelly Massias, who took the audience through her process of enhancing a client’s natural colour with surface painting and balayage techniques.
Oligo’s Ontario regional education manager, Stacey Wraxall, also joined the stage presentations and gave her top tips for a reverse balayage.
To close the show, Oligo artist and Mississauga-based hairstylist, Diana Vivilecchia started her stage presentation by giving her top tips for taking social media content. She then walked attendees through her “lead in” technique for a high-impact balayage with depth and dimension.
The event ended with a VIP panel and cocktail party where attendees got the chance to ask the artists questions and reconnect with other Canadian hairstylists and colourists.
Browse our gallery of photos from the event.
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