Check Out The Luxurious Quebec-Based Salon Studios Kevins Kyle

For Quebec-based hairstylist Kevins-Kyle Lambert, building his dream salon, Studios Kevins Kyle, allowed him to combine his two loves: hair and construction. “When I was 18 years old, I was working in construction and we were doing a job for a barbershop,” he says. “I was watching the clients coming out of the shop with amazing hair and I was watching the stylists who looked so cool and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I decided to take my chances and go to school for hair and from there things just started to move very fast for me.”

Taking the Leap

From working in a salon and doing hair in his house to hiring an assistant and growing a full team of stylists, Lambert knew it was the perfect time to build his dream space. “The lease of our previous location was ending and I knew I wanted to buy the next space because I thought it would be a safer investment,” he says. “We started construction during COVID and it was a scary time because everything was closed, but I knew that I wanted to do it. When you’re sure about something and passionate about it you need to push through it.”

Trust Yourself

Lambert says he originally planned on working closely with a designer, but finding one who understood his wants, needs and his vision proved to be difficult. Instead, he opted to work with his husband to create the plan, build the salon and even choose the decor. “I’m a hairstylist and an artist, and my husband is so good at decor, so we’re really proud of what we created,” he says. “Some designers don’t know what we need as hairstylists. I wanted a luxury hair salon and I knew people would be paying good money, so I wanted to create a beautiful and fancy space, but also a functional and comfortable space, for my staff, clients and myself.” “I was there every day,” he adds. “That was the most difficult part [about the designing process]. I was managing my staff, doing clients and working on the renovation, so at one point I had to tell my clients that I couldn’t do their hair anymore. I told my employees that they wouldn’t have a boss for a while because I had to forget about the present and focus on the future in order for us to have a future. My team is so important to me and I felt like I owed it to them to create the perfect salon. My clients understood because they were in good hands and it really was a lot of teamwork.”

Dream Design

Inspired by his family’s trips to Greece and his love for Las Vegas, Lambert wanted to create a salon that combined both aesthetics. “I was in Greece and was so inspired and in love with how everything was designed,” he says. “The space was originally supposed to be more colourful, but I changed my mind and wanted to add more textures than colours, and I decided to mix soft pinks, greens and neutral colours with a lot of gold.” “I also wanted my clients to feel like they were walking into a chic boutique hotel in Las Vegas,” he adds. “I wanted to give them the experience of feeling like they weren’t in Quebec and give them an escape from their daily lives.” In addition to creating a luxurious design, Lambert prioritized function and even looked to his team to find out what they needed from the space. “One of my young hairstylists showed us something he saw on social media, and it allows us to dispense our towels like tissues, so we don’t have to fold or roll them. It’s a really simple and affordable way to make our lives a little easier,” he says. “We also have a custom-made sink that we only use for an in-salon treatment and we also have a spot built into the other sinks for our toner that allows us to place the bowl in the sink so it makes it easier to apply.” For furniture, Lambert worked with Lanvain, who he credits with supplying the space with beautiful, high-quality pieces. When combining his vision with his experience, Lambert created a salon with an eclectic and refined vibe that he couldn’t be happier with. “The last night before it opened, I stayed for two hours so I could walk, look around and cry,” he says. “I was so exhausted but so proud. Remembering that I started off in construction and saw that small barbershop, which gave me the vision of what I wanted to be, and [realizing that] I made it to this point was surreal and I was just so proud. I have three kids and I want them to see that when you have a goal and you don’t stop believing in yourself, you can make it happen.”