Congratulations to Cinthia Gauthier of Cynaika Studio Salon in Gatineau, Que., on being named the first-place winner of our latest So You Think You Can Style? Ultimate Updos contest.
We caught up with Gauthier to learn more about her winning look, her decades-long career in the industry and how entering competitions has helped her push her creativity and bring her salon team together.
Gauthier has been around the salon industry since she was a child. She started helping her mother in the salon when she was just 10 years old, before pursuing hairstyling professionally after high school. Now, at 53, she owns Cynaika Studio Salon and has spent decades developing her craft.
While Gauthier has competed before, she says this particular contest gave her an opportunity to create something that was truly her own. “It’s the first time I did an updo for something that I really wanted to do,” she says. “When we have clients, we have to go with their choice. This time, I could do what I wanted.”
The winning look also came with an unexpected challenge. Gauthier initially misunderstood the French translation of the contest theme and thought she was creating more of a glamorous, down hairstyle. When she realized the contest called for an updo, she had just one day to rethink her approach.
“My model’s hair was really, really long,” she says. “So it was a challenge because the hair was not initially intended for an updo.”
Rather than letting the change derail her, Gauthier used it as an opportunity to get creative. She created several versions before settling on her final look, which featured a retro-inspired approach to the updo.
“I wanted something a little bit different than what a young hairdresser could do,” she says. “We see a lot of braids and a lot of the same things, so I wanted to do some knots. The knot was more in the ’80s.”
For Gauthier, creating a successful updo starts long before the final styling touches. She believes sectioning and preparation are essential, especially when working with long hair.
“The thing is, it’s almost the same as a haircut. You have to start with sections,” she says. “Most people don’t take the time to think about what sections they want or where they want the volume. That’s really important.”
She also recommends creating a strong foundation before beginning the updo. Rather than relying on unwashed hair, Gauthier prefers to build texture and volume with products and rollers.
“I prefer to put a lot of mousse and some rollers,” she says. “The preparation is a little bit more, but after that it’s easy because the hair has more texture to work with. For me, the base is really important.”
Gauthier says one of her go-to products is Design.Me, a Canadian brand she has been using for several years. She particularly likes the brand’s mousse for creating volume and its hairspray, which features adjustable levels of hold.
When it comes to perfecting an updo, Gauthier also believes hairstylists need to know when to stop. “Sometimes, when it’s done, it’s done,” she says. “Some people will try to continue to work on the hair, and they will start to make it worse.”
Instead, she recommends stepping back and looking at the finished style from a distance. “When you work too close, you don’t see what’s going on,” she says. “You have to back up and look at all the volume and everything to make sure it’s going in the right direction.”
For Gauthier, inspiration also comes from the person sitting in the chair. She considers the client’s outfit, body shape and overall proportions when deciding how to create a style.
“The shape and the dress are always important, and after that we can create the hair,” she says. “I always do a consultation with a picture of the dress.”
She says that taking the time to explain her vision during a consultation can also help clients understand why a particular style will work for them.
While Gauthier has previously entered SYTYCS and has also competed in the Contessa Awards, she says the accessible format of SYTYCS makes it especially fun. For her winning entry, she was able to capture the finished look with her cellphone rather than investing in a large-scale photo shoot.
The competition also became a team effort at Cynaika Studio Salon. Gauthier worked with members of her salon team to find the model, coordinate the clothing and create the overall look, while a team member helped with the makeup.
For Gauthier, that collaborative experience is one of the biggest reasons she plans to keep entering competitions. She says she has already encouraged members of her team to try entering their own work.
Ultimately, Gauthier says competitions give hairstylists an opportunity to step outside their everyday salon work, experiment with their creativity and create images they can be proud of.
Now, after winning Ultimate Updos, Gauthier plans to keep challenging herself with new creative projects and competitions.
Congratulations again to Cinthia Gauthier, and a special shout-out to our second-place and third-place winners, Grace and Rocelyn
@gbryk_hair
@beautybyrocelyn
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