Next Wave of Talent: Marie-Anne Labrie

From emerging hairstylists who are just getting their start to excelling stylists who are on their way to becoming the next set of leaders and to even those in between, we spoke with hairstylists to learn more about their stories and how they’re making their mark on the industry.

Marie-Anne Labrie, Pinklablonde Club, Montreal

Age: 27 • Pronouns: She/Her

Known as @pinklablonde on Instagram, Marie-Anne Labrie has been a tour de force in the world of hair colour. Yet it wasn’t always a path she thought she would be on.

“I have a few family members in the hair industry and always loved doing all of my friends’ hair in high school, but
I never thought I would be a stylist or colourist,” she says. “I originally went to college for HR and hated it. My friends encouraged me to study hair because I was good at it, so I decided to give it a try.”Once Labrie started hair school, she found her passion and wanted to work toward becoming “the best colourist in the world.”

While she resides in Montreal now, Labrie hails from the small town of Shawinigan, Que., where she began her career.“I started working in a salon that was very cool but very small,” she says. “In smaller cities, you don’t always get an opportunity to be an apprentice at a big salon. While the girls were very helpful, I mainly learned how to do hair on my own through online education. I was willing to put in the work and get all the education I needed to grow.”

Recognizing the challenges around education for new hairstylists in the industry, Labrie decided to start the Pinklablonde Academy. Opening in January 2023, the academy will be teaching hair colour and cutting courses to new hairstylists.“Three years ago, I started teaching all over Canada,” she says. “Ever since I did my first course, I knew I wanted to change how people see the hair industry, and I think that starts with education. It’s for both new talent, who don’t have any education in the hair industry, and people who started their education but aren’t confident working behind the chair yet.”

Powered by L’Oréal Professionnel, the academy will use the brand’s colour products and tools. “We pitched our business plan to them and they gave us advice,” she says. “It’s a great partnership, and I’m proud to be supported by such a large brand.”

Fun Fact: The name pinklablonde comes from labrie’s favourite colour (pink), her nickname (lab, from her last name, labrie) and the fact that she’s obsessed with hair colour (specifically, blonde). “it was never meant to be my artist name; it’s the same name i’ve had since high school,” she says. “it all started when i began posting my work on instagram 10 years ago. People would book with me and call me by my instagram handle and forget about my real name. Now my friends call me by it, too!”