As they work their way up, young up-and-coming beauty professionals are blazing trails and making waves. We scoured the country to find out who is doing what and how it all began. Here is our chat with up-and-coming beauty professional, Shanti Soulières.
Salon Magazine: How did you get your start in makeup, why did you decide to be a part of this industry?
Shanti Soulières: From my childhood, I knew that ‘the artist lived in me’, but it only came to life when I was 15 and saw a stylist working on stage. That’s when I fell in love with the idea of becoming a hairstylist. I knew then and there that I was going to study and bring my vision to other stylists.
SM: What drives and motivates you as a hairstylist?
SS: My inspiration comes from how I feel, my environment and the message I want to communicate.
SM: What is your expertise? What do you specialize in or excel at?
SS: My strength is in my creativity and I also want to inspire others to fall in love with their craft.
SM: What is one lesson you’ve learned throughout your education and career that you still keep in mind today?
SS: Three things have made me the stylist I am today: competition, being on stage (which I’ve done numerous times with Guylaine Martel) and L’Oréal Professional. It’s important to realize what your aspirations are to develop the qualities you need.
SM: Who is your mentor or who do you look up to up to when it comes to hair? Anyone in particular on social media?
SS: For a few years, Stéphane Rolland for the volumes and fluid hairstyles he creates. The artist Iris Van Herper for her incredible structure. And my beloved Michael Jackson for his art.
SM: Who is your hair hero? Is there someone youʼd like to work with?
SS: I’m really grateful to work with my own superheroes on a daily basis with my L’Oréal Pro family and Guylaine Martel.
SM: As a young artist, what has been the biggest challenge you have faced and how did you overcome that?
SS: Competing has been in my blood since I started. I have done many competitions, won and also lost. Competition makes me work harder than anything else. I’ve created my best work for competitions. It’s a plus for me, because after a big competition I feel more complete, stronger as an artist. It’s the best base when you’re a hairstylist.
SM: Who gave you the best advice as you embarked on your career? And what was that advice?
SS: Without hesitation: Guylaine Martel. She’s my boss, my friend, my mom, my mentor and the person who has pushed me the most in my life. She is also the one who has believed in me the most. She makes you believe nothing is impossible, that all challenges can be overcome.
SM: What is your one must-have product?
SS: I was born with L’Oréal Professional, it has my favourite products and my basics.
SM: What are your goals for the next 5 to 10 years? Where do you see yourself in the beauty industry?
SS: In the coming years, teaching for sure. I want to expand other areas of my trade, become a better communicator and more proficient in English. I also dream of having an academy with my boss. Why not?!
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