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Charlene
Santaga, Owner of BAMBU the Salon
in Yaletown has given this Style Spy the best cut tresses of her hair career.
A salon owner for over 20 years, Charlene specializes in both cut and colour,
while acting as an Ambassador and Regional Director for TIGI
hair care. Amidst chopping and dying she travels North America training
stylists on upcoming trends, but also loves to dish hair knowledge to her clients
here in Vancouver. Style Spy girls meet Charlene.
Describe
the salon:
Small intimate urban boutique setting where the client and stylist not only
speak [to each other], but clients speak to clients. The open layout [encourages]
a friendly atmosphere and [gives] the opportunity for everyone to share in everyone
else’s conversation, if they want. High vaulted ceilings with historic
brick walls. Hip to the Yaletown atmosphere.
What
is your specialty?
Transforming client’s from ordinary to extraordinary. Client’s walk in the door and leave transformed into something new and exciting. Most clients don’t know what they want when they come in, so I do what I think will look good, while keeping in mind suitability, face shape and lifestyle.
Keepin’
it real:
I stay grounded by staying behind the chair and working with real people.
Best
summer hair colour:
Blondes last and look the best in the summer. Sunlight is huge in keeping blondes,
blonde. Sun pulls colour out of the hair, so durability for reds and rich, warm,
dark colours is shortened.
Most
requested cut:
People want Rihanna’s short little hairstyle with the long front. [Basically]
anything from the Rihanna and Victoria Beckham bob shape to Rihanna’s
newer shorter hair cut. Though short hair is fashionable for the summer, anyone
with long hair wants layers. They don’t want to lose their length.
Go
to hair tool everyone should have:
The new Hardcore curling stick ($165 at Bambu) for girls with long hair. [This
hot curling stick] goes narrower to wider and you wrap the [pieces of] hair
around it. It’s not a curling iron because it doesn’t have a clamp.
Also, the narrower, one-inch straightening iron is still very popular.
Stylist
No-No:
The biggest mistake is when the client means one thing and the stylist [interprets
it as] something else. Bad result in the long run. Like when a client says I
want to be blonde. [The stylist has to ask] do you like cool blonde, warm blonde,
do you want to see a contrast. The same goes for any colour. Listening to clients
is really important to find out what they want.
Celeb
clients:
Michael Buble, Emily Blunt, and Tom Berenger.
Price
range?
Cuts for women range from $65 to $100 depending on the stylist (pick from Charlene,
David, or Franco). The scale is based on years of experience and training. Colour
is based on consultation, but we will work within people’s budgets.
Salon
location and digits:
1075 Mainland, Vancouver/ 604-662-7701
Heidi
Hofstad, The Style Spy
heidi@thestylespy.com
