Meet Niela, the heart of Frankie Salon, a founder, and co-owner whose warmth and creativity shapes the very essence of Frankie. Niela is the sweetest person you will ever meet, infusing the salon with an energy that's unparalleled. In true Leo fashion, she radiates love and generosity, creating an environment where both clients and stylists feel not just welcomed, but truly valued.
Niela's calm and chill nature brings a refreshing balance to the team, empowering clients and stylists alike, to change the narrative and own their story. Her prowess extends beyond hairstyling; it's embedded in her leadership approach, where she effortlessly blends the best of both worlds.
With a vision of Frankie as "a place for dreamers," Niela pushes boundaries and unlocks the immense potential within each individual. Her journey toward this is not just a goal; it's a reality in the making. Niela's dedication to her clients, many of whom have been with her since the beginning, speaks volumes about the trust and camaraderie she cultivates at Frankie.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN HAIR?
I always knew I wanted to be a hair stylist, but in my hometown we didn't have a Cosmetology program like they do here, so I got a job at a local hair salon and I took art courses, because I thought they were the most similar to the industry. I knew right off the hop I was going to do hair, I graduated high school, moved to Vancouver, and the rest is history.
HOW DO YOU WANT CLIENTS TO FEEL AFTER A HAIR APPOINTMENT?
I feel like the reason why I love my job so much, is the way you can transform somebody. If someone comes in with a bad mood, I can't wait to turn it around for them. I always want them to feel their best. Sometimes people have a past with hair stylists where they're like 'oh I can never have layers because my hair stylist told me this'–and I love changing the narrative, and making people's hair dreams come true, not making them sit within a box.
WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR STYLE INSPIRATIONS FROM?
Pinterest. [Are there any people you admire in the style industry?] So many people, the Oribe stylists, New York Fashion Week. Pinterest is a culmination of everything, it's hair, and we take whatever vision we have, and make a mood board, and then we get the vibe we are going for with the photos.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?
With my family - my kids is the best part, and my husband. Watching The Real Housewives and reality shows.
WHAT’S YOUR SIGNATURE CUT OR STYLE?
Growing up in the 80's and 90's, I would say all the 90's styles that are coming back. I am obsessed. I love layered haircuts, butterfly cuts, bangs, the Pamela Anderson style, all 90's stuff.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART ABOUT FRANKIE?
We say Frankie is a place for dreamers, because we actually like to help make dreams come true. And sometimes people just need someone to believe in them, or to give them the right direction. This was the reason why we opened Frankie, we want stylists to feel empowered to be their best selves, be creative, be unique, and then we can create a place that would make it really comfortable, and try and make everybody succeed. And then ultimately, it spills down into clients, right, if our stylists are feeling empowered, they are going to then turnaround and make clients feel special.
My favourite part about Frankie are probably the content days, but mainly the creativity and breaking boundaries that people have within themselves.
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