When we opened Frankie Salon, we had no idea the kinds of doors that would open for us. We’ve always said we’re “a place for dreamers,” but if I’m being totally honest, Tess and I didn’t fully grasp what that meant—until recently.
Let me backup. Picture a little girl rocking a mushroom cut, braces, and Adidas tear-away pants (yep, guilty). While most kids were obsessing over Teen Beat centerfolds of JTT and Devon Sawa, I was tearing pages out of Vogue and taping them to my walls like sacred art. I didn’t know the names of the models or the photographers—I just knew I wanted to be the hairstylist behind those glossy, high-fashion looks.
After high school, I moved to Vancouver to chase that dream. I landed a job at a salon that carried Oribe products, and it was love at first spritz. The scent, the packaging, the performance—it was the total package. But what really got me? Realizing that Oribe, the man, was the genius behind so many of those editorials I used to obsess over. It felt like the universe had tossed me a breadcrumb—like I was one mousse bottle closer to that little-girl dream.
Fast-forward to now, and Tess and I had the chance to sit down with Daniel Kaner, the co-founder and CEO of Oribe Haircare. And let me tell you—meeting someone who helped shape the very industry that shaped us? Both humbling and completely electrifying. He wasn’t just successful—he was kind, open, generous with his stories, and genuinely inspiring. One of those rare people who makes you want to go home, journal about your goals, and maybe finally launch that dream side hustle.
But wait—it gets better.
If you don’t know Daniel’s story, buckle up. It’s a good one. He and legendary stylist Oribe Canales started the brand with nothing but a scrapbook and a vision. They went salon to salon pitching a product line they believed the industry was missing. While Oribe was backstage at fashion weeks, inventing editorial looks with petroleum jelly and pure genius, Daniel was building what would become one of the most iconic luxury hair care brands in the world.
And as if that résumé wasn’t already intimidating enough, Daniel is also married to Sonia Kashuk. Yes, that Sonia Kashuk—the makeup artist and entrepreneur who made it her mission to bring high-quality, professional-grade beauty products to the drugstore shelves long before “affordable luxury” was trending. In the ‘80s, she moved to New York, worked with famed photographer Arthur Elgort, landed spreads in Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar, and later became Aveda’s creative director of cosmetics. Then, in 1999, she flipped the industry on its head by teaming up with Target to launch her own line—becoming the first makeup artist to do a major retailer collab. And just like that, masstige was born. (That’s "mass" + "prestige" for the uninitiated.)
Which brings us to why we’re even writing this blog in the first place.
Our digital marketing director popped into our inbox one day with a casual, “Hey! Can you write something about Cindy Crawford’s iconic blowout in that old Pepsi commercial?”
What she didn’t know was that this simple ask would unravel a web of beauty-world connections that we’re still geeking out over. You ready?
That blowout? Created by Oribe.
Cindy Crawford? Best friends with Sonia Kashuk.
Sonia? Married to Daniel Kaner.
Daniel? The man we just had an inspiring, full-circle conversation with about chasing dreams and building legacies.
So naturally, we reached back out to Daniel—half expecting a polite “Sorry, my schedule’s insane,” because, well, he runs a global brand. But instead, he agreed. And what started as a conversation about Oribe turned into one of the most motivating, meaningful interviews we’ve ever done.
He talked about how they built the brand from scratch, how passion was the driving force behind it all, and how Oribe’s artistry was just as important as the product itself. There was talk of fashion weeks, petroleum jelly, celebrity shoots, and all the hustle behind the glam. It was creative, inspiring, and kind of emotional—in the best way.
And that’s when it hit us.
This blog may have started with a blowout. But it ended with something way more powerful: a reminder of why we started Frankie Salon in the first place. To stay inspired. To dream big. And to surround ourselves with people who remind us what’s possible when you follow your passion.
Because sometimes, a great hairstyle leads to an even better story.
The full interview will be published soon!
