staysea ~ owner & STYLIST

(She/Her)

Instagram: @stayseabrown

Start Date at Hairpins: October 2011

Hourly Rate: $85 (plus Salon Scale fee)

Staysea is the owner of Hairpins and has worked behind the chair since 2003. Staysea’s favourite services are creating lived in colours and picking the right root smudge, classic foiling in a modern way, and she loves cutting a bob.

Being inspired behind the chair isn’t the only area in her life that Staysea likes to get creative. Gardening and cooking are two things that fill her cup. Staysea absolutely loves flowers and having a massive cutting garden would be a complete dream! Camping, pottery, roads trips, wine tasting, and her cats are among some of her other favourite things in life. Staysea loves coming to work because no two days are the same. Hairpins family is a close one, the support and love that comes from within these four walls is like nothing she’s ever seen before in her years behind the chair.

“Words can’t even explain the gratitude I have for my little shop and Hairpins Family.”

At this time, Staysea is not taking on new clients.

sheilagh ~ stylist

(She/Her)

Instagram: @shaybayloveshair

Start Date at Hairpins: September 2015

Hourly Rate: $80 (plus Salon Scale fee)

Three of Sheilagh’s favourite services to do right now are highlights in all facets: baby lights, balayage, hand painting, with an affinity for all shades of blonde. She enjoys creative cuts, bob’s, textured shags, disconnected layers, and pixies. In addition, Sheilagh loves colour corrections and all the challenges that come with correcting a colour while keeping the integrity of the hair. She finished hair school in 1999, bringing years of expereince behind the chair. Sheilagh has ventured off a couple of times in her career to try something different but always found her way back to her passion for the hair business.

Interests as of late are always keeping her hands messy with some sort of creative project. Be it painting a mural on her walls at home, refurbishing old furniture, or tackling a home renovation vision. She’s been getting into Bouldering with her children at the rock climbing gym. It’s totally piqued her interest and has quickly become a love in her life, as well as the fact it’s a fun activity for her and the kids to do together. Sheilagh also has a passion for fashion; she’s a sucker for a thrilling thrift shopping session in search of anything vintage…especially dresses!

Her favourite part about coming to work is the amazing people she gets to spend her days with, both clients and co-workers. Not to mention the fact she gets to flex her creative muscles everyday is a dream come true.

AYAKO ~ stylist

(She/Her)

Instagram: @ayakoko_

Start Date at Hairpins: May 2021

Hourly Rate: $80 (plus Salon Scale fee)

Ayako was delighted to be brought into the Hairpins team when she and her husband moved to the Comox Valley in 2021. Hailing from Japan, she brings with her a love of fashion, style, and things unique. She has been a stylist since 2016 and has attended Vidal Sassoon classes in London, England.

Ayako has a passion for creating textures in hair by perming, razor cuts, textured shags, bobs, pixies, and creative cuts. She loves creative colouring such as peekaboo, balayage, and money pieces. Being well experienced in working with Asian hair textures as well, Ayako realizes the different needs of various cultures' hair qualities.

On a personal note, Ayako is the doting mother of two beautiful girls, loving wife to her husband Christopher, and has a penchant for kitesurfing, camping, hiking, snowboarding, and all that the wild outdoors of the Comox Valley has to offer. In addition, Ayako and Christopher own Eden Therapy located on 5th street.

Nicole ~ stylist

(She/Her)

Instagram: @sunkissed.blonde.hair

Start Date at Hairpins: May 2021

Hourly Rate: $80 (plus Salon Scale fee)

Nicole may be new to Hairpins but she's been working her magic behind the chair since 2006. Working on blondes has always been Nicole’s favourite in the past but she is loving how much colour is evolving. Creating lived-in colours by combining classic foiling, baby lights and foilyage are among some of Nicole's favourite techniques right now. Picking the perfect toner or adding a little root smudge has been her winning combo. Nicole is accepting new clients and would love to create that perfect lived-in blonde, sun-kissed highlights, or rich dark colour melt for you.

Outside of the salon, Nicole loves to stay active mountain biking, practicing yoga and gardening. Her favourite thing about coming to work is the creative team environment. She also loves transforming her clients and giving them the perfect look!

Kris ~ stylist

(He/Him)

Instagram: @kristraverhair

Start Date at Hairpins: December 2021

Hourly Rate: $70 (plus Salon Scale fee)

Kris is the newest member of the Hairpins family, but has been in the hair industry since 2017. His favourite services right now are wolf cuts, shags, & mullets. He also likes doing vivid colours and curly hair cuts.

Some things Kris loves doing outside of work is amateur birdwatching, playing video games, print making, hanging out with his cat, and crocheting.

His favourite things about coming to work are spending time with amazing people and letting his creativity flow.

KEISJA ~ stylIst

(She/Her)

Instagram: @keisjarayhair

Start Date at Hairpins: September 2022

Hourly Rate: $75 (plus Salon Scale fee)

Keisja is Comox Valley born and raised and has been working behind the chair since 2016. Specializing in balayage & blondes, she loves creating beautiful, lived-in colours that are created uniquely for each of her clients. Keisja says that colouring hair is not the only area of styling she likes. She loves cutting long hair and creating textured cuts.

When Keisja isn’t getting creative behind the chair, you can find her in the gym, practicing yoga, or spending time out on the golf course. Keisja is also extremely family-orientated and has a great group of friends that she loves spending time with. Being a very social person, her family and friends are the most important aspects of her life including her Hairpins Fam!

kylana ~ stylist

(She/Her)

Instagram: @hair.by.kylana

Start Date at Hairpins: November 2024

Hourly Rate: $60 (plus Salon Scale fee)

Originally from Nanaimo, Kylana made the exciting move to the Comox Valley in October 2024 to embark on a new chapter!

With a passion for the beauty industry that began in 2022, Kylana quickly found her niche in hair colour, specializing in creating soft, dimensional looks that enhance each client’s natural beauty. Kylana also loves working on high-impact blondes that suit the unique lifestyles and goals of her clients.

Outside of the salon, Kylana enjoys expanding her creativity through painting classes, home decorating, and working on social media projects. She is also the proud pet parent to her dog, Koa, and her cats, Miah and Moose, who are always by her side.

finnebar ~ Salon manager

(They/Them)

Start Date at Hairpins: October 2023

Say hello to our Salon Manager! They keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes, ensuring that each visit is enjoyable from start to finish. With a knack for organization and a flair for customer service, they are always ready to assist you with appointments, product recommendations, and a friendly chat.

When they aren’t managing the salon, you can find Finnebar lifting weights at the gym, paddle boarding or exploring their creative side through their art!

Finnebar is excited to start their apprenticeship journey in the salon in 2025.

YOUR NAME HERE ~ FUTURE STYLIST

That's right, we're ALWAYS looking for the right fit!