Defining contemporary sustainable beauty

Alison

Co-owner / senior stylist

Alison was enjoying a successful career as a graphic designer and art director when she decided to refocus her artist’s eye and passion for fashion to a career in hair design. She trained and worked as a hairstylist in Montreal before moving back to Vancouver in 2003. She had a vision: to create a salon with an atmosphere that made customers feel comfortable and encompassed in positive energy. In 2010 that became a reality when she and Christina opened the.dye.lot.

Alison is known to her clients, staff, family, and friends as a compassionate and creative spirit with an exceptional sense of humour. Her dedication to both people and the business create instant bonds that have built a devoted team and a loyal client base.

Christina

Co-owner / senior stylist

Christina, a home-grown North Vancouverite, is co-owner of the.dye.lot. After graduating amidst the top of her class from the Hair Art Design Program at John Casablancas Institute, Christina has continued to excel at both cutting and colouring hair. She has been a hair stylist for the past 10 years, spending three years at Vancouver’s Axis Salon prior to opening The Dye Lot. A businesswoman at heart, Christina also co-created Hair 101, which specializes in tutorials that show her clients how to do hair like a pro.

Either in the salon or teaching Hair 101 classes, Christina’s favourite part of the job is working with people and helping them love their hair again. She thrives off the rewarding connection with her clients and is pleasantly surprised by the recognition that The Dye Lot receives. 

Instagram: @christina_at_thedyelot

Caitlin

Co-owner / master stylist

Born and raised in North Vancouver, Caitlin trained at Vancouver Community College, taking her skills with her to three North Vancouver salons before joining the.dye.lot. Even when backpacking through Europe, Caitlin took along her scissors and was cutting hair in hostels.

A stylist since 2004, Caitlin has grown a loyal clientele who return for great hair and for some quality time with this easy-going gal. She’s extraordinary with colour, but blowing out tresses and creating a beautiful finished product is what makes her happiest. When it comes to weddings and special occasions, Caitlin is the.dye.lot’s go-to girl for styling, including up-dos, braids and more. Make sure you check out our bridal portfolio for a glimpse of her fabulous creations.

Instagram: @caitlingracehair

Shae

Senior stylist

The idea of being able to socialize, be creative and make people feel beautiful all at the same time appealed to Shae. So, she left her Okanagan home and enrolled in the Hair Art Design Program at the John Casablancas Institute, graduating in 2007.

Her idea of perfect hair—shiny, healthy Victoria’s Secret glamour waves and sun-kissed-California beach colour. She has a knack for creating styles that match your personality and lifestyle. She also enjoys cutting men’s hair, encouraging them to step out of the box and try new edgy styles.

When Shae isn’t in the salon she’s often spotted on top of Quarry Rock. Or, at BCIT feeding her appetite for knowledge.

Instagram: @14karatgoldie

Sergio

Senior stylist / makeup artist

The hair styling bug first bit Sergio as a teen living in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico, when he asked to be a hair model. His talents soon opened doors to working on big-name events such as the 2007 Miss Universe pageant and was even featured in the TV special.

After moving to Montreal in 2008, he came west in 2012 and freelanced before settling down at the.dye.lot. A welcome addition to the team (not just because he’s our only male stylist), Sergio has more than a decade of experience as both a hair and makeup artist. He sees a haircut as a form of therapy for people who want to start fresh and to feel good about themselves

Instagram: @huacox

Vanessa

Senior stylist

It’s not a stretch to say Vanessa has always been a bit colour cray cray. Not content to just experiment with her own hair colour (which changed monthly), Vanessa enrolled at Kelowna’s Marvel Hair College and turned her passion into a profession. Working at a salon called the.dye.lot seems an ideal fit.

Always fashion-forward, Vanessa enjoys working with a range of colour techniques and on long hair. She likes to put her own modern twist on classic hairstyles from the past and admits to being “obsessed” with the glamour of celebrity red carpet hair.

A stylist since 2008, she has her sights set on one day becoming a master colourist and an educator.

Instagram: @vanessa.at.thedyelot

Sarah

Senior stylist

A wannabe surfer girl, Sarah gets her inspo from the beach. She loves working with blonde hair, aspiring to “make the world a little brighter, one blonde at a time!” Sarah’s affinity for hair’s natural texture translates into organic, sunny waves (of course) and other long styles, and cute bobs and lobs. Clients of any hair colour step away from Sarah’s chair wearing fabulous hair styles and big smiles.

Sarah has worked at several North Shore salons, as receptionist at a salon in Sheffield, England and freelanced while taking studio art design courses. Sarah feels she has found “her happy place” at the.dye.lot. We’re happy she’s joined us as a stylist and Kevin Murphy Ambassador.

Instagram: @mcvittiespretties

Melissa

Stylist

This bubbly blonde is bursting with infectious charm and personality. After moving to Vancouver from Kitimat at thirteen, Melissa took two years of hair styling training during high school. She then refined her stylist skills at JoJi’s Hair Design Academy in Vancouver. Always keen to learn more, Melissa has attended a TIGI cutting class in New York, the international beauty show in Las Vegas, as well as training with Goldwell Colour.

She loves highlights, kid’s cuts and men’s cuts. She continues to expand on her skillset and aspires to learn the art of barbering. Get those beards ready, boys!

FUN FACT: She’s been a martial artist for 15 years—just call her “the hair ninja”.

Anna

Stylist

A stylist since 2009, Anna is highly educated. She graduated from the London School of Hair in ___. Her advanced training with Redken and Goldwell means she’s a pro at customized highlights and Keratin re-texturizing.

While sleek bobs top her list of favourite haircuts to execute, she also specializes in long layering techniques, formal styles, and men's cuts.

Anna has come a long way to join the.dye.lot in 2014. Born in Iran, she lived in Turkey before coming to Canada, adding a jet-setting flair to our team. She also brings a new skill set to our hair studio, threading. You can have your eyebrows shaped or unwanted facial hair zipped away on a lunch break or while your colour is processing.

Instagram: @parsaanna

Lilly

Stylist

Growing up in Hungary (yes, she knows how to make goulash) Lilly would watch her mother—a hair stylist for 40 years—as she cut hair in her home. After living in London for four years she moved to Vancouver in 2013 and followed in her mother’s footsteps by enrolling in the program at John Casablancas. She was chosen to intern at the.dye.lot, becoming a member of the team in late 2015.

She’s always been inspired by Jennifer Aniston’s hair thanks to watching all 236 episodes of Friends five times. Lilly enjoys creating a range of styles, from special occasion updos and braids, to fashionable bobs and layered long looks.

Instagram: @lily.stobie.hair

Alyssa

Stylist

The.dye.lot is always on the lookout for new talent who turn heads with their potential and passion. That’s why we were quick to snatch up North Vancouverite Alyssa, fresh out of her program at the John Casablancas Institute.

Alyssa took to the floor like a seasoned pro and in no time she was wowing us, and clients, with her great styles, colours and cuts. Her sweet personality is the icing on the cake. Clients appreciate Alyssa’s thoughtful approach to the creative process and the time she takes to discuss their wants, needs, and expectations. Men’s cuts and colours are also right in her wheelhouse. We'll be watching to see how Alyssa’s bright future continues to unfold.

Instagram: @hairbymess

AK

Stylist

Colour has always been a presence in AK's life. Immersed in art and culture growing up–her parents owned an art gallery–a career in beauty and style was a natural choice for AK (short for Ann-Kathrin). She graduated from Blanche MacDonald Centre with a diploma in makeup artistry, and then earned a diploma in Hair Art Design at John Casablanca Institute.

AK’s talents as a colour virtuoso are most evident in the techniques that excite her most—from anything natural looking to balayage, ombré and colour melting. And, her barbering skills and mastery of fades have made her popular with male clientele.

Her long-term professional goal? To train and work in Berlin for six months.

Instagram: @akesxo

Shane

Front-End Coordinator

Shane’s wide grin is likely the first thing you see when you walk through the doors of the.dye.lot. Funny and personable, as our front end coordinator, he ensures everything runs smoothly. The coffee tastes a little better, the towels feel a little fluffier, the shelves are well stocked with your favourite products and he’s a whiz with our booking system.

Shane’s not an aspiring hairstylist. Instead, he enjoys the behind-the-scenes aspects of salon life and working in a fast-paced, style-driven environment. Shane’s background in customer service, and interest in business and finance (including a strange excitement over spreadsheets), make him a valuable asset, ensuring clients have an all-around, fabulous experience each time they visit.

Katarina

Receptionist

A comment we often hear from our many satisfied clients is that they love the.dye.lot vibe (one of our faves—“Visiting the.dye.lot is like having coffee with your friend. Relaxing and enjoyable. A get-away from busy life.”).

That experience starts when you enter our salon and are welcomed by Katarina who tag-teams “official greeter” duties with Shane.

Katarina’s favourite pastime is getting out into the North Shore forests and trails to enjoy the natural beauty of the earth. That love of nature is what attracted her to working at the.dye.lot and why she’s so stoked about her role in carrying out many of the daily actions we practise as part of our commitment to sustainable beauty.