Canadian Choice Award Winner Exclusive: Hair E Styles on Innovation, Trust & Modern Hair Care

Name: Emyn Hayden

Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland

Business: Hair E Styles

Instagram: @haire.stylesnl

Website: hairestyles.ca

Category: Hair Stylist / Educator / Advocate

💬 INTRODUCTION

I’m from St. John’s, Newfoundland. I’m a hairstylist and educator specializing in natural texture, gender affirming care, and sensory-friendly appointments. My creative journey started early — cutting wigs for cosplay as a kid.

I went to hair school a couple of years after graduating, and honestly, I struggled with how traditional the career felt. But on the other side of that, I started noticing service gaps — entire communities being left out of self-care.

After leaving school, I met my mentor Ali Pike, and we quickly began doing pop-ups in spaces like art galleries, parks, breweries, and even the beach.

🔥 THE PASSION

I was inspired by countless avenues, but at the foundation of it all was my own experience of humiliation in a hairstyling chair — a space that should have felt safe and affirming. That experience pushed me to transform my services, creating an environment where everyone has access to professional, high-quality hair care in a setting that is comfortable, supportive, and affirming.

🇨🇦 COMMUNITY & CANADIAN PRIDE

Being a Canadian creative means finding ways to create with limited resources. Growing up in St. John’s, there weren’t many creative opportunities — but those gaps pushed us to think more imaginatively and seek out others who were driven to make art.

The creative communities that exist now are abundant, uplifting, and supportive — with a shared understanding of the challenges that come with being an artist.

Being a Canadian creative is about humility and resilience.

🚀 BUILDING THE DREAM

A standout moment for me was entering the Contessa Awards and receiving finalist nominations in three categories for my work. It was a turning point, as I had always felt like an inferior colourist — and one of the categories I finalized in specifically recognized my colour work. After that, colour didn’t feel as intimidating, and my confidence to experiment behind the chair really grew. It felt like I was accessing new creative avenues.

🤝 NETWORKING SPOT

A dream creative project of mine is to mobilize my services in a van or RV and take them across Newfoundland, focusing on smaller communities that don’t typically have access to gender-affirming care. Alongside offering these services, I’d also connect with local salons and barbershops to provide workshops on gender-affirming hair care and how to create safer, more inclusive spaces behind the chair.

Providing these workshops would help ensure the impact lasts beyond just my visit. I’d also love to document the journey — interviewing community members and capturing these services and experiences along the way.

COMET QUESTIONS ☄️

COMET: In an industry that’s constantly evolving, how have you developed your own identity and approach as a stylist?

Hair E Styles: My identity and approach as a stylist came from noticing gaps in my industry and choosing not to ignore them, but to address them head-on. From natural texture to gender-affirming hair care, the foundation of our education as hairstylists often doesn’t cover these areas — which means we’re not always able to serve our clients the way they deserve.

I sought out additional education and experiences early in my career to become as versatile as possible, so I wouldn’t have to turn anyone away who was looking for my services.

COMET: You specialize in natural texture — what gaps did you see in the industry that pushed you to focus in that area?

Hair E Styles: I noticed it most in my own life. I didn’t have anyone around me — not even a hairstylist — who could teach me how to care for my naturally curly hair. I was pushed to straighten it for years.

It wasn’t until after hair school that someone finally said to me, “Your hair is curly, it’s just dehydrated.” That came from a curl specialist, one of my first mentors in natural texture, Jenn Ghaney.

I considered her salon, The Seahorse, my real hair school. I learned so many essentials there — from the organic chemistry of hair to natural textures and cutting techniques. It filled a gap that even formal education didn’t address.

COMET: Is there a particular style or type of service that challenges you the most? What makes it challenging?

Hair E Styles: I actually find straight hair to be challenging. I focused heavily on natural texture right out of hair school and had mostly curly-haired clients, so when a straight-haired client would sit in my chair, I’d hold my breath.

As I’ve diversified my services over the last few years, I now work with more straight-haired clients, which has helped me grow and build confidence in that area.

COMET: Have you ever had a client tell you they didn’t like their hair? How did you handle that moment, and what did you learn from it?

Hair E Styles: Yes, I’ve had clients who were unhappy with their service. In those moments, I’m deeply apologetic and immediately try to find the source of the problem. Sometimes it’s miscommunication, and other times it’s something you can’t predict.

When I was newer, I would bring those situations to a senior stylist and assist them as they resolved the issue. Over time, I’ve learned that hairstylists are human — not machines. We make mistakes, especially when we’re learning.

The difference in our industry is that those mistakes happen on someone’s head, so the responsibility is real.

COMET: Was there ever a moment behind the chair where you were just having so much fun it didn’t even feel like work? Tell us about it.

Hair E Styles: There’s a moment almost every day where I’m having so much fun it doesn’t feel like work. I love what I do, I love my clients, and I really value the relationships I’ve built with them.

I feel incredibly grateful that I get to do this every day.

COMET: What do you do to make a new client feel comfortable and confident enough to come back again?

Hair E Styles: I think my consultation process plays a big role in that. I explain everything I’m doing as I’m doing it so clients can recreate the process at home.

I also encourage a lot of questions, especially during the first appointment. That level of transparency helps build trust and makes people feel more comfortable.

COMET: Who were some of the mentors or influences that helped shape you when you were starting out, and how did they impact your approach today?

Hair E Styles: My mentors came from The Seahorse — Jenn Ghaney and Ali Pike.

They both offered extremely professional and unique approaches to working with natural texture and communicating with clients. Watching them provide services to people who felt unseen gave me confidence in my own approach with my community.

🏆 CANADIAN CHOICE AWARD

COMET: What does receiving a Canadian Choice Award mean to you at this stage in your journey?

Hair E Styles: It feels a little surreal, especially having not even been open for six months yet. It really showed me how deeply people value my work and how many people I’ve been able to reach through my services.

COMET: How has this recognition impacted your journey or the way people view your work?

Hair E Styles: I think it’s positioned me as a recognized and trusted professional in my field.

🌈 CLOSING

My next step is moving into my new space at 30B Duckworth Street. From there, I want to turn inward and build something intentional — a cozy, creative collective where clients don’t just receive a service, but feel fully comfortable, understood, and taken care of.

If you’d like to follow along as this next chapter unfolds, you can stay connected through my socials and be part of the journey as it grows.