About our Salon
The Strand is all about providing clients with "affordable luxury"™ hairdressing. This can only come from stylists of exceptional skill who have a passion for their trade. You can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere where the hair stylists providing their services are happy and enthusiastic as well as highly skilled and current in their knowledge and techniques. We seek to exceed your desires by empowering Hair Stylists to accomplish high standards through continued education and with salon support for providing leading innovative products and tools to its clients and Hairdressers. This high end service without the high end price is how the independent Hairdressers at The Strand provide you with "Affordable Luxury".
The Strand is a hair salon for stylists of exceptional skill where they can achieve professional success at a much higher level than by working in a typical chain salon or on their own as a sole proprietor. The Strand provides skilled, educated and enthusiastic stylists with an environment where they can grow professionally in continuing to develop their talents and skills with a combination of salon provided support and policy that promotes a positive culture of cooperative teamwork between such talented stylists.
The Strand stands by the following key principals and the conduct associated with their implementation:
- The provision of a comfortable and relaxing environment where the client receives the highest level of satisfaction from their product and service purchases is our number one priority.
- Providing a professional and relaxed work environment for the stylists to expand their professional success within, is imperative to accomplishing our number one priority.
- Related to both of these values is the passion that must be held by every member of the team for the work they do.
- Reducing the environmental impact of services provided and products sold is important where it is possible to do so without hindering our number one priority.
The Strand was conceived by Tammy Graham in 2010 as a way to help talented and passionate Hair Stylists grow professionally and escape the stagnant dead end world of salon chains. Tammy finally established her salon location in August of 2011 after a long and arduous task of searching Thunder Bays commercial properties for an appropriate location. Through the implementation of her mission and values, Tammy hopes to expand the passion and salon culture of The Strand internally with more stylists, externally in the future with new locations and some day founding a Hairdressing Educational Institute.
Today you can find The Strand at 361 Hodder Ave. in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
About our Stylists / Hairdressers
With the exception of our selected apprentices, The stylists / hairdressers at The Strand Hair Salon are fully licensed, experienced, passionate and talented professionals who include self employed booth renters and employees of The Strand. Employees are guided and trained based on our vision and ideals. Renting stylists are only granted a booth upon meeting the following ideals, conditions and guidelines:
- Committed to continued hair styling education to develop skills to their maximum potential and keep current in trends, product knowledge, techniques and everything cutting edge in hair styling.
- Passionate about hair and achieving excellent results for the clients they serve.
- Actively involved in the hairdressing / hair styling industry by contributing to charitable functions, local fashion events, traveling to regional or national hair shows to compete, teach or simply learn by taking it all in.
- Customer service oriented Hairdressers who perform their services with integrity.
- Career oriented hairdressers who have the desire to do more than just simply cut hair.
These and other guidelines are set to ensure that the Stylists at The Strand Hair Salon are the most talented group of professional hairdressers available.
Ashley Suttie
Ashley is in the process of writing her memoires! Check back soon for her new profile.
Chantal Skrilec
On her wedding day, Chantals dad recalled an endearing memory of how they knew of her early desire to work with hair as none of her childhood dolls escaped from having makeovers. After graduating from Confederation College in 1999 with a Business Marketing Diploma she decided to answer her true calling and enrolled at Nu Wave School of Hair Design. Upon graduating with her certificate of Hairstyling in October 2001 she hasn't looked back.
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She has continued her education by participating and completing a variety of classes, from Advanced Haircutting, Chemical texturing, to numerous colour techniques and mastery. She is a true colouring expert, Chantal can achieve anything from au natural, to bright avant-garde and she is not afraid to tackle any colour challenge and has the skills, knowledge and theory from such significant Hair industry leaders as Paul Mitchel, Joico, Wella and Sexy Hair under her belt.
Chantal has also enjoyed traveling to big industry events such as the ABA ( Allied Beauty Association) in Winnipeg annually, where she has had the opportunity to assist the Sexy Hair Canadian Stage Artistic Team. She has traveled as far as Orlando Florida to the Premiere Orlando beauty show.
You will find the caring nature she has for her family and friends is extended to her clients in her love to meet and exceed their expectations. Chantal would like to welcome her loyal clients and any new ones that would like to join her in her new adventure with "The Strand" salon.
Leanna Laramee
From a young child, Leanna knew she'd be involved in the beauty industry. She was passionate about art, and has always been a little quirky. So she knew a creative, fun work environment was the right career path for her.
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Leanna graduated from NuWave School of Hair Design in June 2011 and has spent the last four years gaining experience in hair cutting, styling, perming and colouring. She takes great pride in her work and loves nothing more than to make clients feel like rock stars when they finish their appointment.
She is excited to continue growing as a stylist and furthering her career by learning new techniques and staying current on trends in the industry. Leanna welcomes all of her loyal clients to join her at "The Strand" and welcomes any new clients along for the new exciting chapter in her career.
Kristi Ann Cerqueira
Kristi Ann graduated with both a diploma in hairstyling and esthetics from NuWave School of Hair Design in 2005 and since then remains active in the hair styling industry attending the ABA in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2006, Premiere Orlando Hair Show in 2009 and various hair shows and classes within Thunder Bay.
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Her community and charity involvement has included participation in the Curves for Women annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser in 2009 and 2010, where she got the opportunity to shave the heads of her mother and 5 other brave women to support such a wonderful cause.
With 6 years of experience in hair styling, Kristi Ann has great passion for hair and making people feel revitalized. In the salon, she always strives to create an environment in which her clients are at ease to express themselves and their ideas. Kristi Anns number one goal is for her clients to be confident and satisfied with their hairstyle. She also believes you can never stop learning in this industry so she stays current with trends and takes continuing education classes so she is able to cater to her wide range of clientele.
Kristi Ann took a follow up nail course in 2011 which included gel nails as well as the new Xtame UV nail colour.
She is excited to see her loyal clients join her on this new endeavour and is eager to take on new clients now!
Tammy Graham
Tammy has been styling hair since she was a child. From her Barbie dolls to her little brother, then eventually the rest of her family and professionally for 15 years.
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During her career she has trained in Winnipeg, Los Angeles and won gold in National competition. She has been a featured stage artist in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Detroit and taught everywhere in between as an EBE (Education Business Expert) for SexyHair Concepts.
From graduating top honor in her class she competed in womens long hair design and won the gold medal earning a place on the skills team Manitoba and followed up with 4th place in Canada while she was still finishing her apprenticeship.
Tammy believes we never stop learning and growing. She has completed countless courses and holds certificates for many colour & product classes from Matrix, Wella, Martin Parson, Goldwell, Joico & SexyHair.
After deciding to move to Thunder Bay, Tammy held a position as Primary Instructor at Thunder Bay School of Hair Design. Her passion for hair is infectious and she loves to share with her students.
In 2004 Tammy was introduced to SexyHair Concepts and has since joined their team of EBE's. As an Education Business Expert and Canadian platform artist, she has trained annually in Los Angeles and taught all over Canada and most recently venturing into the United States in Northern Minesota and Detroit. In 2011 Tammy won an award for #1 results in Western Canada as an EBE for SexyHair Concepts.
