Hi Katie, it’s so good to get the chance to chat with you about one of my favorite topics…hair! So your salon—Bridal Hair Couture By Katie—is located in Brampton, Ontario Canada, one of my favorite countries in the world. How long have you been in the hair care business and what inspired you to join this industry?
I have been in the hair industry for 20 years. I was first inspired as a child by the Hairstylist my Mother saw on a regular basis. He was a very passionate hairstylist and I thought he had the best job I the world! Since then I wanted to do what he did and so it came to be!
Definitely sounds like a calling to me. What are some of the hair trends you’re asked to do the most and what is your signature hairstyle?
Initially I found I was getting a lot of requests for other well known artists work and for the most popular looks on Pinterest like boho inspired looks, braided styles, beach waves etc. But recently I took control of what I’d really like to be doing which is modern takes on classic, timeless, red carpet looks. My signature looks include sharp, defined vintage waves and highly detailed, structured up styles. I also really love creating runway inspired looks that are current and highly fashion forward. I am currently trying to brand myself with these styles by featuring looks like these through video tutorials and posts via social media and I’m now finding people are requesting what I am putting out there more!
I’ve seen your video tutorials on your Instagram page @bridalhaircouturebykatie and love them, they’re really helpful. You mentioned your signature looks include sharp, defined, vintage waves, would you say you specialize in color, cut or style and do you style all hair types, hair textures and hair lengths?
I specialize in Bridal and Editorial styling and have just started teaching also. I no longer cut/colour as these industry attributes are not where my true passion lies. I’m so grateful I have been able to create a business that solely specializes in styling! I work with a very diverse range of hair textures and types and love an opportunity to design and create styles that will work with any hair texture/type.
That’s really cool! I’m in love with your bridal looks! What type of hair extensions, like clip-ins, tape-ins, weaves, pre-bonded, fusion, and micro-link, do you use on a regular basis? Which brand is your favorite?
My current favourite brand of extensions are Tesoro Hair Extensions. They offer a huge variety of hair extension types, colours and lengths. They are really great to work with and often custom make extensions to suit my clients’ needs. I prefer to use their brand new range of seamless clip in extensions. They are clip in extensions with a tape inseam which allows me to use them on very fine hair, close to the hairline without visibility. They are especially good in upstyles because of how seamless they are.
That’s really good to know. It’s so hard to pick brands when you may not be familiar with all of them—I know I feel that way sometimes. So what styling tools are your go-to?
I’m a big fan of ghd and Sam Villa heat styling tools. My favourite hardware brands are Cricket carbon combs/clips and Lorna Evans Education specialty tools such as the curve comb, Jumbo styling comb and time saver brush. My tools and products are very simple and specific and I have spent much time perfecting my kit!
I bet! Sometimes it can take years to perfect your kit because some products haven’t even been invented yet. So then what products do you like to use on your clients? Why?
I mainly use Schwarzkopf and KMS products. I’ve been using these two brands in my kit for many years and I find they are very reliable and provide exactly the styling products I need for the particular styles I create. My two favourite must haves in my kit are KMS Dry Wax Spray and Schwarzkopf OSIS+ Powder Cloud.
I love Schwarzkopf, their OSiS+ SoftN’Straight Smooth Straightening Emulsion serum is fantastic! Do you have your own line of hair or beauty products and if so, what did you want to achieve with your products that was not already out there?
I would actually love to create my own line of products, tools AND KITS! I feel that stylists need very specific things and a lot of the time the feedback I get from students and other stylists is that there is TOO MUCH on the market to really know what works, what is reliable, what they should buy again. I feel I’ve gotten to a stage where I’d like to create a very simple, specific, high quality line of products/tools and kits that covers all the areas needed for creating any style for stylists who make it a full-time job doing bridal and onset work particularly.
A high-quality line of products or a kit for bridal styling would be awesome, and you’re right, there is too much out there on the market and it’s super hard to figure out what really works best. What beauty tip are you asked about the most?
How to get curls to last!
That’s a sensible question to ask. I wish I had to the answer to it. Hey, that could be a great product for your line, a spray that makes curls last for hours! Out of curiosity, what vitamin or supplement do you recommend for thinning hair?
I don’t recommend anyone should take any type of vitamin for their hair unless their doctor or dermatologist has prescribed it for a diagnosed problem. Healthy hair starts with a healthy lifestyle of eating well and looking after yourself first and getting quality hair care products recommended to you by your professional stylist.
Great point! Which hair-dye brand is your favorite and why? And which common drugstore hair-dye brand do you recommend for touch-ups at home?
When I was a colourist, I worked with Goldwell hair color. It is my absolute favourite and a very easy, high quality line for professional colourists to use. I don’t ever recommend anyone doing touch ups with drugstore products at home unless you have decided to colour your hair yourself full time. Often there is a chemical clash between store bought products and professional products and can compromise your hairstylists work. I believe you either choose to be full time in the salon or full time at DIY!
Another great point! What is your number one hair care tip or warning?
Get your hair cut and trimmed regularly. The only true possible way to have healthy hair is to cut damaged hair off. This alone affects how your colour will hold and look, how well your hair will style and hold curl/shape. Colour is fine as long as you cut your hair regularly. Heat styling is fine as long as you cut your hair regularly.
You know what, that’s a really good tip. I’m guilty of not trimming my hair as often as I should. You’ve been in the hair industry for a long time, who did you train with and do you hold any certifications and/or awards?
I’ve had the opportunity to be educated by Sharon Blain, Lorna Evans, Elstile, Mustafa Avcii, Stephanie Brinkerhoff through hands on and online education. I think continuous education is very important. I don’t have a lot of accolades. I only have ONE actual trophy/award I earned for my work, it was First place in the bridal category for a regional hair completion I competed in during my first year as an apprentice! I did have my work featured more recently though on the cover of WedLuxe Magazine Winter/Spring 2019 issue, Today’s Bride and Elegant Wedding Magazine. I was also voted Modern Salon’s Top 100 North American Beauty Influencers for 2019. I’m pretty proud of what I’ve achieved thus far.
Congratulations on all of your recognitions, it truly is well deserved. I love reading through WedLuxe Magazine and anything having to do with Modern Salon is incredible! Do you work out of the salon and are you available for on-location bookings, either locally or out of state?
I am available for on-location services in a particular mapped region of the GTA. This info is available via my website.
That’s good to know. Lastly, what can we expect to see in the future from you?
I’m currently working on a YouTube channel and creating more video content of my work. I’m also looking to provide more online education as I have received a lot of interest in that. I think ultimately the goal would be to create my own line of products, tools and kits. I’ve already got some designs and ideas in the works!
That’s really amazing Katie. Best of luck with your YouTube channel, I’ll definitely be following along. Oh, and I can’t wait for you to launch your products and kits, I know they’ll be a hit!
LuvlyLongLocks would like to thank Katie D’Souza for sharing her insights and tips. For more information about Katie D’Souza, visit www.bridalhairtoronto.com.
This interview was conducted by Avni Parekh, LuvlyLongLocks chief creative officer. LuvlyLongLocks has affiliate partnerships and may earn a commission if you make a purchase through the link at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, only products that are known to yield high results are recommended.
