EGO Lifestyle Salon and Store

Daisy Colina - EGO Lifestyle Salon & Store

It all began in 1987 in Vancouver, when Daisy started her hairdressing career as an apprentice. Daisy's natural talents and passion enabled her to quickly move up the ranks of apprentice, master stylist, educator, salon manager and eventually operations director. At the age of 23, Daisy was recognized nationally as a master of her craft by winning the 1995 Contessa Canadian Men's Hairdresser of the Year Award.

As owner of Ego, Daisy believes success in the industry depends on life long learning. Drawing inspiration from those around her, Daisy surrounds herself with motivated, keen and committed people. She is proud of her team at Ego, which believes in nothing less than pure service excellence aligned with the Aveda mission.

Today, as a Master Colourist, Daisy is an Aveda Global Colour Purfessional. With Aveda, Daisy has been featured as a guest artist and facilitator across Canada, United States, Korea, Japan and Italy. The role as an educator has allowed Daisy to share her colour knowledge and her passion for excellence internationally. Recently, Daisy was part of the Aveda Creative Team that was responsible for the Global Trends Collection Spring/Summer 07. When Daisy is not on the road for Aveda, you can catch her in the salon full time.

Erin Currie - Frontline Team Lead

What does a cross country road trip, a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, and a pair of pink ballet shoes have in common? They are all things that have been instrumental in Erin's life, before finding her way to EGO Lifestyle Salon and Store.

Like so many bright young people with an artistic spirit, Erin spent most of her childhood drawing, painting, playing piano and flute and taking all forms of dance classes. Erin finished her BFA in Dance with honors in 2003 at York University, and was able to showcase her artistic and administrative skills soon after when she opened a Dance studio in Ontario. With love in her heart Erin drove across the country with her cat Cleo, to Vancouver. Having dabbled in most areas of visual and performing arts, it was only natural that Erin would find interest in makeup artistry and naturally derived beauty products. Valuing excellent guest service and environmental responsibility, Erin found herself at EGO Lifestyle Salon and Store, and has been here since January of 2005.

Jeanine Tychkowsky - Master Stylist (dual specialist), Makeup Artist

Jeanine is passionate about high fashion hair and makeup. She worked on such fashion shows as Holt Renfrew, Birks, and Highgrade, Diesel, Henry Singer and Blues Women's Wear. Jeanine has worked with Aveda since 2000, and been in the beauty industry since 1997. She began her journey in the beauty world as a makeup artist and nail technician before finding her way into hair and soon after, the Aveda network. Jeanine is a very technical cutter, and is involved in weekly technical training in colour and cutting, to stay current with new trends and techniques. She joined Ego in 2006, because of the professionalism and friendly yet passionate atmosphere. She loves how at Ego, the guest can relax and feel very well taken care of.

Taylor Smits - Sr. Stylist (dual specialist)

Taylor is inspired by those who are or strive to be at the top of their game. He began working in the industry in April of 2004. After learning fundamentals in school, Taylor knew that he would be one who always wanted to continue learning and growing. He decided to go to the Aveda Advanced Academy program here in Vancouver. Taylor is very grateful to his training at the Aveda Advanced Academy, as it prepared him for his future in the Aveda network. Taylor loves working with all hair types, and is always revamping his styling techniques. He loves to cut with structure to create a classic look, but also loves to cut deconstructed to modify, update and reinvent. Basically Taylor just loves to have fun with hair! Taylor also has an intense passion for hair colour. From soft and subtle to bold and dramatic, Taylor loves to make colour appear as if it was always there. He loves a good challenge and to push himself to new limits. Taylor loves his career!

Sally Traynor - Sr. Stylist (dual specialist), Makeup artist

A little bit about Sally ...

Sally Traynor has been a stylist for four years now, specializing in both makeup artistry as well as hair design. Sally first began as a makeup artist when she moved home to BC from a three year hiatus in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Having completed an apprenticeship at Candeo Salon in Gastown, Sally continued her training at the Aveda Advanced Academy of Vancouver. Ms. Traynor chose to work with Aveda for her own health and because she believes in their innovative environmental mission and business practices. As well as Aveda's initiatives to seek out alternatives to synthetic chemistry and sustainable, renewable, and plant based ingredients. Sally Traynor is a highly creative individual who enjoys meeting new people, hearty conversation, and consistently exceptional service. She looks forward to meeting you at Ego.

Gretchen Stuart - Colour Technician

With an extensive background in art, Gretchen started an apprenticeship under a colour specialist at an Aveda salon in 2003. She immediately fell in love with the Aveda hair colour line, and now sees hair as a new and interesting medium to work with. Gretchen enjoys challenges such as colour correction, creating new looks, and matching previous colour work. Gretchen specializes in colour and technical services at Ego.

Jody Lubin - Stylist (dual specialist)

The fields of music, fine arts, and fashion have endlessly influenced Jody Lubin in his work. Personally taking these elements and mimicking not only the creative output, but also the professional work ethic in his everyday work environment. Jody loves to push himself to influence others, and strives for higher learning. Teaching, learning, respecting and growing, Jody always thinks of each hairstyle as its own masterpiece. He says "Thank you" to all who have influenced him in his life as they help him in his journey through life.

Haircutting - mentor/cut coach/stylist
Technical - colour/highlights/perms/relaxers
Upstyles - creative/formal

Jarred Greff - Stylist (dual specialist)

As a native of Saskatchewan and a prairie boy at heart, Jarred spent his earlier years growing up on a wheat farm. He remembers plucking heads of dill from the garden and, with a pair of orange handled kitchen scissors, trimming them into perfectly formed spheres. Obviously from childhood on, a keen eye for shape, structure, and detail were being cultivated. With hair being one of two major creative outlets for Jarred; he also writes, records, and performs with his musical outfit "The Greff Band". The ability to dream without hesitation or limit and the zeal to pursue insurmountable tasks was never among the elements to be found lacking in Jarred. As inspiration is fuel to the fire of any passion, Jarred draws his inspiration from many sources including; the genuine imperfections within us all that tie us together, the potential of an unbreakable will, and a soaring melody that so willingly escorts you to otherwise unattainable heights.

As for hobbies, he enjoys a compelling non-fiction read, as well as history, war, politics, traveling, and just simple everyday people watching.

Thomasina Grieve - Stylist (dual specialist)

Being a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe and a blonde herself, Thomasina enjoys creating lighter looks. She loves that Aveda uses natural ingredients, and organic when possible, in the hair colour line. The natural ingredients allow colourists to take darker shades of blonde to platinum while maintaining the integrity of the hair. When working with hair, Thomasina draws from her background is in the arts and in sciences, in her work with hair. She has been in the industry for over two years and is excited to be a part of the Ego team. She is thrilled with the opportunity to receive the vast amount of education that Aveda offers, as it is a necessity in the ever changing and growing industry of beauty.

Kelly Jale - Stylist (dual specialist)

With an ever growing passion for the visual arts, it was inevitable that Kelly would continue her knowledge into hair design. Her early interest in Fashion and art directing lead her to study both Fashion Design and Photography. Kelly's hands on approach and creative flair resulted in establishing her own high end fashion label Pierrejale in 2004 where she continues to co-design. Her experience with runway shows and photo shoots sparked her interest in the art of hair. Kelly strongly believes that hair plays a powerful role in any image. She is inspired by a myriad of artists and writers who can exceed the boundaries and push their limits. These inspirations leave Kelly with a forward thinking approach to fashion/ images and design.

Asacia Biln-Armstrong - Stylist (dual specialist)

Asacia's unique name, social nature and flare for the imaginative reflect her roots and upbringing in the beatnik mecca of Nelson, BC. Driven by a teenage urge to explore, she left the Kootenays for Arizona and Oregon to see and experience more. Living with her father, a university professor piqued an interest in academics. Asacia completed an accelerated high school program with honours and pursued a career in Human Geography. She excelled in the technical sciences and was fascinated with human culture but found her career was missing the kind of social interaction and creative engagement she desired. Without a second thought she turned her focus to the world of hair and in 2007 joined the Ego team. She now balances her love for creative colouring and cutting with practical wearability. Asacia is excited to offer her guest the technical background to "build the box" and the imagination to think outside of it.

Connie Chiang - Stylist (dual specialist)

Connie started at Ego lifestyle salon in early 2006 as an apprentice and went to the Aveda Academy at the start of 2007 where she received further training and refined her skills. She loves how Aveda stresses the importance of continuing education and skill development. There is never a dull moment in a salon that is always improving. She really admires how Aveda pushes its employees to continue their education to further their skills and supports and encourages individuality and personal career goals. She is super pleased to be associated with such a close knit team and learning tons and tons everyday!

In the future, Connie wants to develop her skills towards becoming a make up artist/hair stylist in film and fashion. She went to VCC for hair in 2005 and then to Blanche MacDonald for makeup and special effects in 2006. She loves retro styling, music and horror movies and wanted to become a makeup artist after watching Gremlins when she was a wee one.