By Adriana Ermter
Pinned-back swirling curls. Classic half-up/half-down waves. Slightly undone buns and voluminous low ponytails. What do they all have in common? They’re holiday hairstyles we’ve admired for years courtesy of actresses Donna Reed, Maureen O’Hara, Kiera Knightley and Reese Witherspoon in films like It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Love Actually and Four Christmases. “These movies have created iconic moments we associate with the holidays,” affirms Frank Cini, co-founder and co-owner of Taz Hair Co. in Toronto. “So of course, the hairstyles seen in these films are symbolic of the holidays and are duplicated this time of year.”
There’s something magical about it all too, that makes holiday hair feel extra special. “They embody the spirit of celebration and togetherness,” explains Cini. “The joy of the season allows for more elaborate and festive styles that reflect creativity, personality, mood and the special events we all like to attend.” Like the tradition of getting dressed up for a snowy walk outside, to attend a holiday parade or, even, to race through an airport to meet a loved one. After all, holiday hair marks a moment in time touched with grandeur.
Holiday Hair’s Roots
Grandeur that began—if rumours are true—with Marie Antoinette, the Austrian princess turned French queen whose unapologetic devotion to fashion in the mid-1700s made her one of history’s earliest hair icons. Her sky-high coiffures were painstakingly crafted for celebrations and holiday occasions, then shamelessly copied by society’s hoity-toity and worn like living works of art. Because, well…they kind of were.
That’s because extravagant hair has never been ordinary. In the 17th and 18th centuries, towering wigs, powdered curls and ornate updos were not worn by the masses. They functioned as visual currency—symbols of wealth and power. “In the nineteenth century, the complex cultural meaning of hair was not only significant, but it could also impact one’s place in society,” writes Elizabeth Block in her recently published book, Beyond Vanity, The History and Power of Hairdressing. “After the Civil War, hairdressing was also a growing profession and the hair industry a mainstay of local, national, and international commerce.” So much so that hair salons, or “hair rooms” as they were first known, began to move beyond aristocratic circles and into mainstream culture. By the 20th century hairdressing had evolved into the accessible, professional service we know it to be today. And with it, holiday hair shifted from extreme spectacle and toward personal expression.
Holiday Hair’s Growth
Fast forward to now. With an abundance of salons and hairstylists and a growing embrace of gender-fluid style, holiday hair spans a diverse range: sculpted chignons, braids woven like ribbon, sleek blowouts, crisp fades and polished, slicked-back coifs. “Hair is the fabric of style,” says Cini. “It communicates our identity.” Great hair can also elevate a holiday outfit or moment, he notes. And these moments add up, quite literally.
Recent IBIS World market research reports more than 41,000-plus beauty salon businesses operating in Canada in 2025 alone, reflecting the growing demand for premium hair care and styling beyond basic cuts and colour. Blowouts, one of the simplest yet most transformative services, have surged in popularity over the last decade, with industry data showing a 46 per cent year-over-year increase in Canada. This trend signals a cultural shift. Well-coiffed hair, holiday hair, styled by a professional isn’t about artifice. It’s about marking a moment by choosing how we show up.
And so, to help mark this year’s festive season, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best hair salons across the country, from Western to Atlantic Canada, each one renowned for their holiday styles, service and craft.
In Vancouver, British Columbia: Hair by Hannah
Not just a salon—it’s a vibe. Tucked into Vancouver’s beauty scene, Hannah Hewitt’s eponymous brand runs on the belief that great style isn’t only about the haircut, it’s about feeling like the main character in your life. “I want every client to feel seen, heard and celebrated,” affirms Hewitt in bold print on her website.
The holiday hit: Hewitt’s dimensional colour, cuts that move and blondes that border on witchcraft have earned the salon its share of buzz through clients’ word-of-mouth accolades and affiliations with bigwig professional brands like L’Oréal Professionnel. But what she is, perhaps, best known for is the salon’s signature seasonal specialty blowout (from $80): Glossy, plush hair with bounce, body and enough staying power to survive office parties, late-night dancing and flash photography. It’s festive, it’s flirty, it lasts, which is exactly why clients book it like clockwork every December.
In Calgary, Alberta: Glam Breanne
Fashion-forward beauty rooted in expertise and artistic vision; founder Breanne Gershon is committed to bespoke styling. With industry credibility as a lauded Alberta Hairstylist and Canadian Colourist of the Year by the Contessa Awards, Gershon treats each client’s hair as a unique canvas with styles designed to suit individual face shapes, lifestyles and style goals. “Hair colour is my favourite thing to do,” said Gershon in a past awards acceptance speech. “Every head I’ve worked on, I’ve treated as a little corner of joy.” She and her team create real-life joy in their seamless blondes, dimensional hues and textured cuts.
The holiday hit: Radiant, one-of-a-kind hair colour, alongside polished waves and sculpted styles with glossy shine, effortless movement and long-lasting texture (prices vary depending on service).
In Regina, Saskatchewan: Salon Haze
Since opening in the Warehouse District in 2013, the salon has focused on great hair, delivered with skill, creativity and zero pretension. And their talent roster is stacked. Owner and senior stylist Tara Friedrich is a five-time Canada’s Allied Beauty Association award winner. Senior stylist Ashley Ruecker brings national award-finalist credentials and serious technical expertise, while stylists like Lauren Steele have become local favourites for everything from lived-in colour to curl-focused cutting. Across the board, the team is known for artistry that feels tailored rather than trendy-for-trend’s-sake.
The holiday hit: Custom updos (from $120) that manage to be both polished and wearable, and make clients feel like an elevated version of themselves. “You can never go wrong with a romantic high bun,” notes updo specialist Brielle Beauchamp on Instagram.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba: Verde Salon
From its sleek space to its client-first philosophy, Verde has carved out a name for delivering looks that are polished, on-trend and genuinely wearable. They don’t do cookie-cutter. Instead, this Aveda team is committed to creativity and education with each stylist wearing two hats as both a technician and as an artist. Whether it’s lived-in balayage, precision cutting or strategic colour placement, the team’s work is both stylish and smart.
The holiday hit: Selfie-worthy styles from the creative team who imagine everything from wet-looking lacquered waves and braided chignons to fascinator-like twists of hair (from $60). “Upstyles are super creative,” notes team member Madeline Brandt on the salon’s website. “Pinning and placing every little piece is so much fun.”
In Ottawa, Ontario: ModMop
Conveniently situated in the ByWard Market, the boutique salon is all about the consultation. Each of the team’s four stylists take the time to understand not just what their clients want, but what works best for their texture, lifestyle, goalsand holiday events. Plus, they’re renowned for their men’s hairstyling. Award-winning Anica Iordache, the salon’s creative director and educator for the Davines Artistic Team notes she’s had “the honour of winning multiple national and international awards,” and “draws inspiration from art, architecture and fashion, refining my craft one step at a time.”
The holiday hit: Men’s asymmetrical shapes, tightly coiffed curls and short waves (from $65) are just a few stylist looks that balance polish with personality.
In Toronto, Ontario: Taz Hair Co.
Where serious skill meets wearable glamour. They’ve built their 25+-year reputation on it and were recently celebrated as a Contessa Awards’ Salon Team of the Year finalist. Their Yorkville, and Kingsway’s (with a third location in London) salon ambiance is warm with top-tier talent and results that turn heads. Yet it’s their teams’ education-based creative firepower that sets Taz apart. Goldwell educators, co-owners Daniel Naumovski and Frank Cini (with co-owner Carol Cini) obsess over technique, chase innovation and make every haircut look magazine worthy.
The holiday hit: Naumovski’s swishy long, women’s haircuts and Carol’s classic short cuts (from $125) and Frank’s elegant, twisted buns (from $75). “The updo is versatile and compliments a range of outfits, perfect for holiday parties,” says Frank. “It combines sophistication with a touch of whimsy.”
In Montreal, Quebec: Pure Salon
Here, laid-back luxury meets high-impact hairstyling. Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, the salon blends fashion-forward creativity with a personalized, client-first approach. The team is fluent in lived-in colour, editorial-level blonding, precision cuts and texture enhancement—all led by creative directors, Anna Pacitto and Daniel Benoît, both multi-award winners. Currently on the Davines international artistic team, Pacitto was much lauded as L’Oréal Professionel Canada’s artistic director for 17 years.
The holiday hit: The pre and holiday glow-up. Be it a fresh cut (from $70), a vibrant colour (from $75) or a restorative treatment (from $30), “we’ll prepare you for the holidays and also carry your hair beautifully into the new year,” says the Pure team.
In Quebec City, Quebec: La Belle et la Tête
Their salon philosophy is simple: gorgeous hair doesn’t have to be complicated. And the salon’s stylists live by this, so much so that Martin Menard recently earned a finalist spot as Elite Stylist at a Canadian annual awards show. “Proud of that one,” Menard exclaims on the salon’s Instagram channel. “Just being a finalist in that category was something I thought was unachievable.”
The holiday hit: simply gorgeous extensions—of any length (prices vary depending on length and number of extensions). Complete with lived-in balayage, rich brunette hues with dimension or bright blondes with depth. Clients appreciate that every look is tailored, not templated.
In Sydney, Nova Scotia, Alma’s Hair Salon Alma’s Family Hair Salon
Where community meets creativity. Rooted in a family-oriented approach and showcased through their vibrant Instagram feed, this Redken salon (and its two locations in Cape Breton) brings together high-level hairstyling with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Recognized by her peers as a master colourist and top Atlantic stylist, pictures of owner Alma Head’s work recently flashed across the big screens at a national awards show. “A huge thank you to my amazing Redken team for always believing in me,” enthused Head on Instagram.
The holiday hit: Seasonal looks that are all about texture with purpose: glossy, bounce-rich blowouts; effortless glam waves; and eye-catching upstyles (prices vary depending on service).
In St. John’s, Newfoundland: Urban Salon
Nestled in the heart of St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, the salon is a go-to destination for trend-setting style. Known for its cutting-edge techniques and creative flair, the stylists transform everyday looks into works of art, offering precision cuts and vibrant colour. From glowing client reviews to community recognition, the salon stands out—as does its stylist and national Redken artist Jasmine Bishop, one of three Atlantic stylists to be recognized in a 2025 national hair competition. “I’m so honoured and grateful for the recognition,” says Bishop on Instagram. “…doing what I love—turning hair into living art that tells a story.”
The holiday hit: Deep, rich hair hues like Bishop’s hot ticket rich brunette x cherry cola colour (prices vary depending on service).
