In Focus | Tara Sebastianis of Crimson Hair Salon

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Tara Sebastianis

Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I attended a professional dance school in Toronto during my high school years and later danced in Calgary after graduation. My family moved to Kelowna around eight years ago and when I came out for a visit, I never left. I love Kelowna and am very happy to call it home.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
This is such a difficult question since there are so many family members and friends that I love being with! If I had to pick one person it would be my Grandma. I am named after her and she is by far my biggest fan. She has always been a strong independent woman and ahead of her time. I can tell her anything and she always has the best advice. We can shop until we drop and gossip over tea and cookies for hours! She was a great influence on me and I am so blessed to have such an amazing person in my life.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I really enjoy travelling. I have a massive map on my wall with pins all over it for places that I have been and pins for places I want to go. I feel travelling has changed me as a person and opened my eyes to different cultures, food, architecture, music, etc. I backpacked through Europe two years ago and I loved it. At this moment I would like to go to Hawaii and check out the surf and learn the hula!

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
My favourite local store in Kelowna is Il Tavolino Bistro. Owners Alessandro and Sarah have created such a friendly environment serving espresso and homemade gelato. Check out their homemade paninis, lasagna, and meatballs! YUM! They are right next door to Crimson Hair Salon so I’m there a lot. Plus my little sister Lea works there while attending University so it’s always nice to visit her.

What is your favourite activity?
I am very active during the summer in our beautiful Kelowna weather. I’m currently playing beach volleyball with my younger brother Luke. I like to wake board, kayak, paddle board, and hike our amazing trails. During the winter months I enjoy going to Big White and other ski resorts to snowboard and relax in a hot tub with a glass of wine!

If you had to choose: pizza, tacos, or burgers?
Pizza wins every time!

What is a hidden gem you enjoy in the Okanagan?
It’s certainly not hidden but my favorite location is on our boat floating on Okanagan Lake enjoying a frosty beer. I like to relax while appreciating the panoramic view of our beautiful city and landscape.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Do you mean today? Because I could go on for days with embarrassing stories! I’m a bit of a free spirit and it can get me into some pretty interesting situations. And that’s ok because it’s all in good fun and certainly something to laugh about!

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
There are so many things that inspire me in life! I’m a huge fan of any kind of performing arts, any kind of dance shows, concerts, and art galleries too, because they have always spoken to me on a deeper level. The talent that some people have to create unique performances or art in general encourages me to think outside the box.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
I am so fortunate to have had a great childhood! While we were growing up my family would come together every Sunday for dinner. This included my aunts, uncles, and cousins all meeting at my grandparent’s house for a very loud meal. There was a great deal of taunting and gibes and you had to learn how to take it and dish it back. With my Italian grandpa and Ukrainian grandma, we ate the best food and learned at a young age to appreciate homemade wine, spaghetti, and pierogis! We still carry on this tradition at my mom’s house here in Kelowna every Sunday.

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Volunteering in the community is very important to us. Our goal at Crimson Hair Salon is to team each of our advertising campaigns with a fundraiser or charity. I would much rather spend our advertising budget helping out the community than simply running ads saying “Come to Crimson”! To me this is a win-win, it gets our name out there, but it also does some good. We have cut hair in City Park for the Relay for Life with 100% of the proceeds donated to the cause. We donated our services on the UBCO campus and cut hair for Cuts for the Cure. We donate to the SPCA, Ride to Conquer Cancer; we have offered our services in exchange for canned goods for Habitat for Humanity, gift cards to Elizabeth Fry Society, Opera Kelowna, The Women’s Shelter, and bell ringing for the Salvation Army. I take this responsibility very seriously and will do whatever I can for someone in need.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
There is so much that needs to be changed! In reference to the salon I often see these beautiful people coming in thinking that they are not pretty enough or skinny enough or perfect enough. They want to look like pictures in a magazine which are so unrealistic, it’s all photo shopped! I wish the media would portray people with a more healthier and natural look. There is so much pressure, especially on my younger clients to look a certain way and it makes me sad. And that’s why the first thing you see on our wall at Crimson Hair Salon is our motto: “Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful”.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
My favourite activity is to enjoy (and show off to my visitors) our beautiful wineries. I am so proud to say that I live in an area that produces some of the greatest wines in the world!

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
If I want to be alone I tend to stay at home. I have an extremely busy schedule so it’s a luxury to relax in my own surrounding.

Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
I want there to be more job opportunities in Kelowna, and I hope they are good paying, competitive jobs. I am so fortunate to have been able to start a business where I live. Most of my friends had to move away in order to pursue their careers. If there were more jobs in Kelowna it would create greater revenue for our city and help us to grow.

If you could be granted one wish for work or in life, what would it be?
My one wish in life is to be happy and bring happiness to others.

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you:
I’ve got no secrets if you want to know just ask…or I’ll probably tell you anyways! And I can’t whistle.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Crimson Hair Salon

What does your business do?
We are a hair salon extraordinaire offering the latest cuts, colors, foils, extensions, up dos, braids & twists, perms, ombre, balayage, highlights, conditioning treatments, bridal services, blow dry bar and eyelash extensions

How to people connect with you through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest)

Website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or email crimsonhairsalon@gmail.com.

Why did you get into/start this business?
Ever since I was a young girl, I knew I would be a hair stylist. Since graduating, it has always been my dream to be able to put my own creative twist on everything I do. I was raised by entrepreneurial parents so it was natural for me to go into business.

What is the goal of your business?
My goal for the business is to create a great salon environment surrounded by the most gifted team of Stylists. I want to ensure that our clients feel valued, appreciated, and beautiful. I want to continue to be on the cutting-edge of this business through continued education. And I want this to be done with the understanding that it is our social responsibility to give back to the community. I want to be able to look back on my life and hopefully have made a difference and be happy with all that I have accomplished.

What has been your biggest struggle either in work or life?
One of the biggest struggles in my life is that I am dyslexic. It was not easy for me to learn the conventional way in school and I had to develop different techniques to make it through. I was bullied a great deal for this and it made me strong as well as compassionate to different people’s needs. The bright side however, is that dyslexia is also a gift especially for a Stylist! Dyslexic people tend to think outside of the box, are very creative, and artistic, along with many more great traits.

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
I wouldn’t change a thing! I have no regrets in life. I believe that things happen for a reason and hopefully it helps us to grown and learn.

Why do you think it is important to shop local?
Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in our community’s future. Local businesses keep our city unique. We need to support each other!

Give someone that you think deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Monica Tracey at Music World Studios because she has the most beautiful voice. Tika Michelle Photography and Cortnee Leeh for all their creative photos and marketing strategies. Nicole McGrill at 30 Minute Hit for being positive and motivated.

My nomination for the In Focus spotlight is:
Eireann Hafichuk, owner of Simple Beauty Eyelash Extensions.

Other information you would like to share:
This has been our first year in business and I’m overwhelmed by all the support from family, friends, and clients. The success of Crimson Hair Salon is largely due to the talents of our amazing team and I’m very grateful. If you believe in the values Crimson Hair Salon represents I would love for you to come to the salon at 3320 Richter Street so we can meet. I would be thrilled for my team and I to support you in becoming your own kind of beautiful.

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!