Sometimes changing your life for the better starts with a makeover. There’s no better hair stylist than Darren Kwik, owner of Cheveux on Queen West, when it comes to giving Toronto gals and guys a killer new look with life-altering potential. The Redken stylist is not only a veteran of Toronto Fashion Week and the former winner of CityLine’s “Ordinary to Extraordinary” makeover contest, he also boasts a list of celebrity clients who rely on the award-winning hairstylist for their red carpet-worthy hair. That said, Kwik treats all his clients like A-list stars the moment they arrive at his salon, which is located on the ground floor of the Chocolate Lofts. From scalp and hand massages to complimentary glasses of wine after 5pm, there are serious perks to getting your hair styled at Cheveux. The best one? Looking like a knock out once Kwik has worked his magic…
Give us a snippet about you. What should people know?
I fell into hair over two decades ago. I’ve been lucky enough to have fallen into an industry that, even after two decades, I still have a passion for. I truly love what I do. It has never really felt like work. It has always been an interesting industry, and I still feel like I create every day and learn more every year. I was a scuba diving instructor before I fell into hair, and I still hold a strong passion for that. When the opportunity arises, I still jump at the chance to dive. My life as a hairstylist took off when I met a man named Terry Ritcey, now the global educator for Redken. He took me under his wing and became my mentor, but also a friend and confidante. He’s an amazing person. He taught me that we are doing much more then just cutting hair; we are giving experiences, and helping people and listening to people and changing lives in a very positive way through beauty and style.
You’re known for your awesome makeovers. How do you achieve the best results when creating totally new looks?
There is nothing more satisfying than giving someone a makeover. So many people want major changes, usually because they are going through changes themselves in their lives. This gives me the opportunity to bring out another side of them, or allow their inner beauty to come through in a different way. Seasons change and so should your look. Keeping current and pushing people’s boundaries is what I love to do. I like to give people the unexpected beauty they didn’t even realize they had. Most people don’t realize what changing their hair colour or getting a new cut can do when it comes to making an amazing difference in their appearance. A well thought out and carefully executed makeover can showcase how beautiful they truly are.
Your salon is famous for your killer hair extensions. What makes the ones you do at Cheveux so superior?
We’ve come to an amazing place with hair extensions. Remy Hair has changed and paved a new path for extensions – nothing but beautiful, remarkable results. I’ve never seen my clients happier, whether they’re looking for length, overall fullness, or both. You can’t go wrong with this product (along with the right stylist, of course!).
Hairdressers are amateur therapists. What’s the weirdest thing someone’s confessed to you in your chair?
A stylist never kisses and tells. I’ve had the pleasure and pain of holding some of Toronto’s deepest secrets… and, unfortunately they will all stay with me.
Let’s get social for a mo’. How do we stay up-to-date with you?
DarrenKwik.com, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and the blog.
