Today, Hunt’s repertoire of styles has certainly expanded. Her own ’do is a hime (Japanese for “princess”) cut—a multi-length style that is said to have originated in Japan as early as the eighth century. Hunt’s version is often adorned with multicoloured stripes. “Other hairdressers who are more particular will be like, ‘You need to blend that!’ but I don’t. I’m OK with being different,’” explains Hunt. Her confidence has paid off: She has been a finalist in many national hairstyling competitions, been named Chatters’s Stylist of the Year, worked backstage at Toronto Fashion Week and been featured on Good Morning America’s social media pages. But her humility remains as strong as ever. It’s fuelled by a desire to keep bettering her skill set, including learning how to work with all hair types. “Years ago, I took a DevaCurl course and learned all about dry-cutting and styling curly hair,” she says. “I knew they were going to be doing a big hair show the following day, so I asked if I could volunteer. I just wanted to keep learning. Eventually, I got my certification in cutting curly hair. I’m so lucky to be able to collaborate with curly clients and work with them on their hair routine.”

Like most hairstylists, Hunt knows the power that hair holds, especially in building the confidence of clients. In fact, it’s one of the reasons she regularly volunteers at a Winnipeg-based shelter. “Recently, there was a girl at the shelter who had waited two hours to see me—because there’s always a long line for haircuts—and she sat in my chair and told me that the last time I’d cut her hair, it was for a temporary job she’d landed at the time, and now she had been hired full-time and wanted a cut before her first day. She said, ‘One of these days, I’m going to come see you for highlights.’ That was just so rewarding.”

Hunt’s passion and humility are certainly refreshing, but she insists that to be a good hairstylist, “you can’t have a big ego, because just when you think you’ve mastered something, it evolves. In hairdressing, because of how fast trends and techniques change, it’s almost like you’re always one step behind. Understanding that is how I stay motivated.”