Texture, opulence, and everything gold

Yes, the holiday season is one for twinkling lights, warm beverages, and heartfelt gatherings with family and friends. But what do we most look forward to every year at Cole’s? Holiday gift sets. Particularly Oribe’s holiday gift sets, which feature stunning limited edition packaging designed each year by a different artist of a different medium. 

“The holiday sets are a wonderful part of the Oribe culture, and everyone gets involved,” Daniel Kaner, president of Oribe and a longtime friend of Cole’s Salon, shared with us. Cole’s and Oribe have been working together for decades, a relationship built on a mutual dedication to artistry and education. One of our own stylists, Liz, is currently part of Oribe’s prestigious Journey to Mastery program. “Everyone has a stake in them: the storytellers, the fragrance people, the engineers … it mixes things up instead of constantly doing the same packaging.” 

Jennifer Lacy Smith, vice president of product creation at Oribe, agreed. “It brings together all of our teams to work collaboratively but in a way that’s very joyful. They’re learning something that’s outside of their sphere of expertise. People clamor to do it every year. It has found its way into our leadership training and how we work with our teams and get them to interact in a really constructive and collaborative way.”

Past holiday set collections have highlighted the work of hand-drawn, watercolor, pottery, digital, and textile artists. For this year’s collection (which is quickly becoming our new all-time favorite), the team partnered with Finnish multidisciplinary artist Kustaa Saksi, whose work is deeply inspired by his Nordic background. The Oribe team discovered his art through a series of window dressings Saksi previously executed for luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman. 

“Our sets are truly a collaboration with the artists,” Smith said. “We’ll seek out an artist who is interesting in terms of their dedication to their craft, the technique, the material, and the storytelling they do. Not only have they mastered what they do in terms of artwork, they have a very signature aesthetic. We share with them who Oribe Canales, our founder, was as a man. We talk about hairdressing. And then we come to an agreement on how we’re going to approach the designs.”

The prevailing themes of this year’s holiday sets are gold, texture, and opulence — a combination that elevates the brand’s packaging from a simple, functional box into an artistic canvas.

“Gold was a really big theme in Oribe Canales’ life,” Smith said of the late founder, a world-renowned celebrity hair stylist who worked with clients like Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Jessica Parker before partnering with Kaner in 2008 to create a namesake line of haircare products. “If we were doing packaging design in the old days, we’d say, ‘Okay Oribe, what should the packaging look like?’ And he’d always say, ‘Gold. Everything should be dripping in gold!’ So Saksi used golden threads throughout his designs.”

The result: packaging adorned in layered gold foils and intricate embossing, with artwork inspired by the Norse goddess Sif’s golden flowing hair. Saksi’s artwork also took inspiration from the black and cream ombre design of Oribe’s Gold Lust collection, one of the company’s bestsellers, as well as the bright blue of Oribe’s Supershine collection. 

To further celebrate the beauty of Saksi’s work, Oribe also commissioned the artist to bring his designs to life in the form of a one-of-a-kind tapestry. It’s more than 10 feet long and took the artist six months to create. 

“We’ve never done anything as abstract as this,” Smith told us. “What’s really interesting is that, with these sets, there’s this exchange between the artist’s archives and Oribe’s archives. And a lot of times there’s something that an artist will pick up on that is really intriguing to them about Oribe Canales. A past artist was inspired by his tattoos. For Kustaa, the weaving he does in his tapestries, we gravitated to it because it felt a lot like what a stylist does behind the chair with someone’s hair.”

“Oribe saw hairdressing as a fine form of artistry,” Kaner added. “He didn’t see it any other way. And hairdressers — people who work at Cole’s, people who work in some of the salons that we work with — are designers and artists.”

When we asked Kaner and Smith which of the four holiday sets they were most eager to get out into the world, the two were in agreement.

“It’s the liters,” Kaner said, referring both to the Gold Lust Liter Set and Oribe’s liter design more generally. “In the old days, in perfumeries, they used to have this thing called a factice, which was a big, oversized bottle of perfume — a giant version of whatever fine perfume was being sold. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could take our small bottle and make it a large bottle?’ It would look like a factice, totally different from all of our competitors’ stuff.”

“The liter size was one of the first assignments Daniel gave me when I joined the company,” Smith added. “It was so fun to make them, and such a challenge with the manufacturers. It had to be perfection. And when we decided we wanted to do a liter set, I was like, ‘You can’t get two bottles of liters and put them in a shopping bag and send somebody out. It has to be more fabulous than that.’ We built this book-like style packaging with a handle, so it doesn’t need a shopping bag. You just walk out of the salon with that. It’s so glamorous. And what a better calling card for the brand to see someone carrying that? It’s just really extraordinary and hefty, and it’s the greatest gift to give.”

Kaner has shared countless times with us the importance of being a life-long learner — something that has been part of the development and execution of the Oribe holiday collaborations over the last eight years. By engaging artists from different disciplines, Oribe has created an annual moment for the haircare community to learn and appreciate the nuances of artistry, craftsmanship, materials, technique, and culture in an engaging and joyful way. 

Oribe’s 2025 holiday sets are available now, both online and at all Cole’s Salon locations. In addition to the Gold Lust Liter Set and Gold Lust Collection Set, we also carry the Hair Alchemy Heatless Styling Set and Côte d’Azur Hand Wash and Crème Set.

“Cole’s guests have always supported Oribe — they’re one of our original visionary partnerships,” Kaner shared. “It makes sense. I’m from Minnesota, and they’re from Minnesota too. But they also really saw what Oribe could be in the earliest days. Most people don’t have that level of vision. I think it really speaks to their guests. We really thank the Cole’s guests for making Oribe so famous in Minnesota. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

Making Minnesota Oribe Obsessed!

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Our 350+ team members build community and friendship while simultaneously building their professional careers, whether they are just starting out in the industry or a seasoned beauty veteran. Read on to learn more about what makes Cole’s such a great place to grow a career from Isabel, an esthetician, and Amy, a designer.

Isabelle A. | Esthetician at our Burnsville spa

I came to Cole’s Salon right out of school, and starting out, I was a bit nervous about stepping into a salon that had such a high level of experience. However, the thorough training process here made all the difference. The in-depth training at my own pace helped me feel not only comfortable but also welcomed into both the industry and the Cole’s family. It has been truly surprising how much of a family we are here. The support and encouragement from my colleagues have been overwhelming in the best way possible. It’s been fantastic to receive advice and tips on techniques and to see different perspectives that have expanded my own approach.

The most rewarding part of my role is the joy of making a difference in my clients’ lives. Whether it’s brightening their day or boosting their confidence, knowing I’ve made a positive impact is what makes this career so special for me. One of the highlights of my start at Cole’s was attending our 45th anniversary celebration. It was an amazing opportunity to meet more of my coworkers and experience firsthand the deep sense of camaraderie and love that defines this place. Getting to know the incredible women I work with and seeing how much they support each other was truly heartwarming.

Amy J. | Designer at our Burnsville salon

Reflecting on my career, I feel like I’ve been doing hair for much longer than 18 years, but in the best way possible. I didn’t fully realize at 19 how perfectly this career would fit me, but now, it feels like a perfect match. The relationships I’ve built with clients over the years are truly special, and many have been with me from the beginning. To all of them, I can only say, “WOW!”

A big thank you to my mentors and everyone who has supported me along the way. And a special shoutout to my husband and our moms for their help with the kids and managing our busy schedules. Your support allows me to do what I love.

Working at Cole’s has been the best experience, and I can’t recommend it enough. I am always surrounded by amazing people that never fail to brighten my day.

Looking for a great place to grow your beauty career? We can’t wait to meet you! Check the careers page on our website to learn more about our team, culture, opportunities and the benefits we offer.

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We had the opportunity back in January to welcome Aubrey Loots from Wella to do a hair show for our team. Aubrey is a global educator for Wella, the color company we use here at Cole’s, and he travels all over the globe to help inspire artists, share his amazing knowledge, and showcase new trends and color formulas. 

The theme of this year’s show was “quiet luxury,” a term you may have already seen and heard over the last few months on TikTok or Instagram. “Quiet luxury” embodies an expensive look and feel but through a modern minimalist lens. The key to achieving this aesthetic when it comes to hair? Focusing on subtle dimension.

Five Models in Two Days

Aubrey took the lead, telling each Cole’s stylist what they were going to do on each of the models. Then, we got to work! Our team worked with five different models over the course of two days to showcase an array of transformations, from big to subtle, as well as today’s hottest styling techniques — hair! makeup! outfit! — to complete the looks. 

The Looks

We took one model from blonde to “bronde” — a trending look that creates a perfect blend of brunette and blonde. This technique results in a very soft, lux color for our blonde clients that shakes things up for the winter and spring months. 

For our next model, we had some gorgeous curls to work with and brought up her haircut to show them off, adding dimension to compliment her red hair. She looked fabulous afterward, with more vibrancy and movement to her cut and style!

We did a full transformation on our next model, cutting off about six inches of hair and giving her a French bob, another trend we’re seeing more of this year. Then, we did a bleach and tone to take her hair to a chic blonde shade. Aubrey wanted to do something super fun with her toner, so we ended up bricklaying two different toners in her hair to create dimension (there’s that word again!) without doing highlights or lowlights. 

On the fourth model, we did a modern take on the chunky foils of the 2000s. We’ve seen a lot of bold pops of colors lately, and it was super fun to do it in a more up-to-date way. We did foils throughout the crown of our model’s hair, then glossed her at the end so our highlights were only about two shades lighter than the rest of her hair. This allowed subtle contrast versus her feeling like she had stripes!

On our last model, Aubrey wanted to showcase some bangs and fringe, since this is going to be a huge trend for 2024. We added some subtle highlights through her fringe so they wouldn’t look so dark against the balayage she already had going on. Aubrey decided to cut the bangs on stage in front of the whole salon team to add some shock factor to the show! 

There’s so much that goes into prepping a show like this, and getting our hands in some hair is always the best part. Aubrey Loots is an inspiration, and we’re so grateful to have had him here at Cole’s for a second year to help coach and inspire all of us all over again. All in all, our second annual hair show was a great learning opportunity and huge success!

Sena A. is a designer at our Eagan Station salon. She joined the Cole’s Salon team in 2016. You can follow her on Instagram at @hairbysena.

Photos by Adeline C. an esthetician at our Burnsville salon (@adelines.artistry) and Lauren S. a designer at our Eagan Station salon (@laurenstemperbeauty).

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Would you be bold enough to get a haircut in front of more than 10,000 strangers?

What if you didn’t get to choose the style?

That’s exactly what happened at a recent Minnesota Wild hockey game, and I was the lucky stylist who got to do the cutting!

Prior to the game, a brave fan volunteered to participate in the intermission entertainment, in which their haircut would be decided by hockey fans. The audience was given four options to choose from up on the Jumbotron, including a mullet — a true hockey classic — and a full, bald-headed shave. Their cheers determined my “client’s” fate: a daring mohawk!

During the second period of the game, we moved to the arena atrium so I could get to work crafting the fans’ chosen style. The crowd got to witness the transformation firsthand, and my volunteer was immediately turned into a Minnesota Wild celebrity. I have to say, the mohawk cut suited his adventurous personality perfectly!  

The buzz of the hockey game, the crowd’s energy, and the suspense created an unforgettable experience. When the final haircut was revealed, the arena’s response was electric!

Feeling adventurous? I’ll be giving these surprise haircuts at select MN Wild games through April 2024. Keep an eye out here for the next hair adventure, and let’s go Wild!

Liz Lynk is a designer and Oribe ambassador at our Burnsville location. You can follow her on Instagram at @lizblaze.

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This summer we had the opportunity to explore the latest in styling, cutting, and color at the Oribe Signature Sessions in Raleigh NC. Our Oribe Ambassadors and a few salon managers attended demos and hands-on learning opportunities. We always love learning from our industry’s best and brightest!

Check out what a few of our Oribe Ambassadors had to say…

 

It felt so good to be able to go to another Oribe Atelier, as we haven’t been able to go to one since pre-Covid. We have such an amazing, talented, inspired team of Oribe Ambassadors here at Cole’s and these trips are something we all look forward to. It’s a great opportunity to bond and spend time together since we are all spread out at all 5 locations and Raleigh was the perfect place to do that! 

The weather was hot and humid, but I came back to Minnesota full of laughs and inspiration! We were able to see the talented Stacey Ciceron giving a demonstration of textured hairstyles. Then we were able to watch a full razor haircut and got some great tips and tricks. The last demo explored tips and tricks centered on Oribe products, and how we would use them in the hands-on portion of the event! 

Working hands-on with new styles and techniques is so much fun, but definitely took me out of my comfort zone as it was more of an editorial style. Who doesn’t love a good challenge? Can’t wait for the next Oribe event!  

• Megan S., Advanced Designer, and Oribe Ambassador since March 2013

A group of us attended the Oribe Global Educator show and it was amazing! We got to see and learn so much from Stacey Ciceron, what an amazing stylist and influencer. Not only did she teach us the dos and don’ts in styling highly textured hair but she made it fun, easy, and effortless. 

We also got to see a straight-edge razor cut and learn new techniques when it comes to elevation and bangs done with a razor. The highlight for me was to see, and then recreate, a runway look done by Christian Ceja Compin! With help from the Oribe educators, it was not only fun and out of the box, but educational. We learned a lot to take back to our clients and our team! 

Thank you to Cole’s for sending me on this incredible adventure, and thanks to the Oribe team for making us all feel welcome, special, and inspired!

• Shayna M., Advanced Designer, and Oribe Ambassador since September 2006

If you’re interested in incredible learning opportunities like Oribe Signature Sessions, join our team! We’re passionate about continuing education and are proud to offer opportunities like this and more to our team members. Explore open positions here. 

Megan S. is an advanced designer and Oribe ambassador at our Cedar Cliff location.  You can follow her on Instagram at @megansoulehair.

Shayna M. is an advanced designer and Oribe ambassador at our Cedar Cliff location.  

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Among them are our incredible nail technicians, who deserve some extra love in honor of National Nail Tech Day, May 30. 

In recognition of these team members and their flawless, customer-first work, we’re sharing some comments about them directly from our guests!

The Total Package, Whatever Your Service.

Our techs offer everything from a buff and polish to a gel reflexology pedicure. Regardless, they’ll provide you a five-star experience. Because every Cole’s Salon visit is one of exceptional service in a state-of-the-art facility with best-in-class customer care.

• Got a pedicure here- highly recommend! Very clean facility, beautiful spa area, great conversation, good color options. I have zero complaints!
• Love the nail services they offer! My tech is fantastic and I enjoy spending time with her every couple of weeks. The salon is conveniently located and the people at the front desk are always very welcoming and helpful.
• I treated myself to a mani/pedi with reflexology and gel polish. This is the first time I’ve had my nails done in over a year. I felt completely safe in the salon/spa, which is immaculate.

Exceptional Care. Indulgent Setting.

The finished manicure or pedicure product is only part of a session with one of our techs. Their expertise and care, combined with the comfort and luxury of our salons, makes for a full-body service for you.

• My tech is the best she always is friendly and gentle with the pedicures Thanks for making me feel comfortable.
• The service was exceptional. My mani/pedi was excellent. It was very relaxing and she paid attention to the details, making sure each nail is evenly shaped and polished. She did not rush it. I’m very happy with the results. Pretty, sparkly, and ready for summer!
• My tech was super nice and did such a great job on my toes. It was very relaxing as well.

Partners for the Perfect Look.

We bring the skill. You bring the preference. Together, we create an experience that we both love and wanna show off to our friends! 

• I’ve been getting my nails done here for about 1.5 years. My tech Is always willing to listen to me and always with a smile!! She remembers small details, including me wanting to try certain colors. She’s the best!!
• I got a classic pedicure and it was awesome! I prefer conversations vs sitting quietly and really enjoyed chatting with my tech. I left with my feet looking and feeling so much better! I would highly recommend
• I have been seeing my tech for over 2 years and she is amazing!  I receive so many compliments on my nails and my experiences at the salon are consistently great! She is accommodating, wonderful and is so good at what she does!  I have recommended her services to others and will continue to do so.

This National Nail Tech Day, be sure to give your favorite a shout-out on our (and their) social media channels! 

Join the best team in town (we’re hiring at all locations!) or book a nail service today. Come see what all the hype is about! 

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