‘I love coming here’: Hairdressing students from France & Montreal unite

From France to Montreal!

Their annual international collaboration kicked off at the Laurier Macdonald Vocational Training and Career Centre welcoming back world-renown hairstylist Stephane Scotto Di Cesare — and he’s continuing to inspire students, including Ivana Gentile who was mentored by him back in 2022 for the Emergent Talent competition in Paris.

“The experience that I had,” said Gentile. “Was something that could never be bought.”

“What I learned the most, going to the competition in Paris, was really, I learned about how much potential I had over there,” said Gentile. “I learned so much about myself.”

Dedicated to discovering new talent in professional hairdressing, the competition takes place annually at the MCB by Beauté Sélection Paris trade show — a leading event in the world of hair and beauty.

“She has a beautiful story behind her name” said Antonella Anania, hairdressing educator at the Laurier Macdonald Vocational Training and Career Centre. “She’s just a wonderful human being.”

“When you’re going to meet her today,” she added. “You’re going to see the kindness in her eyes and the passion in her words.”

“I would always watch my nonna do hair,” explained Gentile. “I remember it was Saturday morning I would wake up at 6 a.m. and she already had her clients.”

“It was just so inspirational because she was creating art,” she added. “Also making women feel so comfortable in her skin.”

And making people feel comfortable in their craft: Di Cesare.

It was his idea to form an alliance between the two hairdressing programs – the Laurier Macdonald Vocational Training and Career Centre in Montreal’s Saint Leonard and the Lycée professionnel Pierre Masson program based in Nantes, France.

“I love coming here to follow these young people,” said Di Cesare. “And to be in collaboration with all the teachers.”

“Hair dressing, has no language,” said Eva Guida, hair art teacher at the centre. “What they do is what they see most of the time.”

“What’s beautiful that is happening now, because there is a French and the English, they’re collaborating and understanding,” she added. “The different words of what they use for hair dressing.”

The collaboration’s goal: to bring together 30 hairdressing students from France with 30 hairdressing students here – and combing their skills together — learn from each other.

“He’s just a magnificent hairstylist,” said Josie Scalia, hairstyling teacher. “He’s one of my mentors.”

“I really enjoy his work,” she added. “And I love to have him in the school because he just inspires all the kids.”

Something that Gentile wont ever forget.

“Being able to represent someone so special like Stephane,” she explained. “And him asking me to be the one that he represents.”

“Felt amazing to me.”