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Our hair is part of who we are. In every curl, cut and colour, there are stories. Whether you’re an Olympic athlete or a new mom, feeling empowered to take on each day can start with something as simple as your hair. There’s no doubt that life is filled with challenges, but sometimes a new cut or colour can give you the confidence you need to keep going and help you find yourself along the way.
That’s why Schwarzkopf Canada has partnered with Dress for Success to invite women across the country to share their own personal hair journeys. For each story submitted, Schwarzkopf will donate $5 to the organization, up to $5,000 of which is dedicated to empowering women to achieve economic independence through support, professional attire and development tools. To start the conversation, Schwarzkopf gathered a dynamic group of Canadian women to share how their hair has impacted their lives and helped them discover their most authentic selves.
Strong Athletes, Strong Hair
Skylar Park, Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo. Photo: Kayla Rocca
Even the most successful athletes sometimes need a boost of confidence. This can mean extra training before a meet, setting personal goals or having specific rituals. For Skylar Park, Olympic bronze medallist in tae kwon do, her “tight, high ponytail” was her signature style, something her mother always did for her before a competition. “I was blessed with thick, dark hair, a feature I proudly carry from my Korean heritage,” she says. “Some of my earliest memories are of my mom doing my hair and my cousin’s hair before our competitions. While she secured every strand into that signature ponytail, she’d remind me to be fierce, to trust myself, and to have joy while in the ring.”
This soothing yet also empowering hair ritual gave Park courage and confidence, she says. “My mom may not always be there to tie my ponytail anymore, but that feeling she gave me of being seen, supported and strong will always stay with me.”
Penny Oleksiak, seven-time Olympic medalist in swimming. Photo: Kayla Rocca
Penny Oleksiak, seven-time Olympic medallist in swimming, understands Park’s connection between hair, confidence and performance. “Growing up swimming and always being in chlorine, I was really conscious of my hair and how damaged it would get,” she says. “My hair was always dry, and there was breakage on my ends.” She’s been keeping a rigorous training schedule since she was 16 and like Park, she finds solace in rituals. “Constantly being on the go makes routine essential for me, and one routine that’s super important to me is my hair care.”
The athlete recently dyed her hair using Schwarzkopf Keratin Color in shade 7.77 Medium Auburn, something she was looking forward to doing, while also being concerned about damage. “I was excited to try Schwarzkopf Keratin Color because it prevents breakage,” she says. “Hair, skin care, beauty and fashion are all so important to me. I love feeling my best, and all these things make me feel confident.”
Big Change, Big Impact
Content creator Mundheep Kaur. Photo: Kayla Rocca
The right hairstyle not only helps to empower high-level athletes in their biggest moments, it also helps women find themselves in their everyday lives. For content creator Mundheep Kaur, dyeing her hair a bold new colour was the big change she needed to feel like herself again. “There was a time in my life when I had no idea who I was or what I wanted to be,” she says. “That’s when I dyed my hair red. The moment I saw that bold, fiery reflection in the mirror, I felt a shift. Red gave me courage. It gave me presence. Most importantly, it gave me me.”
Now, even as a new mom with busy mornings, Kaur still makes time for that signature red using Schwarzkopf Keratin Color in shade 5.88 Deep Red. “That’s why I use Schwarzkopf Keratin Color. It gives me rich, vibrant red and protects my hair with anti-breakage technology, so I don’t have to sacrifice health for colour,” she says. “It’s salon-quality confidence, right at home.”
Radio host and content creator Alicia West. Photo: Kayla Rocca
Like Kaur, radio host and content creator Alicia West knows just how much hair can impact your self-identity. “I grew up with curly hair—thick, textured, full of personality. I’m biracial, so my mom didn’t have the same hair texture as me, but she really showed up,” she says. Throughout her 20s and early 30s, West embraced her 4a curls. “They became a part of my identity. It was big hair that matched my tall height.” When West became a mom, however, her sense of self shifted. “It was beautiful, but also isolating, overwhelming and deeply emotional,” she says. “I loved my daughter more than anything, but I didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror.”
In this confusion, West turned to her hair—and really went for it, chopping it into a pixie cut and bleaching it platinum ash blonde. “It was bold, edgy, and honestly, a little scary. In a time when I felt powerless, it gave me back a sense of control,” she says. “Now I look at my daughter—who has the same curl pattern as me—and I see a new reason to be proud of my hair.”
Visit What’s Your Hair Story to read more inspiring stories and submit your own.
