Paula Whitelocke
Owner - Educator - Curl Specialist
Paula took interest in hair from a very young age and turned her passion into a business at 13 years old. At the age of 15, she started working at a hair salon where she thrived and solidified the idea of having a career as a Hairstylist. Her dream was realized when she opened Hair Designs by Paula in 2010, growing her commitment to working with all hair types. In 2014 Paula began the rebrand to Curly Hair Designs. Curly Hair Designs filled a gap and provided clients with a comfortable and safe salon that celebrated their hair textures. Today, Paula’s clientele is diverse with their endless varieties of curls, waves, kinks and coils.
Paula has had the pleasure of learning from, and creating alongside, a plethora of talented artist teams, from Joico for their annual trend presentations, to Team MC for New York Fashion Week. Paula has been published in Efe magazine, Amah magazine, Press The Fashion magazine and was crowned as Canada’s Best Natural Hair Stylist in 2015. She has also been involved with, and inspired by Safara, The Cultural Arts Studio and Project Beautiful, platforms that encourage expression and exploration of self-love and community elevation.
In 2020, Paula celebrated 10 years in business and 16 years of hair passion within the industry. She continues to acquire knowledge and remain at the forefront of the industry by taking classes and attending hair shows in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. In 2017, she took the opportunity to create Curly Hair Designs’ leave-in conditioner, a plant-based moisturizing milk, free of harmful ingredients.
Paula understands the importance of self-care and combines that value with her passion for hair. She is dedicated to teaching stylists, clients and individuals the knowledge that will allow them to confidently work with their curly hair type and bring out their natural beauty.
You can learn Paula’s countless techniques through her workshops, Curls Understood the Academy.
Rhea Jemmott
Curl Specialist
I have always had a love for hair. I started out working as a receptionist for a high end salon and day spa in Kanata. At the time I was also finishing my degree in Psychology while working with special needs. It felt like a calling, a purpose I had to fulfill, but I was becoming burnt out and knew I needed a change.
At that time, working with hair felt like a hobby. Professions in trades didn't get the credit they deserved, but my path was becoming clear. In (insert year) I decided to attend Versailles Academy's Hair Program. Toward the end of that year, I realized that there was minimal education about the type and texture of hair that was similar to mine. A fellow colleague pointed out that Curly Hair Designs was hosting a "Look & Learn," and I could find the information I was looking for.
It was during that one day workshop with Paula that I absorbed as much information as I could about curls. Since then, she has become my mentor. There was no doubt that I wanted to gain experience from someone passionate and knowledgeable about their craft, as well as surround myself with diversity and positive energy.
I know now that my purpose is tied to how I make someone feel at the end of the day, regardless of the job. But I am thankful that through Hairstyling, I can fulfill my desire to make a difference in someone’s life and build a meaningful connection.
I look forward to growing as a stylist with Curly Hair Designs, and to providing care to all the different hair types and textures that find their way to my chair.