Meet the team

Dayna, a hardworking and warm-hearted woman, fulfilled her dream of owning a business.

Originally from Vietnam, Dayna moved to Canada with determination to create a better life for herself and her family. Despite working three jobs, she found love with Peter, got married, and now they have a son together.

Family remains a priority for Dayna, as she supported her parents and siblings back in Vietnam before bringing them to Canada for a better life.

Her dedication to her loved ones and her passion for beauty led her to establish Dayna Beauty Spa, where she partnered with Lorna, her former manicurist to create a place where top-notch nail services and a vast array of polish colors, hair styling, and much more are offered with a warm smile and friendly ambiance.

Anni is one of Dayna’s best friends and is passionate about pampering clients and creating exquisite nail art. Anni is a skilled manicurist with a knack for transforming fingertips into works of art. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to exceptional customer service.

Anni is dedicated to helping clients relax and leave with beautifully manicured nails that leave a lasting impression.

As a seasoned manicurist, Pink (Dayna’s sister) brings precision and creativity to every nail session. With a friendly demeanor and a wealth of expertise, Pink is known for providing top-notch manicures that not only enhance the natural beauty of nails but also leave clients feeling confident and rejuvenated.

4I have always had a passion for beauty. Throughout high-school I spent countless hours looking at fashion magazines and attempting to re-create hairstyles at home.

I loved the transformation in mood and look that different hair cuts and colours created. I always felt great after going to my hairstylist and to this day enjoy trying out many styles and colours, from blonde right through to black. It was a natural progression for me to go into hairdressing. I knew immediately that I was in the right industry.

My favourite thing about being a hairstylist is working with my clients lifestyles and preferences to create beautiful hairstyles that they can maintain at home. When a client comes in for an appointment and their hair still looks great, that makes my day because I know I’ve done my job well!

I love using colour to create vibrant dimension and shine in a hairstyle. From basic grey coverage to peek-a-boo pastels and bold, bright panels or highlights, I like to customize each clients colour and cut individually to suit their face, hair type and personality.

I feel so fortunate to work with a great salon team in a wonderful community.   I look forward to continuing to grow and develop in my career here at Essence Hair Studio.

Bryan is a multi-talented guy. He brings solid technical skills to the job, (he has lots of years in the business and has taken part in a bunch of seminars), he really enjoys working with colour, including the very challenging (and dramatic) Ombre Ballyage look. He can do everything in mens hair, including beard care, and loves doing fades. And, he enjoys doing kids hair!

He also loves being a one-man glam squad – Bryan does updoes and even special-occasion makeup. Weddings, corporate events, a really super hot date… If there is a big event in your future and you want to knock it out of the park, make an appointment to see Bryan.

Lorna Stewart emigrated to Canada from her native Jamaica when she was in her early 20’s, and has been a top-level hair stylist in New Westminster for the whole of her career in Canada.

Lorna started out her Canadian career at Raymond Salons in the old Woodwards department store at 6th and 6th in New Westminster. Raymond’s Salon had some of the best hair stylists in the city in those days. Lorna quickly developed a reputation for great work and built up a clientele, some of whom are still with her today.

In 1986, Lorna opened up her own place, Essence Hair Design, just across the courtyard from the Inn at the Quay overlooking the Fraser River. Essence thrived in that location at first, but things changed and the foot traffic past the shop dried up. It became clear that Essence needed to move. In the winter of 2012, Essence moved to its new location, just over the overpass from their old place, near the bustling Shops at New Westminster Staton.

Beyond the shop, Lorna has been intensely involved in the community. She has held countless fundraisers for worthy local causes over the years, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. Monarch House, an organization helping women and children fleeing domestic violence, has long been a recipient of Lorna’s efforts, but many other groups have also benefitted. Lorna is a dedicated and active member of the Rotary Club of New Westminster and was awarded Rotary’s highest honor, a Paul Harris Fellowship for her charitable work. And one year she found a kidney donor for a friend In need of a transplant. All while working full time in her own business.

When she’s not busy with work or charitable activities, you can find Lorna at the gym. Lorna’s newest pleasure is hot yoga, but she’s also into pilates and weight training, and she enjoys a brisk speed walk up and down the hills of New Westminster.

Ever since she was little, Lorna has  been intensely visual. She loves to help people put together the look they want. She has always been in the hair business, but Essence has long carried other products to help customers look their best – Hair products, fashion accessories, high end lingerie (available by special order) and one-of-a-kind jewellery are all available at Essence, a gem of a store located at 887 Carnarvon Street in New Westminster’s fast-growing Anvil district in the downtown.