Ermilla Tolete

Owner, Professional Hairstylist

I am a Filipina, born and raised in Saudi Arabia. My parents were OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers). My father was a mechanical engineer and my mother was a nurse. We immigrated to Canada in my early teens. Because of the cultural shock of Canada and the traumas I experienced in Saudi Arabia, I turned to the arts.

In Grade 9, I joined the school dance team and was introduced to braiding. We were preparing for a performance and needed to decide on a unified appearance for outfit and hair. The majority vote for hairstyle was single braids. I expressed concern to the dance captains that I was being disrespectful as a non-Black person. I will always remember what she said, “It doesn’t matter what anyone has to say about who you are or what they think. You know your intentions and your purpose. You are a part of this team, no?” After the women braided my hair, they taught me how to do braids for the first time on them. I will never forget that experience. It made me realize how amazing God is to create each human uniquely, down to their hair texture. I was amazed that we can style our own hair as we see fit, and how it brings happiness for each individual. It felt like hair was the beginning of a path for me. 

Half way through the year, my high school added Hairstyling & Esthetics as an elective class. I signed up for it immediately. I started off with coop placements while I was in high school then enrolled in the Hairstylist apprenticeship program at Algonquin College. I wanted to take the apprenticeship route because I had a strong determination to understand all aspects of the hair industry and gain experience to better myself as a Hairstylist. I gained experience from working in different salons with different clientele, gaining business management skills, learning how to deliver quality customer service and learning various techniques and skills for all hair types.

The turning point in the early years of my apprenticeship was an incident where a POC woman was turned away because of her hair texture. When I confronted management about it to suggest solutions, I was silenced with, “aren't you just an assistant?" It was then that my passion became purpose. I recognized how much damage that Eurocentric beauty standards have on society, and how that plays into our mental health. I knew I not only wanted to help people look good, but I wanted to also help them feel good about themselves too.

On June 1, 2018, the dream of one day having my own salon manifested into reality. I opened Ermilla Creations to offer my clientele an intimate, safer space where they could feel at home. It has been a blessing being able to do what I love, caring for others while providing for my child and husband, and I look forward to continuing the hair journey for years to come.