MEET OUR TEAM
Our Story
Wink Salon Asheville was founded in 2005 by Gilda Santiago and Christine DiBenedetto , two girls with curls and a shared passion for education, artistry, and empowerment.
They met over three decades ago and envisioned a salon that didn’t yet exist , a place where educated stylists keep learning and educated clients feel seen, included, and heard. Wink is the result of that vision: a creative, education-driven space built on connection, artistry, and care.
For more than 20 years, Wink has been home to an extraordinary team of stylists , professionals who have grown, taught, and thrived as part of this work family.
Since opening its doors in 2005, Wink has been voted “Best Salon in Asheville” in the Mountain Xpress Readers’ Poll every single year from 2005 to 2021.
MEET THE ONES WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OUR ENTIRE TEAM
LEVEL 2
BLAKELEY
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Meet Blakeley – Stylish Men’s Cuts, Blended Blonding, and Dimensional Color Lover | Global Master Colorist I
Blakeley’s optimistic, fun, and passionate personality is beloved by her clients. She brings a joy to your day from the moment you sit in her chair. Blakeley specializes in layered haircuts, blonding, and a beautiful blowout. Whether cutting or coloring, she always prioritizing the integrity and health of your hair. She also offers stylish men’s cuts, low maintenance or trendy children’s cuts, and beautiful, lived-in color services. Currently, she is not offering precision cuts or curly cuts.
Outside the salon, you can find Blakeley enjoying live music, treasure-hunting while thrifting, or spending time with her dog Bruno. A lifelong learner, she’s thrilled to grow alongside her talented coworkers, whom she considers the best in the business!
LILY
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Meet Lily – Loves Long Hair, Layers, and a Beautiful Balayage | K18 and Olaplex Certified
Lily is incredible at creating shape and movement with long, layered cuts and bringing dimension and transformation to your hair with beautiful color. Lily apprenticed under Team Leader and Balayage specialist, Ryane. She brings a natural eye and talent for creating beautiful, lived-in color.
As a Level 2 Stylist, she specializes in blondes, balayage, highlights, all over color, root touch-ups, layering, and blowouts. If you want to create bright, soft face-framing layers and highlights, Lily is the stylist for you. Or, if you want a strawberry or vibrant red, Lily can help bring your vision to life. Or, maybe you want a bouncy cut and blowout, perhaps with some beautiful bangs, Lily can have you walking out of the salon feeling and looking good.
LYNSEY
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Meet Lynsey – a Grey Blending and Blonding Enthusiast
Lynsey’s outgoing personality and beautiful presence brightens her clients’ day. She listens closely to what her clients want to achieve and helps bring that vision to life. Her passion for hairstyling makes her a rising star at Wink Salon.
She can do everything from blonding and grey blending to all over color and root touch-ups. Lynsey offers beautiful cuts - including curly cuts, bobs, and stunning layers. She does stylish men’s cuts and trendy, easy-to-style children’s haircuts.
Lynsey is a new stylist at Wink, and her talent speaks for itself. Currently, she’s not offering advanced or precision haircutting. If you’re looking for a great basic cut, mid- & long layers, color, or a curl refresh, she’s a perfect fit.
When not behind the chair, Lynsey treasures time spent with her family, which fuels her creativity and warmth.
LEVEL 4
WARNER
K18 CERTIFIED | OLAPLEX CERTIFIED | CURLY HAIR SPECIALIST | PRECISION CUT ENTHUSIAST
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Warner loves working on all types of curls - from loose waves all the way to tight coils. They love doing technical precision haircuts and razor cutting, especially for short hair. Having mastered their own curly hair, they not only help their clients with the best cut to suit their style, but also mastering their texture with a daily routine at home.
At your New Curly Cut and Set appointment, Warner will walk you through each step of bringing your curls to life - from shampooing and conditioning to shaping and setting with products.
They have attended professional trainings to continue their education and mastery in curly cuts. They are constantly offering their clients the latest in curly hair techniques, treatments, cuts, and styles. No matter if you have thick, long, short, or thin hair, Warner can help create a style and look that suits you best.
Warner the perfect stylist for you. if you are looking for someone who truly listens and makes you feel validated.
Outside of the salon, they love to hang out at home with their dogs and playing video games. Warner loves Halloween and all things spooky; they channel their crafty energy into creating the perfect costume for the season.
AMBER
BEACHY BLONDING SPECIALIST | LOVER OF LIVED-IN BLONDES AND BEAUTIFUL DIMENSIONAL COLOR | SPECIALISES IN LOW MAINTENANCE COLOR AND STUNNING CUTS
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Wink’s newest talent and stylist is new to Asheville but not new to hair. She brings 7 years of experience behind the chair, specializing in creating effortless, lived-in color that grows out beautifully to fit your lifestyle and style. She brings the coastal vibes to Asheville with her talent for blonding that offers you a natural grow out and glow up.
Her approach blends technical skill with a laid-back, personalized experience, so every client leaves feeling fresh, confident, transformed, and natural. Whether you want long, dimensional waves or a soft, highlighted bob, Amber can bring your vision to life. She is incredible with grey blending, bronding, and beachy blonde.
Originally based in Vero Beach, Florida, she’s now bringing her passion for low-maintenance, dimensional color, and beachy vibes to Asheville, North Carolina. If you’re looking for soft, low-maintenance color and a beautiful summer blonde, Amber is here to help you achieve hair that feels and looks like you.
LEVEL 5
DANIELA
OLAPLEX CERTIFIED | GOLDWELL EDUCATOR | SPECIALISES IN BLONDING, DIMENSIONAL COLOR & LIVED-IN COLOR | LOVES BEAUTIFUL LAYERING
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Daniela specializes in mid- to long hair and color; she does not currently offer short haircuts or curly hair cuts.
With a passion for creating beautiful, customized color, Daniela has been a licensed stylist since 2021 and is dedicated to helping every client look and feel their best. She specializes in blonding, dimensional color, and lived-in color - crafting effortless and natural-looking results that grow out seamlessly. While these are her specialities, she is incredibly talented, skilled, and confident in all aspects of hair color, offering a full range of services tailored to each individual.
Trained under the Goldwell brand, Daniela brings advanced knowledge of professional color techniques and product expertise to every appointment. Early in her career, she trained under several blonde specialists, refining her eye for detail and developing the techniques needed to achieve stunning, high-quality blondes. She has continued her education by attending advanced training classes with industry artists, including Natalie McKell, Kylie Bussing, Mick Lewis, Jacob Khan, Sonna Brado, Kelsey Evanko, and Adina Bignadare.
Her approach behind the chair is both collaborative and honest. She takes the time to understand each client’s vision while also considering what will work best for their hair type, condition, and lifestyle. By balancing what her clients want with what their hair needs, she delivers results that are not only beautiful but also healthy and sustainable.
Whether you are looking for a subtle, sun-kissed glow, or bold color transformation, Daniela is committed to delivering results that are customized, modern, and designed just for you.
LEVEL 6
RYANE
GOLDWELL MASTER COLORIST | BLONDING SPECIALIST | BALAYAGE QUEEN | K18 CERTIFIED | OLAPLEX CERTIFIED
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Ryane has moved back to Wilmington. The good news: Ryane periodically returns quarterly to see clients in Asheville.
Licensed in 2015, Ryane has been staying sharp with continued education as a Master Colorist Stylist with Goldwell. She is also Devacurl certified, along with training in Peter Coppola, Pulp Riot, Redken, KMS, and Olaplex.
With a decade of experience in the hairstyling industry and four years at Wink Salon, I am dedicated to creating beautiful, organic looks that reflect my clients' individuality. As a “have your cake and eat it too” type of gal, I believe in combining artistry with authenticity, ensuring that every hairstyle not only looks stunning but also feels natural.Specializing in curls and balayage, I have honed my skills through national education with renowned brands like Goldwell and Innersense Organic Beauty. My commitment to continuous learning allows me to stay at the forefront of trends and techniques, which I love to share with my clients and fellow stylists.
I truly appreciate the relationships I build within my community and strive to empower others through education. My passion lies in enhancing beauty while fostering confidence, making every visit a delightful experience. Whether you're seeking a fresh new look or a vibrant balayage, I'm here to help you express your unique style.
REBECCA
MASTER STYLIST | LOVES TRANSFORMATIONAL CUTS, PRECISION TEXTURE, & CLASSIC BOBS & PIXIES | MATURE, HORMONAL, & THINNING HAIR ENTHUSIAST | UPDO SPECIALIST
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Rebecca Biggers is a true Master Stylist and a welcome addition to our team. As a former salon owner, Rebecca has dedicated her adult life to the art of making people look and feel amazing.
She is a multiple award-winning stylist and is known for creating wearable, fashion-forward & classic precision cuts. She has a special talent for creating beautiful and timeless bridal styles. She loves updos and blowouts for everyday or special events. Rebecca is a certified NC State Board of Cosmetic Arts Instructor. Her passion for teaching is only matched by her love of learning.
Rebecca brings a unique perspective, expertise, artistry, and individuality to each guest’s experience. Having spent over two and a half decades behind the styling chair, she adores helping clients see their most beautiful selves emerge during their time with her. She loves her younger clients and is great with kids. She loves her older clients and tends to them with care and lively conversation.
As a native Ashevillian, Rebecca has spent her life loving her fair city. She is a certified holistic life coach and loves helping people feel empowered and confident. Rebecca has raised her two phenomenal children in her beloved hometown - growing a second generation of deep roots.
MISTY
MASTER COSMETOLOGIST | COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR & LEAD INSTRUCTOR | COLOR SPECIALIST | PRECISION HAIRCUTTING SPECIALIST
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Born and raised in the heart of Appalachia, Misty brings a rare blend of warmth, artistry, and technical mastery to every guest she serves. As an accomplished hairstylist, oil painter, and cosmetology school director, she approaches hair with the same intention and detail she brings to fine art — thoughtful, balanced, and beautifully executed.
Misty is best known for her precision haircuts, customized color, and modern, dimensional techniques. She creates hair color that is rich in tone, depth, and movement , results that look elevated, natural, and timeless. Her haircutting skills blend precision with contemporary design, giving clients shapes that grow out beautifully and suit their individual features.
In addition to her work behind the chair, Misty leads a thriving cosmetology program where she has transformed enrollment from struggling to competitive and waitlisted. Her leadership keeps her deeply connected to education, trend forecasting, technique refinement, and the highest professional standards , all of which she brings back to her clients at Wink.
Because her time in the salon is intentionally limited, booking with Misty is a rare opportunity to experience the expertise of a master stylist, educator, and true artist.
ANN
MASTER STYLIST | MASTER COLORIST | DIMENSIONAL COLOR SPECIALIST | LOVES VIVID COLORS | RAZOR CUT EXPERT | INCREDIBLE AT GREY-BLENDING & BLONDING
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With over 20 years of experience behind the chair, Ann is a passionate and highly-skilled hairstylist known for their expertise in razor cuts, dimensional colors and dramatic vivids, curly hair cuts, shags, bobs, highlights, blonding, and seamless, natural gray transitions. Her goal is to Make Your Hair Happy!
Ann is known for her personalized consultations and precision finishing techniques. She creates styles that are both transformative and sustainable. Her goal is that you leave her chair happy: feeling and looking good.
Ann will work with you to create a look and maintenance routine that fits your lifestyle and hair goals. She loves working with natural hair textures. And, if you are looking for a vivid, dramatic color, Ann is your stylist.
As a lifelong student and educator at heart, Ann has served as a Network Educator for Bumble and bumble™. She has led hands-on cutting and coloring workshops for fellow stylists. She has a deep commitment to continuing her investment in training and education, as well as building lasting client relationships. Making you feel valued and excited about your hair is at the core of everything she does.
Outside of the salon, Ann spends her time looking for mushrooms and painting. She is always looking for color inspiration in nature. She loves to play with her scruffy dogs. And, she has a lifelong dream of opening a skating rink. She is always on the lookout for the perfect location of Asheville Skate-a-rama.
LEVEL 7
GILDA SANTIAGO
CO-OWNER & EXECUTIVE OF WINK, LEAD EDUCATOR WINK U,ORIBE AMBASSADOR, K18 & OLAPLEX CERTIFIED
Gilda brings the juice. Not only did she co-found WINK with Christine DiBenedetto, she has been a stylist for 36 years. Her coworkers talk about her with reverence and deep affection.
Gilda (pronounced Jill-duh, in case you were wondering or haven’t met her yet) is from Los Angeles, was an educator for Rusk International - a product line she introduced to the community of Asheville stylists - and has trained stylists all over the US for over 30 years.
Beyond training, she has personally styled clients from LA to WNC and many points in between and inspired former clients and friends to start their own successful styling businesses.
While Gilda’s got curls in a shop that specializes in them, she LOVES to cut straight hair, bobs and to create inventive, short and detailed styles. She is a grounding force at WINK, trains the apprentices at the salon, and easily accommodates clients with her philosophy that customer service means seeing happy faces, making sure that clients are met with smiles, being inclusive and meeting every client need - no matter what that means.
Finally, Gilda is a family gal. She loves spending time with her husband and two wonderful sons. Gilda loves exercise, gardening, decorating and good wine and good food.
CHRISTINE DI BENEDETTO
CO-OWNER & EXECUTIVE OF WINKBusiness Coach & Consultant
Christine only works one day per week behind the chair
Christine is a prism. Depending on where you're standing, you'll get a former designer and stylist, a business owner with a sharp mind and drive, a mentor, and motivator focused on the care and feeding of her clients and fellow stylists.
Christine is a course creator, having written an e-course to help stylists work with clients with Thin Hair. Christine coaches businesses and salon owners and teaches Business Foundation Planning/ Alpine through Mountain Biz-Works and LOVES it. She has written curriculums for working with thinning hair clients, 2-day Curly Hair workshops, Hiring: Talent, Train and Retain, and Creating Specialties in your Salon. In her past life as a successful stylist, Christine was awarded Best Hairdresser by the Mountain Express Readers Poll 5x, a platform artist for Rusk International, Advanced Deva Curl Stylist, Certified Rene Furterer Scalp Therapist, Member of Rene Furterer Pro-Team.
Finally, Christine is a mom to her two athletic kids. She loves cooking, cookbooks, cooking shows, Pilates, CBS Sunday Morning, being outside, smart comedies, business books, documentaries, and being on the lake.
Interested in business coaching? Email coachchristine72@gmail.com