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 thre 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
APPRENTICE/SUPPORT STAFF
ANNIE
JACKIE
LEVEL 1
LYNSEY
K-18 Certified
Fresh Talent, Big Heart – Meet Lynsey
Lynsey’s outgoing personality and passion for hairstyling make her a rising star at Wink Salon.
Lynsey is a new talent stylist at Wink. She offers beautiful color services, curl cuts, and simple haircut shapes. At this stage in her training, she’s not offering advanced or precision haircutting. If you’re looking for a great basic cut, Mid & long layers, color, or curl refresh, she’s a perfect fit. When not behind the chair, Lynsey treasures time spent with her family, fueling her creativity and warmth.
LILY
Meet Lily – Our Newest Talent at Wink
Lily apprenticed under our Team Leader, Ryane (@balayagebabe828), and brings a natural eye for beautiful, lived-in color. As a Level 1 Stylist, she specializes in blondes, balayage, long layering, updos, styling, curls, and bobs. She’s currently focused on advancing her technical skills with short haircutting.
Check out her work on Instagram @lilyslovelystyles and come see the magic she’s creating.
✨ Check out her artistry on Instagram and come experience the magic she’s creating at Wink!
LEVEL 2
BLAKELY
Meet Blakeley – Optimistic, Fun, and Passionate About Great Hair
Blakeley specializes in layered haircuts, blonding, and the perfect blowout — always prioritizing the integrity and health of your hair. She also offers men’s cuts and beautiful color services. Please note that curl cutting is not part of her current service menu.
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!
LEVEL 3
COMING SOON
LEVEL 4
DANIELA
olaplex certified/ Goldwell Educator
*****Daniela specializes in mid to long hair and color
she does not do short haircuts or curly hair ******
Daniela’s passion is creating naturally beautiful lived-in color that is effortlessly gorgeous.
WARNER
Makeup artist, K18 CERTIFIED, olaplex certified
Warner loves working on curly hair, short hair, doing technical precision haircuts, and razor cutting. LOVES curly cuts.
In the color world, they enjoy Balayage, vivid (fashion) color, reds, & brunettes.
I am the perfect stylist for you if… you are looking for someone who truly listens and makes you feel validated.
LEVEL 5
ANN
With over 20 years of experience behind the chair, Ann is a passionate and highly skilled hairstylist known for their expertise in curly hair, shags, bobs, big bouncy blowouts, dimensional color, highlights, and seamless natural gray transitions.
Recognized for personalized consultations and precision finishing techniques, Ann creates styles that are both transformative and sustainable, tailored to each client's lifestyle and hair goals.
A lifelong learner and educator at heart, Ann has served as a Network Educator for Bumble and bumble, leading hands-on cutting and coloring workshops for fellow stylists. Their commitment to ongoing education and building lasting client relationships is at the core of everything they do.
LEVEL 6
RYANE
GOLDWELL MASTER COLORIST/blonding specialist. BALAYAGE QUEEN, K18 CERTIFIED, OLAPLEX CERTIFIED,
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
Rebecca Biggers is a true Master Stylist and a welcome addition to our team. An Asheville native and former salon owner, Rebecca has dedicated her adult life to the art of making people look and feel amazing. As a former salon owner and multiple award-winning stylist, Rebecca creates wearable, fashion forward & classic precision cuts and color with confidence. She specializes in soft blondes,
balayage, baby lights, color melt glazes and timeless bridal up-styles. Rebecca is a certified holistic life coach and board 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!
As a native Ashevillian, Rebecca has spent her life loving her fair city. Rebecca has raised her 2 phenomenal children in her beloved hometown growing a second generation of deep roots. Having spent over two and a half decades behind the styling chair, Rebecca has made Asheville more lovely one haircut at a time. She adores helping clients see their most beautiful selves emerge during their time with her.
MISTY
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.
OWNERS
CHRISTINE DI BENEDETTO
CO-OWNER & EXECUTIVE OF WINK
Business 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 5 x, 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
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.