Colette Renee Tessier is one of the original hair stylists and colorists at Salon 8 – an acclaimedhigh-end full-service hair salon in Charlotte, NC – since it opened its doors in 2010.

A native of Massachusetts, Colette started her career in hair there in 1988. Later she moved to New York City where she produced remarkable hair creations on film sets, fashion runways, theatre productions, and for downtown avant-garde themed events.  

Her work has been published in many fashion magazines including German Vogue. She worked on Steve Buscemi’s “Trees Lounge,” an independent film; and has garnered many hair stylist credits from MTV and Comedy Central as well. 

Always seeking to broaden her knowledge and expertise, she worked as an educator for Jingles International and as a hair platform artist having performed at hair shows across Canada and the U.S. for AG Hair & Cosmetics.

She has established a robust clientele at Salon 8. At every salon – whether in Manhattan or Vancouver (for three years prior to Charlotte) and at Salon 7 in Seattle, the precursor to Salon 8, Colette tailors’ cuts and color to the individual. Her work always takes into consideration bone structure, skin tone, personality, and lifestyle.

For the last 9 years, Colette has worked with the Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte team as their contestant hair Lead Stylist. This year she was invited to join the 2026 DWTS-Charlotte “Dancing for a Cause” by Felipe Fisher, a DWTS-Charlotte co-founders and Director of Show. Fisher is a former ballroom dancer.

As it happens, Colette competed in dance competitions from an early age into her twenties. “At 60, it is both an honor and challenge to dance in the 2026 Dancing with the Stars event. I will give this competition my best both as a contestant and fundraiser for this worthy cause.”