Salon International

Last weekend the Electric Art Team and I headed down to Salon International at the ExCel London. Salon is such a huge event and I couldn’t believe the turnout, it was great to see so many students, manufacturers and hairdressers come together for the three day event. Salon is hosted in London every year and brings together so many of us from the hairdressing industry where we can watch presentations, check out what the big names in the industry are up to and find out about a whole host of brand new products and services coming into the fold.

I was heading up presentations on the Denman and Fellowship Stages over the weekend and it was such a fantastic chance to show you all what the Electric team have been up to and to create a selection of editorial looks for all of those who came to the Denman shows, we demonstrated different brush techniques to achieve two or three different looks out of one model.

There were hundreds of hairstyles being show cased by many different brands from the colour presentations at TIGI - accompanied by their bedhead bus banging out some real tunes, to the Wahl catwalk creating its usual interest and hive of activity (including raising money for charity in a traditional barber shop) plus it was great seeing the crowds around the HABB Stand waiting to get their signed copies of the new 2010 HABB Calendar with the likes of Paul Merritt and Errol Douglas as you’ve never seen them before!

Profiles Model Shoot

I was set a wonderful task last week that I couldn’t wait to share with you all! Profiles Modeling Agency saw our Electric advertising campaign and after having been blown away by our models look they got in touch regarding one of their stunning new faces, Kitty. When Kitty came into the salon we were wowed by her unique look and set to work straight away to re-create the classic Electric crop for her, (looks like this has become our signature style!). Kitty came into the Brighton salon with a mass of glossy long dark locks that we had been briefed to chop off– its fantastic when we get the chance to work on a project like this at the salon as it allows for total creative freedom on our side. I have to say her new look is gorgeous and really suits her face shape. I loved working on this project and think that creating bold new styles for models, or anyone for that matter, is something that stylists shouldn’t be afraid to go for. The Electric team and I are wishing Kitty all the best with her new look and hope that the bookings come flooding in for her!

The Hairdressing Awards Season

Wow, this week feels as if it’s been non stop with awards! Firstly we joined the guests at the British Hairdressing Business Awards to see Michael Van Clarke sweep the floor picking up 4 awards! I was nominated for Business Director of the Year for the first time following my launching of the electric salon group, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be this year – but there’s always next! The following night saw the Wella Professionals Trend Vision awards where Lindsay Grossman of hob and Zullu Holland’s Angelo Vallio’s win will see them representing the UK at the international final in Berlin next month – well done guys! After two big events on the hairdressing calendar,the last award night was the HAIR Magazine awards where I picked up a highly coveted award – Salon Stylist of the Year! It was a great night, with good friends, celebrities and a fair few Curator UK featured hairdressers attending and winning awards. It’s been a brilliant week with so many new and established stylists and salons being recognized all around the country for their creativity and business minds. It’s such a fantastic feeling to be given an award myself too and I’d like to say a big congratulations to all of the other winners and nominees from the week, it’s been great to see new talent coming through and the old pros still full of fresh ideas and creativity.

The Regaine Hair Loss Knowledge Centre

I have recently been asked to join the Regaine Hair Force as their hair expert for a new consumer campaign, The Hair Loss Knowledge Centre. This is such a great campaign to be a part of as hair loss is such an important aspect of the industry and affects so many people throughout the world. I was invited to take part in a filming of a new Hair Force Advice Panel, with experts from different industry sectors giving their advice and recommendations - it was fascinating to join Trichologist Marilyn Sherlock, Pharmacist Nicola Matlock, Dermatologist Dr Paul Farrant and Men’s Health journalist Jonathan Thompson and hear their perspectives on losing hair. We all gave interviews, mine about different ways to style thinning hair, and hope that all of our advice will help men suffering from the condition. With a few clever styling tips I know that those who catch the video will benefit, feeling confident with your hair means so much and I’ll be sure to pass on the information I’ve learned off the guys at the campaign to at the salon team too! Don’t forget to log onto http://www.regaine.co.uk/ in November to catch my film!

London Fashion Week SS 2010

I went to this season’s London Fashion Week with the Electric Art Team where I headed up the Orschel-Read show for L’Oreal Professionnel. The menswear collection was inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and London’s multicultural eclectic youth so we worked with the designer’s inspiration and brought 7” bright green Mohicans and punk looks to the catwalk.

We had a fantastic time watching the show and it was great to see the Electric team drawing so much inspiration from the day. London Fashion Week was buzzing as usual - Vivienne Westwood show which was amazing; Vivienne always showcases the most stunning collections keeping true to her British routes, proving that the UK is still the world’s style capital. Before I go, did anyone catch the Charlie Le Mindu show? I can’t stop thinking about a future of pieces made out of bats and rats; Charlie is a mad talent and such a bright young star within the fashion world mixing his hair wigs with fashion and just bursting with creativity and ideas. Bring on February 2010!

‘Hidden Detail’ -5 Point Alliance Photo Shoot.

I met up last week with a few members of the 5 Point Alliance’s creative team to bring a new hair collection to life. If you’re not sure who they are, the Alliance are an industry body providing educators throughout the industry for shows, seminars and product launches etc. in all disciplines of hairdressing.

Everyone came down to Brighton and we shot in the Electric Studio – a real coup for us! The shoot included me, current British Hairdresser of the Year Akin Konizi, Debbie G, and Stephen Mackinder, we all met up to share ideas and inspirations, then shoot a collection. Keep your eye on the hairdressing publications for the collection as we are all so excited for everyone to see the images! We were all given creative freedom on the day and the theme I took for the models was ‘hidden detail’. I cut panels into the models hair to create a wearable, edgy chic look consisting of strong tailored connections for an ultra feminine crop.

It was great to work with the other members of the creative team, and I’m so proud of the work. I’m looking forward to sharing more with everyone reading this next time I work with the Alliance.

Curator UK BLOG launched!

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More soon.