If there’s anything better than winning Australian Hairdresser of the Year at the Australian Hair Fashion Awards, it’s taking home the highly coveted trophy two years in a row.
The talented Robert Bava, from South Australia’s Parlour Hair, is the first hairdresser to achieve this commendable feat in the history of the awards. The collection he submitted deeply impressed the London judging panel.
Bava, who owns three hairdressing salons, took home a BMW 1 Series and sponsorship to develop an exclusive hairdressing tool.
What does it feel like to win Australian Hairdresser of the Year not only once, but two years in a row?
“I was surprised and overwhelmed!” Bava says. “It’s such an honour.”
Bava’s winning collection, Eurostyle, was inspired by sharp styles and blunt fringes after previously working with a lot of softly styled hair. Supermodel Agyness Deyn has led the way in wearing these statement 80s shapes and the fashion in that decade was as bold, reflecting the strong look in hair.
The winning shoot features strong outlines in the cuts and a highly contrasting black and white photographic style.
Heading into winter’s cooler months, Bava believes the 80s will be a strong influence, with some much welcome relief provided for those who want to see more than blow-dried, dead straight hair.
“Hair will still be feminine, with a move away from poker straight long hair, to soft undone movement, but not too much volume,” he predicts.
"I loved art, home economics, woodwork, anything that meant creating and using my hands. Hairdressing was the perfect career."
For a strong, confident evening look, the wet look slicked back from the face will work well.
“Channel the 80s gel!” Bava says.
Before his career as a hairdresser took off, Bava thought joining the industry would be a great way to meet women, and he credits the Warren Beatty film Shampoo for sparking his interest in hair. Bava always had a creative flair in school.
“I loved art, home economics, woodwork, anything that meant creating and using my hands,” he tells myhairdressersearch. “Serving others and communicating comes quite naturally to me, so hairdressing was the perfect career.”
His advice for young apprentices entering the hairdressing industry is to “remember the passion that attracted you to becoming a hairdresser and never let that fade.
"Have a clear picture in your mind of the hairdresser you want to become and chase that dream no matter how impossible it may seem. Never stop learning, keep your mind open and pliable.”
After having an amazing couple of years and reaching such remarkable goals, Bava now plans to invest extra time with younger members of the group and to support them in achieving their dreams. Perhaps Parlour Hair is home to another Australian Hairdresser of the Year in the future.
What secrets can the multi-award winner share for a long and successful career, not just in hair, but in any given field?
“The most important thing is to love what you do as going to work every day doesn’t feel like work then. Any success with that is a bonus.”
Parlour Hair
200 Rundle St
Adelaide 5000
08 8223 2900
See some more Hairdressers of the Month.
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