By Shonagh Walker May 11 2009
Winners of the Hair Expo Australian Hairdresser of the Year from previous years tell myhairdressersearch about their winning collections … Grab that gong and you can write your own cheque!
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2005/2006 – Brad Ngata, Brad Ngata Hair Direction
With a career spanning 20 years, Brad’s twice taken home the coveted cup.
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What was the story behind your collections?
In 2005, I played with soft textures - natural, crimped, curly, straight with a bit of bend, and neutral tones. The entire aesthetic flipped for 2006, with harder shapes and dark colours. Sharp, pointy fringes sat against jet black bobs. I wrapped hair around spears to create a cylindrical Mohawk. I created a pyramid from a frizzy blonde.
How do these collections differ from salon work?
They’re like my couture work. They’re very aspirational. I dilute them for the consumer, which I liken to Pret-a-Porter.
How has winning twice taken you to another echelon?
In terms of industry, you garner international exposure, but I always try to make it about the customer. It puts you front of mind at consumer media and drives people into salon. Personally, it’s achieving a goal. You become part of the club that’s best at what they do. It instilled a sense of belonging and pride.
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2007 – Heading Out’s Catarina Di Biase
No stranger to success, Caterina’s 2007 win was the thrill of her life.
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What’s the story behind your winning collection?
It was called Whisper. It used softness, texture, beautiful finishes for fashionable, wearable hair. I wanted to move away from structured hair, so it’s in keeping with a more organic trend in fashion and design.
How did the win grow you as an artist?
The recognition, nationally and internationally, is amazing. It’s enabled me to develop my skills and experiment with new ideas and techniques.
What did it mean to you personally?
It has been the highlight of my career! It obviously gave my team a huge buzz and continues to lift the profile of our salons.
What opportunities has winning afforded you?
My career has been boosted immeasurably. It has raised my profile nationally and internationally and we have been inundated by international magazines chasing our artistic work. There are exciting projects in the works involving television and travel. I was the Hair Director for L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Week. I’m spokesperson for L’Oreal’s new professional hair colour and I’m the first Australian to travel to Paris for the international L’Oreal Autumn/Winter Collection for 2010!
Any advice for future entrants?
It takes planning and commitment. It’s about more than a fantastic collection. It’s how involved you are in our industry, how you develop techniques and trends of your own, and how you work in your salon.
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2008 - Jayne Wild from Wild Life Hair
London born Wild has twice won this award (first time in 2004), but remains as humble as when she began hairdressing 27 years ago.
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Tell us about your 2008 win.
I actually wasn’t going to enter, but then I happened across a shoot in Italian Vogue that really inspired me. My collection was shot against chaos, but the hair had clean textures and movement to balance the disorder. We loved the yin and yang-ness of it all.
How has the win helped you?
It’s an amazing honour and to be representing my peers like that makes all the late nights and hard work worthwhile.
Any advice for future entrants?
Just keep going! I entered for 6 years before I won the first time and then it was another four years before I won again. Even if you don’t win it gives you a fantastic chance to explore your creativity and PR yourself.
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