Creative genuis at the british hairdressing awards

Published 04th Jun 2010 by sophieh
Creative genuis at the british hairdressing awards

There are two sides to HJ's British Hairdressing Awards - creative and commercial, but where do your strengths lie and which side will you choose to focus on this year?

Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year

Pushing the boundaries is what hairdressing is about, and the Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year award recognises the best in exciting and experimental hairdressing.

This category gives you the opportunity to let your imagination run wild, allowing you the chance to create a story and turn fantasy into reality.

darren-ambrose-avant-garde.jpgDarren Ambrose, D& J Ambrose, London

HJ's 2009 Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year

"I take my inspiration from the catwalks, but I mix the look and feel of the streets. This way, I can create looks that translate for both the hairdresser and the consumer. Less is often more, so I make sure I always include the wow factor. I want people to say 'how did he do that?'"

My favourite image

"My winning collection was called Elemental and I took my inspiration from Steven Meisel, the iconic fashion photographer most famous for his work with Vogue. I identified that his work had key elements of visual symmetry; it's mathematical and combines to build a perfect picture. I wanted my images to have those elements and the same visually striking themes as Steven's photography. I love this image because it shows how avant-garde work can be used to create looks that are haute coiffure."

Top tips for creating an avant-garde collection

  1. You should be creating a new and different texture and feel. 
  2. Avant garde is not about adding cones, crowns or special effects; it's about being unique with hair. Whatever you create, do it with good taste. 
  3. Forget competition hairstyles when working in this field; instead think of art - create a masterpiece that speaks volumes about your talent.

EFI-Davies-avant-garde.jpgEfi Davies, Toni & Guy, London

"Inspiration is personal, yet comes from everything around you. From life experiences, your background, your surroundings and personal taste - it's all about taking elements from each of these and translating them into your style. Your collection needs to be visually impactful, and the beauty follows."

My favourite image

"I don't have a favourite, and it's great that avant-garde collections have progressed to incorporate more complicated techniques and shapes, making the context of the collections more interesting. Putting together my collection can take months of preparation and hours of planning, so you need a real passion for this area of hairdressing. It's hard to create a collection that's totally unpredictable, and that's always my aim."

Top tips for creating an avant-garde collection

  1. Be innovative - try not to repeat yourself.
  2. Trust your instincts, even if unconventional.
  3. Do not be afraid to experiment; if you fail, you've learnt from that experience so it can only help in the future.  

Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year

At the other end of the scale, Schwarzkopf Professional's British Colour Technician of the Year category allows you to be as creative or as commercial as you want.

Beautiful, soft and feminine colour brings a haircut to life, while vibrant and eye-catching colour guarantees heads will turn. So, if you are thinking of entering either of these specialist categories, take this advice from the experts.

Chris-Williams-colour.jpgChris Williams, Rush London, Croydon Surrey

HJ's 2009 Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year


"Planning is key for any successful shoot and winning collection, especially colour. To ensure your collection will stand out from the crowd, you need to be focused on your inspiration and ensure the idea is followed through to produce a strong image. Models are an essential part of the shoot, so consider how your hair creation will look on your chosen girl.

"As part of the colour entry, you must compile a portfolio of how the look was achieved. Set aside plenty of time to ensure you thoroughly explain your inspiration and how the key looks were captured."

My favourite image

"I was inspired by light and I wanted to create the illusion that beams of coloured light illuminated the shapes of the hair. I love the orange crop,which has vivid flashes of green and white through the extended fringe."

Top tips for creating a colour collection

  1. Research your inspiration, so you are clear about the type of images you want to create.  
  2. Communicate your ideas to your photographer, make-up artist and stylist by producing a mood board showing the style, colours, design and look you want to create. This way, everyone is working towards the same goal.
  3. Take advice from your mentors.

mark-leeson-colour.jpgMark Leeson, Mark Leeson Hair, Body & Mind, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

"The simplest thing can inspire me, and often a collection can be inspired by a whole variety of elements. Letting your own personal style shine through in your images is essential. This is something you will develop throughout your career and, while it may change from time to time, the essence of it will remain the same. Don't try to do something too wacky if it's not really your field, but at the same time don't play it too safe. It's about finding a balance that you feel comfortable with."

My favourite image

"The sophisticated bob was given a dramatic update with a contemporary colouring technique. Lightening and toning with the added extreme of high-fashion colour, the classic bob was given a fresh twist. When I created this collection, I was inspired by nature:  the colours, texture and movement."

Top tips for creating a colour collection

  1. Plan, plan, and then plan some more. Be prepared; always plan your looks in full - cut, colour and styling. Make sure you have everything you need in your kit bag, and that everyone you are working with knows the full brief for the shoot.
  2. Practise in the salon. You can never experiment too much with colour. Hold colour nights and perfect the shades you want to achieve.
  3. Always be on the lookout for new and exciting ideas and inspiration. Take it from everything around you - places you visit and people you meet. Keep a notebook with you and jot down all that inspires you.

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sophieh

sophieh

Published 04th Jun 2010

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