The awards program that brings the best and brightest hair heroes together in celebration of their incredible talent and creativity… the Australian Hair Fashion Awards continues to wow as the preeminent platform for hairdressers, brands and salon groups, allowing them to showcase their vision, drive and creative potential for all the industry to see. Ever wondered what it’s like to win an AHFA? We asked some of the reigning winners just what it takes to dominate and score a title. Take note.
RACHEL VITULLO, 2019 CREATIVE COLOURIST OF THE YEAR
On winning…
“Winning Creative Colourist of the Year reaffirmed to me that all of my hard work and dedication could pay off. It solidified that all the late hours in preparation were worth it!”
On conceptualising her creative vision and bringing it to life…
“Looking back at the previous collections I had created really highlighted the evolution and progression of my work. I decided I needed to challenge myself with this collection and think outside of the box to create something I hadn’t seen before. It was actually the day after the 2018 AHFA’s; I was sitting in the airport with my mum and dad working on creating my next collection. The process for this collection was very detailed and planned to the very last detail. Once I created my story, I spoke to my photographer Andrew (O’Toole) about my vision and he helped guide me through finding the outfits, models and any little extras so that I was 100% ready for the shoot day. We really worked to ensure there were no surprises!”
Advice for those looking to take the title…
“PLAN. PREPARE. I can not stress this enough! A well executed collection needs time and attention to detail. You do also need to be aware that plans will change and ideas will develop; be open to fail as you workshop and practice your looks. Superseding (your original concept) is part of the fun! Enjoy the process down to the very last second.”
Check out Rachel’s full collection here.
BILL TSIKNARIS, 2019 AVANT-GARDE HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
On winning….
“A collection like this is something that takes time and dedication; it takes up a great deal of your mental capacity for most of the year. Come submission day you are left with this insane mix of emotions. Relief, satisfaction, doubt, etc. Then there’s the 5 month rollercoaster ride that is the judging and finalist selection… until the AHFA gala night where the die is cast and the winner is announced. In that moment and you hear your name, all you can say is WOW. There is really nothing that rivals that emotional journey. The beautiful comments; the admiration from your peers… it really make it all so worthwhile. To have our work acknowledged amongst all of the other incredible submissions is just unreal!”
On the process of manifesting his creative vision…
“I look at avant-garde as an artisan giving birth to material with a soul. I know that is a bit philosophical… but bear with me! Taking materials, fibres and textures outside the arena of hair and somehow integrating whatever material you are using with the fabric I adore more than any other – hair – is a creative triumph. The mistakes, trials, and errors. The countless hours of working through an idea that sooo didn’t turn out the way you thought it would… those ‘mistakes’ are the most challenging and rewarding. They have sparked some of the most incredible lightbulb moments I’ve ever had.”
On advice for budding creatives looking to leave their mark…
“You know… I’m 52 years old. I started in the industry in 1983 and hairdressing and creativity didn’t come naturally to me at all. I say this because I believe that if I can succeed in this incredible industry then anyone can. My advice: Don’t be afraid to be different. Surround yourself with passionate people and don’t listen to the negative noise that attempts to knock you off course along the way. There are so many talented people in the industry and so many on their way up. It is easy to be overwhelmed by that. Try to hold on to the fact that it could be you that changes the game; show your work and let the world see what you can do. I honestly can’t think of a better way to do that than entering the AHFAs.”
Check out Bill’s full collection here.
KATY REEVE, 2019 NSW/ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
On winning…
“Receiving that level of recognition for a passion project that you’ve work on for almost the entirety of the year is unreal. Winning gives you the confidence to proceed with other concepts and to challenge yourself further than you previously thought yourself capable of.”
On receiving industry recognition…
“There’s a myriad of ways to be recognised in the industry, from clients through to social media and awards programs. Entering the Australian Hair Fashion Awards definitely expedites the process and puts your work in front of a vast and enthralled audience, raising your profile immediately. It creates an opportunities for your work to be discussed; on opportunity that you may otherwise never have had.”
Advice that informed her journey…
“I have had a lot of different advice throughout my time, sometimes good, sometimes not. It can be confusing to wade through the voices and opinions around you; it left me feeling overwhelmed at times and second guessing what kind of artist I wanted to be. So my advice would be to block out the noise; find who you are as a creative and stick with it!”
Check out Katy’s full collection here.
MADISON VOLOSHIN, 2019 MEN’S HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
On winning…
“It’s super empowering; it’s this crazy feeling of ‘Woah I can’t believe I did that’! When you are being judged by the best of the best in London (a place where I gain a lot of my creative inspiration from) it reinforces a confidence that your work is something that is appreciated – objectively not just subjectively. I always hate what I do; I think that comes with the territory of being a creative. I am never happy with what I do… so having your peers appreciate your work definitely reinvigorates your confidence in your work and feels so good.”
On the creative process…
“Trial and error. It’s really just a lot of hardworking and mistakes that get you to the finished product. When I conceptualise something, it often isn’t how I imagined it in the end. The manifestation of that vision is made up of rework after rework. Whether I am happy with it or not, which I rarely ever am; I always try to push that little bit further.”
Advice for those looking to enter…
“As important as it is to be creative and push yourself and your vision, it’s equally as important to remember that this is a competition. You have to remember that this is a unique forum for your salon and/or editorial work. This collection is made to be judged and ultimately you are entering in an attempt to win, so you do have to create accordingly. You have to put in the work, do the research, look into the past collections and determine what worked and what didn’t.”
Check out Madison’s full collection here.