We Rendezvous with L’Oréal Pros, Pete Thomsen, Ash Croker and Alex Abbas.
This week, L’Oréal Professionnel announced their latest initiative, ‘Rendezvous avec L’Oréal Pro.’ The community focused narrative aims to platform the people and products that have shaped the future in hair, simultaneously inspiring new, entrepreneurial spirits to learn and grow as part of the L’Oréal Pro fold.
It’s all about spreading the love and authentic stories of some of our industry’s greatest success stories, and so we’re kicking it off with some exclusive Q&As with L’Oréal Pros, Pete Thomse, Ash Crocker and Alex Abbas.
Pete Thomsen:
Chelsea Hair Cutters, NSW
@chelseahaircutters
TJ: Tell us a bit about your salon.
PT: We’re located on Sydney’s South Coast in the developing marina. The feel is very open and modern, with lots of natural light and a warm and welcoming atmosphere … good vibes. Healthy hair is our focus, particularly when it comes to our blonde and balayage clients. We’re known for beautiful blondes, and really work to uphold this reputation with ongoing colour and care maintenance.
TJ: Why did you partner with L’Oréal Professionnel?
PT: As mentioned, we’re all about beautiful healthy blondes, and so product is paramount in delivering for our clients. I wanted to partner with a brand that I believed in, and L’Oréal Professionnel has forever led the charge when it comes to industry innovation and results that speak for themselves.
TJ: How does L’Oréal Professionnel support your salon?
PT: Through education – not just education on trends, but on the knowledge and science of hair. They remove the investigative work for busy salons with reliable forecasting across clients’ wants and needs. This covers everything from product to salon performance and digital expectations, allowing us to provide a real point of difference from our competitors.
TJ: How does L’Oréal Professionnel help you in education, specifically through their access program/education portal?
PT: L’Oréal Access presents a melting pot of skilled artists for your entire team to tap into and grow. It’s year-round education for all stylists, no matter where you are.
TJ: How does the brand aid your salon technologically?
PT: There is no blonde quite like a L’Oréal Professionel blonde, and this is courtesy of the brand’s dedication to technological advancement in colour. Blonde Studio 8 (with Bonder inside), and Dia Light Acidic Colour compliments our clients and team, ensuring hair health and the opportunity to add-on salon services. Studio 9 enables open air techniques to create amazing levels of lift and incredible condition. This level of innovation not only allows us to be the best at what we do, but challenges our existing knowledge and techniques so we continue to elevate as hairdressers.
TJ: What business components, like salon management, salon training and leadership, are you helped by through L’Oréal Professionnel?
PT: From salon promotions to digital support, the business opportunities are ongoing.
TJ: What are you looking forward to next with L’Oréal Professionnel?
PT: Continuing to grow as an artist and businessperson and being face-to-face (again!) with the L’Oréal Pro family. Collaborating with other L’Oréal Pro’s, sharing our best practices and ideas is a truly rewarding experience,
TJ: What does being part of the L’Oréal Professionnel family mean to you?
PT: For me, it is important to be a part of a culture you believe in. If you have that connection, barriers are broken and you’re able to be your true self, and in today’s world there is nothing more valuable than authenticity.
Ash Croker:
The Salon By Ash Croker, NSW
@thesalonbyashcroker
TJ: Tell us a bit about your salon.
AC: My salon is in Clovelly and I would describe it as coastal chic big on pink for a fun, feminine feel. We’re colour specialists with a focus on gorgeous, healthy lived-in results, and are serious about inclusivity. Sustainability is an important pillar for us and comes hand in hand with innovation.
TJ: Why did you partner with L’Oréal Professionnel?
AC: For evolution and knowledge. It has been 12 months and the brand has already propelled my growth as a person and business owner, and this is exactly what I wanted in a brand partner. Further to this, the colour portfolio is un-comparable, I couldn’t create the hair I create without L’Oréal Professionnel’s incredible colour technology.
TJ: How does L’Oréal Professionnel support your salon?
AC: So much! I now have monthly catchups with my business manager and ongoing support across all things sustainable. As a business owner, having access to a collective of sounding boards (across the field, marketing, and management teams) helps to drive constant evolution in the business, and therefore my team.
TJ: How does L’Oréal Professionnel help you in education, specifically through their access program/education portal?
AC: L’Oréal Access is an amazing education tool, always-on for the team to plug into wherever they are. It helps me personally through access to a range of global artists each with something unique to share. L’Oréal Professionnel leaves no excuse to be uninspired with a constant education feed in colour, cutting and styling, business and digital.
TJ: How does the brand aid your salon technologically?
AC: With innovation at the core of the brand, you can rely on L’Oréal Professionnel to be one step ahead of trends, informing and up-skilling myself and the team before demand hits salons. The product technology is truly amazing and provides a great narrative to share with clients.
TJ: How is the new Metal Detox impacting your colour business?
AC: Metal Detox has been a huge addition to our salon services. For clients, it’s creating more shine, longevity, and true-to-tone colour results. For business growth, it’s an amazing service add on that doesn’t require more time in the colour process. Simple and highly profitable.
TJ: What do you love about Metal Detox?
AC: I love that it’s easy and effortless, and most importantly, that it works. It does what it says it’s going to do – you can literally see and feel the difference allowing the results to speak for themselves. It promotes shine and hair condition is left soft and completely weightless … my clients are obsessed!
TJ: What business components, like salon management, salon training and leadership, are you helped by through L’Oréal Professionnel?
AC: When I started with the L’Oréal Professionnel family, it was myself and one apprentice. Now, 12 months on (with 4 months in lockdown) I have a team of 11. This is all courtesy of hard work, and the support and education from the team.
TJ: What are you looking forward to next with L’Oréal Professionnel?
AC: Everything! I can’t wait to share my education and be a part of the L’Oréal Pro artistic team. Elevating my celebrity clients’ looks with the brand, and of course to see what innovations are up next.
TJ: What does being part of the L’Oréal Professionnel family mean to you?
AC: I am very grateful to be part of the artistic team, It really does feel like a family. Being surrounded by such talented people makes me want to push and grow to be the best I can be.
Alex Abbas:
Mane Painters, NSW
@manepainters
TJ: Tell us a bit about your salon.
AA: We have two salons located in Liverpool and Kingsgrove with a team of 14 in total. Mane Painters is a colour focused salon specialising in French balayage and glossing for every day, wearable hair.
TJ: Why did you partner with L’Oréal Professionnel?
AA: In my earlier hairdressing years, I always saw L’Oréal Professionnel as the pioneer. They have always been leaders in the hair game and present as the pinnacle of professional colour. Industry peers speak very highly of the affiliated salon support and brand recognition, plus there is a level of trust associated for clients.
TJ: How does L’Oréal Professionnel support your salon?
AA: Changing brands can be scary as a business owner, but the changeover has been so seamless. The L’Oréal team simplified the whole process and really supported us through the journey. The experience has made me really excited for our future growth.
TJ: How does L’Oréal Professionnel help you in education, specifically through their access program/education portal?
AA: The Access program essentially places unlimited education in the pocket of every team member. It’s a simple, easy to use tool that enables my staff to book classes and up-skill whenever they need
TJ: How does the brand aid your salon technologically?
AA: The backing of Metal Detox has given the team so much confidence and made us understand that we truly do need products like this in salon. Dia Light is a game changer, simplifying the toning process while promoting shine and a softer, conditioned finish. Our colours are lasting longer which makes everyone HAPPY!
TJ: How is the new Metal Detox impacting your colour business?
AA: It’s bringing us more revenue and has allowed an extra service without additional time. The science behind it has really developed our client consultations and the results are glossy and longer lasting.
TJ: What do you love about Metal Detox?
AA: How easy it is to use. When I’m toning the colour takes so easily and the results are true-to-tone. The condition and quality of the hair are next level.
TJ: What are you looking forward to next with L’Oréal Professionnel?
AA: I’m excited to grow my career with the L’Oréal Pro team, share my passion for hair and education to the industry.
TJ: What does being part of the L’Oréal Professionnel family mean to you?
AA: The support from the team has been incredible and I feel as though I can talk to any of the pro’s without judgement. The team is super motivating and inspire me to push more and achieve greater things. It’s such an exciting time.
Continuing to share the love, L’Oréal Professionnel welcomes more salons and business owners to join the family and discover their PRO difference.
To find out how to work with L’Oréal Professionnel in your business visit www.lorealprofessionnel.com.au/contactus