Art is in the Hair

In spite of my not so happy relationship with hairdressers&co. one of my best friends is training to become one (hair stylist actually), and she’s doing great, so great that I’m thinking to have an hair cut done by her (and I've been cutting my own hair for years now).

Elettra and her model, Margherita
photo by me

Tuesday 15th I went to see and support her and her model of at the Richard Ward Junior of the Year Awards, a competition where trainees show off their talents in front of an audience of parents, partners and friends, as well as an esteemed panel of judges including Catherine McMahon from L'Oreal Professionnel and Richard Ward himself (I know I’m missing some judges but I don’t remember their names, I’m so sorry! If anyone could please fill my memory gaps I’d be very grateful).

photo by me

photo by me

 

Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa is the past winner of Hair Magazine’s London Salon of the Year, and has been described as ‘leisurely and luxurious yet unpretentious’; glamour, excellence and an outstanding customer service are perfectly combined to transform customers experience into a little luxury treat.

photo by me

The competition has been running for several years, and it consists of two separate awards: The Junior of the Year Award itself, which was voted for by the senior team at the salon based on day to day work ethic and achievements throughout the year; and the Technical Achievement Awards, which is the one I went to watch and cheer for. For the second award juniors were asked to create a look that combined current trends with model style and features. As well as creating a suitable style, entrants were also judged on research, inspirations and presentation. 

photo by me

This is the second time I have been part of the audience and I have to say that this year the standards were amazingly high (even for one who is not an expert like me the styles were just wonderful) and I really enjoyed it, especially for the ’50 atmosphere which seems to have inspired almost everyone.

rock/romantic braided updo
photo by me

This year I really enjoyed the show because I saw a lot of styles which I would like to try on my own hair (I’m thinking about two braided styles in particular) and also some of them which I personally would never wear but were amazingly done (I’m thinking of an extra short cut with the most beautiful red shade I've ever seen and a lovely Marilyn inspired style).

Marilyn
photo by me

rock/romantic braided updo
[front]
photo by me

super short/ultra red bob
photo by me

My friend Elettra’s creation consisted in a fusion between fifties style, vintage accessories and oriental look, inspired by Japanese anime and manga, the film “Memoirs of a Geisha” and the western '50s atmosphere. The result is an Updo consisting in three sections: the two frontal sections call to mind both the Geisha's hairstyle and the 50sVictory Rolls style, while the back ponytail was tied up to remember famous anime hairstyles as Sailor Moon.

pin-up geisha
photo by me

photo by me

The look was completed by a flower hairpin, a Chinese style inspired dress and a makeup that perfectly balanced Japanese Geisha's and ’50 pin-ups styles.

romantic braided updo - the winner
photo by me

After all of the trainees showed us and commented their creations, and a little break was allowed for everyone, Hellen Ward announced the winners: Elle with her romantic braided Updo won the Technical Achievement Award and she was also rewarded with the Junior of the Year Award itself; while my friend Elettra was the runner up for the Technical Achievement Award.

romantic braided updo - the winner
photo by me

I am really happy for my friend and proud of her work and results; her look was almost flawless and really creative, different from the others in spite of the common inspiration which seemed to have struck all the competitors; plus, it was just perfect for her model (who's also a dear friend of mine), she managed to combine her skills and creativity with her model personal style and character and I think she did a great job.

Elettra and Margherita
isn't that military coat perfect for the look?
photo by me