65. Interview with Annika

1. You and I met and started chatting via Twitter and then Facebook, has the internet helped you and your business? Also What do you use these social networking websites for? And do you have an agent?

I don’t have an agent and it is amazing who you can meet and network with via the internet. Twitter and facebook are just the beginning, they have helped a heap in getting a buzz about into the world. You have to make noise somehow and not everyone is willing to listen to you yelling in the street (most people will think you’re crazy!) I guess its less frightening to people to interact using these kinds of methods. Also its assessable, its less in formal and everyone knows what you’re doing without asking you directly. I use them a lot from booking appointments for clients and getting new jobs for photo shoots. I post as much as I possibly can so people feel connected and can create an opinion of you and your work.

2. I have noticed via your Facebook account that you are involved with lots of fashion parades, how did you get involved with that side of hairdressing?

The salon I worked at did a couple of hairdressing shows and I always helped with them. I also started volunteering to help out backstage at fashions parades while I was still working in the salon. I didn’t really have a day off most weeks. I involved myself as much as I could. Hard work pays off.

3. For me, I have found doing hair for a shoot, and doing hair for fashion show and in the salon means I have to have a completely different approach to hair in these mediums. How do you balance them?

It’s a hard balance that you cant fall behind in… you have to stay on the pulse of things. Continue to learn your trade and constantly evolve. I think still working in a salon keeps me grounded. You’re working with everyday people who want different things from their hair. Sometimes it can me more challenging then fashion hair. Where as photo shoots and fashion shows it’s all about a particular image, it has to be perfect for that one photo or the 10 minutes the model is out on the catwalk. But they do work together at times, generally fashion hair filters through to commercial wearable hairstyles that clients will ask for. I think it takes about 3 to 6 months for the general public to get used to the new ideas in the industry.

4.Where have you worked previously?

I worked part time when I was 15 in a salon in a shopping centre. It’s a really big salon with a retail shop attached, Ross Caia is a franchise of three. I finished high school and started my apprenticeship there. I was there 5 years in total. I wanted to learn more so I moved to a boutique salon in Malvern called Madd. I really learnt a lot there and perfected my trade. I had a very passionate mentor, I have a lot to thank him for. I wouldn’t be the hairdresser I am now without his knowledge. At the end of the day I’m just too eager to succeed.
I now work for myself freelancing under my own name ANNIKA’S, I do clients from their houses, work casually in a salon, do hair and makeup for photo shoots & runway shows. I also do a lot of work for Model Academy, they train young models to prefect their job. This is a term course that goes through everything, its great fun and I find it amazing to watch these students turn into top models.

5.How long have you been doing hair and when did you have your first hair “epiphany”?

Well I have been playing with my own hair my whole life (laughs) but as an actually professional trade… full time seven years and three years part time before that.

First hair epiphany would be..? (thinks) When I was eight I had all my hair cut off into a graduated bob I couldn’t believe the feeling I got when I left the salon, I was in love. I always wanted to be a hairdresser and I wanted to make people feel the way I felt that day. I wanted to give people style, an image to call their own and make them look & feel better about themselves. Hairdressing is very rewarding if you let it.

6.For readers who want to become freelance hairstylists themselves…what advice would you give to the up starters?

Volunteer as much as you possibly can and yes you wont get paid for volunteer work! But that brings a lot of other work, you have to be dedicated and network with people in the area you want to go into. Say it is more photo shoots you want to get into, talk to photographers and get to know them. Backstage Fashion Runways you would get to know designers. Be yourself people like to work with people that they get along with and that are friendly and hardworking.

7.Top five favorite tools

1. Hairdryer – I can’t go past my twin turbo 2600 its my favourite
2. Straightens (I have many but the main ones are GHD and T3)
3. Hairspray – I can be picky, I worked in a tigi salon so love their products, I normally use the S Factor or rockahollic they are both medium hold and not tacky like a lacquer, easy for models to brush out too.
4. S Factor Creamy Molding Wax
5. Bobby pins

I also do love label.m dry shampoo and label.m sea salt spray & my crimpers that are from the 80’s.

8. What do you feel are the problems facing the industry right now?

I think there are a lot of problems with our industry...
I think people don’t realize how hard we work and how little we get paid. The general public is unaware and most don’t think of us “hairdressers” as professional, which is our problem because we make them think that.
Attitude is very important and I think there needs to be more training across the industry. We are creative people and need to be inspired and constantly motivated. I also think the colour company’s should have the same numbering colour system. And don’t get me started on competitions. I could go on and on about ways to improve our industry but I wont…

9. My research tells me you worked in a salon prior to freelance work, could you tells us how did you make the transition from hairdresser in a salon to freelance?

Gosh, I actually asked to go part time and my boss wouldn’t let me so it was a hard decision to make but I knew it was the right one, I quit completely and knew my love and passion would some how support me.

10. Lets talk make up. How did you get involved with that? And which came first hair or make up?

Hair came first. I never really thought I would really get that into makeup but it does work hand in hand, same as fashion. Its all about a look and its has to follow through head to toe. I never really wore that much makeup myself until I started working full time at Madd Hairdressing and I learnt how to apply it. It came fairly naturally, I love colour and did a lot of painting at high school (I think that helps) now that I think about it… it’s kind of surprising I didn’t get into it sooner.

11. What are you working on at the moment?

Just the general stuff as well as setting up a website that will have an online portfolio. I would love to work Internationally. Also planning a working holiday in October, always wanted to go to Salon International.

12. What are your plans for the future?
I would love to have my own salon one day... have a happy balance of salon life and freelancing. I want to inspire others and keep the passion alive and pass on my knowledge to anyone who is willing listen. Annika Bowen pictured with Napolean Perdis.

Annika Bowen pictured with Napolean Perdis.

Annika's Twitter page http://twitter.com/annikabowen

Annika's facebook

*This post was originally written for Style Street by Jean-Paul Rosette

Part 2 Interview with Nina Butkovich-Budden

Originally written for The Hub Magazine. This is part 2 of my interview with Nina, part one can be found here.

One of London’s busiest hairstylists right now, Nina Butkovich-Budden took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to Jean-Paul about Mark Mitanovski’s antlers,Lady Gaga and veterinarian surgery.

Let’s talk about Nina’s Hair Parlour… how did that come about?

I was always interested in bygone eras, and through overdosing on Marlene Dietrich and Jayne Mansfield films I realized I couldn’t find a hairdresser to recreate the perfect 1930’s or 1950’s hair do. I searched high and low and nothing was available. Working as a period style consultant for the Young Vic Theatre at the time I definitely spotted a gap in the market. Around the same time the first burlesque club night opened in London. My dear friend – and owner of the famous “The Girl Can’t Help It” – Sparkle Moore started it all and following her lead several new clubs started appearing catering to vintage aficionados. At first I started working on my friends, then upcoming performers and as the circle widened more and more people searched after a fabulous vintage do! One of my ultimate inspirations was a guy who taught Vidal Sassoon his trade, hair coiffure impresario Raymond of Mayfair. He owned shops all over London in the 1950’s and I thought why not, it’s a good idea so let me follow in his footsteps!

The first Hair Parlour was set within walls of someone else’s salon in Waterloo, soon after the demand was so huge that I had to find staff and move somewhere bigger and more appropriate. I met Issidora our fabulous make-up artist, and suggested she join me on this venture and upon a friend’s suggestion we approached Alfies’ Antique Market in Marylebone, and they took a chance on us. Our top stylist Leila Mauro moved from Brussels to join us, Mark McCarthy took on the barbering and Sami Knight is our creative force. We have a superb team! We specialize in styles from 16th century until the 1980’s with a splash of avant-garde.

I love the history of our shared craft, particularly retro 1950’s hair, and the art and craft of dressing hair for both men and women. Do you think modern hairstylists are loosing touch with their roots (no pun intended)?

Absolutely! Hairdressing is a multimillion pound industry and it’s all about quantity of clients and quick turnover. I’ve previously worked as a salon manager before and it was 30 minutes per client… needless to say, I hated it! Vintage hair do’s take time to create and herein lies the experience itself… it can’t be rushed and has to be researched if you are to create something truly authentic. I am a rebel and the idea of lots of money and creating a chain is not my ultimate stimulant. I decided long ago to keep myself out of the corporate world so small, exquisite boutique style business is my aim. Quality and individuality over mass marketing and high street!

Nina’s Hair Parlour has Retro hair classes for civilians and professional hairdressers. What made you decide to do this?

Well, I thought there was no fun in having your hair done in a period style and then not knowing how to recreate it at home, so we do one- to-one classes for our clients and show them how to do three different styles. Now, they can look fantastic all the time. We still haven’t started the professional classes, we are pretty small and I am über busy so it’s very hard to organize classes at the moment. The team and I are going to sort that out very soon though!

What do you do in you spare time?

Brainstorm!!! I love what I do and cannot stop ideas pouring in, so I sketch a lot and it drives everyone mad!

In our last correspondence you mentioned you were off to Malaysia, was that for work or fun?

We were presenting Marko’s collection on STYLO (Stylo Fashion Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur 2010) in Kuala Lumpur and Issidora – my partner in crime – and I had a special appearance on their Hair Couture Show…loads of work but we had fun too.

What are you working on at the moment?

I have loads of shows planned with Marko, preparing for September’s Fashion Weeks and working on the new Stella Artois ads, Mad Men DVD launch and millions of photo shoots and editorials…. busy busy Nina!

And your plans for the future?

To do more shows and hopefully, buy a 1950’s Airstream, convert it in the hair salon and travel around States….like Nina The Queen of the Desert hahaha!

SHE'S ELECTRIC

Hair by Olivier Lebrun.

Interview with Nina Butkovich-Budden part 1.

A while back, in a previous post, I stumbled upon Nina Butkovich-Budden, a hairstylist whom I greatly admire. Her work is placed somewhere between the past and the future. I admire her so much that I decided to stalked her via various social networking sites to get an interview. This is the outcome of when you get a chance to talk to your hero. This interview is part 1 of 2.

I wrote this article for The Hub Magazine.

I discovered your work while perusing the endless photos from London Fashion Week … the hair you did for Marko Mitanoski is amazing. How did that collaboration come about?

I was in Croatia with Issidora - my partner in crime - and we were both "dying" of flu, and as one does we were in front of the TV watching FTV when all of a sudden this amazing vision appeared! It was a show Marko Mitanovski did for Belgrade Fashion Week. I was in awe of his design aesthetic and decided to find him straight away. I Googled him and found him on Facebook. I proceeded to tell him I wasn't a stalker and that we should work together. I invited him to London and asked my friend who owns a talent agency to sign him up and bring him over. He accepted the invite and within four months he was chosen for Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s "Ones to Watch’, and as they say –the rest is a history!

Marko Mitanoski’s clothes are “other-worldly”, what was the inspiration for the antlers?

Marko's clothes are something else and as a whole feel quite dark, structured and almost gothic in shape, which required equally magnificent structured hair. I was thinking along the lines of trees and branches and then one morning I woke up with an epiphany – the antlers! I began researching and my eye caught the site of an incredible Scottish deer. I suggested it to Marko and he loved it! The first prototype was a challenge. The structure was created by my friend, the sculptor, Julie Elgar, who managed to manipulate chicken wire into antlers. I used hair to make them bearable for the models to wear. They were very wobbly and heavy at first, but now we’ve fine-tuned them using a much lighter base.

I saw Lady Gaga wearing one of your antlers, how did that come about?

Oh, that’s a cool story. We got approached by the fabulous stylist Nicola Formichetti (who is the senior fashion director of Dazed & Confused magazine amongst others), who is also Lady Gaga's stylist He asked us to supply him with a couple of pieces from Marko's collection for the Q Magazine photoshoot. We took a chance and custom made a pair of antlers for Lady Gaga that we included with the costumes. Little did we know that fashion photographer Nick Knight was going to use them for the ‘Put Your Paws Up’ interlude on her Monster Tour! I have a lot of respect for Gaga wearing all the young designers’ clothes and giving them a platform for success… Formichetti is a genius at discovering all the new talent out there.

My research tells me you were born in Croatia; did you start your hair career there? And did you always have an interest in hair?

Yes, I was born and raised in Zagreb. After the war I decided I needed to change the ambience and moved to London. Over there I attended the Art school, but I got bored and decided to save the animals of the planet and enrolled to become a veterinary surgeon. Fortunately for the world of vintage hair I hated it and realized it was a bad decision, so I left.

When did you have a “hair-epiphany”, or when did you realize you wanted to become a hairdresser?

In the early 1990's I approached my friend Dorees who is the owner of a prestigious London hair salon and begged her to take me on as an apprentice. After a year of learning and numerous tantrums I was able to cut a perfect Nancy Kwan (film actress) bob created for her by Vidal Sasson in the 60's – which was my goal. Once I was able to achieve that, I was ready to hit the world of Haute Coiffure.

How did you start out in hairdressing?

Cutting hair with nail scissors.... local punks, Goths and alternatives were guinea pigs and lots of friendships ceased there hahaha!

Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon...

Special thanks to Rachael from creative-idle.

Shameless self promotion.

This is an interview with StyleStreet and myself conducted a few weeks back.

I know what you're thinking, you're thinking... hey wait a minute, didn't he just cut and paste from StyleStreet and pass that off as a new blog post?

Well, yes i did.

Read it here at

StyleStreet

'COS I'M ALWAYS ON THE RUN

This is an interview was done for Street Style magazine 

and executed entirely via facebook chat. 

www.stylestreet.com.au

Meet Andrew Iacuone

Jean-Paul
Hey, how’s it going?

Andrew
I'm Feeling pretty cool, just chillin in ma casa!!

Jean-Paul
Cool, so you’re a busy man to catch these days, so business must be good?

Andrew
Business is pretty cool! All is good on that front.

Jean-Paul
Where are you working at the moment?

Andrew
I'm working outta Momac in St Kilda.
www.momac.com.au

Jean-Paul
I see
So I first met you when you were 19? Is that right?

Andrew
Damn straight! A sparkly eyed youngster.

Jean-Paul
So when did you start as a hairdresser?

Andrew
I was 14 Years Old. I Started at Toorak rd in Sth Yarra. At a good old place called Rok Studio!

Jean-Paul
14! That’s young... What was your first impression of ROK?

Andrew
Well I initially started as Boy Saturday, and went from there. Rok was a dynamic space as I remember it. Full of Bravado and a real passion for Hair. I loved it. A tough gig though.

Jean-Paul
And what were your duties there as a 14 yr old?

Andrew
Well. I made the best cafe' in town. Well at least that's what I told them. And I took care of the clients and the salon in general.

Jean-Paul
That's so cool. So they took you under their wing...so to speak?

Andrew
Absolutely... or they threw you out of the nest! It was Pretty straight forward. I learned some great stuff in there.

Jean-Paul
So then, why hairdressing? Was that something the young Andrew got into or...?

Andrew
Yeah I loved Fashion and did a stint at Dangerfield (which is a local fashion shop here in Australia). I didn't much like working in the rag trade though. But could see a lot of the same kinds of kids working in the hair game. So I gave it a shot. And felt at home straight up. I've never looked back since!

Jean-Paul
Okay. So then I met you again in London 2001, where did you work there?

Andrew
I was working for Aveda at that time.
They had a cracker of a shop in Knotting hill. I was based there!

Jean-Paul
That's right. It feels like a lifetime ago.
I remember thinking that London was the "Mecca" of hairdressing. And that I was going to learn so much.
What did you learn from London as a hairdresser?

Andrew
Well. To be honest, I remember feeling much the same. I was full of excitement and was quite overwhelmed at first. But soon came to realize that we Melbourne Haircutters rated pretty highly over there. I learned that "Hair is hair". And if you love it and your passionate about it then. You can be just as good no matter where you’re.

Jean-Paul
Yes. I got that too. I also thought that the haircuts walking down every High street was all looked the same. Like everywhere you went the kids had the same haircut.
And that every haircut had a name attached.... The beckham or The fin etc
We just don't do that in Melbourne

Andrew
Absolutely!
It’s kind of Naff really. Like Sydney in that, if they clock it in a magazine or in the street.
They want to roll just like that. We don't roll like that in Melbourne!!

Jean-Paul
So I heard a rumor that you have worked in 16 different salons in as many years... Is that true?

Andrew
Who knows man? I never counted them in my younger days. Maybe? I walked my walk.

Jean-Paul
So it's true or not?
We're not talking lovers here...We are talking Hairdressing Salons

Andrew
I don't Kiss and tell.
Now you got me thinking and counting. I’d say your Bang on.
Well actually, maybe a few less. .

Jean-Paul
16 is a lot of salons, I can imagine what the people reading this would be thinking. Have you got anything to say to them out there?

Andrew
Yeah that’s a sticky question. On paper it doesn’t look good. I guess I was ruthless in my pursuit of knowledge. And my passion for learning took me far and wide. Great for me though. Perhaps. A pity I couldn't learn all that in one place. But all that’s behind me now.

Jean-Paul
So are there any hairdressers that you worked with that you admire?

Andrew
From time to time I came a cross some very talented and passionate people. A young man called Jean-Paul springs to mind! .

Jean-Paul
AHHHH Shucks, You’re making me blush. Anybody else?

Andrew
Martyn Gayle @ Aveda is a genius.
Nicolas Jurnjak in Sydney
Guido Palau is a god, I passed him a pin once. I was peeking and freaking all day!

Jean-Paul
Okay, now a tough one, are you ready?

Andrew
I'm scared.

Jean-Paul
What are the biggest problems facing apprentice hairdressers today?

Andrew
I feel that most salons around the country seriously lack dedication to education and training " Inn House". And that most certainly doesn’t help young kids who are already doing a shorter apprenticeship of 3 years. These two things are the biggest challenges in my view.

Jean-Paul
So tell me your top 10 products/tools?


Andrew
So I had a little look in my kit and have come to realize that I actually roll fairly light these days. I have quite a few things I like to work with but find I like tend to change it in accordance with the direction of my work or the particular brief I'm working with..

I really do like the following products and use them a fair bit..

Strong hold styling gel (Kiehls)

Volumizing tonic (Aveda)

Hair Resort (K.Murphy)

Easy Rider (K.Murphy)

Session Spray (K.Muphy)

Prep (Bumble+Bumble)

Re Do (johnathan Product)

Pli (Loreal)

Holding Spray (Bumble+Bumble)

Brilliantine (Bumble+Bumble)

www.jonathanproduct.com

www.kevinmurphy.com.au

www.bumbleandbumble.com

www.aveda.com.au

www.kiehls.com

As far as styling tools are concerned. I love Blowdrying Hair! So I have lot's of different brushes.. Round brushes, square brushes, Nanna brushes. I also carry a few different mason pearson brushes. yet again in differen't sizes! 

I do use quite a few different kinds of Irons. I always have at least 3 different diameter curling irons. I have a really hot Hairdryer being a Parlux and I also carry around three different irons form GHD, being Slim, Thin and thick! But a big favourite would be the 3 Prong tong!

Jean-Paul
Fantastic. So how can we get in contact with you...?
Facebook, mobile number, email address?

Andrew
I generally recieve all of my work through referral. So basically word of mouth. Facebook has been a revolution though!

Momac Hairsressing
www.momac.com.au

120 Carlisle St

St. Kilda 3182

03 95342108

Jean-Paul
Has websites helped, such as
www.myhairdressersearch.com

Andrew
www.myhairdressersearch.com has been an interesting utility as has Facebook. It has definately created an avenue for people to go down should they wish to pursue you! All they need do is google your name or details about you, and you'll show up on screen!

Jean-Paul
What advice would you give to young apprentices?

Andrew
My advice to young apprentices is very simple. It is extremely important that you work for an organization that has a real focus on education and is dedicated to NURTURING, EDUCATING AND CULTIVATING Its people. Much like any company, the success of a hair shop is dependant on its people. So if the right structure and focus is in place, you'll have every opportunity to succeed. Having said that, what an individual puts in is what they'll ultimately get back. So if the dedication is there and within the right structure. The only way is up.

Sonic Youth part 1.

Okay, so I'm writing for a web-zine called stylestreet.com.au which is for hairdressers about hairdressers by hairdressers. My article is based on the 10 questions idea.   

Apparently there has been a drop in numbers for apprentice hairdressers. So lets ask the youth what they think... This article can also be found at

www.stylestreet.com.au

Meet Harley.

JPR: How are you and where are you?

HL:I’m good thank you very much. I live in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Where I have lived all my life.

JPR:How long have you been in the hairdressing?

HL:I’ve been in the game now for about 3yrs,compriseing of Hairdressing Pre-Apprentship Coarse, cert 2 at Chisholm Institute Dandenong. And junior apprentice in a salon in Melbourne city I also attend trade school at Biba Academy.

JPR:Where have you worked?

HL:I worked at Worksense Haircutters at their Queen st salon for the majority of my apprenticeship, which is best described as an up market

Salon. In truth, this for me was both fruitful and frustrating. I am now doing some part-time work with Elliot Beautiful Hair, which is located in South Yarra Melbourne. Which has been a refreshing and relaxing environment of which I haven’t experienced in a salon so far.

JPR:Where did you start and why hairdressing?

HL:I started at Chisholm Institute doing cert2 coarse in hairdressing to make sure that it was a right fit for me, and also to have some basic skills for work in a salon.

I tend to get that question a lot, it’s a bit frustrating. I tend to say why not hairdressing? Visually I find hairdressing interesting and creative especially cutting! To see a client visually change from new style excites me.

As a career its always changing which is good as you will never get bored with your job an the industry will never die.

JPR:What are you working on at the moment?

HL:I’m not working for a salon as such at the moment, however, I am studying at Biba Academy for two days a week while I seek an apprenticeship with a salon, or I may continue at Biba Academy fulltime to get my Hairdressing qualification quicker.

JPR:Top 10 products/tools in your kit and why?

HL:Tools-carbon comb create for men’s cutting, ghd's for styling hairups, good set of clips is a must for cutting an styling, a wooden vented round brush great for blow drying. Fringe pins are a handy tool to have in your bag at all times for hair ups

Products-American crew styling products fiber/defining paste great for men’s styling, Aveada air control hair spray has great hold for hair ups and after blow dry. Kevin Murphy angel wash shampoo and conditioner great for fine and damaged hair.

JPR:What has been your career highlight?

HL:To be honest with you my career has been not as fruitful as I would like it to be.

But the one thing that has stood out for me so was the opportunity to work, train and learn from stylists such as Jean-Paul Rosette who has been a great inspiration. He's a unique individual like I am, so I hope that I can build myself a career around my personality like he has. And there are stylist like Ivan Constable an Daniel Ravech that have been in the industry a long time, I won’t say how long, but I was fortunate to work with these stylists very early on in my career and hope to match and surpass them one day!

JPR:What are the biggest problems facing apprentice hairdressers today?

HL:Where to start with this question? Well, I was let go from my apprenticeship very suddenly and without any warning with a year and half left to go, it was very disappointing as I had invested good amount of my time an career with the salon in the hope of getting adequate training which turned out I didn’t get enough, of which is now hindering my chances of getting another apprenticeship with a new salon, as I am behind the eight ball with my training. I spent a good amount of time wining over the senior staff so I could blow-dry and style some of their clients in the busier days and nights. Then suddenly another 2nd yr apprentice was hired who had on-floor experience,, which was very disappointing. The one thing that has kept me seeking employment in hairdressing was the reaction from most the senior staff not to happy about me getting let go from the salon and a few of them have been in regular contact with are  making sure that I am pursuing hairdressing which has given me a lot of confidence that I can succeed in hairdressing as a stylist. So I think one of the biggest problems for apprentices is finding a salon that is committed to seeing you through the three years of your apprenticeship and the training that is necessary.

The one thing I noticed at trade school amongst the other

Apprentices is they tend to bounce a lot between salons, moving from one job to the next. I believe this is not good to bounce around from salon to salon while you are trying to learn a skill set and a trade for a career.

For me the biggest problem as an apprentice has been getting a real chance to implement what I've leant at trade school to work on the floor in a salon environment. I don’t know if that was just the salon I was working for, however I find that in-salon training is inadequate, as some owners don’t put in the time to teach me or other apprentices. Once a week training after hours on one model is not efficient enough.

I think employers just need to have confidence in their juniors as opposed to feeling like we cost the salon money. We (the juniors) are here to work

JPR:How can we get in contact with you?

 

HL:There are many ways that you get in touch with me in the 21st century.

harlism@hotmail.com

Then there there’s Facebook,

http://www.facebook.com/people/Harley-Clinton-Lewis/646784047

And Myspace,

http://www.myspace.com/heardthatsoundamileaway

And at last twitter,

http://twitter.com/unclerev

www.chisholm.edu.au

 http://www.biba.com.au/

This Charming Man

HAIRSTYLIST PROFILE

SIMON SETTER

Jean-Paul: How are you and where are you?

Simon: Really well sitting on my balcony on a rare sunny morning in London after  just coming back from a week in Istanbul.

JPR: How long have you been in the hairdressing game?

SS: 5yrs as a Thursday night Saturday boy 17 yrs professionally God that's 22yrs altogether! When i started i said I'd  try it out until i got bored! which I'm still not!

JPR: Where have you worked?

SS: Melbourne Australia - Tokyo Japan - New York USA - London UK - Berlin Germany - Milan Italy - Paris France - Havana Cuba and then pretty much where ever else I've travelled.

 JPR: Where did you start and why hairdressing?

 SS:"Feathers Hair"  Donvale, on a Saturday morning so i could get MY hair done . Then "Godfrey and Taylor" , Toorak to meet gay guys and make some cash till i started a sculpture degree. My mum was a hairdresser and i have always loved the sculptural element of it.

 JPR: What are you working on at the moment?

 SS: A Tatler beauty shoot based on the galaxy. A pilot for a new UK/TV show. Paloma Faith and a couple of weddings for the weekend.

JPR:  Top 10 products / tools in your kit and why?

SS:  " Phillip B" products"drop dead straightening baume" for its ease - Jet set hairspray for its beautiful smell and finish - Russian Amber shampoo for it opulence and rejuvenating qualities and his Shin Shine for its brilliant shine. "********" straightening and crimping irons all in one which are amazing. Japanese grips and pins because they are the best for hold and strength - "Fuji"- more Z - 5 1/2 inch scissors for there precision and beauty - Bumble and Bumble dry shampoo for texture -  Masson and Pearson cushion brush for great smoothing ability - Graphite combs for less static - Classic silk boar bristle round brush's for great volume and lift and Lado Pro paddle brush's for strength and control.

http://www.philipb.com

http://www.bumbleandbumble.com

JPR:  What has been your career highlight?

SS:  I have had many opportunities to work in the places and with the people i always wanted to from Beyonce to Vivienne Westwood and to name one highlight is hard. But if pushed I'd have to say becoming friends and working with the genius that was the stylist Isabella Blow  from campaigns for Tattler to Philip Treacy, Mc Queen to Bryan Ferry was always inspirational, amazing, fun and creative .The people she introduced me to are true world leaders of style and fashion.

JPR: What advice would you give a  young hairstylist?

SS:  Research research research know all about the past present and future, different eras and times. Align yourself with a company or stylist you really admire respect and believe in. Work hard but remember to have fun and enjoy it because it really is one of the most rewarding careers in the world.

JPR: How can we get in contact with you?

 SS:  settersimon2000@yahoo.com  or at SMITHS salon 57 Poland street Soho London.

JPR: Future Plans? 

SS: Many, there is talk of moving to LA. And then I've always had a strong passion for Art and I'd love to do something more with it in curating and dealing. Then every time i visit home i get a strong desire to move back and do something.So who knows but what ever happens I'll always be doing  something with hair.......