Hi, I’m Lucy – Creative, Curious & Loving Life in the South West

Hey! I’m Lucy. I grew up in Watford but swapped city life for the coast, and I’ve now been living in beautiful Devon for ten years. Safe to say, I’m fully converted – South West is best 🥰

From Fibre Art to Foils – My Journey So Far

I’m not quite a qualified hairdresser yet, I’m just coming to the end of my apprenticeship and getting ready for my end-point assessment (wish me luck!).

Hairdressing wasn’t always the plan. I used to pop into the salon a couple of days a week just to help out while running my own handmade decor and fibre art business. But I’ve always been a naturally curious person, constantly asking questions and wanting to understand how everything worked. Eventually, my boss asked if I’d ever thought about training, and it just clicked.

I’ve come into this at an older age than most, but honestly, that hasn’t held me back one bit. If anything, I think it’s helped me fully appreciate the learning process.

A Few Quick Fire Faves

What’s my speciality?
I’m still early in my career, so I wouldn’t say I have a set speciality just yet, but I love learning from my amazing team every single day. If I had to pick one area I’m really enjoying, I’d say curly hair!

Hairdressing icons I look up to?
So many! Jayne Matthews’ cuts are absolutely dreamy. I’m obsessed with Gabby and Yannick from Coiffeur Story, and I watch everything Jacob Khan and Connor James Doyle put out. Their styles are so fun, cool, undone, and lived-in, I save them all.

If I could invent anything for the industry…
It’d be a hinged tint brush designed especially for basin toning. Super specific, I know, but it would be a total game-changer!

What We Got Up to in the Collective This Month

Last month, the Collective headed up to Manchester for HairCon 2025, and wow, what an experience! We’d seen a sneak peek of the brief and what to expect, but nothing prepared me for seeing the ELEVEN Australia stand in real life. It was incredible. You could see the sheer amount of work that had gone into it, and okay, maybe I’m a little biased, but I honestly think it was the best stand there!

We had our own stage area where we each took turns showcasing ELEVEN styling products in quick 20-minute slots. Our brief was 80’s/90’s club culture meets beachy vibes – such a cool mix. Because we were all sharing models, the styles had to evolve with each demo so that every look flowed into the next. Thankfully, our team is so talented that it all worked seamlessly. I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous before stepping up, but with the encouragement and energy from the Collective, it turned into such a fun and relaxed experience (thanks girls!).

The main stage show was something else, the concepts, visuals, soundtrack… everything was beautifully curated and executed. The creativity and talent on display were next level.

It was an amazing weekend from start to finish… well, apart from the journey home (let’s just say it was character building 😂).

I can’t believe it’s already been a whole month since HairCon… and to be honest, I still haven’t fully recovered! Now that the dust (and hairspray) has settled, I thought it was about time I shared the story of what went on behind the scenes and why this was one of the wildest, most wonderful weekends we’ve ever had.

Let’s rewind to November last year. Myself and Andy Campling took a little trip up north to scope out the venue: Manchester’s Victorian Warehouse. It was dark, slightly damp, and definitely had that beer-soaked gig vibe, but we instantly knew… this was it. The raw energy of the space gave us all the feels. We didn’t want to just turn up at HairCon 2025, we wanted to live in this venue, breathe in its history, and reflect it back in the most ELEVEN way possible.

That’s where our theme began: Underground Meets Undone. Inspired by the legendary Hacienda, we knew we didn’t want to be polished or corporate. We wanted to be unapologetically cool. ELEVEN Australia cool. Manchester cool. Hair-that-looks-like-you-didn’t-try-but-we-all-know-you-did cool.

We got to work. Custom furniture designs? Tick. Limited edition ELEVEN x HairCon tees? Tick. Our own guerrilla-style promo posters, flyered up around town? Big tick. Honestly, the build-up buzz was almost as good as the weekend itself.
Our ELEVEN Australia Collective prepped with the amazing Sophie Laidlaw, ready to take to the stand stage all weekend with Hacienda-inspired hair looks. Big energy, big texture, big moments and they nailed it!

And then came the main stage show. Oh boy. I’ve done a few shows in my time, but this one? This one nearly broke me (in the best possible way). We had 8 models, each with a story, a shape, a vibe. Melvin Royce Lane, Paul Dennison and Ben Nott were absolute stars. And shout out to Andy Turner, who somehow translated the madness in my mind into an actual, high-energy, mega-cool production.

The show opened with a lone model walking up to the Hacienda. You could hear her footsteps, music muffled in the distance… then BAM—the doors swing open and the club hits. Hair had to reflect the moment, lived-in, textured, and oozing ELEVEN attitude. Dancers doubled as models, and every shape was considered. There were last-minute model swaps, a few panic texts, and a lot of deep breathing.

Rehearsals started at ridiculous o’clock and we had just ten minutes on stage to run through it. Hair and makeup had under two hours to transform the models, and the Collective were absolute heroes, steaming, styling, running, fixing, and hyping each other up like pros.

As the show was called, I legged it round to the front, grabbed a seat, and tried not to have a full-blown meltdown. But the second that first beat dropped… the nerves turned into pure pride. They nailed it. The hair was epic. The vibe was electric. And most importantly, we looked cool.

As if that wasn’t enough, I was also on stage on Saturday for a cheeky little debate: “Salon Retail is Dead?” (Spoiler: it’s very much alive). I was joined by the brilliant Thomas from Touched Salon and gorgeous Holly from Louellai, and we invited the audience to join the convo using red and green cards to vote. Thankfully, the green cards won the day, retail still has a huge place in salon culture, and we’re here to prove it.

The whole weekend was a whirlwind. We talked to so many stylists and salon owners, shared product knowledge, showed off killer looks, and generally didn’t stop moving. Our feet were destroyed. I think I survived on a combo of caffeine, dry shampoo and adrenaline. But would I do it all again? In a heartbeat.

Here’s the official quote I sent to the HairCon team, and I stand by every word:

“HairCon absolutely exceeded our expectations. I must admit the hard work really paid off from you guys, the footfall was massive. One of the biggest objectives we wanted to do was to walk away from HairCon looking cooler than when we arrived and with everything that you guys had set up for us I believe we achieved that, so a massive congratulations and it was really amazing working with you all.”

Thank you to every single person who made HairCon what it was, from the dancers to the stylists, the Collective, the models, our Wonderful Brands team, the organisers, and my right-hand girl Katie Ward. You all smashed it. I don’t know how we top this next year… but I know we’ll try.

See you on the dance floor.

By Jo Robertson, UK ELEVEN Australia Education Director

Join Rachel Vitullo, Global Colour Brand Ambassador for ELEVEN Australia and two-time AHFA Creative Colourist of the Year, for an exclusive UK masterclass.

What You’ll Experience:

✨ Live Colour & Styling Demos with Rachel’s signature freehand techniques
🎯 In-depth Colour Placement & Theory
🔄 Creative Corrections that wow your clients and boost your business
💬 Interactive Q&A – Ask the questions you’ve always wanted answered
🎁 Exclusive ELEVEN Australia Goodie Bags & Special Offers
🚨 Only 30 tickets available per city – book now!

About Rachel

Rachel Vitullo is a distinguished Australian hairdresser and educator, celebrated for her innovative approach to hair colouring and styling. With over 15 years in the industry, she currently serves as the Creative Director at Joey Scandizzo Salon in Melbourne. Rachel is also the Global Colour Brand Ambassador for ELEVEN Australia, where she plays a pivotal role in product development and education.

Her expertise and creativity have earned her the title of AHFA Australian Creative Colourist of the Year twice, highlighting her significant contributions to the field. Rachel’s work is characterized by her mastery in freehand colouring techniques, allowing her to tailor each look to the individual client’s hair texture and movement.

Beyond the salon, Rachel is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of stylists through hands-on education and workshops, sharing her knowledge in colour correction, balayage, and modern styling techniques. Her influence extends to high-profile clients as well; notably, she styled model Steph Claire Smith’s bridal hair, showcasing her ability to blend elegance with contemporary trends.

Rachel Vitullo’s passion for hairdressing, combined with her commitment to education and innovation, solidifies her status as a leading figure in the Australian hair industry.

Book Now!

Hey, I’m Tom!

I’m a 19-year-old self-employed hairstylist with a passion for everything hair! I work across two amazing salons—Bliss Hair Therapy and Blushes in Cheltenham—which allows me to work with a diverse clientele. I love variety, and having the opportunity to create different looks every day is what keeps me inspired.

The hair industry is my world! I thrive on attending and working at hair events, always putting myself forward for photoshoots and creative opportunities. This year, I’ve taken a huge leap and entered the British Hairdressing Awards for the first time! I’m constantly pushing myself to grow and evolve—because in this industry, there’s always something new to learn.

I’ve been a hairdresser for four years, and my passion started because I found the industry so inspiring. If I had to choose my speciality, it would be balayage—it’s my most requested service, and I love making my clients’ hair look absolutely stunning.

If I could step into the shoes of any famous hairstylist, I’d pick Chris Appleton—he’s one of the best and most well-known, and that’s exactly what I aspire to be: an industry leader.

And if I could invent something for the hair industry, it would be bleach- and colour-proof clothing in any colour. Right now, most are just black—but, as I said, I love variety!

This month, as part of the Eleven Collective, we had an incredible colouring course with Katie Groves. I learned and practiced some fantastic techniques, and I couldn’t wait to take them back to the salon and put them to use! This year with the Eleven Collective is going to be amazing, but what I’m most excited about is HairCon with the team—it’s going to be an inspiring and fun couple of days, and I can’t wait!

“Retail is a great way to grow your average bill and your income” says our joint managing director Andy Campling. Here he shares his 11 top tips on merchandising & retail to maximise your sales this Christmas season.

Hot spots! Find the “hot spots” in your salon and place your hero retail products there. Display your best-selling products and minis on the retail desk, think impulse purchases! Brushes are also great here. Look at your retail shelves and make sure products are visible at eye level, easy for clients to pick up and read more about and keep those stock levels up, no one wants to pick up the last tin of beans in the supermarket! Consider your waiting area too and put out leaflets and tester products so clients can start thinking retail before they even get to your chair.

Don’t sell, Recommend and Educate your clients about what products you’re using in their hair and why you’re using them. This builds a positive rapport and trust with your clients, meaning they may not buy from you the first or second time you do their hair, but they probably will on the 3rd or 4th! Consistency and persistence is the key to generating regular sales.

Make your clients famous! Encourage clients to share photos of themselves with their favourite ELEVEN Australia products. Make it a competition, get them to post a pic of themselves with their fresh hair and one of the ELEVEN Australia Trio pack. Have a prize for the best photo (you get your followers to vote on your insta account), it could be an ELEVEN Australia HOLIDAY TRIO or salon service of their choice. User generated content makes your clients feel like they are part of something special and supports word of mouth marketing.

Use data to add value. If you have a salon software programme where you can access each clients purchase history you can be prepared with the best holiday packs for that client, for example Sarah is booked in for her usual cut and colour and she has purchased ELEVEN Australia Smooth Me Now Shampoo and Conditioner in her last few visits, the stylist should have the SMOOTH TRIO at the station to show it to Sarah when she comes in. This shows your client that you know what they like and have taken the time to set it aside for them, the client feels valued that you have thought about them before they have arrived in the salon.

Start a retail chat! During your consultation ask your client what products they are using at home and whether they are happy with them? If they are happy with them, you should still present the appropriate products for their hair that you stock in your salon and say “Unfortunately we don’t stock those products here, but these are the products I will be using on your today.”
Ask your client questions about their hair. If you can get your client to open to you about their hair issues, then you have an open pathway to solve the clients’ issues with the appropriate retail products.

Put a price on it! Clients are often scared to ask the price of products and stylists are equally nervous to say. Putting the price on the products you are using gets over this issue and the client can make up their own mind if they can afford the product. More often than not they will be pleasantly surprised by the price. We also provide pricelists for all our holiday packs so make sure these are not just on your retail shelves but also at styling stations, let the clients see the value!

Go digital & grow sales ↗ To celebrate the launch of our Limited-Edition Australian Landscapes Holiday collection, we have created social media content for you to share on your digital platforms. We also have an EDM (electronic direct mail) and blog you can use to keep your clients up to date on 2024’s hottest Christmas packs. Ask your Wonderful Brands Account Manager to share these assets with you.

Talk to clients about Christmas Presents. Stylists should ask clients if they have Christmas gifts to buy, naturally the answer will be ‘yes’ which gives them the opportunity to suggest the ELEVEN Australia Trio Packs, or maybe a Limited Edition Miracle Hair Treatment. There are so many gifts to buy every year, secret santa at the office, gifts for the kids teachers, something for the postie and that’s before you start to think about the family so if you can make your clients gift shopping easier they will be forever in your debt!

Incentivise your team to sell Christmas packs! We have created a simple incentive sheet for you, for every pack a team member sells they simply write their name on one of the boxes, Once all the boxes are completed play a game of “pin the tail on the donkey” to pick a lucky winner! The more packs they sell the more chances of winning a prize! Ask your rep about incentive prize ideas.

Stylists product of the week. Each week get one of your team to pick their favourite product and then tell all your clients about it! You could place that product on the reception desk with a hand written postcard from the stylist saying why they love this product. A great way to build social media is to get your team talking about their fav products, so a quick vertical film shot on your phone each week with the chosen team member talking about their product of the week is always a winner, not only is great for social engagement it also builds the teams product knowledge as it gets them talking about products. Check out ELEVEN Australia salon Ruby Lane’s Instagram for some great inspo on this.

Have a team retail training session. Its important to keep reviewing what you are doing to grow retail in the salon and no matter how good you are a training session can just kick things up a notch. All of the Wonderful Brands team are able to deliver sessions for your salon but if you don’t have the time to book out the team then I would urge you to watch our recent YouTube Live on RETAIL EXCELLENCE with Mastermynd Beauty, its a packed of top tips and retail inspiration.

SHOP ELEVEN Australia’s HOLIDAY PACKS:

ELEVEN AUSTRALIA partner with ROLF EKROTH for SS 25 COLLECTION “LAVATANSSIT” at COPENHAGEN FASHION WEEK.

With a vibrant history of working with fashion designers across the globe, our ELEVEN Australia team were excited for our very first Copenhagen Fashion Week in partnership with Rolf Ekroth. As a leader in this season’s CPHFW NEW TALENT program – a scheme that nurtures notable upcoming Nordic talent – Rolf Ekroth positioned itself as one to watch. The collection, inspired by the Finnish designer’s personal experiences at Lavatanssit – alike to an old-school open-air barn dance event – is a playful nod to the founder’s upbringing. A love letter to summer nights spent at Finnish dance pavilions scattered across the Finnish countryside.

ROLF EKROTH is an independent Finnish fashion label that champions utilitarianism, nostalgia, and the power of sustainably produced clothes. Values we share at ELEVEN Australia, making this partnership the perfect fit.

The Spring/Summer 25 collection “Lavatanssit” reimagines traditional dance attire with a contemporary edge, merging hand-painted floral prints and innovative silhouettes. Tailored suits offer a modern take on relaxed elegance with sleek lines and subtle details.

Flowing dresses in airy fabrics, capture the romance of a lakeside dance. From mood-board concepts to models on the runway – our ELEVEN Australia Hair Team led by Hair Director Melvin Royce Lane brought Ekroth’s vision to life with a modern, youthful ‘wet look’ inspired hairstyle.

For this hair look Melvin and our ELEVEN Australia team applied products directly to the roots and then through to the ends. Starting with Miracle Hair Treatment and Sea Salt Texture Spray to create texture and piece-y definition. Then Smooth & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum was worked in to add a sleek shine, followed by Make Me Shine Spray Gloss to create a glossy wet-like finish.

PRODUCTS USED:

MIRACLE HAIR TREATMENT to prepare the hair
SEA SALT TEXTURE SPRAY to create texture and piece-y definition
SMOOTH & SHINE ANTI-FRIZZ SERUM to add a sleek shine
MAKE ME SHINE SPRAY GLOSS to create a glossy wet-like finish

SHOP PRODUCTS USED:

The ELEVEN Australia Collective is back!

We are seeking 11 enthusiastic ELEVEN Australia fans to embark on an exciting 1-year journey.

For our 2025 team, we are looking for stylists who are passionate about social media and eager to challenge themselves with new experiences. If you are looking for a stepping stone to launch your career, the 2025 ELEVEN Australia Collective is for you.

Joining the ELEVEN Australia Collective will help you enhance your hairdressing skills, provide you with exclusive opportunities, and allow you to build a network of lifelong friends.

Here are a few of the opportunities for 2025

The team will be mentored by Jo Robertson, ELEVEN Australia’s UK Education Director. Jo has mentored and helped to launch many stylists careers previously, including Patrick Wilson Celebrity Stylist, Anton Alexander New York based Session Stylist and Ashley Cockrell celebrity stylist. In Jo’s previous teams she has worked with Aliona Fedotova, Harriet Stokes and Grace Dalglish, she has also worked with and supported Zoe Irwin, Adam Reed, Charlotte Mensah and Kenna for many years. You will be in safe hands!

Work with ELEVEN Australia’s Co-Creative Directors Joey Scandizzo and Andrew O’Toole at the ‘From Sydney To Shoreditch’ and ‘Melbourne to Manchester’ events
ELEVEN Australia Colour Mentor Day with ELEVEN Australia Brand Artist Paul Dennison
Collective mentoring day with ELEVEN Australia’s Global Artistic Director Melvin Royce Lane
ELEVEN Australia Trend Cutting with Ben Nott
The chance for one of the Collective members to win a place at Copenhagen Fashion Week 2025
Session Styling mentoring day with Nina Band
Learn the Aussi Blonde Colour placement with Katie Groves – ELEVEN Australia European Educator
Styling day with Zoe Rees

Does this sound like the perfect opportunity for you? If so, your next step is to complete the application form by scanning the QR code below

CLICK TO REGISTER

What happens next?

1. After you fill in the application form, we will send you some instructions for step 1. Competition closes 7th October

2. Finalists will be announced on Monday 14th October on @elevenaustraliapro_uk

3. Finalist selection day on Monday 11th November at Heist Studios – Warwick where the new ELEVEN Australia Collective will be announced

Good luck!

Following the successful Australian tour, we are thrilled to announce the launch of ELEVEN Australia Studio Sessions. These intimate, look-and-learn classes are focused on COLOUR knowledge, trends, and techniques. In these pared-back sessions, you’ll gain insights into formulation and reinvigorate your creative skills. With a limit of 25 attendees per session, you’ll have the opportunity to engage closely and ask questions.

Studio Sessions are new educational classes centred on COLOUR. Led by a team of ELEVEN Australia Educators and ambassadors, including Global Artistic Director Melvin Royce Lane, Brand Artist Paul Dennison, and European Educator Katie Groves, these sessions are ideal for those new to ELEVEN Australia COLOUR or those wishing to deepen their understanding of the brand. Attendees will learn how to create the signature Aussie Blonde and explore creative formulas to bring back to your salons.

£100 + VAT per person – maximum 2 tickets per salon
3 dates are now available to book – join us in Manchester, Warwick or Cleveland

We look forward to seeing you this Autumn

Book here

Katie Groves
Katie is an accomplished Colourist based in the heart of Bath in her beautiful studio and has been part of the ELEVEN Australia COLOUR family since its launch. As well as being an ELEVEN Australia Educator for the UK, Katie has been instrumental in leading the Master Certification and has also been showcasing her creative skills as part of the ELEVEN Australia European education team. Her extensive experience of over 15 years in both salon work and educational roles allows her to empower other stylists, fostering their growth and confidence. Katie’s unique ability to blend practical salon wisdom with in-depth brand insights enables her to provide unparalleled guidance and advice to stylists and salons at all levels.

Paul Dennison
With 27 industry years of experience, you could say Paul has learnt a thing or two about hair colour. Paul believes by sharing knowledge the hairdressing industry will grow and push forward, a belief he shared during four years as Project Leader for the British Fellowship Of Hairdressing Colour Project working with the industry’s brightest young and emerging talent. Paul has travelled extensively educating and has drawn from these experiences working in different cultures and environments to shape his colour knowledge. Paul is no stranger to the stage and has presented to huge audiences as well as providing bespoke, intimate sessions, combine that with decades of photoshoots, including working with ELEVEN Australia Co-Creative Director and award-winning photographer Andrew O’Toole.

Melvin Royce Lane
Melvin Royce Lane, with his extensive 20-years experience in the hair industry, stands at the forefront of ELEVEN Australia as Global Artistic Director. His profound connection to the fashion world infuses a contemporary and innovative approach to educational strategies within the brand. Melvin’s expertise is not confined to the theoretical aspects; his hands-on experience directing hair for high-profile fashion events, such as Australia’s Next Top Model and various esteemed fashion weeks, allows him to translate cultural trends into educational content seamlessly. His role is multifaceted, encompassing the development of ELEVEN Australia’s COLOUR line and the curation of cutting-edge cutting and styling education programs. Melvin’s influence is pivotal in shaping the brand’s educational direction, ensuring that ELEVEN Australia continues leading hair fashion trends.

Monday 9th September – FourFive Studio – Manchester 10am – 3pm ELEVEN Australia Brand Artists – Paul Dennison and Katie Groves
54 Oldfield Road
Manchester
M5 4LZ

Monday 30th September – Warwick (Midlands) 10am – 3pm ELEVEN Australia Brand Artists – Melvin Royce Lane and Paul Dennison
The Heist Studios~
5-7 High Street
Warwick
CV34 4AP

Tuesday 1st October – Cleveland 2pm – 6pm – ELEVEN Australia Brand Artists – Melvin Royce Lane and Paul Dennison
Thor Rooney
8a South Side
Hutton Rudby
YARM
Cleveland
TS15 0DD

ELEVEN Australia Master Certification

2024 is going to be an exciting year for ELEVEN Australia COLOUR! We are introducing a new Master Certification, the certification will allow colourists to gain a deeper understanding of ELEVEN Australia COLOUR as well as up-skilling their colour knowledge with an ELEVEN Australia twist.

Wonderful Brands Education Director Jo Robertson and ELEVEN Australia Educator Katie Groves travelled to Copenhagen for 4 days in November to gain their Bronze and Silver Master Certification and to learn the program to bring back to the UK ready to teach in 2024. The program is split into Bronze, Silver and Gold and allows you as a stylist to think differently about colour, how to formulate as well as placements.

Our Educators were Lindsay Perez-Soloman, Global Education Director of ELEVEN Australia and Melvin Royce Lane, Head of Education ELEVEN Australia.

Jo Robertson said “We were very excited to for the training, it’s always good to spend time in the Copenhagen academy with the European team but this time it felt very special to be the first people to gain the Master Certification. It was 4 days of intense learning which I loved and can’t wait to share this with everyone in the UK. My favourite part was Hair Science Day, I love understanding colour and why it behaves the way it does.”

The Master Colourists Program is split into 3 sections, named after famous places in Australia.
Bondi Bronze – Bondi is an upbeat city with a vibrant culture and fast-paced
Bryon Silver – Bryon is where our last campaign Far North was shot, it has stunning beaches, lush rain forests with a chilled vibe
Uluru Gold – The famous red rock (Ayres Rock) and where our Alice Springs campaign was shot. It’s a sacred spiritual site and parts of it can be accessed if you are invited by the indigenous people

We asked Jo to share her trip to the ELEVEN Australia Acamdey with us

Day 1

After recapping our fundamentals and discussing lightening hair in depth we moved on to fun hands-on part where we spent time formulating and discussing tonal characters of the range to allow us to get perfect results, it was great to be able to listen and problem-solve with other colourists.

We squeezed another day session into day 1 and also worked on ELEVEN Australia Signature Colour, this taught us to think like a colourist and not a hairdresser! We covered the signature looks with Permanent, Liquid Demi-Permanent and Lighteners. Don’t worry we won’t be squeezing an extra day in when we teach, we will get to spend a day on each module.

Day 2

I personally took away so much from the class, I’ve always been a big believer that consultation is key but without spoiling the class details, this day made me rethink and access the client’s needs and colour suitability in a different way. I had some big light bulb moments!
For the hands-on part of the session, we took our learning from the morning and looked in detail of placement of colour.

Day 3

Love or hate them, colour corrections are a huge part of our jobs, especially as clients want to experiment with their hair and even throw in a box dye now and then just to test our knowledge and patience!
Katie and I were really looking forward to this class, it is something we get asked for a lot in the UK. The class was broken down into salon-friendly, realistic time options to correct a colour. Looking at the possibilities, too dark, too warm etc. We also looked at removal of colour and adding colour.
We then put all of our learning into practice by creating one seamless colour on a head that was a combination of 4 colours. We both loved this class, it really gets your brain working and we loved debating tones.

Day 4

Hair Science – After an early night we felt ready to tackle the hair science. Understanding the “Why” is so important to be able to tackle the “How”. We discussed hair, its composition and how new technology enhances our colour services before moving on to natural colour pigments and artificial colour.

All of our learning was combined with our final colour model and having gained the knowledge and tools over the Master Certification it allowed us to create the most stunning seamless blonde, which probably would have been a bit of a nightmare if we had not had the certification under our belts.

And we made it!

After 4 days of intense learning, we completed our Bondi Bronze and Byron Silver Master Certification. We will be back in June for part 2, Uluru Gold which combines all of our learning and focuses on creativity and an ELEVEN Australia shoot.

We can’t wait to share this with you and take you to Bondi, Bryon and Urulu with us!

ELEVEN Australia Collective Awards

This year saw the launch of the ELEVEN Australia UK COLLECTIVE AWARDS with awards up for grabs in over 5 categories. Many of our amazing ELEVEN Australia salons entered, and finalists were chosen and invited to the awards ceremony at Salon International. We asked our winners a few questions to discover what it takes to put an award-winning entry together.

ELEVEN AUSTRALIA UK SALON OF THE YEAR

JUDGED BY Wonderful Brands Joint Managing Director Andy Camping , our finalists were;

Atelier Hair Couture
Salon Ginger
Elysian
Michael John Hair Artworks
Josh Lee Hair
Roberts and Gray
Heir Salon

We learnt putting together the entry for The Eleven Salon Of The Year Award was an enlightening experience. It allowed us to reflect deeply on our journey and business practices. Here are some key lessons we learned:

The act of writing the entry was a positive exercise for the entire team, it allowed us to reflect on the positive aspects of the business and understand the potential for further success, this in itself added a boost in team morale and provided motivation and focus. We were given the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of our team and recognise their efforts and achievements.

The process prompted us to take a step back and critically assess HEIR Salon strengths and weaknesses. In doing so we are able to identify what makes the salon unique, but also where we can make improvements. Identifying weaknesses, as well as strengths is the first step towards addressing them and improving business operations, systems and services.
The end to end experience has given us the opportunity to recognise and reward our team as well as continually improve our services and build a reputation for being a top quality high street salon.

My biggest tip for anyone thinking of entering awards is to show the impact of your incredible business. Even the smallest of salon businesses can make the biggest of impacts. Numbers, analytics and reports can paint a picture, but it’s the impact of your business which tells a story. The real ways in which your business has helped people and made a lasting impression. For us it’s about the impact we make in the lives of our customers and our team. Case studies and testimonials can speak louder than a graph showing business growth. Your business has made a difference, in some way, this is what makes you unique and worthy of an award win! So find a creative way to share this!

When we found out that HEIR Salon had won The Eleven Collective Salon Of The Year Award, We were overwhelmed with gratitude. It was a moment of validation for all the hard work and dedication our team put into HEIR salon. Winning this award has not only boosted their confidence but also motivated us to aim even higher in our business endeavours.

Colourist Of The Year

JUDGED BY Head of Education Melvin Royce Lane & Education Director Lindsay Perez-Solomon, our finalists were;

Douglas Reid – R&R
Pamela Cooney – Clay Hair Studio
Stacy James – Stacey James Presents Style
Jamie Boot – Salon B

What I learnt about myself entering the award was that It helped me learn that even tho I own a business now there is always room to make time to be creative! It helps keep ideas fresh and creates excitement in the salon you can’t beat!
My biggest tip is be true to yourself and put forward your own sense of style and what you see as forward-thinking.
Winning the award just makes you feel amazing! By being recognised just makes you feel that you are getting it right and makes you want to do it again!

Member Of The Year

JUDGED BY Wonderful Brands Education Director Jo Robertson, our finalists were;

Toni Roberts – Roberts and Gray
Zoë Rees – Biss Hair Therapy
Zoey Louise – Salon B
Jamie-Leigh Oliver – Micheal John Hair Artworks

What I learnt about myself when I won the award was that if I really put my mind to it and have more faith in myself I can do anything. I also learnt that I am good at my job and I should have much more confidence than I do have with showcasing my work and how I get to where I need to get.

I have never entered an award so the tips I would give is just do it, you’ve got nothing to loose, just make sure you put everything you have into it and the most important thing is you did your best. Entering is the most confident thing you could do.

How I felt when I won both my awards? I sobbed like a baby! I just cried (with happiness of course) I have never won anything before and I lack so much confidence within my job, I’m so used to always being knocked so I didn’t have high hopes but knowing that I won two awards I was and still am over the moon and I sing about them with pride! But I’m always trying to improve myself to always be better as a just in case. I couldn’t be more thankful to the eleven team for boosting my confidence so much!

TREND IMAGE AWARD

JUDGED BY Co-Creative Director Andrew O’Toole & Co-Creative Director Joey Scandizzo our finalists were;

Douglas Reid – R&R
Jamie-Leigh Oliver – Michael John Hair Artworks
Hollie Herring – Hair at No.2
Eloise Taylor – YOKE The Salon

SOCIAL MEDIA AWARD

JUDGED BY Head Of Education Melvin Royce Lane and Jo Robertson Wonderful Brands Education Director, our finalists were;

Katie Guise – Ochre Hair Studio
Zoë Rees – Bliss Hair Therapy
Jamie Sean Boot -Salon B
Zoey Louise – Salon B
Joshua Lee Partridge – Josh Lee Hair

What I learned about myself by entering the awards is that I’m so busy in the salon that I rarely get the time to reflect. Compiling the entry made me realise how much we’ve developed in business since launching five years ago and actually made me feel quite proud of how far we’ve come!

If you have never entered an award before and if you feel you deserve to be recognised for a certain achievement/award- just go for it! Sitting down to draft the entry can feel a little daunting, especially as hairdressers are not used to being behind a laptop so if necessary seek support. A friend, family member or professional who has copywriting experience will be able to help you effectively convey why you deserve to win.

Another handy tip is to carefully consider the criteria for the specific award you are applying for and write down your key notes in bullet point format. This will help to ensure that the entry remains concise and relevant, which is critical in order for the judges to measure if you are the deserved winner.

When we heard our name being called as a winner we were over the moon. At Josh Lee Hair we are huge advocates of ELEVAN and have been using the products for several years now. To be recognised is an honour.

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