Hair and Harlow Host Mane Event with Michelle Zeller Porumb

Michelle Zeller Porumb knows no two manes are the same. The bronde specialist is such a master at creating bespoke creations on each client, that her Instagram @mane_ivy has almost hit the 100,— milestone. Thanks to Hair & Harlow, who have salons in Fairy Meadow and Surry Hills, bronde enthusiasts were able to hone their skills and get up close and personal with Michelle at The Mane Event.

At the one-day event, held at Baker Street Studios, Banksmeadow, the Arizona local shared her top tips and tricks for achieving “a lived-in balanced colour using a client’s natural colour for longevity”.

“I’m here today to showcase the ultimate bronde,” she explained. “My philosophy is less is more – you need to work smarter not harder.”

Michelle, who was voted Top 5 colourist at Behind the Chair awards for the past two years, said that a little thought went a long way when it came to creating the perfect lived-in look.

“Today I’m showing the importance of where you place each foil,” she said. “It makes so much more of an impact where you actually place the foil rather than just using a lot of foils – it’s quality vs quantity.”

Michelle stressed it was “extremely important to take more time to think about the pieces you’re colouring and don’t just be robotic” and that “every client who walks through the door should have a custom colour”.

“No two colour services should ever be the same,” she said.

Michelle said it had always been a lifelong dream of hers to travel to Australia, and she couldn’t believe it had finally eventuated.

“I’ve always had a dream to come to Australia so when Amy (Amy Zikic, co-founder Hair & Harlow) contacted me I thought ‘You gotta be kidding me – is this real?’”

Michelle said she loved the positive vibes and good energy she had experienced in Australia and that Australians shared a similar philosophy when it came to hair.

“Every time I see work from Australia on Instagram, it’s lived in and it’s beachy,” she said. “I feel like we understand each other – we are all about the same feel and same vibe when it comes to hair.”

Haircare Australia, found in Hair and Harlow salons, featured interactive Lakmé, Moroccanoil and Cloud Nine stations at the event where attendees could try out the latest products and launches. An important day for ambitious, driven and blonde-obsessed hair professionals everywhere.