Hairdressing Legends To Inspire On Stage in Hair Festival Open Mic Session

10 prolific hair legends will take to the stage at Hair Festival 2024 for the Open Mic session, to showcase colour, cutting and creativity over an hour and a half of pure hair magic. The Open Mic platform was created by Wildlife Salon Sydney’s Gary Latham and Jayne Wild, taking a comedic open mic style format that also inspires in hair – now that charming, intimate and artistic approach comes to Hair Festival.

Taking place on the afternoon of Monday July 1 at Sydney’s ICC, leading hairdressers will showcase their talent in this brand-free exhibition. Gary and Clive Allwright, the famous hairdresser and co-owner of Our Place Salon, will emcee the show. Clive boasts 37 years of industry experience, a globally renowned hairdressing, creative direction and education resume and his own bespoke and innovative education series and businesses. Gary, Co-Director of Wild Life, is known as a disruptor in community-based learning, who spearheads this initiative with his own stand-up comedy background and passion for education at its most bold.

Jayne Wild, a three-time Australian Hairdresser of the Year, Hall of Fame Inductee and five time Salon Team of the Year winner, as well as the Creative Director and Co-Founder of Wild Life Hairdressing with Gary, will of course lead the way, with four decades of experience anchoring her passion and talent. Jayne is committed to developing young talent and driving education broadly.

Other educators on stage will feature Caterina Di Biase, the Owner and Director of Heading Out Hair & Beauty, who needs no introduction, but here it is anyway. Caterina is a world-famous artistic director, educator, mentor and hairdresser, with titles on the mantle including Australian Hairdresser of the Year four times and Hair Expo Educator of the Year five times, with 93 hair nominations here and internationally to her name. The legendary Benni Tognini, the powerhouse behind the inimitable Togninis salon brand, and a leader in Avant Garde hair, will bring his high fashion hair, technical prestige, which has seen him take home accolades such as World Master of the Craft, and education skills to the stage.

Other drawcards include Nathan Yip, owner of the Pretty Vacant salon suite and customised education business, who is known for his unconventional approach to hair business, education and artistry. With high-end runway and session credits, Nathan furthers this impact with customised salon education that inspires both on stage and in salon. Irish hairdresser Simon Doyle, a senior barber for AREA Studio and educator for BaBylissPRO and 4 Barbers, will showcase the benefit of his European experience. Simon is a nationally recognised men’s hair educator and 2023 AMBA finalist in the category for Australian Modern Barber of the Year.

Nicole Healy is the force and founder behind Melbourne Hair Blogger and Salon Social School, turning decades of career experience into social media, hairdressing and education success, whereby she teaches 3,000 hairdressers worldwide the art of social media and specialises in Instagram for hairdressers with her following of over 120,000 people. Dave McCulloch will bring 30 years of experience as head of the education department at Wild Life Hair, known for his precise and skilful cutting work that makes him a highly sought after hairdresser in Sydney.

Nicole Lamers has over two decades of hairdressing experience as the owner of Revampd Hair Studio and the creator of Aer Haircare, with nominations for titles such as WA Hairdresser of the Year, Hotshot Visionary, Eco Salon of the Year and WA/NT Salon of the Year further fuelling her important career. Melbourne hairdresser Sheridan Rose Shaw is a cut and colour expert and educator as she leads the salon MAMAWEST. The visionary has won titles such Victorian Salon of the Year 23, AHIA Australian Newcomer Salon of the Year, Most Innovative Business of the Year, Contribution to Business Award and New Creative Talent, while also being a member of the award-winning Australian F.A.M.E Team for 2023.

Loz Main, the owner of Melbourne salon The Rumours are True, is a NAK Hair ambassador and national educator with nearly 20 years of industry experience. She also recently launched ‘Rumourversity,’ an online education platform that focuses on easy colour placements and perspective. Finally, Kristina Russell, a redhead and general hair colour specialist, is an expert in Creative Colour Theory, with world renowned strategies and techniques to creating top-tier reds, coppers, and strawberry blondes that make her a sought-after educator. Kristina has over 25 years of experience, with titles including Australian Hair Expo Colour Technician of the Year and multiple finalist nods for Independent Educator of the Year, as well as a leading colour podcast that further inspires.