Over October 3 and 4, an array of inspiring sessions hit screens with the Kao Salon Virtual Experience 2021, offering 48 hours of bold hair artistry. With technical and creative education in colour, cut and style, and the Global Creative Awards Evening, this was a weekend dedicated to hair at its very best.
“Hosting the Kao Salon Virtual Event for the second year allowed us to showcase even more of what Kao Salon Division has to offer salons and stylists, from the artistry of our Kao Salon Family to our strong focus on sustainability. In addition, the first ever Global Creative Awards proved that stylists around the world are ready to create inspiring images again, proving that despite the times we live in, Creativity Never Stops,” said John Moroney, VP Creative & Communication.
Hero Artist Sessions filled the agenda, with global performances from such inspiring groups and presenters as Goldwell Global Brand Ambassador and editorial hair legend Mario Krankl from Austria, who showcased a collection of couture looks that offered textural depth and dimension, as well as Madrid’s world-renowned X-Presion group. Their collection blended ultramodern shapes with graphic colour patterns, putting on a total display of innovative, Avant Garde hair art.
Other sessions included stylist Glenn van Dijke and colourist Fatos Sezgin, AKA We-R, from Amsterdam, who shifted their usual editorial, runway and education focus to an elegant, minimalist collection for the event. Geoganic, from Belgium and renowned for colour and precision cuts as led by owners Thomas Laslo and Loredana Danese, presented bold geometric cuts with muted gemstone colours.
The Visionaries Artistic Team, a boundary-breaking team of creative from Poland, showed their innovation in form, shape, texture, and colour with a presentation inspired by the elements. Mazella & Partners – or M&P – is an internationally famous training institution anchored by fundamental techniques and true hair creativity, with headquarters in the French Riviera, and their presentation here was an extravaganza of colour and shape.
Oribe also presented at the virtual event, as directed by US-based Oribe Global Educators Mandee Tauber and Christian Ceja-Compin. The show explored harmony of shape, proportion, and texture, with a wearable quality as well.
The event also included Academy Sessions, with Kao Academy Milan, Kao Academy Rhein-Main, Kao Academy New York and Kao Academy Hong Kong educating. Under the mantra of #creativityneverstops, individual artists also showed their skills in cut, colour and style.
An event highlight was in its special interest panels, which revolved around Leadership, Innovation, Salon Business and Sustainability, with a specific focus on the future. Sustainability was a theme throughout the event, with global salons recognised in the awards evening as well for their contribution in this sector.
“We have chosen three salons from around the world who have demonstrated clear leadership in their salon business with regard to environmentalism and sustainability. We want to recognize their efforts and leadership and make them “lighthouses” that other salons can follow in their own sustainability journey,” said Dr. Elmar Mussenbrock, Kao Salon’s Director of Sustainability.
The Global Creative Awards Evening was a pinnacle event, unveiling the new Angelo Seminara Collection, titled Hair Every Wear, and announcing the Global Creative Awards Winners live from the virtual studios. Congratulations to the medallists!
New Talent Colorist of the year:
GOLD: HARLEY LIU, EROS Hair Styling from Taiwan
SILVER: BRITT STURING, Twins Hair & Beauty from Netherlands
BRONZE: CHLOE NG, Mainstage Hairdressing from China
Editorial Colorist of the year:
GOLD: SVETLANA ZAYTSEVA, Laimalux Academy from Russia
SILVER: CARLOS ALVARES, Trademark Salon from United States
BRONZE: CASEY COLEMAN, CHAIR Studio from United Kingdom
Avant Garde Stylist of the year:
GOLD: SEAN CHIU, M Plus Salon from Hong Kong
SILVER: SHI-HAN ZHOU, EROS Hair Styling from Taiwan
BRONZE: MARCELA BLECHOVÁ, Salon TOP from Czech Republic
Salon Team of the year:
GOLD: HAIRSTUDIO INFINITY from Netherlands
SILVER: K-HANS from Taiwan
BRONZE: NEW WAVE HAIR from United Kingdom
Men’s Hairstylist of the year:
GOLD: RENAT MURZAHALEIEV, HDRM Salon from Ukraine
SILVER: LYDIA WOLFE & JACK MEAD, Jack & the Wolfe from United Kingdom
BRONZE: RUSTAM MIRASOV, Samedy from Russia
Salon Sustainability Leadership:
Europe: SIMON and SOPHIE WEBSTER, Simon Webster Hair, United Kingdom.
Asia: SCOTT LEE, FOUR Hair Concept, Taiwan
North America: CHRISTIE BAZEMORE, dandelion Salon, USA
For more information visit www.kaosalondivision.com
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