It's that time of the year again. The North American Hairdressing Awards Ceremony or NAHA is here! Before we kick off the celebration, get to know our finalists for this year's competition. These uber-talented stylists invested considerable time, talent and energy into their entries. CLICK the name of the Contemporary Classic finalist (Charlie Price, Ammon Carver, Timothy Switzer, Geno Chapman and Hope Doms) you would like to meet.
Don't forget to tune in on July 14, 2013 at 10pm EST for the EXCLUSIVE live broadcast of the 2013 NAHA Awards Gala at modernsalon.com/naha. And be sure to join the conversations on twitter with the hashtag #NAHALIVE.
Halo Salon
What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?
"I always get a bit lightheaded. It's a narcotic feeling, the best buzz, better than three glasses of chardonnay. I screamed in the salon like a drag queen at a sports bar, so the first people I told were a room full of people who could have cared less."
Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.
"My contemporary classic and hairstylist of the year entries are called "jazz.” I wanted the girls to look like they were in a subterranean night club in New York or Paris. The master and editorial collections are called "the dark arts" and are edgy, sexy and laced with a punk/S&M vibe, which is a recurring theme in my work."
How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?
"First of all, it's fun to do photo shoots. It forced me to improve, to hone my skills and develop my eye. Once the judges have spoken, you know definitively if a shoot works or not."
What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?
"No way! My clients are prim and proper fancy ladies. I can't reveal their identities, we have written agreements."
What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?
"I first entered in the early 1990's. I wanted to be cool like my mentor Van Council. Unfortunately, it took until 2002 to get my first nomination and win, but happily ever since, I've been as addicted to NAHA as Nancy Grace is to cheap barrettes."
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Ammon Carver
Mizu Salon
What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?
"I was prepping for a shoot when I found out that I had been nominated for two NAHAs this year. My best friend, Nick Stenson, sent me a text message saying, 'Really!? TWO??' At first I didn't know what he was talking about, so I called him to find out. By the time he picked up the phone, I had figured it out. So the first words out of my mouth when he answered were 'f--- yeah!'"
Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.
"My inspiration began with an artist that I find incredibly unique and inspiring named Tim Burton. I saw an art exhibit of his at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and have been excited by the beautiful, sometimes dark, sometimes ghostly, incredibly creative characters that he dreams up. I love the balance between the beautiful and the strange."
How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?
"Every time I enter NAHA I push myself to do something that I haven't done before, to create something that is creative and fresh, yet still true to my personal style identity. Because of that effort, I have grown to understand myself and with every entry I have become a stronger more well-rounded stylist."
What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?
"That's easy. My first NAHA entry was on one of my clients. I loved her look so much, and was so proud of her look, that I decided to use her as one of my models that year."
What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?
"I first entered NAHA in 2010. I had always wanted to enter NAHA, and that year Brian and Sandra Smith mentored and coached me through the process, offering priceless guidance and encouragement."
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TIMOTHY SWITZER
Timothy and Co. Salon and Spa
What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?
"I was actually in the car on the way back from an education seminar with some friends. We watched the YouTube video from our iPhones. My friends were with me so they were the first people who knew. I was more than excited!"
Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.
"The collection is called Tribal Voices. The inspiration for this collection was the 80's and the classic approach to styles, using a wet to dry texture on all models."
How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?
"Entering NAHA allows me to step out from behind the chair and be a creative stylist. I am truly inspired by fashion and fashion trends. The combination of textures in my wardrobe balances the combination of textures in the hair. I enjoy photo work so much and having it recognized by NAHA is unbelievable."
MS: What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?
"This year I was in love with creating smooth to textured styles. I see texture becoming very predominant in salons over the next couple of years."
MS: What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?
"I don’t really remember my first year entering, but I think this is my fifth or sixth year. I was inspired by great stylists like Charlie Price and how each and every year he creates something new and interesting. My vision is always to complete a story from head-to-toe that is easily recognized by people who view my work."
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GENO CHAPMAN
Julian August
What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell and call first?
"I was in the middle of teaching an editorial hairstyling class when my phone kept buzzing in my back pocket. I couldn't quite check it in front of my students, so I let it go. The moment I had free time I looked at it and it kept saying congratulations, but I didn't know for what until my team notified me and said we got nominated. They were the first people I called to make sure it wasn't an April fool’s day joke because I work with some jokesters."
Describe your inspiration, vision, and theme for your NAHA entry.
"My inspiration is very much reflected from the free-spirited youth of the 1920’s. My vision was to show the variation of lengths that created controversy in that hair/fashion period. My overall theme was to have the eyes wander from the silhouette of the body to the lines used in the clothing and the clean shapes of the cuts."
How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?
"Entering NAHA has made me a better hairdresser by looking at all my work through the lens of a camera and fine tuning my work behind the chair to make it much cleaner."
What is (and when was) the most NAHA worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?
"I remember my guest just got back from Tokyo and brought back this insane picture of a haircut from a hipster at Shibuya Square. She is a fashion buyer and wanted something fashion forward, so we shaved the back off and connected a razor bowl cut in the front."
What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?
"This is my first year entering and my peers around me who are also nominated pushed me to get my photography work cleaner and my overall aesthetic to have continuity."
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HOPE DEMS
JC Penny
What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?
"I think for the first 24 hours I was still in shock, it didn't sink in till the next day. The first person I called was my boss / mentor and friend Nick Stenson. I thank him for his support and guidance."
Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.
"My vision for the cut and color came from a Life magazine that I picked up at an airport last year during NAHA. The magazine showcases 'Life under Water'.What caught my eye was the pure tones of the sea and tropical life along with the ethereal and calmness of the water."
MS: How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?
"The whole experience of entering NAHA from start to finish has been a wonderful journey. It has made me a better hairstylist, but there is always room to keep learning and growing as an artist."
What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?
"My most NAHA worthy work was when a client wanted her hair to look like flames from a fire. I wish I had a picture"
What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?
"This is my first year entering NAHA. I can say that the whole artistic team at JCP helped tremendously. We were all there for each other."
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