Education at London's Sassoon Academy with Yolly ten Koppel Hi everyone! Day four of my study abroad trip with Pivot Point International in London--and loving it! Today has been so fantastic. We began our morning bright and early with an english breakfast at the Corus Hotel in Hyde Park. Then, we took the Underground over to the famed Vidal Sassoon Advanced Academy. The whole experience (the education, the surroundings, the salon, the people) was just way too fabulous.

Education at London's Sassoon Academy with Yolly ten KoppelToday, we were introduced to Yolly ten Koppel, famed educator from Netherlands. Yolly is 100 percent awesome. She has lived, worked and taught in nearly every major city in the world. She wears killer heels that are sky-high, has an extremely edgy 'do and has a story for everything. She is amazing. With her are Elina, Karen and Reinhoud. Karen, who is also from Netherlands, has been with Pivot Point for two years. She works in her mother's salon five days a week as well. Her educating style, she says, is a combination of what she's learned from her Pivot Point experience, combined with what she's learned from her mother. Everyone in our group is obsessed with her hair. Elina is SO funky and cute, too! I LOVE her hair and her style. She is from Belgium--where she comes from a family of hairdressers--she's been with Pivot Point for 6 years. Then, there's the quiet yet very talented Reinhoud. He too is from Belgium, yet he attended Pivot Point Evanston in Illinois. He won a competition in Long Hair Design, and (again, butchered spelling!)  soon after found himself at Hair World competition! Then, he won two hairdresser awards at Intercoiffure! So, pretty much we were in the presence of amazing educators and were sure to have a full day of learning ahead of us.

Yolly also happens to be the Creative and Technical Director for Pivot Point--so she's full of life and can conceptualize the most imaginative hair sculptures. Today, she taught us two of those hair styles.

The first was a wearable, yet edgy, style consisting of soft, increase layers that were razor-sculpted throughout the sides, back interior and exterior. Graduated asymmetric lengths encompass the fringe area. It was really fun to use the razor!!

As I'm still a beginner, I haven't gotten the chance to be uber-creative with sculpture--and this was my chance! Honestly, when it comes to hairdressing I'm the last person to toot my own horn, but toot, toot! I rocked this one! It was so fun! Yes, at one point I mistakingly used the razor as a comb, hahahha, but it was just once and it added an interesting element to the design,  : ).

Then, Yolly taught us a style that was very avant-garde with strong lines that created a face-framing 'do with tons of contrast. In the back, interior graduation connected with increase layers in the exterior. Graduation was positioned on the sides and fringe area. The back perimeter was graduated more at the sides than at the center. It was very cool. We used pivotal partings with a mobile design line and parted the hair in multiple sections for added control and contrast. We sectioned from in front of the apex to the top of each ear--then sectioned the back diagnolly at the crest and sectioned the exterior vertically at the center. Then, we isolated the fringe from in front of the apex to the recession area on either side. Wow--it was nuts!

Education at London's Sassoon Academy with Yolly ten KoppelThis trip is so fantastic. Not only am I getting the chance to learn from such talented educators, but in the most beautiful of surroundings. The Vidal Sassoon Academy is spacious, glamorous and insanely inspiring. Photos of striking hair sculptures grace the decorative walls, while products and tools stocked on the shelves tempt students.

I feel so fortunate to be on this trip with these talented hairdressers and inspiring educators. Today has been fantastic. Although we are a large group, we had plenty of one-on-one time with the educators. If we ever had a question or were unsure about something (um... me!!!), they raced right over to coach you through it.

We ended our day of learning with a quick Underground ride to China Town for some delicious chinese food! There was enough food for an army! Me, Mena and Alex sat across from Yolly and the other educators. It was VERY cool to hear the stories they had about attending beauty schools in other parts of the world and what it was like to teach for other cultures. I am learning so much! We had orange chicken, lemon chicken, rice, shrimp, duck (AH!!), beef, rice, vegetables and soup. It was so delicious--I'm fighting off a food coma right now!

Stay tuned! Tomorrow is our second day of education at the Sassoon Academy--where we'll learn two more cuts and styling education! SO EXCITING! As always, thanks for your continued support as I venture through this amazing journey of education.
Alison
xoxox

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