SALON TEAM

It's that time of the year again. The North AmeriHairdressing Awards Ceremony or NAHA is here. Before we kick off the celebration, get to know our finalists for this year's competition.  MODERN SALON recently spoke to the North American Hairdressing Awards or NAHA finalists. These uber-talented stylists invested considerable time, talent and energy into their entries. Click the name of the (Olivier Miotto, Lunatic Fringe, Jeremy Wann, Daniel Holzberger and MAINENTRANCE Artists) 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.

 

                                     Olivier Miotto
                                                           Glam Salon Boutique

What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?

"It was a huge surprise for me. I couldn’t imagine this! The way I heard about the news was also a big surprise. I received a congratulatory text from a friend hairdresser in Vancouver. I was extremely happy and excited about the news. I told my family first then the team at the salon, of course. I am very proud that my team is a part of the Naha 2013 finalists."

Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.

"For NAHA 2013, we wanted to create some very special characters; muses, people coming back from the past, from history or from a different world. We wanted to create strong characters with special expressions on their face. I was also inspired by inspiration from antiques photo portraits in frames."

How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?

"It’s a real challenge. The competition provides a deep source of inspiration. I think it’s essential to move on, to grow and to learn all the time. It’s also necessary to keep your passion alive and to spread it around you, to your salon team and to your clients. We all think it’s very important to make our clients happy. We are a passionate team, and are all very excited to be part of this challenge with NAHA."

What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?

"Last week, I was asked to create something special. One of my clients was organizing a 'The Great Gatsby' themed party. I created her total look for the Gatsby party, using some wigs."

What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?

"I entered NAHA for the first time in 2009 for the Salon Team category. I got inspiration from various ways; my team, the street, fashion, arts and of course, many great hairdressers from around the world. I learn a lot from them and get inspiration through their artistic work. For example, I really admire Eugene Souleiman, Angelo Seminara, Julien d’Ys and Guido Paulo."

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                                        Lunatic Fringe
                                                                 Lunatic Fringe Salon

What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?

"I was overjoyed and in shock when first notified of this selection. I spoke with my parents first, who were thrilled."

Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.

"Our inspiration came from Japanese abstract Sumi brush art. Asian writing aesthetic is generally consistent in stating that the goal of ink and wash painting is not simply to reproduce the appearance of the subject, but to capture its spirit, or even its soul.  During post-production, we wanted form, texture, and the effect of the brush strokes to be felt throughout our collection."

How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?

"For me, entering NAHA this year has been about the team. Working in a team just raises the bar so much more. It takes a lot of preparation and research to coordinate so many people. Everyone needs to be on point and on the same page. It really elevates your awareness of current trends and attention to details when you are behind the chair. Entering NAHA gives you the opportunity to express your creativity and then when you come back to the chair you are refreshed and are ready to share your new perspective with your clients."

What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?

"We did Racoon extensions on one of my clients, Bailee, just for fun one night and ended up having to turn it into a full on photo shoot because they looked so darn good!"

 

What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?

"The Lunatic Fringe Artistic Team has been entering NAHA for the past several years, with the overwhelming excitement of becoming a nominee and winner of the NAHA 2012 Salon Team Category just this last year. Having been a hair dresser for only six years myself, it is such an honor to be in the running with some of the greatest hairdressers in the world! Our owners, Shawn Trujillo and Angie Katsanevas, have been true inspirations with our team’s journey. They have supported and sat back and let us unfold our artistic direction into some world-class art. We all love them."

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                                     Visage Team
                                                                 Salon Visage

What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?

"Well, we jumped up and down and called everyone we knew of course! At first, it was difficult to call people because we had so many incoming congratulatory calls. Collectively we received congrats from five different continents!"

Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.

"Our 2013 Salon Team entry collection is called "State of Mind". We think it’s phenomenal that transitioning someone's haircut, hair color and overall style can create and embody an entire new mood, affecting how each look carries itself. We loved conceptualizing who each of our looks would be in their daily lives and we hope it is fun for others to imagine too."

How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?

"Entering Naha has expanded our team's skill, vision for the future of hairstyling and attitude towards one another. We literally cannot wait for what the future holds."

What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?

"Salon Visage has a few locations and is still growing, which makes our clients range of style very diverse. One of our favorite things to see walking out of our salon is an extremely vivid haircolor paired with a strong geometrical shape and perfectly fitted for bone structure. Between our stylist and colorists, we see a few things each week that we'd like to shoot!"

What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?

"We have entered the NAHA Salon Team category once before in 2009.  We always are inspired and supported immensely by Frank and Belinda Gambuzzza, well-known leaders in the hair industry and co-owners of Salon Visage."

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                             Daniel Holzberger
                                                          Van Michael Salons

What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?

"I immediately posted a thank you on Facebook to the entire team as well as our photographer Babak and most importantly our boss, mentor and leader, Van Council for leading us through this entire journey of 2012/2013."

Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.

"Our theme was very sci-fi meets classic shapes. We put together a larger collection for a tour that traveled around the US and Europe for AVEDA and took our favorite models from the shows and shot them."

How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?

"Because we shot a TEAM shoot rather than an individual entry, it made our team closer and we learned to work together on a collaboration rather than one individual’s vision."

What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client?

"Every day that we can make a client smile or even cry about how happy and beautiful they feel, that's way more important and worthy of an award than just cool hair."

What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?

"As a company we have always been inspired by our boss Van Council, seeing as he has won NAHA on four different occasions. Because of his accomplishments, we have always been inspired to go after NAHA awards."

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                           MAINENTRANCE Artists
                                                             MAINENTRANCE

What did you do when you found out you were a NAHA 2013 finalist? Who did you tell/call first?

"We celebrated with Jack Daniel’s and a splash of coke. Then WE called our production team to tell them the good news."

Describe your inspiration, vision and theme for your NAHA entry.

"We were inspired by the androgyny and angst of the 90's Goth-scene."

How has entering NAHA made you a better hairdresser?

"Any time your work is captured in a photograph for competitions or editorials, it heightens your attention to detail and strengthens the ability to communicate your point of view through imagery."

What is (and when was) the most NAHA-worthy work you have ever created for an actual paying client? (Do you have an image of it?  Please forward if you can.) 

"We approach our clients with the same intent and integrity that we bring to a photoshoot."

What year did you first enter NAHA? Who helped or inspired you?

"We entered first in 2007 as individual artists. As a company, our first entry was in 2011. We really helped and depended on each other throughout the process- to collaborate and push our individual strengths further as a colorist and a stylist, while maintaining a synergy between the two ideals. The "greater industry" has helped us develop by providing inspiration from different mediums and perspectives. We are also very inspired by key session artists like Eugene Souleima, not only by the stunning images he creates, but also by the way he approaches his creative objective."

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VIEW THEIR ENTIRE COLLECTION BELOW

  MEET THE NAHA FINALIST: Van Michael Salons/Salon Team
   MEET THE NAHA FINALIST: Lunatic Fringe/Salon Team
   MEET THE NAHA FINALIST: Salon Visage/Salon Team
   MEET THE NAHA FINALIST: MainEntrance Artists/Salon Team
   MEET THE NAHA FINALIST: Glam Salon Boutique/Salon Team

 

 

 

 

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