To inspire and promote the Redken Artist community this summer, Redken challenged artists to compete in a three-tiered styling challenge for a chance to connect with the hottest influencers in the industry: a one-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles for the Fifth Annual NYX Face Awards. This month, six winners were chosen and Pam Genio-Bates was one of those talented artists. 

For the challenge, the hair artists were tasked to create themed hairstyles across three categories: Fairytales, Anime and Optical Illusions. The process was time-consuming and difficult, especially for a full time working hairstylist. We asked Genio-Bates about her process for creating her intricate and imaginative hair designs and why she has decided to join the elite team of Redken Artists.

MS: What inspired your entries and what was the process?

PGB: For the Fairytale/Fantasy theme I knew I didn't want to do anything too soft and princess-like. I decided to go with Maleficent because I love that movie! I tend to enjoy villains-I find it fascinating to explore why they are evil. I really loved this entry and was surprised at how easily it came together. I created two dutch braids starting for the nape of the hair and made the "horns" with floral wire. I got a lot of positive response to the black sparkles, which was just coarse craft glitter sprinkled over Control Addict 28 hairspray.

For Anime-in all honesty I wasn't particularly excited about that theme so it was hard for me to come up with something. I ended up wanting to hand-paint an anime girl on a weft of hair using haircolor to play on the 2-dimensional aspect of anime. It ended up a HORRIBLE trainwreck, so I went back to a few visuals I liked and found a picture of a girl floating through space. It was so sweet and childlike, but not in an intense way that a lot of anime can be like. I hand painted the stars on a weft with Color Fusion Violet and Blue with much better success and styled the hair to have the same feel of the photo.    

Optical Illusion-I used to have a baking company in San Diego that primarily did cake pops, but I learned a cake decorating trick where you create waves in the frosting then airbrush one side a certain color, and the other side with another. The result is a cake that changes color depending on what angle you look at it from. I took that technique and applied it to hair! This came together the quickest out of the three, which was good because I actually only had about 45-60 minutes to finish it before I had to pick my daughter up from school. I completed the other two around midnight while she and my husband were asleep, but for whatever reason, I decided to do this during the day.

MS: How important is it to put yourself out there and why are you an educator?

PGB: It really does take a lot to put yourself out there especially since we all have insecurities, but it's a truly beautiful thing to expose your vulnerability. I joined Redken to become inspired and to inspire others-none of that would happen if we were all closed off. Being an educator is such a wonderful way to touch people's lives while playing an important role in our industry, plus education is imperative in our industry. It's what keeps stylists motivated and it's what gives them an advantage. Trends are always changing and it's important to stay on top of them. Knowing that I have a small part in something that affects so many people is mind-blowing and also gives a sense of self-worth.