We are thrilled to partner with the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) to promote all the talented artists who are finalists for the 2015 NAHAs (North American Hairstyling Awards), the most prestigious hair and beauty award in the country. Bangstyle had the honor of interviewing the amazing team and, finalists in the “Salon Team of the Year” category, Blushes. Check out our exclusive interview with Blushes and get the scoop on what fuels their passion for hair artistry!
Tell us a bit about your nominated collection this year. What was the inspiration behind the looks? How did the creative process unfold?
This collection was inspired by the works of Helmut Lang and Givenchy. We wanted to combine the edgy style of Givenchy with the modern look of Helmut Lang. Overall, the central theme of the collection was distressed modernism. This project took a lot of collaboration in deciding how we could make modern hairstyles more edgy without losing their iconic looks.
Were there collections in other categories that you found inspiring or particularly appealing?
I believe that all of the collections were chosen to be finalists for NAHA for a reason and it is that they are all inspiring.
Which non-hair related areas do you constantly find yourself being inspired by?
Nature and fashion have been key inspirations to several of my collections. Both of these areas have taught me how colour and textures can be combined in several way to make anything beautiful. I treat hair as if it were fabric and push the boundaries to manipulate it in novel ways.
What’s your favorite funny/memorable story that happened in the salon?
One of the best memories from my salon was watching the 2014 and 2015 NAHA finalist announcement video with all of the hairstylists and assistants. Seeing our work alongside so many talented artists was incredible. Sharing this experience with the salon is always exciting.
What does Blushes look for in its stylists?
Blushes looks for passionate, motivated, and hard working hairstylists. Our stylists must love what they do, and do what they love, which is creating beautiful hair. Naturally, if they are passionate, they are self-motivated in creating individualized masterpieces for each client. Lastly, Blushes values good work ethic as this is the critical characteristic that is able to advance their professional career.
What is your recipe for a successful shoot?
Organization and keeping an open mind are key for every photoshoot. Having a plan and timeline before the shoot will help you keep on track and focused on getting the perfect picture. However, it is also important to be receptive of criticism and not become frustrated if a look doesn’t work. Being flexible with your plan, and knowing when to move on will keep you from burning out.
What fuels your passion? In other words, what gets you out of bed in the morning?
Knowing that I will be able to make clients feel better, by creating individualized hairstyles for each of them is what gets me up in the morning.
What role does Digital play in your success as an salon?
Web-based media has made advertising and contacting clients much easier over the past few years. Publishing our artistic and commercial work to magazines and online has definitely helped with publicity. Bringing our salon into the digital world has made everything more accessible and communicating much faster.
What draws you to competition work?
I think that with any career, it is important to continuously strive in improving one’s skill set. By entering competitions, you become invested in the hair industry and involved in developing your own techniques. Competing also allows you to make amazing connections with passionate hairstylists all around the world.
What songs are in your “pump-up” playlist?
Whenever I work in the salon I like to listen to calm electronic music from Buddha Bar and Hotel Costes.
Be sure to STALK Blushes to see the rest of their stunning hair art, and wish them luck at the upcoming awards!
