Michael Beel of Wellington salon Buoy has been named New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year at Hair Expo in Sydney. The biggest hair industry event in Australasia wound up this week with the awards ceremony and Beel spoke to Viva the day afterwards saying it had been a big night celebrating with champagne involved.
His winning collection drew its influence from the Orient in the 1930s, with sleek sculpted hair with lots of shine. "I wanted to portray beautiful woman amongst beautiful flowers," he said of the looks which in their initial photographic portfolio presentation included styling by Viva's Fashion Editor Dan Ahwa.
A strong Kiwi contingent was competing at Expo, with Rodney Wayne creative director and freelance session stylist Richard Kavanagh getting one over the Australians in being named Session Stylist of the Year. Perhaps it is because he is now based in Sydney and they think he is one of their own.
Other major Expo awards split down country lines with Beel beating Sara Allsop and Jock Robson of Dharma salon, Mt Eden and Danny Pato of d&m in Ponsonby for the New Zealand title in the Schwarzkopf-sponsored event.
Beel said he hoped to be up in Auckland again this year for Fashion Week, where he has in the past worked backstage on shows, including for World.
“I love the collaboration backstage with all the designers, makeup artists and fellow hairdressers...”
He has also been doing magazine work, between time in the salon. Beel said the show looks he presented at Expo did carry over to everyday. “You want your hair to exude under-stated expensive glamour.” An easy nod to the allure of the Shanghai siren look is to play up shine in simpler styling.
“Healthy hair is all about the shine so and to me hair needs to be healthy to look beautiful.”
Hair: Michael Beel
Makeup: Kiekie Stanners
Photo: Jessica Sim
Styling: Dan Ahwa
