In our first blog I pointed out that I had the privilege of working in New York with the Renya and Wella team for New York Fashion Week 2017/2018, then Mercedes Benz Fashion Week 2018 Sydney. I also mentioned that I was a finalist in the Wella Trend Vision hair competition three years running.This exciting travel and catwalk style is all very well, but what’s most important to my clientele is how this experience is going to translate to a look that they can live with.Each look we create needs to work in clients’ daily lives as some of the looks from the runway can be very ‘out there!’

The way I bring this international fashion influence to the salon is by focusing on the key aspects of runway style, rather than an entire look. For instance, for my wedding clients I might bring in a type of style from another culture, or a kind of subtle detailing that creates a really unique look. This is what’s so great about travelling and working in other countries: it is so inspiring.Now, what looks good isn’t always necessarily practical everyday. To make sure a client is going to be comfortable with a new look, it’s vital that stylists listen to what they’re saying. That said, I also encourage them to test their boundaries from time to time; I say, “You will never know until they try it!” For instance, I recently worked on a wedding and during the consultation we talked about a hairstyle inspired from the Zimmerman NYFW show. I noticed that the client was a little hesitant, but we gave it a go – I was sure that it was going to look great on her, even if she didn’t quite realise it. Of course, I adapted the look slightly to suit my client’s own features and personality. She absolutely loved it.Last but not least, when trying out new looks, the style and colour has to be maintained regularly to keep its original impact. It is for this reason that we give clients the option to buy the right products to keep hair healthy, and the style intact.

Chetan Mongia

Director