Archive for March 2021
A day with Patrick Cameron: Danelle’s experience
Monday February 15th, 2021 will go down as one of the best days of my hairdressing career! After finishing runner up in the 2020 Patrick Cameron Instagram Challenge - Senior award it was an amazing surprise to be offered the prize of a day with Patrick Cameron himself, after the winner wasn’t able to make it! Patrick kindly extended the invitation to my husband Karl upon finding out he was a hairdresser as well, so we both winged our way to New Plymouth. What an amazing opportunity to spend a day with an industry icon like Patrick and talk shop, careers, hair etc!
The day started with a guided tour around Patrick’s “forever home” situated in a gated community 10 minutes south of New Plymouth. The awesome architecturally designed house sits on a cliff top with a panoramic view of the open ocean and the wild Taranaki coastline with its black sand. Patrick usually spends ten months of the year in London and two months in NZ.
After the tour we were placed like stunned rabbits under the bright lights of his media room as we were introduced to his huge online following while he advertised his upcoming online look and learn show for the UK! Patrick, due to Covid19, has moved to remote teaching through online platforms and social media.
Then for the rest of the day we did hair in Patrick’s studio. For those that do not know, Patrick is a long hair guru! All he does is long hair, not cutting or colouring, but the art of dressing long hair for all occasions.
Altogether we did six styles on our mannequins, four in the morning and two in the afternoon. In between, we stopped for an amazing lunch prepared by Patrick’s multi-talented husband. Chilling, eating and chatting with the million-dollar view as a backdrop.
How often do you get a chance to spend a day with an industry icon like Patrick Cameron? I have told my clients that if it were in a charity auction, I would have happily paid between $5,000- $10,000 for the experience. But all NZ hairdressers need to do is enter! Find a beautiful model, do some “Patrick style” hair and take some shots with your phone. It must be the best prize and the easiest to enter t in the whole NZ hair industry!
A mega big thanks to Patrick, NZARH and The Industry Awards for making it happen.
Danelle Radel
Klone Hair
Danelle Radel was the runner up in the Patrick Cameron Instagram Challenge - Senior award. She is also co-owner and senior stylist at Dunedin Salon, Klone Hair. In her 20 years of experience in the industry, she has won many local and international awards. Check out her and her team’s work on the Klone Hair website.
Q&A with Hannah Wilkes of Wilkes & Co. (Patrick Cameron Instagram Challenge – Senior) | The Industry Awards 2020
How does it feel to be the winner of the Patrick Cameron Instagram Challenge – Senior Stylist?
It feels good, I've missed competition work! For the past 8 years I’ve been concentrating purely on my businesses and my kids, so it’s about time I get back into upskilling myself. This award has come at a really good time and I really appreciate it.
What was the inspiration behind the design?
I'm random, I never have a plan. I just start with a good model, good hair and then just go for it, while keeping the brief in mind.
What would you say to salons considering entering The Industry Awards in the future?
Definitely do it, I've always been big on entering salon awards because I think it's important to feel part of a team/industry. Give it a go and enter anything, don't stick to the usual categories you go for.
What, or who, has been the biggest influence in your career so far?
I worked for Carl Watkins, I learnt a lot over the years from him! Session Stylist Carl Reeves also taught me a lot about creativity. And then Ngara Luessi & Steve Henderson - they just stand out to me.
What do you think is the main reason clients come back to you?
I just listen 100% and deliver what they want, and genuinely enjoy their company.
Hannah Wilkes is the Salon Director of Wilkes & Co, a boutique hair salon that offers specialist hair cutting, colouring and styling and make up for special occasions. She was also the creative force behind Christchurch salon, Felix Culpa, which was a finalist for New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year and New Zealand Salon of the Year 2016, where Hannah won the L’Oreal Colour Award.