The Makeup Insider
The Makeup Insider is a fortnightly one-on-one podcast exploring the life and career of makeup artists, hosted by freelance mua Vanessa Barney.. Finding your community of other likeminded mua’s – the creative, artistic, talkative, flexible, adaptable with a good eye for colour kind-of-people, can often be daunting. Like, where do you start? The Makeup Insider is designed for just that. To build a collaborative online community of artists to build their confidence, connections and help drive their career to the next level.If you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, tune in now, check out the key takeaways in the show notes and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Find Vanessa @vanessabarney @the.makeupinsider
The Makeup Insider
From Suburban Salon Apprentice to Fashion Week Insider: Bradwyn Jones' Journey in Hair and Makeup
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Bradwyn Jones, the creative force behind some of the most innovative hair and makeup artistry in the fashion world. From his beginnings as a 15-year-old apprentice in the bustling salons of the 1980s to his rise as a respected figure in the beauty industry, Bradwyn's journey is a testament to passion and perseverance. You'll hear how his love for fashion and music steered him to a career in hairdressing, where he learned the ropes by hopping from salon to salon, absorbing the best training in cutting and coloring. Discover how a chance encounter with a colleague sparked his interest in makeup artistry, blending seamlessly into his professional repertoire.
Why You Should Listen
- Inspiration from Experience: Follow Bradwyn's journey from an eager 15-year-old apprentice to a leading figure in hair and makeup artistry.
- Insight into Fashion Shows: Learn about the vibrant world of London fashion shows and the challenges and excitement they entail.
- Career Evolution: Understand how building relationships, reliability, and trust can transform an eager assistant into a trusted team member in the fashion industry.
- Navigating Modern Challenges: Explore the impact of social media distractions and the importance of focus and professionalism at high-stakes events like Fashion Week.
- Innovative Tools and Tips: Gain insights into Bradwyn's product recommendations, including his innovative Pro Styling session mats, and the importance of professional networking.
Key Takeaways
- Bradwyn's early career in the 1980s and the value of diverse salon experiences.
- The pivotal moment that led to his interest in makeup artistry.
- Strategies for breaking into the fashion industry, including cold-calling agencies and building a strong portfolio.
- The importance of adapting to new tools and trends in hair and makeup.
- Bradwyn's thoughts on the evolving dynamics of the beauty industry and maintaining professionalism amidst modern distractions.
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Hi and welcome to the Makeup Insider. I'm your host, vanessa Barney, makeup artist, hairdresser, educator and all-round beauty junkie. If you've ever felt lost or lonely in your makeup career, this podcast is for you. I'm here to interview makeup artists and other industry professionals, to give guidance and be the mentor I needed early in my career. With a new episode every Tuesday, don't forget to hit subscribe so you don't miss a trick, and if you like what you hear, please rate and leave a comment. I hope you enjoy. Today I'm joined by Melvin hairdresser and makeup artist, bradwyn Jones. Thank you, bradwyn, for joining me. Thank you.
Speaker 2:Bradwyn for joining me. Thank you so much for having me. I feel very privileged sitting here talking to you.
Speaker 1:Oh, so do I. Anyway, first of all, are you able just to let the audience know where they can find you if they want to go and have a look at your work?
Speaker 2:Oh wow, straight into it. Yes, on social media you can go. You can find me at Bradwyn Jones for Instagram. I'm represented by an agency called Assembly Agency in Sydney and that's assemblyagencycom, and you can just follow the links there to my work.
Speaker 1:Fab, excellent. All right, let's get started. You're a hairdresser and a makeup artist. Yes, where did it all begin All?
Speaker 2:right, let's get started. You're a hairdresser and a makeup artist. Yes. Where did it all begin? Well, let's go back to the 80s, right, let's do it. So I left school at 15 to go straight into a hairdressing apprenticeship and that came about because, you know, the 80s was all about music and fashion and makeup and hair. It made such a big influence on me as a creative and it was a way for me to express myself. Naturally, I fell into hairdressing. I wanted to understand the fashion. I wanted to understand how to create those hair looks and reproduce them on my friends and anyone around me, basically. So that's how hairdressing came about.
Speaker 1:Okay, so did you always have an interest in fashion?
Speaker 2:I love music, yeah, and you know, my friends and I would often go to the live recordings of Countdown at ABC Studios. So what comes with fashion is, you know, music comes with fashion and hair and makeup. So I think it was just the whole package that I was interested in. I love fashion, but hair and makeup was the, you know, the driving force for me to, you know, pursue this career.
Speaker 1:Okay, so where did you do your hairdressing?
Speaker 2:apprenticeship. Look, I was one of those hairdressers that worked around at a number of salons. Okay, the first salon I started at was in the suburbs and quickly realized that there was no education there and I wanted to be aside from trade school. I also wanted additional training, so I worked around to different salons. I heard that this salon had a great hair cutter, this salon had a great hair colorist, and I literally was moving around trying to find the best of the best in the industry. And then I remember going to the last seller that I worked at and they said look, your track record isn't all that great. You keep moving around a lot and that's a concern for us. And I was like but you know, I've learned as much as I could. So I kept moving on and then realized that I just needed to focus on one thing and hone in on all the skills that I picked up during that period.
Speaker 1:Was yours, a four-year apprenticeship.
Speaker 2:Yes, it was a four-year apprenticeship.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you did an apprenticeship as well, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I did a four-year as well. I was at one salon and it was a salon that was really heavily into training and we also did hairdressing competitions. So, yeah, my apprenticeship was I would say it was pretty full-on.
Speaker 2:That's good, you're exposed to it all.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was in the later 90s, but yeah, I don't. I don't really know what apprenticeships are like today. I know they're shorter, but yeah, an apprenticeship is great. Training for hair right, you're just touching hair all day, every day. Yeah, I mean, the theory is great when you're right.
Speaker 2:You're just touching hair all day, every day. Yeah, I mean, the theory is great when you're at trade school, but it's the hands-on experience that you don't get from trade school. They teach you the technical skills, but to be able to see challenges in the salon when the hair stylist is cutting someone's hair and it's difficult hair and just watching them approach that hair type and hair texture and how they deal with it, and just that one-on-one communication with clients as well, is like you can't get that from textbook you know, it's just information that you, as a creative, you pick up just visually.
Speaker 2:So it's really important to have that salon experience to progress progress you mentioned there about the talking to clients.
Speaker 1:I think that's something that was huge for me in the. I was in a salon, did salon work for about 10 years and that is just such a big part of it right learning how to communicate with people.
Speaker 2:Sorry to cut you off, no, no, it's. A huge part as a hairdresser is to be able to communicate, but also to be able to listen. Yes, but yeah, just listening to what your clients are saying and taking that on.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you did your four-year apprenticeship. You're at your last salon. Did you specialise in either colour or cutting, or you did everything I did?
Speaker 2:specialise in cutting by the end of it. Okay, you know going back to that last salon that I worked at, you know, one of the other hairdressers was doing makeup, so she would go along to do photo shoots and editorial work, and so I started assisting her.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which I was really fortunate enough to see a different side to hairdressing. You know I didn't have any plans to. You know, own my own salon.
Speaker 1:It really would have given you exposure to that, because I feel like it's not always.
Speaker 2:It's probably easier now to get exposure to that kind of thing, but back in yours and my day it wasn't as easy to see that world right back then it was rare and, as I was talking my early countdown days where it was rare and, as I was talking, my early countdown days were, it was the 80s. So it was big hair, lots of makeup, and when you're working in the salon it was like a really cool salon too. So they were going off and doing editorial work, but the makeup was completely different. It was raw, barely anything there, and the makeup artist was using her fingers to kind of mould the makeup into the skin, and so that was a really nice approach, and the hair was the same. It wasn't overly styled. It was like using your hands and just gently making those soft little movements that we love even today in editorial work.
Speaker 1:So you went off on a few of these shoots. Is that how you learned makeup?
Speaker 2:That's exactly how I learned makeup. I was watching how she would apply the makeup and so I was prepping the hair while she was doing makeup and then she finished the whole look and then it got to a point where she was doing shows and then I would go along and assist her in makeup. And then you know, it was just basic stuff like prep the skin. And then you know, it was like a program. It was almost like an apprenticeship with makeup Learn how to prep the skin properly, then apply foundation, curl the lashes, and it was just this ongoing stepping stone on how to achieve a natural look.
Speaker 1:Yeah, cool, and you mentioned earlier that you specialised in cutting in the salon. How long did you go on to do salon work?
Speaker 2:I was in the salon for around six years, including my four years apprenticeship, and then I started going off on my own photo shoots. So one of my clients was a fashion editor for one of the newspaper magazines.
Speaker 1:How did you end up getting into doing photo shoots all the time?
Speaker 2:A really good client of mine was an editor and she was producing this fashion supplement for one of the newspapers and it's this annual Annual magazine yes, Annual supplement for this, for the paper, and she was going off to Malaysia and she said would you be interested in doing the hair?
Speaker 2:It's just like really natural and I like your aesthetics and we may need you to do makeup. Can you do makeup? And I was like, yeah, I can do makeup, thinking of all the training that I had up my sleeve. And so I quickly went out and put all this makeup ready for this shoot and I mean I had an idea of who the model was. So I brought out well, it's not a lot of makeup, it was just kind of like basics, you know, foundation, mascara, lip balm, all the basic stuff that I had seen. You don't need a lot of makeup to make an impact, if that makes sense. So I kind of knew how to make skin look really beautiful and fresh and kind of effortless and I assumed that's the type of makeup she wanted. And it was kind of it was kind of a swimwear shoot as well, so it wasn't really based on makeup.
Speaker 2:So I went along to this shoot and it was my first time overseas as well, as you know, a first editorial shoot, so it was sensory overload, but it went well and she went on to produce another fashion supplement a year later and I was asked to do that shoot too. This one was in London. So now I've got this two great tear sheets for my folio, and I thought now I'm ready. I think I'm ready to go and get myself an agent. So I went along to one of the Melbourne agencies that's when Chadwick used to look after hair and makeup and showed Katrina my portfolio. And you know, even though the photos I had there weren't many images, but I was able to show enough of my skill, and so basically that's how it started. And then Katrina started sending me work. You know, I'd probably get a shoot once a week until I built up a decent portfolio to really be sent out full time to really be sent out full time.
Speaker 1:Okay, and did you ever go on to do any more? You know hair or makeup training, or was it I?
Speaker 2:didn't do any makeup training whatsoever. Hair was always in the salon type of training and I kind of felt like I was working at the best salon in Melbourne Again, they're doing editorial work so it's like the heartbeat of the industry in Melbourne Again, they're doing editorial work, so it's like the heartbeat of the industry in Australia. So I was learning on the job but no outside training. No, okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and what about when it comes to like the products, the makeup products that you had in your kit? There wasn't the amount that we have available to us now. What kind of things did you have in your kit in the beginning?
Speaker 2:Well, also, we didn't have Photoshop, so everything was kind of relied on using corrective makeup as well. So I loved Shiseido. I loved their foundations. They were really, really light, something that you could thin out if you needed to with moisturiser. Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream that worked wonders for a little bit of cheek glow or eyelid glow or, obviously, lip balm Mascara. It was really basic. I could literally take a little toiletry bag and that was my make-up kit. And I often look back at that now and I think what's happened? Like my kit now has grown so much, yeah, and I think, gosh, it would be so good to be able to just break it all down and just have this small kit again. There are different skin types now and you know there are different looks that people are going for it. You know, back then it was all Kate Moss. It was all just, you know, very minimal hair, very minimal makeup. It was all about the model and you know her aesthetic.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so you got your agent, so you're still working in the salon a few days a week. Is that how it works Well at?
Speaker 2:this stage I was working I think I was doing four days a week, yeah. And then, once I really started the agency and they were sending me out on work, I could really only commit to Friday nights and Saturdays in the salon, because you know. You know what it's like within 24 hours. Everything can change. Someone's doing a shoot tomorrow and you need to be available for it. So I was in a fortunate position to be able to go and freelance full time and then break it down to just two days a week in the salon.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, was there many other freelancers about at the time.
Speaker 2:There weren't. No, there weren't, and I was just thinking about. You know, I started going overseas to do shows and it was my birthday in July and I know that Fashion Week is in September in Europe. So I was planning on going overseas and I didn't know anyone else that was going overseas. The salon that I worked for they would often, like the owners, would often go to New York. I'm sure they did shows, but it wasn't something that they came home and bragged about and said, hey, I've just done a car and show, or you know, they just came back and as far as I was concerned, they were just going off and you know, they were on a holiday and visiting their friends that live and work over there. So it was completely foreign to hear of people going over and doing shows.
Speaker 1:When did you start going overseas to do the shows, or how did it come about?
Speaker 2:How did it come about? So, a friend of mine had been living in the uk for, you know, 20 plus years, yeah and um, I was going over for my 40th birthday, which is in july, and hello cancerians, um, and I knew that fashion week was coming up in september and all the magazines that I was reading or loved, kate Moss was on the cover of all of them and you know, again, I always used her as a reference because she was that cool girl, she was the it girl.
Speaker 2:And her hair was incredible and I wanted to know who was the man behind the looks. And it was Sam McKnight. You'd flick through the pages and read who did the hair, who did the makeup, and it was always Sam McKnight. So I decided that while I was in London for my birthday, I would approach his agency and show them my portfolio and just tell them that I was planning on coming back in September to do the shows.
Speaker 1:So you took your folio because this is before the days of websites, right?
Speaker 2:This is when you've got a full-on fol folio I've got a folio and I had cold called the agency.
Speaker 2:I found out you know who his agency was and I did a hard call Like I stayed up and you know with the time difference and called and said hey, I'm coming over from Australia in July. I really want to have a meeting with you, I want to show my portfolio and the plan was to come back in September to do the shows and I'd really like to work on Sam's team. So I met with them in July and they were so open to meeting new people and they couldn't believe that I was prepared to fly myself over for fashion week, which was really only six days in the UK. So September came around, I booked my flights and my accommodation and I said to my partner I haven't heard from the agency. There's no email. I don't want to be harassing them because I'd called them two weeks before to say hey, I'm just letting you know I'm definitely coming over and here's my details. This is where I'm staying. You know all of that information that they need.
Speaker 2:I remember the day I was about to leave Australia. Get on the plane. I. I remember the day I was about to leave Australia get on the plane. I was like what am I doing? I haven't heard from them. There's no shows that have been put forward for. So, anyway, land in the UK, turn my phone on, you know, do the data roaming. And then, all of a sudden, all these messages were flooding through with emails saying hi, bradwyn, sam's doing a show on this day. It'd be great if you you know if you're available, please let us know. And then the next email was like hi, bradwyn, we sent you an email. We haven't heard from you. Can you please let us know as soon as possible. And I was like wow, so that show season I did in the UK. I was there for six days and I got to do four shows with Sam and it basically started from there. Every season I would go back. I'd only do London at that time. I couldn't do Milan and Paris. I had commitments back at home.
Speaker 1:So when you went and did that first show, what did you? Just pack everything. What did you do? What did you take?
Speaker 2:Well, I, I did take a lot, I did take, take a lot, but back then I kind of didn't have a lot as well. So, um, you know it, I think that's kind of a blessing too, like now I take everything.
Speaker 2:And again, you know, like I said, we look back at the, the kits that we had when we first started and they were so small. So I took what I thought I would need, you know, like scissors and combs and my brushes, a hairdryer, all that sort of stuff, yeah, but you know hot tools well.
Speaker 1:Now I'm just sort of thinking back to when I sort of started more weddings and things like that. You know didn't have a lot of hot tongs right. There was the Worcester straightener. It was hot rollers.
Speaker 2:It was a lot of prepping. It was hot rollers and you know I can't even remember if Velcro rollers were even out by then, but you know it was just. You know, setting hair with your hands and getting the hairdryer to you know create a little bit of texture and movement. So I didn't take any hot rollers. I wasn't expecting to be thrown into the deep end like that, even though I didn't know what to expect. I didn't expect him to throw me in and go right, can you tong her hair? I don't want it tonged like this.
Speaker 1:So on your first shows were you nervous.
Speaker 2:I was so nervous.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, because.
Speaker 2:I didn't know what to expect. Yeah, and you know the other thing too. You know he comes with this really big team and it was quite daunting. It was, you know, like at least there were 30 hairdressers for this one particular show, and I mean his core team were really nice. He was saying I can't believe you've flown over from Australia to do the shows. That's amazing. So I kind of had that introduction, you know, where everyone was very kind but it was very quick to. People were very quick to be like oh no, I'll do the hair, you just stand and watch. Yeah, okay, because they didn't know who I was. So I kind of had to prove myself at the same time yeah, you know, you have to learn Sam's ways of working things.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I was prepared to do that. Do you mind if I ask if you got paid for those first few jobs or if it's just a love?
Speaker 2:job. No, no, I didn't, and I had said that when I met with the agency. So it's like look, I'm not, you know, I'm not. You know, if there's budget, that's great, but if there's not, you know, I'm so excited to be here and, just you know, have this opportunity to meet with Sam.
Speaker 2:So, maybe there was a budget and I just kind of cut myself off from it. So who knows, but I actually did. I was going back. I've been doing shows for 12 years now and I think for the first three years I wasn't getting paid.
Speaker 1:And if there was a budget, it wasn't much, but you know it was enough. So so you mainly just assisted on that sort of thing. You stood back, you helped and all of that kind of thing. Do you remember learning a lot?
Speaker 2:I as a creative and you know this, you and being back in the salon days it's, it's a visual thing. So I was. I was learning a lot from being backstage watching how people were assisting other hairdressers. I mean, there's assisting in the salon, but then there's assisting on shows, which is completely different and just being prepared and just the way that people took the time and they were really focused on what they were doing and how to achieve it at that certain look. So there was so much going on. It was sensory overload as well, because you'd have and a winter walk in and you know so many pinch myself moments, but also being able to focus and on the job at hand. There was a lot to learn. There's still a lot to learn.
Speaker 2:You know, 12, 12 years later.
Speaker 1:You said 12 years ago, so no, there wouldn't have been as much stuff online about.
Speaker 2:Scenes yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, things were probably a little bit more secretive or maybe a little bit more not spoken about or shown as much. So I mean, I know, the first time I went into a fashion week situation here even when I did fashion week here in Sydney I was nervous probably not as much as the first time it's just because you just don't know what you're doing. Right, you don't know what you're going into.
Speaker 2:You do know what you're doing and I think that's something that I've had to learn really quickly. Is that you're doing, and I think that's something that I've had to learn really quickly?
Speaker 1:is that you're nervous because you're backstage, but you know what you're doing yes, and I guess it's just a new situation yeah so, from doing that one show, that first show, do you think that helped you meet some people to continue it on, or did you just keep the relationship going with the agency?
Speaker 2:with good question. I showed that I was a team member. I wasn't coming in going oh hey, I'm from Australia, I know how to do hair. Even though I was a lot older than some of the other hairdressers in the team, I was there willing to learn and learn their way. So they were quick to say, you know, are you on such and such show tomorrow? Look forward to seeing you. And then you know, at the end of the season they'd be like, are you coming to Paris or are you coming to Milan? I'd be like no, I'm just doing London. Like hey, well, make sure you come back in, you know February and reach out. So that was his core team and the main team as well. So I kind of had that really good response. And you know, over the years I've been to other teams where they're not as welcoming, but I think for the first time I had such a great experience that kind of set me up to go.
Speaker 1:okay, this is what it's really all about. Yeah, can you explain you were mentioning about? Is it core team, main team?
Speaker 2:Yes so this core team. Yeah, so Sam has his core team and the core team could be six hairdressers and they travel with him everywhere. So if there's an advertising shoot, editorial shoot, they are with him. That's his core team and then you've got the main team and the main team will be if he's doing a show and there's X amount of models, they are a part of that team.
Speaker 2:If that makes sense, and then from the main team, then you have assistants, and then the assistants is like assistance number one, and then there's level number two and then possibly go up to level three. So at that stage I was just like, probably Okay, so that's the difference in how the teams work.
Speaker 1:Okay, cool. So I think sometimes the word assistant can become very confusing. I know that I sort of found that a bit complicated earlier in my career because I heard the word assistant and I sort of thought, oh an assistant, but I'm an assistant, I can do it right yeah yeah, yeah, I think it's got like this thing, a less than kind of thing to it, but assistant's more like someone who's sort of newer into the group or newer into the thing and you're learning somebody's way, for example.
Speaker 2:Would you say that's a good? That's the way I look at it. Yeah, I mean I don't see it as a. You know, I'm a, I'm lesser than you, but I just think it's.
Speaker 2:You know, I'm a team player and you know we're all, we're all in this to get and achieve that end result. So if it means this hairdresser needs, you know, two other people helping them get that look, you know I want to be in there. I don't want to just be standing. You know, standing watching, I want to be in there. I don't want to just be standing, you know, standing watching everyone. I want to be there handing up the pin and, you know, thinking ahead for them, just to make life easier and just so that we can get that model done and hopefully get another model.
Speaker 1:And the assistants are all quality like. They're all hairdressers who've done their time. They've all. They're not just you know someone who's entering Good question.
Speaker 2:Because I go over to do hair and not makeup. I've yet to come across a makeup artist who's on a hair team and if they are, you kind of don't really know about it. But I think it's really important as a hairdresser and if you've got a team that are working for you, that they know the hair skills you know they've got the training that we know how to break the hair fibres down and rebuild the hair structure. So I think you're only as good as your team and I think I'd want only mostly hairdressers on my team to understand you know the tasks.
Speaker 1:So after that first year, what? So? Hold on. You went in the September.
Speaker 2:I went in September.
Speaker 1:And then did you go back in February.
Speaker 2:And then I went back in February. It was freezing. I was in London for that week and it was like a real shock to the system. But you know, I think that season two was really difficult because we had some really early starts. It'd be like four in the morning or, you know, six o'clock in the morning, and so it was difficult navigating a city that you don't know so well. Yeah, in winter was really tough with your 23 kilo suitcase relying on public transport to get around. But, like I said earlier, the season before was such a great response.
Speaker 1:The nerves were still there, but I knew it was like going back meeting new friends when you went back, did you stay with friends or you just you had a conversation, or I actually stayed in hotels until I've got friends that are based in London.
Speaker 2:I didn't want to stay with them because I knew that sometimes the call times would be pretty early and I don't want to be tippetowing around the house trying to get up and go. So it was just easy for me to book a hotel.
Speaker 1:So after the first time you went to Fashion Week, were you kind of like hooked? Was it like, yeah, this is where I belong.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, you know. So, going back to, you know, those early days in the 80s we're going to countdown I was like, you know, fashion, it was music, it was hair, it was makeup. You know, all of a sudden, it's that's exactly where I am, you know. But it's, it's, you know, stuff that I would buy magazines for. I would flick through the magazines and have a look at all these shows, at these editorial shoots with these particular models. And here I am, you know, the people are in front of me and my role models are in front of me. So, absolutely, it was like a kid in a candy store. I was like I was addicted. Yeah, it was just like I want more, I want more.
Speaker 2:And then everyone kept saying you're coming to Milan, because Milan's next. That you know, starting New York and then London, milan and then Paris. I was like, no, I'm not doing Milan this season. But then eventually, you know, I kind of saved up and the following season, september, I was asked to go to Milan with Sam's team. He was doing a show over there and I met some other hairdressers in the meantime and I was on their teams as well. So the circuit began. And then, you know, here I am. You know. 12 years later, I'm still like yes, I'm coming, yes, yes.
Speaker 1:Amazing. So you go twice a year.
Speaker 2:Yes, I go twice a year. I used to go three times a year before COVID. It's like once you get in with a team as I was explaining about the assistants and then the main team and then core team. So many people go over to do maybe just one season and then they don't come back again.
Speaker 2:So it's about being reliable and building up the bonds within the team the relationships and you know they kind of rely on you and they trust you and they see your work progress. So therefore, you're being, you're given more responsibilities and I just found that I was getting more responsibilities each season so tell me about the more responsibilities like.
Speaker 1:So you started off, like, let's say, you're your assistant on level three, sort of. Where have you progressed up the team and what are sort of some additional responsibilities or what are some things that happen when you, when people get to know you?
Speaker 2:yeah, good question. So I kind of got to this point where I was on another team, james Peachy's, and he is an American hairdresser and he was doing a lot of shows in Milan at this time, which is why I kind of wanted to go to Milan and work with James. Once I got on his team and met his core team, james was great. He has this great ability to communicate with everyone and he would do a demonstration and just be really open and say, look, if you don't know how to do it, that's fine, but you know practice on each other before the models arrive. If you don't get it, that's fine, but you know practice on each other before the models arrive. If you don't get it, that's fine. You'll still get booked for another show if you're not confident doing this. So it kind of just made everyone feel quite relaxed and I was able to drop the nerves. I was able to perform and focus as best as I could.
Speaker 1:No, that makes complete sense, does that make sense. Yeah, it completely makes sense because I'm somebody that I have experienced a lot of nerves and anxiety being in this industry and it's mainly things I put on myself, right, because I think I'm going to get it wrong.
Speaker 2:We're perfectionists right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and so when I am in that situation, it affects my ability to be able to perform. It's like I don't know what happens. It doesn't happen to me so much now. It doesn't really happen to me now, actually, because I've actually realised that that's what it is Of course.
Speaker 2:It's all in your head and it's just of course, of course.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I just really wish someone hadn't told me that earlier.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I really do. It was just really nice. You know, just, james was able to just break it down and just cut through the nerves and I felt that that's when I really excelled and I was like, yeah, that's why I'm here, you know you deserve to be here. So that was great. So, you know, I finished a certain look and then James would be like okay, great, you did that in really good time. Here's another model you.
Speaker 1:He was a really good leader.
Speaker 2:By the sounds of it, he's a really good leader, and a really good and everyone was really helpful on the team as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So you know there was no real hierarchy Again. You know I'm a lot older than these people. You know if you're doing the look, I'm happy to pass up and assist you, and you know. But you know, now it was my turn. I was on James's team for about seven years and was doing the shows with him from London, milan and Paris, and so I became quickly on his main team and it was really nice. I started getting emails from his agent saying these are the preliminary show dates that James doing. Are you available? And this would come about three months before the actual shows. Yeah, and then I realized that you know, I'm no longer just an assistant, I'm actually. You know, he wants me on the team.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's a nice feeling too.
Speaker 2:It was a great feeling.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I love that. You know you went and did not that 40 is old by any means, but you sort of went back after you'd been doing something for so long and you went and did Fashion week overseas and sort of had to start at the bottom in the sense of knowing people of course you know. Yes, that can be really. I mean, I've done that and it's, it's, it's just. Uh, I don't, I don't know it's, it's, it's hard, but it's not. Does that make sense?
Speaker 2:it does make sense yeah it's only recently.
Speaker 2:I've just joined another team because James only does Chanel now he doesn't do any of the other shows that he used to do. So it was almost. I got to the point where I was like wow, so I put all my eggs in one basket to be with just one hairdresser. And then I reach a friend of mine, reached out and said that you know, another hairdresser that she knows was given a show last minute and was I available to help her out? Which was the next day? And I was available, so I went along to this show. There were a whole new hairdressers that I hadn't met before. So I was like, wow, whose team have you on? Because in my head was just, you know, sam and James. I mean, I knew about the hairdressers too, but I just never thought that I was good enough to be on their team.
Speaker 2:Joanna was a part of Guido's team and she was the leader of this show. She was the head director. So I got along really well with her and she was so appreciative for my time to help her out. The following season I reached out to her and said hey, you know, it's me, it's Bradwyn, and she was great. She was like I remember you and said, hey, you know it's me, it's Bradwyn, and she was great. She was like I remember you and I said, look, I'm coming over and I'd really like to have a season with Guido, who's his producer, and can I have the details? So that's how that started for me to get on Guido's team.
Speaker 2:But getting back to the whole hype, starting from an assistant's day, guido also has this whole process. After all this experience that I had with Sam and seven years with James, I'm now working on Guido's team. There's a model coming from a show and she needs her hair washed. They're like you wash her hair. I've been working on his team now for about seven years and it's been slowly going through stages and building up to the point where I can say that I'm on his team, which is awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's great. Have you seen your work change since you've been doing the shows?
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely it's changed, and I think it's changed because my confidence has changed. You know there's that nervousness, but it's also your attention to detail that you know that nervousness but it's also your attention to detail, I think, for fashion week as an example. It's like fashion. You know hairstyles change every season, so I think that's what I've noticed is just getting into that heartbeat or just that rhythm of how fashion in hair changes and or how fashion changes and how hair changes with it.
Speaker 1:Before you went and did Fashion Week, did you have much exposure to like wigs and hair extensions and things like that?
Speaker 2:Not at all. I mean, we didn't use wigs or extensions in the salon. Again, it was just kind of as Del Sassoon trained, where you'd use your hands and your combs to finish off a hairstyle. We rarely used a blow dryer. If we did, it was just to dry the hair off, it wasn't to do round brush, blow dries or anything. Um, it was a very undone type of hairstyling. So the first time I got to see wigs and hairstyling was backstage at shows, yeah, and it was a big eye opener do you use wigs and extensions and stuff much in your commercial work now?
Speaker 2:I used. No, I won't say now, but there was a period where hair was really, you know, really thick and you know kind of bouncy and curly, and so I would use extensions for that particular look, because that was the brief, yeah, but now I would use extensions it that particular look, because that was the brief, yeah, but now I would use extensions. It's not that often that I would use it. I would only use it if I was, you know the client asked if the client asked, or well, no, not if they ask.
Speaker 2:I think now, if I know the models and if the model's hair is just a little on the thin side or you know, I know, if you're going to be using the wind machine and you know the hair blows through here and it's going to create little holes or gaps, I might use a couple of wefts just to fill that gap in or, you know, sometimes just to put in a little bit of shape around the face. But you know, that's kind of like a personal touch as opposed to oh, can you please bring hair extensions, because we want this type of hair and I find there's a lot less of that now. Maybe that's just the work that I'm doing now, which is kind of more natural looks, I usually ask that at the beginning actually A week or a week, a week, a week Like what do you do day to day?
Speaker 2:Good question. It's fashion and it's mostly advertising. So I work for I do a lot of shoots for Maya and a lot of big brands in Australia, so it's always photo shoots. I don't do any television work. Yeah, it's all stills fashion.
Speaker 1:And do you find that you work most days weekdays?
Speaker 2:There are periods where I do work most days. A lot of my jobs work in blocks, so that might be three or four days that one week. So you know a week can go through really quickly and you know a month can go really fast. You can probably just have four clients in that month. But you know they're blocks.
Speaker 1:Have you always been repped by an agent? Have you ever looked after yourself?
Speaker 2:Oh well, actually there was a period where I was with an agency in Sydney and then COVID hit, so unfortunately the agency shut down. So during that period I kind of was repping myself for about 12 months and then one of the producers who was at the agency, I contacted her and I was like you know, you're doing such a great job looking after me. I need you and, you know, will you be my producer? So really I did it for 12 months but I can't really say I was repping myself because it was COVID there was no way, but no, I've always had an agency.
Speaker 1:You prefer it that way.
Speaker 2:I do prefer it that way. Again, you know I didn't want to. I wasn't the type of hairdresser to open up a salon. I didn't want the responsibilities of paying grants and staff wages and all those sort of things. And the agency brings something else that you know. I don't want to deal with invoices or quoting if I'm on set and someone's saying can you please confirm this job? I don't want to have to worry about the back end of things. An agency for me does all of that and I really appreciate that.
Speaker 1:And with your jobs because you do hair and makeup. What do you predominantly get booked for? Do you get booked for hair on its own, hair and makeup?
Speaker 2:It's a really good question. Some of my bigger clients will have separate hair, separate makeup, so I get booked to do hair. And then I've got other jobs where you know the budget may not be available to have both hair and makeup. A lot of the work that I do is really natural too. I think it's you know, if the budget's there, they will bring on another person, so you know I get the best of both worlds really.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, but would hair be your preference?
Speaker 2:Hair's my preference. I'm a hairdresser through and through. Yeah, yeah, you know, I couldn't. You know, there's been a couple of jobs. Sorry to cut you off.
Speaker 1:No, that's okay, there's been a couple of jobs, sorry to cut you off.
Speaker 2:No, that's okay. There's been a couple of jobs where you know I've been asked to do the makeup and someone else is doing hair, and you know. It's always that moment where you're like, not that I would do it differently, but it's just you know it's. It's not, I'm just more focused when I'm doing hair.
Speaker 1:Yeah, did you of it.
Speaker 2:I did. I did start out doing bridal when I first started to build up my kit, yeah, and it was, like you know, practice doing makeup, but it wasn't. You know, the brides that I was doing were pretty much like the work that I liked in magazines, where it was just really undone, nothing too heavy-handed. So, you know, a bride would always want to do it, want to do a trial, and I'd be like great, because as far as I'm concerned, I'm doing a trial for you to see whether you know we would make a good match If you want this particular makeup.
Speaker 2:that's not what I do, so I'd rather be upfront and go that's not it. So for me it was always just like making people look really beautiful, effortless, almost like they did it themselves, but you know just a little bit have you always known, that's your style. I think so I think it kind of grew on me. I think you know again, I keep going back to Kate Moss and it was that period that you know, early 90s, where it was grungy, it was just effortless. Looking glamour is what I would you know say Kate Moss.
Speaker 2:You know, really turning point for the industry yeah she wore very minimal makeup and you know she had really cool haircuts, and so I kind of felt that that was my style yeah you know and I kind of wanted to hone in on that I wasn't great at trying to do something that I knew nothing about. You know, if it was like full glam makeup for a bride, that's not something that I do yeah, do you still?
Speaker 1:would you do a bride now, like do you have anyone who you would?
Speaker 2:do look. I get a lot of inquiries and it's not that I don't want to do them. I think it's more about making the commitment. You know I, a bride, would reach out so far in advance.
Speaker 2:I don't know where I am in two days' time Well, I do know where I am in two days' time. But to make that commitment and say yes, I'll do your hair for your wedding day in 12 months, you know a lot can change and you know I don't want to be that hairdresser that is constantly letting all these brides down. You know sorry, letting all these brides down. You know sorry, I have to cancel. I've got this. You know, fashion shoot coming up, or you know I'm going to be away. It's a travel day, or you know, yeah.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:That's fair enough. It's just easy to say no, I can't do that anymore.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about assistance on shoots. Yeah, because I feel like it's always a good topic to talk about to somebody who's so. You know, you're so established and on jobs, you're always going to need an assistant. So what are the things like? First of all, how does someone become your assistant if they want to be?
Speaker 2:I would contact the agency of the hairdressers that I really wanted to work with because I like their aesthetics and so I wanted to be on their team. So I think, firstly, I would contact their agent. If you know they've got an agency, I guess now with social media, you can reach out directly. The only problem with social media for me is that I'm not always on, so you could send me a message and I may not get back to you for a couple of days or sometimes weeks, because it's not my first go-to yeah, to look at messages, if that makes sense. So, yeah, I'd contact my agency, I think, through through social media rather than a direct message. I think I've got an email there. Send me an email. Yeah, I will always respond. I'm always looking for assistance. You know I have a handful of assistants that I like to work with, yeah, and they're not always available because they also work with other artists, so it's always nice to have people around. Some people can only work on certain days.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm always open to meeting new assistants what would you want to know about somebody like what would sort of grab your attention in their email or in their approach to you?
Speaker 2:I think that the ability to look.
Speaker 1:Do they need to be a hairdresser?
Speaker 2:I think for me, they do need to be a hairdresser, because I'm looking for hair assistants. Yeah, it's easier for me to talk hair language with an assistant who can hold they're confident holding the tools or doing the task at hand. For me, if I need an assistant, it's always a hairdresser. So, yes, it would be ideal to have a hairdresser assistant. That's not to say that I won't have someone who can do makeup, but they need to be exceptionally good at doing hair and not just. You know, I'm a makeup and I would like to learn hair skills, so I need someone who knows what they're doing.
Speaker 1:Someone who knows what a horizontal section is or a vertical section.
Speaker 2:You know those sorts of those sorts of terms, and who are disciplined in holding something vertical and horizontal.
Speaker 1:And you know, yes, yeah, which I suppose, is really something that you mainly learn in hairdressing, right?
Speaker 2:it is in hairdressing and you know, like if you're watching, you know, when I was doing hairdressing and there was nothing to do in the salon as an apprentice, you were told you know, stand back and watch the other artists, you know color or cut, and so you'd be watching from the beginning of the haircut right to the end and it's almost like you tap into the way that they think you know they're going to take this section like this, and then you know, you know they're about to reach for a sectioning clip because the hair's so long and they don't have anything on them. So it's all those little things that you just kind of pick up along the way and I think only a hairdresser can kind of really get that. If that's what you're trained to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and what about, like, what are some other qualities in people that you know that work well with being on set? Maybe we should talk about things, actually, that are best not to do when you're assisting on set.
Speaker 2:I think it's really important to know your place as well. It's a time, you know, if we haven't worked with each other before and it's the first time. Yes, I want to get to know you, but on that set, at that particular time, that's not the time to start asking all these questions about my career or all those sorts of things. So I think it's important to read the room. You're there to do a job, a great job too. You're not just. You know the assistant helping your. You know you're wanting to be there and that means a lot to me, that you're supporting me as well. I think it's just not going off and being too talkative to everyone.
Speaker 1:Be focused on what you're doing.
Speaker 2:Be focused on what you're doing. Don't be distracted. I mean, take it all in. If you're assisting me on something, don't go looking around the room when I'm, you know, clearly looking to. I need that extra pair of hands and you're not there because you're focusing on, you know, dancing over in the corner. Yeah, no, I know what. You know clearly looking to. I need that extra pair of hands and you're not there because you're focusing on, you know, dancing over in the corner.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I know what you mean. What about phones? What's your feeling on?
Speaker 2:phones. It's interesting. We were talking earlier about doing shows and I remember on Sam's team during that period, phones and social media became a really big part of Fashion Week and all of a sudden people were taking photos backstage and automatically just uploading them on social media. This was new to everyone, really Instagram and all those platforms so Sam used to send out an email saying do not pull your phone out, do not any photos backstage, you will be asked to leave. It's like a real no-no living through that period where we didn't have phones to all of a sudden things being uploaded on social media. Pull your phone out. If you're working with me and it's really quiet and there's not much else to do, I will turn around and say take a seat. If you're on your phone, by all means go and do that. But unless I say that I don't want you pulling your phone out and taking photos for me backstage, unless I ask you, what else are you going to do without me knowing if that's?
Speaker 2:what yeah, yeah. So phones, you know, unless it's your mum or your partner or you know someone calling and you have to take it, obviously. But taking photos and videos backstage without my permission? For me that that's a real no-no. You're not focused on what we're doing, you're distracted by what can I post on social media. Do you agree, do you oh?
Speaker 1:absolutely. I think being an assistant to somebody, well, it's kind of even just even when you're not an assistant, even when you're just on set right, you have to know your place, regardless of what's happening, like you know in the situation. So I think that's just a really important thing in general with working in the environment that we work in. Yeah, and I think it's the even if you're not an assistant, like even if it's your job. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 1:Like you know you're not going to take a model away and take a photo of them when you're running 45 minutes behind. Do you know what I mean? It's just being aware of what's going on at the time. I think, that's something that you can't teach. I think it's something that people have to be there, observe and learn.
Speaker 2:I think because we both came from a different generation where that wasn't around and then all of a sudden it's around. So we're kind of like oh, this is new to us, this is not something you know. I don't immediately pull out my phone and take a photo of something you know. In fact, my agent's always like you've got to take more photos behind the scenes.
Speaker 2:I'm like well it goes against the grain. That's kind of not what I do, but you know, the world that we live in is evolving and we kind of have to evolve as well. But I just think at this stage, you know, just pulling out your phone taking photos is not, it's not great.
Speaker 1:No, I think asking people do you know what I mean? I know makeup and hair, people that don't want to be in photos, and that's fair enough. So I think you've just really got to be considerate of everyone around you. I think if you have manners, then you'll go a long way.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And just in general. So yeah, I wanted to ask you a question. Actually, you know how we use Makitas for flowing hair and stuff. When did all of that sort of come in, like the movement in the hair?
Speaker 2:well, it's interesting, before the makita we used to use you know the little polyform, yes.
Speaker 2:Or to use the little flicker board, yeah, which we still use. I still use occasionally, but I guess you know sometimes they're unreliable, you know they bend or they crack and I can't tell you how many little foam boards I've gone through. Yeah, I remember seeing a hairdresser in sydney pull out the Makita on a job and I was like, oh wow, that's really taking it to a whole new level. But it made sense. We're on location and you know, with the board you have to kind of be within a certain you know distance from the model to be able to get that wind to, to move the hair.
Speaker 2:So this was, like you know, from a distance and the Makita was pretty much. I mean it makes sense to use the Makita. So this was, like you know, from a distance and the Makita was pretty much. I mean it makes sense to use the Makita to produce that. So, yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 1:It's. Yeah, it really is. Now I know you've gotten a lot of experience with 4C hair. Did you learn that mainly overseas, or is that something that you've had exposure to?
Speaker 2:that mainly overseas or is that something that you had exposure to? I was fortunate that I had a couple of clients in my career that had not highly textured hair but it was like really tight curls and it was really coarse hair. So I kind of experienced how to cut and approach that type of hair. But I guess for the really highly textured hair and you know that afro type it was hands-on experience from overseas for sure, doing shows what products were being used and you know and you know someone who's been in the industry since like the 90s or started hairdressing in the 80s.
Speaker 1:What are the biggest changes that you've seen like? Is there anything that sort of really stands out besides social media or?
Speaker 2:is, it does everything just go in roundabouts.
Speaker 1:Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 2:I think everything comes back around again. But you know, it's got this new twist on it. Yeah, you know, everything evolves and it kind of, you know, is made relevant. I don't know. It's kind of at that point now where some things are coming around twice. So I'm like, okay, it's only just starting. I'm just saying, you know, we see that in fashion. You know, like, yeah, like everything comes back again.
Speaker 1:My mum used to say that.
Speaker 2:I think, if that what's changing is technology. So you know the science behind makeup and science behind hair products. They're constantly evolving. So you know the hairsprays that we used to use back in the 80s were. You know they're banned now, but you know the formulas are constantly changing. So I think in that aspect I see that side of the industry. Really it's constantly changing. You know there's new products always emerging.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So many new products, but it's exciting at the same time, because you want something that's relative to what you're doing. You know, yeah, you want to work with what you're producing.
Speaker 1:I would love to hear about your side project.
Speaker 2:Oh pro styling.
Speaker 1:Yes, thank you.
Speaker 2:So I own four of your mats yes, you do own four mats Really thankful that you've supported me through this other little side hustle that I've got going on being backstage of Fashion Week. Sometimes with the shows you're only given a limited space to work in and you know, each season I'd be going back and I kind of you know my towel. Obviously you put the towel down to protect the work surface and put tools on, and I just found that my towel was too bulky. I don't know whether it was just the space that was too small. When it's crazy backstage you're often just throwing things and you've got to pick up a comb and it would get caught in the towel loop pile. So I remember coming back from one of the seasons and I thought I need to come up with a better solution than just using the towel. Things were getting knocked over drinks and all sorts of stuff.
Speaker 2:So I went along to Spotlight and was looking around at all the different types of fabrics and I love denim and so there was this denim roll and I was like actually that could work. You know, denim's kind of cool and I wear a lot of denim, and so bought a couple of meters of it, put it on the sewing machine and made up my, which is now called a session mat. So I took that with me the next season and the two hedges that were working either side of me were like where did you get that? I've never seen one of those before. I was like, oh, I made it. And they're like, oh, wow, congratulations, that looks amazing. And then at the end of this one show, someone came up and was like, oh, my god, that's where did you get this map from? I love it. You look so professional. It's like, okay, great, I made it. And you look so professional. I was like, okay, great, I made it. And they're like could you make me one?
Speaker 2:And then, season after show after show, everyone kept making these compliments on the mat, and before I knew it I had a list of mats that I needed to make and realized you know, I didn't have time to make all these mats, but I think I was onto something. It kind of made sense. You know, the denim mat sits nice and flat. I can fold it up in half if the space is really limited and it's still not too bulky. Everything can sit flat. So then I, you know, can't remember what season or what show it was I decided I wanted to add pockets to my mat. Yeah, I love pockets and the pockets were covered. Yeah, the pockets hold all my sectioning clips and the pockets were covered. The pockets hold all my sectioning clips, so they're kind of there ready for me to take, rather than rummage through the case that I had them in.
Speaker 2:And I could just lay everything out in the pockets and it was kind of out of the way. From the hot styling tools I mean, how many times have you melted your cutting comb or the sectioning clips it just made sense for me to throw pockets in and use that to keep the smaller items out of the way. So I took that back overseas and everyone you know loved the idea of the pockets. So that's where that all came about and it's done really well. I think it's really popular overseas with the shows because it makes sense and that's what it was designed for.
Speaker 1:So I've got. So the way I'm going to tell everyone why I love them, because for everything that you said, but I just they just look so professional when they're laid out.
Speaker 2:They fold up small as well, they're really neat, aren't they? And flat.
Speaker 1:And flat and smaller than a towel. And now that I've seen how you use your pockets, I'm like why wasn't I doing that before? Like how you lay it out makes complete sense to me. Now you don't burn anything, and I actually use one for hair and one for makeup, and then I have two sets and I wash one and have the other one to come in. So so I've got a black and I've also got our dark denim. How many other colors do you have?
Speaker 2:Well, you've got the, you've got a limited edition, so we did one with the black, with the, the tobacco stitching. So kudos to you, they come in. There's a natural color which is kind of like a almost like a latte style. You know natural.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, then there's indigo and black. I do have some white ones as well. People love the white in like beauticians who you know work really cleanly, you know that are making mess, like us. So they love the white just to keep it all kind of like, you know, nice and sterile and clean. Yeah, they're the colors that they come in Great.
Speaker 1:And give us the website, just in case people want to go have a look it's.
Speaker 2:Pro Styler, pro Styling, pro Styling. Yep comau Okay.
Speaker 1:And then it's also on your Instagram page, right, you can just click on the Pro Styling.
Speaker 2:Yes, you can click on the post, darling, through my social media page.
Speaker 1:Yeah, have a look, because I love them.
Speaker 2:They're great, oh, thank you.
Speaker 1:Like I said, it made sense.
Speaker 2:It made sense for me. So I think you know that's why it works. Yeah, and you know the towels again, they're really bulky and you know coffees would spill because they're, you know, uneven surfaces and I was just so sick of having to. You know, if on show one your towel gets filthy, you're you know, I'm in trouble for the rest of the season. I'm not saying that they don't spill on the mat if someone knocks it, but it's easier to mop it up than an actual towel.
Speaker 1:If there's someone listening and they are like I want to do fashion week, and maybe they're in a similar situation to what you were in, you know you didn't have any contacts, you know you had to sort of find your own way, how would you say is the best way to go about getting yourself into a position like what you're in now, Like I mean, I know it's going to take them years, but how can they start from the introductory, from the bottom stage?
Speaker 2:I think, like what I was saying earlier, find out who the artist is, whether it's makeup or hair, and find out who their agency is. And I would cold call if you're in Australia and Australian Fashion Week's coming up and you could contact their agencies that way or email, but I always go through the agencies. The agencies are the ones they're the kind of first port of call. If the show's coming up, they will send you an email saying you know, hi, vanessa, such and such is doing a show. Are you available? So I think it's really important to have and build that relationship with the agency. It's great, as I said about reaching out to people on social media, but if they don't, some people see it as really unprofessional. Maybe that could be your lead way through social media to say I'm sorry, I don't know who your agency is, or you know who they are if you're represented. These are my interests, so I would go about it that way, but I always find out through the agency.
Speaker 1:Yeah, send an email. Say you're willing to assist.
Speaker 2:You want to come over for the shows and yeah, it's a regular thing. I think that's the best way to go about it. Yeah, it's a regular thing.
Speaker 1:I think that's the best way to go about it. Cool, do you have any desire to direct shows or anything like that?
Speaker 2:I haven't really thought about it. You know, recently with the Melbourne Fashion Festival, I had an opportunity for the media runway on show one where I directed that show for Jordan and it was great. I think you're only as good as your team and I think it's really important to build that team, and I'm just not in a position right now to have, you know, that team with me, given the knowledge that I have from going overseas and assisting people like Sam and James and Guido. You know, I just haven't put my hand up to do that just yet. There's just so much for me to learn.
Speaker 1:I think you could do it anyway. Does Sam still do shows?
Speaker 2:Sam still does shows.
Speaker 1:Okay, do you still work with Sam?
Speaker 2:I do work with Sam. There's just a couple of shows, I think, because he's got his products now he's not doing as many as he used to, yeah, so that kind of keeps him really busy. Yeah, and a little less on the circuit.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But, yes, I still see him every, you know every season, which is really nice great.
Speaker 1:Can I chat with you about a couple of kit favorites, whether it be hair or makeup. Like, tell me, let's talk some hair stuff, because most people talk makeup. So, like, what are some go-to products that you just couldn't live with, couldn't live without, sorry, in your?
Speaker 2:kit? No, there's. So there's so many products like my whole kit is filled with all my favorites. Yeah, and it depends on the hair type if you would approach that hair differently and you would rely on a certain product to get you through that. But if I really have to break it down, or they have a product called dry texture spray and that- is my all-time favorite.
Speaker 1:It does what it says.
Speaker 2:It's a dry texture spray and that is my all time favorite. It does what it says. It's a dry texture. So if the hair's like super clean and you've added a movement into the hair, the texture kind of the product tends to dirty the hair up a bit. It makes it a little bit more gritty, so it looks more lived in.
Speaker 2:That's a little bit like a dry shampoo but it's got a hold factor to it, so it kind of just gives you that day old look, if that makes sense yeah, it smells amazing a lived in a lived in look.
Speaker 1:Not a day old, look a lived in look yeah, it is a beautiful texture spray actually, do you like?
Speaker 2:I love all the orbeez. They're pretty amazing. Oh it's amazing, they're pretty amazing.
Speaker 1:Oh, it's amazing.
Speaker 2:It's such nice and they're also buildable as well. You know, the great thing about that product is that you know you can easily brush it out and apply more, and it doesn't get too heavy or it doesn't get too oily and you know, with freelancing and doing the work that we do, sometimes you know we may have to put the hair, then be able to pull it out, brush it out and turn it into something else. So to try texture spray, it's quite versatile and it allows you to have a versatile hairstyle.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's your number one. That's, if you could only take one product and have you got any others like what are some other things that you love?
Speaker 2:elnett yes, okay I mean, everyone has elnett in their cover, you know, in their kids why do you love that hairspray?
Speaker 1:what do you love about?
Speaker 2:it and again, it depends on the hairstyle. It depends on, you know, the look that I'm trying to achieve. If it's going up into a really sleek, you know, ponytail elnett is the only thing that works. It, you know, gets rid of all the fluffiness and flyaways and holds the hair in place, and then I can unravel the hair, tie and brush it out. So again, it's about versatility.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:And the scent. You know, we all grew up with Alnette, so it's kind of like a you know a kit favourite.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the smell does take you back. Are you a Got2B fan?
Speaker 2:I have just discovered Got2B, mm-hmm and got to be fan. I have just discovered, got to be and I do. I do like their products. Yeah, I think in recent times you know some of the hairstyles, particularly for the shows the hair was really quite sleek and you know finger waves were being done around the hairline and that gel was pretty much the only thing that would hold the hair down, but of course you know it needs to be washed out afterwards. So I'm not sure whether I'd be able to use that every day in my work, but it's definitely in the kit for you know a little.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if you need that, there's a black one and then there's a yellow one.
Speaker 2:I think the yellow one is waterproof? Yeah, I think so, and it tends to be a little milkier, yeah, it is it? Looks milky and I'm not sure how it dries. I remember grabbing one and pouring it on the back of my hand and it just didn't look clear and I was just a bit worried.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, since we did Melbourne Fashion Week. I'm a huge fan of the Daphro gel.
Speaker 2:Oh, that gel was amazing to work with.
Speaker 1:I think, though, this is one thing I love about it it dries so quickly.
Speaker 2:But not too quickly. Yeah, it's so good. I think you've got enough time to create the style that you're after. While working the product through the hair, I find sometimes Got2B's gel, you have to work really quickly and it's really thick. You know it does dry super fast sometimes too fast.
Speaker 1:I love the Devro Gel. I'm like, oh, this is amazing and it just reactivates so well with water.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's beautiful.
Speaker 1:It's a lovely product. What about makeup? What kind of foundations do you like to use?
Speaker 2:I've got such a selection of foundations. I always go back to different skin types, skin type, skin colour, depending on the job. So I carry everything from Chanel, Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani. Do you still?
Speaker 1:carry Shiseido. Did you start out with Shiseido?
Speaker 2:I did start off with Shiseido Shiseido for many years. The bottles were glass and they were really heavy, and so I kind of, you know, just removed them from my mind, even though some of the other brands that I use they come in glass. I think you know people like Pat McGrath worked on Giorgio Armani products when they first started, so you've got someone of that experience, you know, working to formulate these products.
Speaker 1:Inevitably they were going to make their way into my kit. Yeah, would you say. Does that sort of?
Speaker 2:your most used georgia yeah, or yes, so pat mcgrath, um makeup is skin fetish. Yeah, is very similar to face and body, so I kind of really like that texture. It's really nice and light and it's you know, it's quite sheer. So, um, I use a lot, a lot of um Pat's makeup yeah, um any career highlights stand out for you? No, you know, since doing shows I mean obviously my first photo shoot where you know I was sent to Malaysia is pretty amazing.
Speaker 1:That's amazing actually, yeah.
Speaker 2:And that's you know. I'm pretty fortunate that that was my first photo shoot ever and my first trip overseas yeah, it was pretty incredible. But the experience of going over to do the shows I still get their good news yeah. But I also feel very fortunate that I've been able to stick at it for so long and still still gives me passion about my industry that I love so much and I come back and I'm inspired and motivated and you know that for me, every season is just. You know the adrenaline, the addiction is. You know it's real.
Speaker 2:So yeah they're the highlights every season. I come back and go. That was my best season, yet I can't pinpoint no, no, that's great.
Speaker 1:I mean, I think I think our job is, I think, hair and makeup. Whether you do hair or makeup, I just think it's a great. It's a great job, it's creative. You meet people, you chat with people. I think it's a great life and we get to.
Speaker 2:You know, coming from the salon, you've got a client on the hour every hour, which was great. But once I was exposed to photo shoots where you'd be on location, whether it be overseas in Malaysia or whether you're down the coast doing a beach shoot, it's like a bird who spread their wings to get out into this creative world and it's kind of hard to put you back into the cage, so to speak.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're really fortunate.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we're really fortunate.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know if I could. I couldn't do salon work again. I say that I'm not salon fit anymore. Hairdressing is hard on the body.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is.
Speaker 1:It's so hard on the body. I'm definitely not salon fit and Bradwyn. Any final bits of advice for aspiring hairdressers that do want to get into the freelance world, commercial world.
Speaker 2:Look, my advice would be to stick at it. Be prepared to make mistakes, but it's good to make mistakes because you learn from those mistakes. You aren't if you're just coming into this industry. No one expects you to know everything. You aren't if you're just coming into this industry. No one expects you to know everything. So the fact that you want to be there for me shows initiative, and you know, I certainly want to be surrounded by people who also want to be in the industry. It's not just a job. You know they want to be there and they want to better themselves. So I think if that's something that you know resonates with you, I'd say go full steam ahead. You know you've got nothing to lose if this is your passion.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Actually. Just one question while we're on that Do you think it's valuable for a hair stylist or hairdresser to be able to do makeup?
Speaker 2:I think it's certainly helpful as a hairdresser and working in the salon where another hairdresser was doing makeup and seeing the way that she approached makeup as a hairdresser and working in the salon where another hairdresser was doing makeup and seeing the way that she approached makeup. As a hairdresser, you know the color wheel, so you kind of know, you know it's. In my mind it's not that complicated. If you put, you know, apply some eyeshadow and you think, does that look good? Well, you're questioning yourself. So maybe it doesn't look good and you know you've either got a knife for it or you don't. It's not something that you must do, but it's certainly helpful that if you uh, you know, call to do some grooming on a shoot where they ask you to do some makeup on men or just the basic makeup, even on women, to be able to say, yes, I can do it, it's certainly helpful. It certainly helped my career to be able to do both and I'm really fortunate that I can do both.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, thank you so much for joining me today, bradwyn.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. It's been great.
Speaker 1:Loved hearing your story, so thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Thank you for your support. Bye Vanessa.
Speaker 1:Thanks for joining me today on the Makeup Insider. I hope you've enjoyed the show. Please don't forget to rate and subscribe, and I'll see you soon. Bye for now.