Arch Couture

I am proud to say that 'Arch Couture' is my first professional photo shoot that I directed and I loved the entire process. I now understand the effort involved in preparing for a shoot and am looking forward to create the next one. My collection 'Arch Couture' is about taking classic shapes and incorporating them into modern wearable hair. Inspired by shapes created by Tadao Ando, Mies Van De Rohe and Vidal Sassoon.

I really want to thank my team at La Vita Hairdressing for all the support they gave me through the entire process and Nella and Lizzee for coming to Sydney to assist for the shoot. Thanks to everyone involved, I appreciate it.

Hair Loren Sologinkin
Make Up Kate Robinson
Stylist Jonathan Nicholls
Photographer David Mannah

Toni & Guy

Talking with Richard Mannah and Jody Taylor



Richard Mannah, Lisa Muscat, Efi Davies, Leah White, Laura McLeod and Myself




Richard Mannah talking with the FAME Team


Last week I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon at the Toni & Guy Academy on New Oxford Street, London. Richard Mannah, International Artistic Director showed us through the Academy and also spoke about the companies involvement with London Fashion Week and how the hairstyles evolve onto the catwalk. He also went through the very new collection 'Interactive' and we found out a little more about how he got to the position he holds in the company today.

It was great to meet some of the great names in hairdressing, Cos Sakkas current London hairdresser of the Year 08/09 came in and had a chat with us and we also got to spend some time with Avant Garde legend - Efi Davies. Her personality is so bubbly and she was very willing to share with us how she comes up with her ideas and techniques for her collections.

The afternoon was a great end to my time in London, now I can't wait to return!

Salon International

With the Australian F.A.M.E. Team



Sebastian Joseph, Carole Haddad and Lisa Muscat on the Fellowship Stage




The F.A.M.E. Team with their models after the show


It has been a very busy and exciting weekend here at Excel London. Salon International showcased many talented hairdressers educating on stage in the Trade Hall along with the Seminar Rooms. The Australian F.A.M.E. team had a total of 5 shows on the Fellowship for British Hairdressing Stage and I had the opportunity to see all 5 shows.

This was the first time that the team presented on stage after being chosen in June at the Sydney Hair Expo. Their presentation was very strong as the direction of the hair was based along strong shapes incorporating shorter styles. They very much worked like a team and that was clear with their stage presentations.

Keep an eye out in the Australian Hairdressers Journal (AHJ) as I will be reporting more about Salon International in coming issues.

Sassoon Sensation

Standing in front of the Sassoon Advanced Academy




Receiving my signed copy of 'ABC - Cutting Hair the Sassoon Way' from the man himself, Mark Hayes


One of the places that I have wanted to visit in London is Sassoon's and that dream finally came true yesterday when I got to spend the day at the Advanced Academy on Grosvenor Street, Mayfair. We had an educational workshop and the Sassoon philosophy translated through the educators and the amazing hair they created.

It was like magic watching the team cut and colour the hair, absolute perfection in every way! At the end of the day we were given a sneak peak for the new collection Dada Dolls by International Creative Director - Mark Hayes. It was such a great end to such a wonderful day. Just before we left Mark presented us with a signed a copy of the 'ABC Cutting Hair the Sassoon Way' which was just priceless.

This trip to London has been even more than I ever imagined and we still have so much to do before I fly home. I'm loving it all!

London Bound

I am off to London to attend Salon International at ExCel next week. It is always a great time of year to be in London and I am really looking forward the shows ahead. Keep reading because I will be blogging as often as possible.

Parlour Hair Group

The team from Parlour Hair Rundle Street.


A few weeks I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to travel down to Adelaide and spend some time with Australian Hairdresser of the Year 2009, Robert Bava at Parlour Hair. He and his wife Karen Bava have a wonderful salon team and they all made me feel very welcome.

It is always great to be inspired by different people in the hairdressing industry and I think it is wonderful that there are people out there like the Parlour team who are so willing to share thier knowledge to build a higher standard in hairdressing.

I'm looking forward to my next trip!

Bundaberg TAFE Tour

I know it has been a little while since I have updated my post but this is what I have been up to over the past few months.

On Wednesday 12th of August our salon 'La Vita Hairdressing' was invited to put on a hair show for the Fellowship of Hairdressing 'Ignite the Passion' tour in Bundaberg. We had a total of 10 models and were able to showcase a range of different looks all keeping together with solid form and construction of each look.

We really wanted to showcase graphic lines in our cuts and educate to the audience the importance of understanding the classics of hairdressing. Everyone who helped put the show together we wonderful and we are looking forward to the next show.

'Ignite the Passion' Tour

Prepping some of the models at the Latouff Hair Spa on Taylor Square


On the 22nd June I was invited down to Sydney to be part of the first Fellowship for Hairdressing National TAFE tour. The 'Ignite the Passion' tour is an opportunity for hairdressers at every level of their education to be inspired about the hairdressing industry. Nella Sologinkin and myselft presented 6 models and took the audience through the steps in how we achieved our looks. I was very excited to be apart of the show because I was able to talk about my journey so far and let the audience know that wonderful opportunites are available to people who are not based in the city.

The tour is going to 52 TAFE Colleges around Australia and is coming to Bundaberg on Wednesday the 12th of August. We at La Vita Hairdressing will be presenting two shows and have already started the process of organising our show. It is really exciting because our youngest members of the team will be presenting on stage with Nella and myself. I hope that we have all the young apprentices in the industry at this event because it will really open your eyes to the wonderful opportunites that are available in this industry.

Mahogany Hairdressing London

Tai Walker, Richard Thompson, Loren Sologinkin, Colin Greaney at Melbourne Show



On stage with Richard Thompson in Sydney



Model from Hair Expo Show, Sydney




Assisting with Colin Greaney on Expo Stage, Expo




Richard Thompson with Model, Sydney


I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to go on tour with the Mahogany team last week when they were in Australia. Richard Thompson - International Creative Director of Mahogany, is such a master at his craft and it was so magical watching him cut hair. I also worked closely with Colin Greaney - UK Creative Director and Tai Walker - Senior Colour Educator of Mahogany, and learned so much from the team.

The collections we were working with was 'Streetmode: Iconic Platinum' for Alfaparf along with 'Optec' from Mahogany. Along with tthese two collections I also got to see Richard create individual haircuts for the model which is a real situation for us in the salon. Today I changed one of my clients hair with one of the haircuts from the collectoin and the result was fabulous!

What I really loved about spending time with the Mahogany team is how passionate they are about their craft and I really felt like I belonged as one of them. Keep an eye out for my article about my whirlwind journey in the Australian Hairdressing Journal (AHJ) in future issues.

The Wedge

The wedge by Trevor Sorbie for Vidal Sassoon, 1974.

It is amazing to see that a hairstyle so precise in execution is still part of our repertoire that we create at La Vita. I love to see such strong shapes in the design of a haircut. It is up to the creative mind of the stylist how the wedge comes to fruition but with the correct understanding of the elements of this cut, the result is truly fascinating. My favourite aspect of the wedge is that it can be styled many different ways, by the way you put your brush through it.

It is imperative to the younger generation of hairstylists to be taught the fundamentals in hair cutting. I have been very fortunate that my trainer, Nella Sologinkin has instilled these core values from the beginning of my apprenticeship. I want to be able to do this with young hairdressers and introduce them to a world that is exciting and rewarding!

Tripping Away

Akin Konizi, British Hairdresser of the Year 08/09 and myself.


I have decided that I'm going to take a trip to London towards the end of the year and immerse myself in the rich hairdressing culture that it boasts. I will be over for Salon International and I am also going to participate in an educational course aswell. I just can't wait to get back there, I loved my time there last year and the hairdressers I met were inspirational.

Planning and Preparing

The team from La Vita Hairdressing have been asked to present a show on the Fellowship for Hairdressing stage in Sydney early next month and the anticipation is building. We have been working with our concept and tomorrow I am off to the salon with a model and work with some ideas we have for our presentation.

It is great the the team is travelling to Sydney and especially our young members; it is about pushing the boundaries and working outside your comfort zone.

Stay soon for future progress!

Australian Hair Fashion Awards

On the 20th of April I attended the Australian Hair Fashion Awards at the Opera House in Sydney and was very happy to receive the 'Young Protege of the Year' award. It was such a fantastic night and I was very fortunate to share it with my mentor Nella Sologinkin, she is also my mum. It was far more then I could have imagined, and I truely believe you have to take every oppourtunity as it presents itself.

I was part of the styling team in the afternoon at the Renya Xydis Salon in the city so we got to style the VIP's for the event. After a quick change into my stunning gown by Ben Smith for Anon.Women we stepped into the limo and headed off to the Awards.

I met some very interesting people in the industry and I am looking forward to working with them in the future!