Packed to the rafters, the pull of Sassoon was as magnetic as ever, with the exclusive Creative HEAD reader event full of mesmerised fans adoring the spectacle. Following a champagne reception, everyone watched in awe as the legendary Sassoon international creative team took to the stage to unveil the looks and techniques, while also revealing their influences and references.

The models pre-makeover

Mark Hayes talks the crowd through the cut and colour

Caroline Cox talks through a decade of trends

Fashion historian Caroline Cox was also on hand to reference the shock value of individual items of clothing across the decades – from the leather biker jacket of the Fifties to the hoodie of the Noughties – while international creative director, Mark Hayes demonstrated the season’s technique – a criss-cross framework of horizontal and vertical channel cut lines that become invisible. Colour-wise, it was Peter Dawson, European colour director, who worked on the Punkature colour technique, with roots glowing in shades such as cyclamen, ultraviolet and smoky lavender. A stream of talent then followed, including UK creative director Bruce Masefield and UK colour director Edward Darley, creating work that had the audience constantly reaching for their cameras. We were left breathless!

It’s just like standing in front of a sweetie counter… do we go with the energetic pastels of Techno Poetry…? Or the earthy allure of Nature’s Goddess…? Perhaps the freedom chic of Nomad Couture? Maybe the glitter and shine of Midnight Stage? We’re just so spoiled for choice!

These are the looks that matter from Wella Professionals Trend Vision 2010, a sumptuous selection that had the audience salivating at the Trend Vision Insight seminar. This is a preview of the looks for a fashion-savvy crowd, and how they could be interpreted for those stylists and colourists keen to fight for one of the Trend Vision 2010 Award crowns – gold in the Color Category or the Young Talent Category.

Darren talking techno poetry

Stuart talking blondes

Lindsay Grossman talks trends

Darren Ambrose and Stuart Bane from D&J Ambrose presented a delectable delight from each trend, ably assisted by their make-up maestro Mizzy and with clothes from the oh-so-missed Alexander McQueen as well as Vivienne Westwood, they illustrated beautifully how competitors needed to consider the whole look. There was also some inside tips from Lindsay Grossman from HOB Salons, who won gold in last year’s Color Category at the Trend Vision 2009 Award UK Final. We left determined to find our inner Techno Poet, seduced by all those pretty pastels and iridescent finish. We’ve always had a sweet tooth…

Young hopefuls from around the UK gathered in throngs at the ASK Academy in London, ready and waiting to prove they had the skills and the handiwork to become a member of the Schwarzkopf Young Artistic Team 2010. With an hour on the clock to cut and style their models, each entrant then had to present their work to the panel of judges, which included the award-winning Desmond Murray, Mark Woolley and Leo Bancroft amongst others.

The judging begins

Billie Davey talks the judges through her trend inspirations

Tina Cowles opts for blonde

Showcasing their take on upcoming trends, short ash-blonde styles were certainly a favourite amongst the competitors, with flashes of blush and strawberry hues spliced through styles to liven things up.

The Schwarzkopf Young Artistic Team 2010

Offering a wealth of young talent to choose from, unfortunately there could only be eight winners, and after a tough day of judging, the final few were chosen and 2010’s YAT decided. Made up of Tina Cowles (Spirit Hairdressing), Rory Gamble (Forresters), Courtney Murray (Rainbow Room International), Holly Taylor (Hensmans, Billie Davey (John Carne), Ged McLeary (Paul Gordon), Jade Lyons (Freddies) and Jonathan De Francesco (Benjamin Ryan Hair), the team are in for a year of treats. From styling their very own photoshoot to training with Schwarzkopf ambassadors and taking part in stage shows, if these young hairdressers are anything to go by the industry’s future, it’s sure going to be an exciting one!

Want to see more rising stars in the making? Look out for Creative HEAD’s March edition which includes Heads Up – an exclusive youth special!

Alexander McQueen S/S 10 show

It is with great sadness that we report that Alexander McQueen – one of the brightest stars in British fashion – has died. The 40-year old designer – known as Lee McQueen – was found dead at his home today, Thursday 11 February. His astonishing shows were one of the biggest highlights of the Fashion Week schedule, always a breathtakingly bold triumph of creativity and show-stopping design. The news comes days before London Fashion Week, and although the designer was not scheduled to show in the British capital this season, his loss will be felt throughout the fashion industry as a whole.

The Matrix models show off their new 'do's!

Celebrating its 30th birthday, Matrix threw one heck of a party when it welcomed 250 Matrix distributors, hairdressers and educators to its annual conference. This was a big gig for Matrix, as it also unveiled its new corporate identity – ‘Imagine all you can be’. Imagination was rife during the opening avant-garde show from the Matrix artistic directors Errol Douglas, Jo Jordan, Marcus Shamim, Hooker & Young, Andrew Jose and Paul Falltrick. Later, Matrix artistic team members Jamie Stevens, Scott Green, Alex Turnbull, Marcus King and Christian Wiles illustrated just what you can do with styling range Design Pulse. The night ended with a black-tie gala where the Matrix 2009 Awards were presented to the success stories of the year – we’ll raise a glass to that!

The team behind the trends - the Matrix artistic directors

Backstage at London College of Fashion’s MA Show, Wella Professionals pulled together an esteemed throng of stylists to set about transforming tresses from tidy to twisted. Led by Hob Salons’ Akin Konizi and Adam Kemmy; Peter Prosser (Peter Prosser Hairdressing), Dan Spiller (Marc Antoni), Angela Dolan (Regis), Claire Chell (Francesco Group), Kai Wan (P:Kair Hair), Ruth Mettam (KH Art Team), Angello Vallilo (Zullu & Holland) and Lindsay Grossman (Hob Salons) were all hard at work creating the style of the season – the dishevelled plait. Found in all shapes and sizes at the spring/summer 10 shows, it’s an updated classic that screams couture. The perfect accompaniment to the graduate’s clothing collections, front-row revellers at the show included Paloma Faith, Jo Wood and Mika, alongside retail big boys including Joan Burstein, the founder of Browns of South Molton Street and Harold Tillman, Aquascutum owner and chairman of the British Fashion Council.

Akin and the team get twisting

Where better to gather some of the industry’s most influential professionals than a kitsch-style pub in Kings Cross? Held at The Driver, The Coterie’s second event shaped up to be a cooler-than-cool affair, attracting everyone from Desmond Murray and Niki Moores to the 2010 F.A.M.E Team.

Desmond Murray lets his hair down

The F.A.M.E Team 2010 out in force

Stars of the show: Krista, Adam and Catherine

As guests perched on plush velvet sofa’s, it was Catherine McMahon, L’Oreal Professionnel’s Portfolio manager; Krista Madden, editor of beautyandthedirt and Twitter activist, and Adam Reed, super stylist, creative director of Percy&Reed and our very own author of The Reed, who provided the entertainment. Drawing in the crowd with tales of Fashion Week, the etiquette of online and Adam’s biggest inspiration – his gran, the evening got a hearty reception from everyone who attended.

Toasting the success of the event

It was also the perfect opportunity for guests to get their mitts on Creative HEAD’s new Runway magazine. Slotted into the goodie bags alongside the new-look L’Oreal tecni art products, the prestigious page-turner went down almost as well as the wine and bite-sized canapés!

Don’t miss the next event on Thursday 29 April. For more details, call 020 7739 7789 or visit www.the-coterie.net.

Glitz and glamour was the name of the game at the 10^th annual Headmasters Awards, held at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham. Champers was on tap, the food was flowing and over 850 of the Headmasters team were in attendance, all eager to applaud the well-deserved winners.

Divided into 11 awards, it was quirky T4 host, Rick Edwards, who lead proceedings, while impromptu performances from the Globe Girls cabaret and beatbox maestro, Faith SFX, saw the audience whipped up into a celebratory frenzy.

Taking home the gong for best salon, Clapham was riding high on the waves of success, as were Kate Moore and Georgia Pingree who won the Future Stars trophy. With over 40 entrants for each award, other winners included Charlotte Lindsay and Faye Cutmore for the Men’s Image Award, and Louise Beard and Simon Ashtari for the Women’s Image Award. Headmasters managing director, John Sanders also took the opportunity to not only congratulate his teams, but to announce that 2010 would see at least another 10 new salons open their doors, taking the total number of salons to almost 50 nationwide. A revelation that led to more cocktails and a stampede to the dancefloor!

Forget Saturday Night Fever, it was all about Sunday night frivolity at Rush’s annual awards ceremony this year. Held at Novotel London West, more than 1,000 Rush employees gathered to celebrate and applaud one another’s success, cementing the fact that despite its fast and furious expansion from one salon in 1994 to 50 in 2009, the salon group remains a loyal family brand.

The guests get snapped on arrival

The bold, the brave and the beautiful. Rush employees come out to play.

Kicking off with inspirational speakers, Andrew Phouli, chairman of Rush, and Stelios Andrew, international creative director (who arrived in true Ali G style, complete with sunglasses and faux fur coat), a show-stopping presentation from the Rush Artistic Team and Workshop Team ensued, before the awards, led by Rush regulars Andrew Heasman and Dimitri Loizi, commenced. Handing out gongs to everyone from Assistant of the Year to the Head Office Award, it was Chris Williams and Lorenzo Favata who stole the show, with Chris taking home the Outstanding Achievement Award 2009 and Lorenzo securing his place on the Rush Artistic Team, earning him a standing ovation from the crowd.

The winners of the Rush Photographic competition, including new Artistic Team member, Lorenzo Favata (second from right)

Also riding high on the waves of success were Rush Sutton – named Salon of the Year 2009, and Edra Erkocevic and Seung Ki Baek who both secured themselves top place for Stylist of the Year 2009.

While the frost was forming outside, inside at the V&A Museum we were transported to spring/summer 10 for the final Fashion in Motion session this decade – courtesy of designer-to-die-for, Erdem Moragliou. Securing our spots on the front row (where else?), while we pulled our coats in closer, models waltzed around the room in floor-length silk ensembles, bright floral minis and ruffle neck nudes that would be just as suitable for strolling down the promenade as the church aisle.

And just as stunning was the hair. Styled by the L’Oréal Professionnel Portfolio team and led my Jonny Engstrom, the brief from Erdem was a relaxed, slightly undone chignon. Flattering, feminine and oh so pretty, it was the haute couture cherry on top of the cake!

Jonny Engstrom ruffles the roots to create an undone, ultra-feminine effect

The L’Oréal Professionnel Portfolio team

Words by Becci Vallis