OUR
Gallery

i am ME

2017 HAIR EXPO WINNER:
SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR

Credits:

Hair

é SALON

Photographer

Paul Scala

Salon

é salon

Our Inspiration was to create something classic yet relevant – relatable, translatable and educational, which we can use to teach the fundamentals of Hair Cut and Design. Our goal was to create a series of images for daily, in salon use which is commercial, original and wearable. The clean, tight, classic yet directional feel of i – D magazine covers – images that in all their cropped simplicity, command attention. We were inspired by their use of the “covered eye”. We used this as inspiration, translating the covered eye in each image.
Shapes and structure – the art of balance. The commercial, pared back beauty – focus we associate with popular fragrance campaigns – however here, driven by haircuts. Suitability – a story of shape and texture with something for everyone – from the whims of youth to the more conservative requirements of mature clients.

Writhe

2017 HAIR EXPO WINNER:
SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR

Credits: Styling

Hair

é SALON

Make Up

Chereinne Waddell

Styling

Chris Lorimer

Photographer

Milos Mlynarik

Salon

é salon

“Writhe” is inspired by black and red art, in particular the abstract artworks of artist russell Mills. Mills paints predominantly black and red portraits with the faces in focus yet the bodies are blurred with brushstrokes of red smudged throughout the works. What appealed to us most about these paintings was the exaggerated shapes of the hair; we were inspired to create these shapes however add an editorial aspect, something quite embellished yet relatable to our salon work.
Paying homage to the artwork of Russell Mills, blurring the body and placing an undeniable focus on the face and hair. We kept the imagery editorial in feel; relatable for our clients in – salon and translatable to share in education.

FORCE

WINNER 2011 Hair Expo Australia Awards:
:: New Creative Force ::
:: Best Photographic Collection ::

Credits:

Hair:

Lisa Muscat

Makeup:

Victoria Baron

Styling:

Lucinda Constable

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é SALON

A chance reading of Mao’s Last Dancer provided surprising inspiration for this latest collection,Force. The intrigue and colour in Chinese culture at this time, where children were chosen to be a part of Mao’s revolution gave rise to the warrior influence, yet with a feminine strength. Like anything in life, this inspiration was also transformed into an overall theme, with cues taken from the strength and tribal focus from Indian, Native American and African cultures.

Cinemathique

2010 Australian Hair Fashion Awards FINALIST:
Australian Hairdresser of the Year

Credits:

Hair:

Emiliano Vitale

Makeup:

Victoria Barron

Styling:

Peta-Marie Rixon

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é salon

Inspired by the Italian neo realism cinema wave, Coco Chanel and the modern beauty Audrey Tautou, this collection is a tribute to the sensuality of women. The 1923 Coco Chanel statement “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance” and its relevance today is what I have endeavoured to communicate through the intoxicating sensuality of the neo-realist woman.
The neo-realist woman has an incredible uniqueness about her; a raw yet innocent sensuality, a style that is loose yet precise, an unkempt neatness which has the abilityto talk and move you to the very core of your being. The neo-realism woman is real,true and honest in her presentation to the world, and embodies an almost “style-less” style.

VIRTUALITY

2015 Hair Expo WINNER:
Emerging Hairdresser of the Year

Credits:

Creative Direction:

Robert Lobetta

Hair:

Lisa Muscat-Vitale

Post Production:

Kay Lobetta

Makeup:

Chereine Waddell

Photography:

Robert Lobetta & Peter Tabor

Artist:

Blair Palmer

Styling:

Fleur Egan

Salon:

éSALON

Virtuality conceptualized when I set eyes on a Facebook post by Fashion World, the image appeared real–a live model, physical garments and makeup–yet at the same time alluded to being hand drawn. I was creatively and mentally stimulated. This image enabled the viewer to decide on its context, its reality. I knew from this point I wanted to offer a similar experience with this new creative collection Still fixated on this particular image, I began to evaluate the hair, drawn to its transparency. From here my thought process moved to fabrics, textures and the possibility of manipulating hair to appear textile. Textiles-the canvas for so many shapes, silhouettes and styles–weaving, puckering, lace and crochet, the options are endless.

CRYPTOGRAM

2014 Australian Hair Fashion Awards WINNER:
Australian Hairdresser of the Year

Credits:

Hair:

Emiliano Vitale

Makeup:

Clare Read

Styling:

Carol Gammara

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é salon

Cryptogram, which essentially means a mystery or a puzzle, takes the form of three different influences from futuristic pop culture, to tribal warriors to geometric forms creating the key references of Superhero, Tribal, and Rubic,to form one enigma in hair, which is Cryptogram. Taking inspiration from futuristic heroine, Aeon Flux, the Superhero is animated through beautiful strong shapes with minimal colour splashes of blue to provide a contradiction to the overall solid black colour. The cuts are supremely strong to enhance the strength in the feminine character, with rounded fringes and a real geometric tone.
The Tribal warrior queens were inspired by contrasting textures and techniques, with two specific looks created using straight and crimped techniques that worked together to create amazing exaggerated shapes. The overall styling for clothes and make up was integral to interpreting the Tribal theme. For Rubic, inspiration was drawn from squares and circles, creating geometric balls and squares to reflect truly futuristic shapes. The exaggerated shapes in the fashion designs of Viktor and Rolf also served as an inspiration to capture the ultramodern linear Rubic forms.

White Noise

2017 Australian Hair Fashion Awards FINALIST:
Artistic Team of the Year

Credits:

Hair:

é SALON Creative Team

Makeup:

Cathy Geeves

Post production:

Kay Lobetta

Photographer:

Robert Lobetta

WHITE NOISE presents a futuristic vibe, highlighted by a gritty fashion edge with tones of Jean-Paul Gaultier, and bound together with an over-arching theme of metallic and highlighted by definitive dimension and strength. Drawing inspiration from the desire to work with different fibres and metallic materials, WHITE NOISE delivers a tough, yet mildly ethereal subtext, with white and metallic presenting a perfect juxtaposition of softness and toughness.
Structure and form inspire the hair with braids, cuts and metal threading incorporated throughout. The use of metallic materials such as nails and metal rings highlight futuristic elements and strength in each image. The use of metals emphasizes texture and shine, delivering another dimension to the hair, while the metallic theme is weaved throughout the makeup.

Fluidity

2015 Hair Expo FINALIST:
AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Credits:

Hair:

Emiliano Vitale

Makeup:

Chereine Waddell

Photographer:

Robert Lobetta

Salon:

é salon

TIME:

I am fascinated by the constant that is time. It never stands still. By the point we regard a moment – an incident, feeling etc – it passes, no longer the present, now a memory. Time is constant – regardless of fame and fortune, we all age at the same rate – yet we each hold a unique perception of time. So I questioned, ‘what does time look like, if it was an image, what would it be?’

TRAVEL:

Meaning to proceed or advance in any way, I was inspired by travel and its relationship with time. In order to travel forward we must understand the past. I looked to The Firefly from 1978 and imagined ‘if The Firefly time- travelled to the present, what would it look like in today’s world?’

TEXTURE:

Each look was to have its own unique movement and texture. Movement, texture and travel – I was inspired by feathers, their flight, and aimed to create this with hair. Tapestry and Puckering aided as textural variations.

TRIBE:

Meaning ‘a social division of people defined in terms of common descent, territory and culture,’ Tribe is a word that strongly resonates with this stage of my life – its current projects, people, feelings and events. I gather endless inspiration from African tribes – the natural textures and textiles used in the creation of headpieces and accessories.

Disconnected

2014 Hair Expo WINNER:
New Creative Force

Credits:

Hair:

Lisa Vitale

Makeup:

Chereine Waddell

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é salon

The title, Disconnected, is in direct reference to the disconnections which appear in each image. The main disconnection that catches the eye at first glance is the intricacy of the hair and the simplicity of the image. The hair portrays avantegarde qualities with a commercial twist; every hair style created displays a disconnection whether it be in the length, a complete change of a style or a change in texture.
From weaving, to braiding, to molding, twisting and curling, Disconnected came to life. Taking inspiration from classic and timeless imagery, Lisa also chose to keep makeup and styling very classic, whilst pushing herself creatively with the intricate hair detail. This was particularly influenced by a trip to Madrid in 2013, which fuelled her creativity as she was surrounded by inspirational artists including X-Presion and Robert Lobetta and she was given the opportunity to also witness Indira Schauwecker’s work.

CAUTIVAR

2013 HAIR EXPO FINALIST:
Australian Hairdresser of the Year

Credits:

Hair:

Emiliano Vitale

Makeup:

Max May

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é salon

Taking inspiration from the film works of iconic director Pedro Almodovar and time working in Spain, Emiliano Vitale’s stunning photographic collection, CAUTIVAR, comprising of 6 trend-driven images, reflects the juxtapose of the simplistic yet complex layers in the female leads of Almodovar’s films. Using the texture and movement in hair, along with delicate lace fabrics, Vitale has masterfully created layers of intrigue, sensuality and strength.
The hair is characterised by an air of simplicity, however hidden complexities and varying techniques have been used to create the styles. The fluidity of movement and a contradiction of textures typify the strength and influence of the ‘Almodovar’ woman, yet the styles are still fashion-forward and relevant, with a commercial viability.

Neo Linear

2012 Hair Expo FINALIST:
AUTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Credits:

Hair:

Emiliano Vitale

Makeup:

Clare Read

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é SALON

Neo Linear is a collection dominated by new lines and the way that lines interact with colour. Colour and shape both work in unison to characterize the real strength found in the haircuts. This is demonstrated by the beautiful clean lines and the way that they work with the head shape. Neo Linear explores the relationship between colour and lines. It identifies the way we use curves and shape to accentuate bone structure, and how we then utilize colour to accentuate the curves and lines.
In the creation of Neo Linear, inspiration was also drawn from two amazing architects – Harry Seidler and Frank Lloyd Wright. Just as the architectural work of Harry Seidler and Frank Lloyd Wright interacts with nature; blending modernism and organic architecture, Neo Linear ensures that each curve and line is based around what is already there, drawing organic inspiration from the human face. Neo Linear IS new lines.

TOTEM

WINNER: 2010/2011 AIPP Best Men’s Collection
FINALIST: 2010 Australian Hair Fashion Awards Men’s Hairdresser of the Year

Credits:

Hair:

Emiliano Vitale

Makeup:

Luana Vitale

Styling:

Peta-Marie Rixon

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é SALON

To-tem- noun; a social group having a common affiliation to such an object. This collection is inspired by the warriors of the past, brought forward to 2010. The collection portrays a raw male sensuality and togetherness whilst capturing the distinctness of the natural warrior within.
The hair inspires an individual direction and strength, yet also showcases the underlying influence of the 50s quiff.Totem is tribal, warrior-like and real; we are all in some way or another part of our own Totem this just happens to be one of them.

Seraphic

Credits:

Hair:

Lisa Muscat

Makeup:

Victoria Barron

Styling:

Peta-Marie Rixon

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é salon

Current international catwalk trends and global advertising campaigns by the world’s leading designers have influenced Seraphic. International session stylist “Guido” and his new age French rolls for Prada really inspired the taking of classic elements of hair “dressing” and “undoing” them, to create a modern texture.
Particular inspiration was also taken from the new Burberry campaign, hence the inclusion of a male model in the collection. Seraphic is modern hairdressing in an almost pure form, which captures an angelic or other worldly element and lends itself to a heavenly feeling.

Raw

2009 AUSTRALIAN HAIR FASHION AWARDS FINALIST:
NSWHAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Credits:

Hair:

Emiliano Vitale

Makeup:

Victoria Barron

Styling:

Peta-Marie Rixon

Photographer:

Paul Scala

Salon:

é SALON

Inspired by characteristics of masculinity and enhanced by a coarse, rough, and undone influence, Raw reflects the world we have experienced over the past 2 years. There is a sense of dishevel, deconstruction and unraveling underlined with a sense of strength.
With this in mind, and using the medium of hair, texture and an element of grunge combine to create a raw, modern and honest interpretation of the global upheaval and intensity in the world we know.
Our world is still intact, as are the fundamentals of hairdressing used in creating these shapes, though the way the world is at this moment in time is reflected in the finished product – rough, undone, Raw.

TWENTY

2020AUSTRALIAN HAIR FASHION AWARDS
FINALIST
AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

credits:

hair:

Emiliano and Lisa Vitale

photographer:

Andrew O’Toole

make up:

Chereine Waddell

Three key words served as the inspiration for our collection – balance, silhouette and shape.

To achieve a representation of these words, we were also inspired by technical precision and the perfection that can often be recognised in an imperfect finish.

Despite the need for symmetry, we often purposefully destroy the visual equilibrium, shake up the conventional norm and create something different, either for the sake of variety or to take a stand and deliver a message in a stronger, more dynamic way.

The fluidity of movement and a contradiction in textures typify that balance, and in turn creates stunning and visually appealing shapes and silhouettes.

When it comes to art, we may say that balance represents the purposeful organization of visual elements of varying weight. When we say weight, we are referring to the overall shape, form, and significance of a particular visual element.

Combining these elements into a cohesive unit, whether that unit is a painting, a sculpture, or hair styling is how we create artworks.