Once again BIBA Hair Salons and Academies are making a difference to others lives; by doing what they do best; creating sensational hair and helping to make some dreams come true.

On Saturday around 100 young girls from out of home care who have had a really rough trot in life had the best day of pampering at BIBA’s Hair & Beauty Pampering Day. BIBA Academy hosted the day with heaps of their BIBA hairdressers volunteering and the event was covered by the Channel Nine News.

The day was to inspire, encourage and inform young Australian’s from residential units and others who are at risk as to the many opportunities that are available to them in the hairdressing industry; as well as provide some grooming and styling tips to help them with their personal presentation and success in the future.

Miss Universe Australia, Scherri-Lee Biggs spoke with the girls about confidence and presentation and Elise May, founder of Our Children; a campaign to drive awareness and support for some of our most vulnerable children; helped organise what was to be one of the most special days in many of the young girls lives.

“The response was incredible with community organizations delighted that we provided this unique opportunity for our children who are often forgotten and in desperate need of support. Many have been removed from their homes, abused physically and/or mentally, suffered poverty, neglect and hunger; and of course an absence of family and positive role models / experiences to make them feel important,” said Elise May.

“Our hope was that they would not only have a fun day out but also learn some valuable skills not only for their personal presentation but hopefully for their career and life,” said Hilda Santalucia from BIBA Academy.

A big thank you to Sugar Baby, Gorgeous Cosmetics, Wella, Emma and Toms and the Heat Group who all donated items for the gift bags, along with the fabulous hairdressers from The Academy of Makeup and Cameron Jane Makeup who donated their time to make the girl’s look and feel beautiful.

We flew a young 15 year old girl down from Mildura who has been in residential units for 13 years of her life. We had carers driving girls from Shepparton, Ballarat and Wangaratta to join the day.

“A carer cried and told us how much it meant to the girls. The two girls in her care had lost their mother last year. Some of them were really scared and left smiling and looking absolutely gorgeous,” said Lyndal Salmon, Artistic Director of BIBA Academy. “The girls were just beautiful and we all felt privileged to be able to give them a special memory of a fun day out and hopefully some confidence for their future.”

The new issue of FASHIONTREND Magazine has just been released. Depicting a collection of uncommon beauty: “Dark Angel”. Produced by a group of eclectic individuals including two of the Australian hairdressing industries artists; hair styling genius Frank Apostolopoulos and renowned fashion photographer Andrew O’Toole.

Check it out:

http://www.fashionising.com/pictures/s–Dark-Angel-FASHIONTREND-Magazine-issue-26-12922-1.html

The world’s newest exclusive and exotic online jewellery sensation, The Open Window is now live.

An online gallery stocking a captivating selection of the world’s most original and exquisite jewellery, The Open Window provides artisans around the world an avenue to showcase their pieces to a wider audience than any retail gallery.

Images of its first Open Window collections that capture the original essence and the delicate beauty of each piece were lovingly produced by two of Australian fashion’s great teams; hair styling genius Frank Apostolopoulos and renowned fashion photographer Andrew O’Toole.

The duo has created some of Australian beauty and fashions coolest and edgiest new looks; from the global Fudge and Paul Mitchell campaigns to the 2010/11 L’Oreal Professionnel Color Trophy winning look and the recent seductively raw and sensual Ellery campaign.

“We want the website to be not only a store but a place where people can come and browse and be inspired by the imagery.”

Open Window co founder Rachael Hart

“Our inspiration for the shoot was Paolo Reversi – Lavish, luxurious and artistic yet with a raw edge to embrace the uniqueness and pure creation of art that is moulded to become jewellery.

Andrew worked with beautiful natural lighting that brought a sensuality and pure exposure to the shoot which only enhanced the artisans work to make this campaign visually inspiring.”

Frank Apostolopoulos

One of Australia’s newest model sensations, Sarah Tarrant Kuang’s original and natural look fitted the theme for the campaign.

“We chose to create something fresh and unconventional. We focused on Sarah’s unique beauty and features to evoke a sense of raw glamour. Amberlie imbues the campaign with a supermodel magnetism so we were careful not to over do her shots and keep them simple and organic.

The jewellery was exposed against the texture of skin and strong natural features; certainly not your typical jewellery shoot.”

Andrew O’Toole

“On the day of the shoot we worked pretty organically, which is really nice and how I like to work. If something is not working you don’t get hung up, change things and move one, its nice to be able to have a team that also enjoys working this way!

The team was amazing we are very lucky to have been able to work with them.”

Open Window co founder, Nicole Caras

An array of designers makes for a varied range however there is a common theme of delicacy. Each piece shows intricate craftsmanship and innovation.

The bold and sensuous images do their exquisite work justice.

www.theopenwindow.com.au

The Open Window – Credits

Photographer – Andrew O’Toole

Make-up – Kylie O’Toole

Hair – Frank Apostolopolous @ Biba

Model – Sarah Tarrant Kuang @ Luna Models

Model – Amberlie @ Chadwick

FRANK’S STYLE TIPS ON HOW TO CREATE THE LOOKS

On the shorter hair, I worked with gel to create something quite wet and summer looking that is both fresh yet textured in appearance.

I varied the longer hair looks from slick and clean to some dryer looks that were treated with sea salt spray before I dried the hair to create quite an airy and free falling look the moved with a lot of texture once touched by the wind.

I created a deconstructed French roll which worked beautifully with Joanie Lawson’s brooch that featured as a hair piece.

Ovarian cancer is a disease that currently claims the life of one Australian woman every 10 hours and unlike breast or cervical cancer, there is no early detection test.

The fifth annual NAB Divine lunch was to raise funds to support the work of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation to develop an early detection test. This test for ovarian cancer has the potential to save the lives of women for generations to come.

BIBA’s Creative Director Frank Apostolopoulos and BIBA Academy’s Lyndal Salmon; together with a team of our top stylists; donated their time and hairdressing finesse to create the ‘Divine’ hairstyles for the feature catwalk show.

The fashion show was a stand out of the luncheon; styled by Virginia Dowser and featuring designs by Kirrily Johnston, Dhini, J’Aton, Gwendolynne, Limedrop and Gorman.

Hosted by Network Ten’s Sandra Sully and Mark Howard, 400 women and a handful of men, including many well known celebrities and sports stars were present on the day and enjoyed a delectable menu designed by renowned chef, Guy Grossi.

Thrillingly, the NAB Divine lunch raised $105,028!

Thanks to our BIBA team for offering their support and volunteering their time to help produce such a marvellous result.

Article in Instyle Magazine – Page 18 – Sept/Oct 2011

BIBA vaunted the kind of top notch talent synonymous with 35 years in the business of benchmarking at the recent IHS competitions – trundling home with 12 trophies. The BIBA brand shone amid the sea of 150 Victorian salonscompeting; blazing particularly bright with acceptance of coveted award, Educator of the Year 2011. “The awards give inspiring stylists the chance to showcase their work and gain recognition as ‘artists’ in the competitive arena of hair styling. For many, this is the stage where they will make their first mark in the industry,” said Frank Apostolopoulos.

CATWALK for a CAUSE was held at the Blue Diamond Club, Tuesday 23rd August 2011. A huge success with salons: Zucci, Xiang, True Colours, BIBA & academies showcasing the latest in high end hair and fashion.

As Artistic Director for BIBA Academy; an iconic Australian hairdressing institution that has guided the industry for more than 35 years, Lyndal Salmon is a driving force; inspiring our next generation of hairstylists to strive for excellence in design and cutting precision.

Staged on an annual basis, the HBIA Educator Awards recognises and celebrates the outstanding educators working within the hairdressing and beauty industries.

The award provides an opportunity for today’s industry leaders to recognise and acknowledge our Educators and the impact they make on the future of our industry.

Lyndal plays an integral part in every Australian design award; as teacher, role model and facilitator, her students have been awarded with a myriad of prizes and recognition for achievement from notable Australian organisations including L’Oreal, Wella, Hair Expo, IHS and HBIA.

She has toured internationally as a mentor and facilitator for Wella and Goldwell and acted as an Ambassador for L’Oreal, along with organising and developing major fundraising events for BIBA and her students to get involved with and give back to the community.

“This award really motivates my students as well. It is wonderful recognition and great pat on the back for our Biba team at the Academy,” says Lyndal.

Australia’s most iconic hairstyling group, BIBA continues to lead the Australian hairstyling industry taking out 12 awards in the annual International Hairstylists Society (IHS) Australian Hairdressing competition.

BIBA Academy’s Creative Director Lyndal Salmon has also won again the coveted HBIA ‘Educator of the Year’ award for 2011.

The IHS Competitions are an opportunity for Australian hairdressers to showcase their creativity and expertise, while fashion forecasting for 2012.

More than 300 models and over 150 Victorian hair salons competed for the Awards to win recognition from the international judging panel and the coveted industry prizes presented by the IHS.

The Awards attract hairdressers from around the country; from students, apprentices and experienced professionals to compete for national industry status.

“The Awards give aspiring stylists the chance to showcase their work and gain recognition as ‘artists’ in the competitive arena of hair styling. For many, this is the stage where they will make their first mark in the industry.” Frank Apostolopoulos, BIBA Creative Director

For more than 35 years, Biba has set the benchmark for excellence in hair design.

Proudly presenting 12 highly acclaimed salons, 2 academies with a rich list of industry awards, BIBA continues to set new industry standards.

BIBA Salons is proud to announce it has two finalists from six nationally in the most coveted of hairdressing awards – the Australian Hairdresser of the Year – as part of the 2011 Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards.

BIBA’s Creative Director Frank Apostolopoulos, L’Oreal Colour Trophy winner 2010 and Hilda Santalucia, recently named one of ‘Melbourne’s  most inspirational women in hairdressing’ from BIBA South Yarra, were both contenders for the award that represents the pinnacle of the Australian hairdressing industry.

As the longest running and most respected hair awards in the Southern Hemisphere, the Hairdresser of the Year sets the industry standard and helps to promote the outstanding achievements of the industry’s top talents.

Only six finalists were announced for the top prize of Australian Hairdresser of the Year from thousands of applications from around the country; ensuring a difficult task for the 20-strong panel of independent industry experts.

BIBA’s Mariam Enegd, also a L’Oreal Colour Trophy winner has been nominated for the New Creative Force – Judges recognition award.

Having 2 Hairdresser of the Year finalists is a coup for BIBA; the only salon group to have ever have 2 finalists in this major award and an achievement that BIBA has achieved previously in 2009 with Frank Apostolopoulos and Marcello Guerresi from BIBA Moonee Ponds both finalists for the award.

Links to collections:

http://www.hairexpoaustralia.com/en/photos/2011/Collections/Frank-Apostolopoulos/

http://www.hairexpoaustralia.com/en/photos/2011/Collections/Hilda-Santalucia/

http://www.hairexpoaustralia.com/en/photos/2011/Collections/Mariam-Enegd/

BIBA have once again secured nominations as finalists in the upcoming Hair Expo Awards for 2011.

Congratulations to:
Frank Apostolopoulos, BIBA Fitzroy:
Finalist Australian Hairdresser of the Year

Hilda Santalucia, BIBA South Yarra:
Finalist Australian Hairdresser of the Year

A special mention goes to Mariam Enegd from BIBA Clifton Hill, who received a Judge’s Recognition Award for her submission in the ‘New Creative Force’ Category.
A second time entrant into the competition, Mariam wowed the judges with her collection.

Our fingers are crossed until June when the winners will be announced in Sydney at the Hair Expo Award Gala Night.

BIBA Academy is again ‘College of the Year’ at the 2011 HBIA Hairdressing Championships with one BIBA student taking out 6 Awards on the day including the prestigious ‘Australian Colour Champion’ and ‘Student & Apprentice of the Year’.

Meet Kinga Schafer

• HBIA Student & Apprentice Award Winner
• HBIA Australian Colour Champion
• Blonde Open 1st Place
• Ladies Design Cut- Apprentice and Student division 2nd Place
• Fashion Colour- Open 3rd Place
• MTV Inspired Total Look 2011- Apprentice and Student division 2nd Place

Kinga Schafer flew all the way from Hungary to Australia to start a new life and pursue her  dream of becoming a great hairdresser. “I was in hospitality in Hungary and then travelled to Ireland to work in a beauty spa. Everything bored me except hair styling. I was looking for continuous education; a creative job where I could express myself,” says Kinga. So it was back to Hungary to research where the best training academy was in the world. Kinga chose BIBA Academy in Australia.

“BIBA is edgy and a little different which I find unique and inspiring. My idol Paul Divitaris (BIBA founder and director) is an inspirational man. I am also inspired by BIBA’s Frank Apostolopoulos and Marcello Guerresi and Laszlo Hajas from Hungary.”

The decision to travel thousands of miles has paid off, with the full time overseas student and apprentice with the BIBA South Yarra team already making her mark on the industry she adores.

“When I create a look the first thing to consider is my client’s personality, face shape, hair texture, head shape, skin tone and eyes. The best colour work or haircut can look horrible on the wrong person.”

“The most inspiring in hair is that it can change peoples look, attitude and mood. Creating something that my client is happy with is the absolutely most important thing for me.”

And Kinga’s tip for beautiful hair: We all know that hair needs just as much care as our skin. The secret of a healthy looking shiny hair is using treatments frequently. If you run out of your protein/moisture treatment, mix few drops of light olive oil and some egg white and apply it on the hair, wrap it with a hot towel, leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse it. My other tip is useful for refreshing blonde highlights: mix some conditioner with fresh lemon juice, apply it evenly from roots to ends, leave it on for 15 minutes and give it a thorough rinse.

KINGA SCHAFER AWARDS

• MAY 2010 HBIA nominated for STUDENT OF THE YEAR
• JUNE 2010 HBIA Student Ladies Design Haircut 1 ST PLACE
• JUNE 2010 HBIA Open Blonde 2 ND PLACE
• JUNE 2010 HBIA Open Fasion Colour 3 RD PLACE
• JUNE 2010 HBIA Australia Colour Champion 1 ST PLACE
• AUGUST 2010 IHS Student Men’s Haircut RUNNER UP
• MAY 2011 HBIA Open Blonde 1 ST PLACE
• MAY 2011 HBIA Student Ladies Design Haircut 2 ND PLACE
• MAY 2011 HBIA MTV Inspired Look 2 ND PLACE
• MAY 2011 HBIA Open Fashion Colour 3 RD PLACE
• MAY 2011 HBIA Australian Colour Champion 1 ST PLACE
• MAY 2011 HBIA Student of the Year 1 ST PLACE

After months of intense training, the BIBA Booties set off on Friday 1st April for the OXFAM Trailwalker in Melbourne.

The team consisted of Director of BIBA Academy & Salons, Paul Divitaris, Operations Manager, Mirella Heuperman and academy students, Kinga Shafer and Daniel Monge.

The Oxfam Trailwalker is the ultimate team challenge.  Participants must tackle 100km of Australian bush within 48 hours as a team of four, and make a difference by raising funds to help overcome poverty and injustice around the world.

The BIBA Booties completed the walk in 33 hours and 55 minutes!  A fantastic achievement for this awesome four-some.

BIBA raised over $2,500 for OXFAM, which goes a long way in assisting those in need. For example, $450 can pay for a years worth of support counseling to South Africans living with with HIV/AIDS.

So for now the BIBA Booties have hung up their walking shoes to rest up for perhaps another physical and mental challenge…. watch this space!

Top Melbourne model agency, GIANT Model Management, launched its inaugural ‘Face of Giant’ Model search with great success on Saturday 26th February.

The team were on the lookout for one male and one female to become the ‘Face of Giant’ 2011.

BIBA Academy & Salons were backstage creating key looks for the seventeen female and nine male models who had made it to finalist stage.

Creative Director Frank Apostolopoulos and Lyndal Salmon, headed up a team of six academy students and staff, who worked their magic backstage.

Lyndal Salmon who heads up the BIBA Academy said, ‘Participating in events like the Face of Giant allows us to provide different opportunities to academy students outside of the salon and classroom.  They get to experience new environments and different types of pressures and rewards associated with hairdressing.”

The winners received a 2-year contract with GIANT Models, one year worth of free hairdressing services from BIBA Academy, along with photo shoots with Fashion Journal, Fashion Trend and Jeans West.

Creative Director of BIBA Academy & Salons,  Frank Apostolopoulos, worked on a stunning  editorial fashion campaign with GRAZIA Magazine.

Frank worked alongside Fashion Director, Mark Vassallo, creating the hair for a visual feast of ‘surf prints, stripes, lipsmackin’ bananas, vintage, mambo madness and a little bit of Miucca’s magic’.

This was the first shoot Frank has worked on with the reknowned Mark Vassallo and Grazia magazine and the results speak for itself.

Grazia Issue 115

The Australian Hair Fashion Award Nominations for 2011 have been announced and we are excited to report that BIBA have recieved 2 nominations for this prestigious award.  The winners will be announced in March 2011 in Sydney.

Congratulations to:

Frank Apostolopoulos, BIBA Fitzroy nominated for
Australian Hairdresser of the Year

Tania Culakovski , BIBA Camberwell nominated for
Creative Colourist of the Year

Charlotte Oakley-Malmborg of BIBA Academy has received the prestigious marie claire Reader’s Choice Award for her L’Oreal Professionnel Colour Trophy State Finalist image!

One lucky marie claire reader now receives a complimentary cut and colour with Charlotte – an exciting opportunity to experience a BIBA cut and colour at the hands of one of the Academy’s finest educators.

The image on the right is Charlotte’s winning look!

A select group of BIBA stylists, including Frank Apostolopoulos, Benkamin Kesper and Mariam Enegd, lent their support at the recent charity event – ‘A Girl’s Night Out’.

Launched by ‘The Tiara Project’, the charity provides free formal dress hire to underpriveleged girls so they can participate in their debutante ball or school formal – because everyone deserves to be a princess for a day.

The BIBA team set up a pamper station providing complimentary styling to guests who attended the event.

The event raised $20,000, an amazing achievement for it’s first year allowing the charity to find new premises to store all their dresses.  More information on the charity can be found at www.thetiaraproject.com.au

Congratulations to BIBA Fitzroy who took out top honours at the 2010 L’Oreal Professionnel Colour Tophy Awards on Sunday 4th July!!

BIBA Fitzroy were in high spirits after winning 2 of the national awards. These included:

L’Oreal Professionnel Colour Trophy Award
L’Oreal Professionnel Men’s Colour Award

Frank Apostolopoulos and Mariam Enegd worked on the winning creation for the Colour Trophy Award, wowing the judges with their impressive colour and styling work on the day of the live judging.

Frank also won the Men’s Colour Award with a natural look of tousled curls and sun kissed colour on his male Jake.

The winning looks will be featured in marie claire magazine, Instyle and Culture Magazine in the coming months.