Words are not enough
After a mad few days, I just had to get out of the city for a few hours. So it's off to a hideaway I know in the Rift Valley for lunch and some fresh air. This place can completely refresh me just a few hours - marvelous and difficult to put into words.
Nothing Like a Bit of Culture
This was really good and very intense. The leading lady was terrific and gave the play real impact as it explores complicated issues about persecution.
Made me think - and very hungry so we all went out to a local Italian afterwards and debated the night away - that's the power of theatre.
Mock Exams - Even at my age!
Do you remember exams? I thought I'd never have to do another exam in my life, but I'm studying at the moment for an Assessor Certificate, so I have to prepare these students for their mocks as part of my studies.
Interview Madness
I do love what I do and so many others find it interesting, but the media can sometimes demand attention when you are really busy.
But I never get cross and never give them a hard time, they have deadlines just like I do - this was a show in Angola and the media where everywhere.
Look who I bumped into - not really bumped!
Just out for a bite to eat and this guy follows me in and I just have to ask - is it really you and he says yes it is - and what an amazing guy he is. So friendly and inspiring - totally made my evening.
Wonderful Gudrun Sjödén Fashion Show
Gudrun Sjödén decided to celebrate her 35th year as a fashion designer and create an extraordinary fashion show - and I was invited to help with the hair. The show was fantastic and made up for the delays in getting there and the very cold weather.
She Was Asleep
This is special - in all this running around I popped in to see my Mum and she was asleep so I took this to keep with me as I miss her when I travel.
Frantic Fashion Show Session Starts
I was only back from Africa for 15 hours before I started a marathon series of fashion shows all over Europe. First was Burberry and helping the dancers with their hair at Brooke Tolberts in London, and then off to Germany where I saw this great steam engine and then I fund myself in T5 waiting to fly to Stockholm - The picture of me is because frankly at one stage I completely forgot where I was or in which country I was in and I wanted to remind myself of what it felt like!
My favourite place for lunch or brunch - Le Rustique
Months ago I mentioned places that I really enjoyed eating at in Nairobi, and silly me I forgot to mention Le Rustique.
This is a lunch / brunch favourite of mine and many others, the food is just fantastic and the atmosphere a delight, and the beautiful tranquil gardens are just the best place for a break - if you want a good table always ask for Maike, and now you can get WiFi so I could spend all afternoon there - I wish
Goodbye Angola
My last day here and a really long one. Had to visit some of the top salons in Luanda and they were great.
Then all the usual hassle at the airport and then finally in to the airport lounge for a snooze before my flight to Kenya - I hope they wake me up if I fall asleep - really don't want to miss my flight!
Amazing end to a great show
Romana from Perola Negra (center) is giving 60 gift packs to the Mama Muxima orphanage at the end of a charity fashion show where I was leading the hair team back stage - and then to everyone's amazement Romana announced that Perola Negra is to fully fund 2 scholarships to the Shair Academy in Nairobi that flights, accommodation, food etc.
That is an amazing gift and will transform the lives of two individuals and their families.
Hot off the Press
This is the local glossy mag that's all over Angola. I was interviewed on one of the Argan Oil show days and here I am in print.
You might not hear from me for a few days as I'm heading up country to see more of this amazing country. But if I can get a signal, you never know what I might find to show you.
This is kinda weird!
I've done lots of TV here in Luanda, but most of it's live so I never get to see me on the TV. So I get into bed about 2am this morning after another fantastic day doing demonstrations and prepping hair for a catwalk, and turn on the TV and there I am - I was expecting a bit of news, and I was the news - really strange.
Angola Show
The show was incredible, with so many visitors it was almost impossible to do anything.
Here are some of the models taking a well earned break. Another two days to go - will I make it?
This is Miss Angola. She is beautiful and a lovely person - this shot was taken just after I finished her hair.
Today I'm doing more live demonstrations using Creme of Nature Argan with Oil products on the Perola Negra stand working with over a dozen models - am I having fun or what!
Luanda at 6am
Arrived a few days ago in the capital of Angola - Luanda. An amazing place, totally alive and busy busy busy. I'm here to help set up a trade stand and provide live demonstrations for Perola Negra as they distribute Creme of Nature with Argan Oil products here in Angola.
I hope to send a daily image that sums up my day and a quick update. The traffic here is just mad - I'll never complain about London traffic again!
Launching Argan Oil
at Salon International 2010
This was very hard work but what fun. Thousands of visitors make the annual pilgrimage to Excell London for an exhibition that is all about hair. I was helping out at the launch of the Creme of Nature with Argan Oil range of maintenance products and as you can see it was full on to say the least.
The Argan Oil range will be out in your local hair and beauty store in early January, find out more at www.cremeofnature.co.uk
Alvin Ailey – American Dance Theatre
Just an amazing night out at Sadlers Wells. Breathtaking dancing and a very inspiring. The energy and joy that was generated was just incredible. If you ever get the chance to see this company then do.
Patricia Perfect
This is Patricia Amira – she is fantastic and when I’m in Nairobi she often asks me to prep her hair before she goes into the studio to host her incredibly popular TV show called The Patricia Show. This was the last show of the current series so it just had to be perfect, and it was great to be a part of it. You can find it on Mnet and it’s a bit like Oprah but without Oprah if that makes sense.
Football and Fashion in Rwanda
Earlier in the year I spent a few days checking out Kigali. There were preparations for a fashion show and I was asked to give advice as it was a really big event and had not been run for many years. I also kept bumping into the guy in the white shirt who used to play football for Rwanda – he was everywhere, and the embarrassing thing is I can’t remember his name. If anyone can let me know I would appreciate it!
This has just arrived from some of the students at the Academy – what dedication. Still learning even though the power and water had been off for most of the day. I’m so impressed with their passion to learn and develop their hairdressing skills.
I think it’s because they are so aware how fortunate they are to learn a skill that they know will take them out of poverty. These power and water cuts are very unpredictable but everyone copes and gets on with it – you certainly appreciate what we have in this country.
It’s me again
As the International Educator for Colomer Professional International I’m always teaching and training and undertaking reviews and assessments. These are students at the St Bhakitas Hairdressing School on Makuru Nairobi.
I do the independent assessment for them. Occasionally they send their best students to the Revlon Professional East Africa Hair Academy, where I teach.
There were 10 students being assessed here, the bad news was that many still had much to learn, the good news was that I did not have to tell them – I’m far too nice!!
Just going through my pics on the phone, and had to think for a minute where this was from. Looks such a cool airport and very sophisticated.
Can you guess which African country it is in? It is one of the poorest and suffers from drought and famine on a regular basis, but the people are just fantastic to work with, and I really enjoy going there to work, train, and meet with friends.
Have you guessed yet? Well it’s Ethiopia – and this is the Airport at Addis Ababa.
Just got home from Kenya slept most of the flight. What a great day to come home sunny and hot, dropped bags at home and cut my mate Glen’s hair, as he was kind enough to pick me up from the Airport. Then off to Brighton with the roof down and lots of sun block-Revlon Natural Honey.
When I got there made a few calls and sent some emails and then had a nap on the beach in the shade. Just a perfect way to celebrate being home.
Back in the UK after a 8 weeks in Africa - and nothing but a weedy welcome for me. I have tried to create a tranquil Zen like garden, so that I can just chill out after a busy day. All was going well, and then my neighbour’s fence blew down, and then I went away.
On my return I find the fence still down, and horrors of horrors some mean looking weeds not just growing but positively flourishing. So in a very un Zen like way I’m getting some nasty weed killer for the weeds and some attitude for the neighbour!
With just a few days to go before I fly back to the UK, I’ve been out and about soaking up the sun and enjoying the local culture. Theatre is very well supported here and with high quality productions available for less that 3 quid a seat, you can see why it’s so popular.
Went to see a production by the Phoenix Players in Nairobi called Shady Business. Last I heard was that this talented team had lost their theatre due to unpaid rent, but that didn’t seem to have stopped them putting on a performance that had me rolling about on the floor. I laughed so much my stomach and jaw hurt. If it comes to the UK go and see it – it’s brilliant.
This is a rare shot. It’s me! I’ve been working and training in Ethiopia for more than a few days, and have just got back to Nairobi. So it’s out for a bit of R&R and there I am having a bit of fun when someone gets my camera a takes a shot.
So what should I do, delete it or show you a very rare shot of me just chillin out, with friends. When you spend most of your working life in front of a camera doing hair it’s really strange when you get snapped just having fun – next time I keep the camera in my pocket!
Today I was teaching in a real salon in the centre of Nairobi. Teaching is always quite exciting because you never know what might happen, you have to be prepared – but when I’m teaching in Nairobi I have to be prepared for things that we all take for granted in the UK.
I can be halfway through shampooing the hair and the water will stop, or finishing off a style with the dryer and the power will go off – and sometimes both go off at the same time. Today was a great day – power and water all day, lovely people to work with and great students. I just wish every day was like this.
After a couple of really busy busy days, I’m going out to Brew Bistro, one of my all time favourite places to eat and relax.
The food here is what they call Pan-Global or fusion, a bit of this and that. It’s a bit French, part European, a little Asian, all done with classic Kenyan flavours.
Always a great atmosphere and a real treat. If you ever come to Nairobi, then this is must place to eat.
Another day another catwalk to help out with hair and makeup. This was for a great Kenyan designer who well known for hand crafted and hand painted original items.
KikoRomeo believes in fair trade and is committed to working with local artisans to promote community development through economic empowerment.
KikoRomeo works closely with Le Collane di Betta, using their jewelry to enhance the clothing and works in support of Africa’s heritage by actively promoting traditional skills and crafts in their production process.
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As ever so much to do and so little time - have just finished a huge fashion show as part of the official launch of ACTIF which stands for African Cotton & Textiles Industries Federation. It included Designers from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania with the Prime Minster and manufactures from across the world. As usual had most to do back stage with hair and make-up, but check out my idea for this fantastic model with “golden” hair. Next up is some intense student training – but more of that later. |
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As you read this I’m back in Kenya doing what I love – educating stylists and technicians and training in the Shair Academy in Nairobi. It’s just so rewarding to be able to pass on skills and advice, and is a great reality check. Much of my time otherwise is spent in the world of fashion, supporting catwalk shows behind the scenes.
The picture came from a catwalk show I was working on in London recently. It was held at the Natural History museum promoting Tommy Hilfiger. Great clothes, fantastic food and fun atmosphere.
I’m just starting another catwalk show here in Kenya, so if I get my act together I shall let you have some behind the scenes shots quite soon.
If you want to find out more about the Shair Academy in Nairobi then just follow this link.
I never know what to expect when I’m asked to judge at an event. You want to make everybody happy but in the end you have to decide and make it a special day for one person and a just so day for lots of others. It always makes me sad for the people who don’t win because I know how much hard work goes into every entry.
But at the recent Afro Hair Awards at Alexandra Palace where I was judging the Avant- Garde Award it was clear to me that there was one clear winner. It was the creativity , energy and advanced techniques that made the winning style stand out. - it was a fantastic concept. The show was great with loads of people all really up for it – the atmosphere was brilliant. Hats off to the show organisers and all the entries.
Like all great resolutions I hope that I’ll get into the habit of regularly updating this Blog. I should really as it’s my own, but that’s no guarantee!
What will you find - well the occasional rant, even the odd well intentioned bitchy remark, but hopefully a glimpse into my world through my eyes.
I’m privileged to be able to travel around the world to visit stunning places and meet with glamorous people, and then the next day in the same place work with people who have nothing. My world can be very strange at times – and I hope that I can give you a glimpse of that world in this Blog.
Feel free to comment – I’d love it if one day someone read my words and felt the need to make a comment. But please be kind. Working at the street level, especially in Africa that’s the one quality that makes all the difference – and you can find it even on the cat walk in London and New York. If there’s one thing I have learnt you can get around the world by smiling and being kind.
This is not as easy as it looks!
I’m sure I’ll get the hang of this, but I’m dashing around at the moment trying to pack for my first trip of the year to Kenya. Sounds easy and if it was just me who was going it would be a doddle – but I seem to be an International Postman for everybody else. Can I take this; don’t forget that, and the one that gets my goat “I’m sure you can squeeze this in”. Well I can’t. I’m a professional hairdresser not Houdini. Ok rant over, packing all done, next time you hear from me I will be in Kenya.
