Louis Trichardt's very own hairstylists from C-Jays Hair Salon received further major accolades this past weekend. Nolean Dercksen and Takalani Mabobo participated in the Intercoiffure SA and Fondation Guillaume Online Competition, and both achieved first place in their respective categories.
With 32 entries for this year's competition, which was held in February, Mabobo and Dercksen had to ensure that their best work was submitted in order to compete. Nolean took part in the Ladies' Colour and Cut category, while Takalani put her skills to the test in the Creative Hairstyling and Design category. This allowed her to fully express her ideas through various hair techniques and styles.
After submitting photographs of the models on whom their unique and artistic styles were tested, their work was judged by a panel of international experts, including Heidi Wetzel of Intercoiffure, Dane Frost of EOHCB, Marissa Roberts of Wella, Angela Smith of Schwarzkopf, and Dylan Shrives of Goldwell.
With improved skills and upgraded portfolios, Dercksen and Mabobo both hope to participate in similar competitions in future. As stylists at C-Jays, this highlights their passion for hairdressing, love for the art, and desire for continual improvement.
Preparing for this competition was no easy task as they had to focus on the look, style, and photography of the hair in such a way that the final result would be ideal for submission. Hard work, however, does pay off. One of the special moments was seeing the final results come together. "It was amazing to watch my creative ideas take shape and receive such positive feedback from those who witnessed the final presentation," Takalani said.
Challenges were faced as time pressure and staying calm under stress were constant battles to ensure the perfect outcome. Staying focused and being constantly reminded of the goal were what kept them going.
A big thank you from C-Jays and the stylists was expressed as the encouragement and support motivated the two during the preparations. Takalani also gave special thanks to Connie, her mentor, for the guidance, inspiration, and belief in her potential.
This is not Nolean's first award. Last year she won bronze in the Global Creative Awards (KAO Division) in the Creative Colorists of the Year category.