Bianca says:
I always wanted to be a hairdresser from a really young age. I am the second of four children.
Our parents always used to ask us what we wanted to be when we grew up. My older sister who is shorter than me wanted to be a basketball player and my brother wanted to be a bus driver. When they asked me what I wanted to do I would always say ‘I’m just going to do hair!’ They would ask me who’s hair was I going to do and I would say ‘just all the models and the movie stars.’ Growing up I played a lot of sports. I played basketball, track, softball and boxing. When I was younger I would do all my friend’s hair and make up for prom and homecoming. When it came time to go to college I had scholarships for sports. However, I still wanted to do hair so I ended up not applying for colleges. I graduated and took the summer off. After that I started beauty school at age 17.
I graduated in 10 months, then I went and got a job at Sally Hershberger assisting Sulekha Hilton. After 7 years I moved to Andy Lecompte salon which is where I currently am and I’m really enjoying it.
From there Olaplaex launched and were visiting some of the top salons. I started tagging Olaplex in my work and they reached out to me and that’s pretty much how we started working together. I worked in the Middle East with olaplex for the first time to help launch the product there. I’ve also started working in Dubai , Bahrain and hopefully Kuwait soon. I’m now an ambassador for Redken & Olaplex. Working with Framar and a bunch of other sponsors, I also work with Quai, Nutrafol & virtue hair range. I’m pretty lucky I feel like social media has kind of allowed me to travel everywhere. So that’s kind of how I got started doing hair and what I’m doing now.
Would you say your specialty is Balayage on Brunettes?
I would say I have about a 50/50 clientele, I think I am really lucky because I don’t really do just one thing in particular. I think the reason people associate me with Brunettes and highlight is Because of Rachel Barnes (Rocky Barnes), she’s huge and she’s one of my favourite clients. She was the first model I coloured and has kind of rocketed my career. She’s been one of my longest standing clients I think for about 6 years.
A lot of my clients with large followings have promoted me on Instagram. A lot of people associate me with the contrast, beachy, balayage, rock and roll grungy. I think my style is a little grungy for sure but I do definitely, if you look at my Instagram, I do have a versatile range of blondes, fantasy colours, bleach and tone etc.
What can we expect to see from Bianca in 2018?
2018 for me is about self-work and creating a good work life balance to ensure I’m able to continue to create and paint hair. As you may know I am allergic to bleach so it’s important I look after myself.
In 2018 I have started taking supplements every day to help and have also sought the help of some professionals, for example Chiropractors and Homeopaths. I’ve also started hot yoga, which I have found helps my body to fight back against illness. Ask my assistants, I have so much more energy now.
In 2018 I am also getting more involved in education. I’m loving the artistry and seeing where the industry is moving through education. I find I learn a lot from other people when I’m educating too not just about them but about what I do and why I am doing it. Taking a step back when educating and really acknowledging what I am doing.
I’m looking forward to more travel and I feel really fortunate that I get to travel. Along with all the things that have been presented to me and I’ve been allowed to do. I think it’s also good to get away and travel for yourself to have a holiday so long as you are communicating with your clients.
Will you be at Redken Symposium in 2019?
As of now I don’t think I will be, however I was recently at RAC in Austin Texas. It was really great. They know a new art team called the social media squad with Redken for all their online influencers. I’m happy to be involved with some cool friends that are a part of it so I will be doing some more things with Redken along with continuing to use their products daily on my clients and in my education.
Getting education now is cool too which is nice to see, it is great seeing people creating a sharing community in the industry.
Is this your first time visiting Australia? Can we expect to see you educating here again in the future?
Yes, it is my first time visiting and my assistants as well. I think it’s beautiful! I think the class was pretty successful and I also had a lot of people from Melbourne contact me so it would be great to come back perhaps next year. It would be great to do a class in Melbourne I’ve heard it’s really cool down there.
What’s one thing in your kit whether it be a tool or a product that you cannot live without?
I would say I have a couple of things. I would say my Framar Balayage brush as it’s super crucial to my technique and style. I do also really swear by olaplex and I know I’m sponsored by them however, I wouldn’t be representing them if I didn’t love it.
I have a lot of brands contact me all the time and I will try things but if I don’t love it I won’t represent them. Framar brushes I mean those brushes they help me every day and make my day easier and faster. I feel that having olaplex in my back pocket has allowed me to do more things in the industry and on my clients. I’ve also had to opportunity to travel the world with these great brands.
Bianca’s favourite toner formulas at the moment?
I use a lot of Redken Shades Eq for my toners, I do go through fazes however right now I’m really into 09NW.
For an Ash I love a good 09N & 09T. For a softer warm tone I’m into a 09NW & 09G. I do really like the new ashy colours that Redken have launched the 07T & 08T, I like them for a root shadow. I feel like it gets it a little flatter, a little less bright and a little more natural looking.
I also like the Loreal Dia Richesse, I love a good 7.01 7 neutral blue, I find it cuts through the warmth for those clients who do want something denser and have more brassy tones. They also just launched a 9.01 that I’m loving too. I find I tend to use more blues than violets as violet has red in it and a lot of my clients are ethic and have a darker base so even that little bit is too much.
Career highlight so far?
I feel like I haven’t hit my career highlight just yet. I’m really grateful to the companies and brands that have reached out to me and want to be a part of it through having me educating and supporting me with what I’m doing. Also helping me and wanting to be involved.
My mum says I’m a rock star because I tour however, I’m my biggest critic and I have goals each year and benchmarks that I want to reach and I feel like I am reaching them and succeeding them successfully. I find that I only want more as I succeed so I feel like I’m still working towards it so we will see what’s next to come.
Mentor/idol?
Sulekha Hilton who I assisted at Sally Hershberger. She’s a great colourist I think a lot of what I know is due to assisting her. She assisted a lady named Lorri Goddard who works at a salon in LA.
I would also say Slim has really influenced me and supported me throughout. Tracey Cunningham has been a big support system for me as well she has reached out and been there for me. Jen Atkin has been a great positive influence to me and my career, she has been nothing but great to me and I’m super grateful for that. Desiree Cherie Jen’s old assistant she cuts my hair. She has helped me so much as she has cut so many of my clients and this really helps my work to look incredible. If it wasn’t for her it’s hard to colour on a bad haircut so she makes my job easier as well.
Andy Lecompte is a really great stylist and has sent me some really good clients. I think it’s actual really nice and a compliment for him to share clients with me. Also thank you to Framar and Olaplex for all they have done for me.
Rachel and Madison my assistants have been so great, Rachel has been my longest assistant. Madison has been a great help as well. Rachel has been pretty incredible to me and a huge help she has travelled through almost every country with me. It’s been cool to have someone with me where we are close in age and I’m still learning it’s nice to have someone travelling with me.
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