Our dynamic hair colourist, Maya Buchanan, talks about winning the ‘Scottish Hair Colourist Of The Year’ award at SHABA 2018.
We asked her a few questions about receiving the award, and her creative process towards hair colouring.
How did it feel to win this award?
I am really thrilled to have received this award, and I see it as recognition for all the hard work I put in on a day-to-day basis with my clients in the salon. It was a real shock to win this award as there are so many talented colourists out there. I’ve always been a hair geek who loves combining hair and fashion, then fusing both with the sciences to create the perfect results for clients. I specialise in hair science; putting together individual formulas to produce specific hair colours.
I’m a technological and visual hairdresser, which gives me an excellent overview to inspire my clients on their choices. Having fun with colour really does play an important role in my creative process. I love being able to change dull hair into radiant shades, while always considering the condition of the client’s hair.
Skintones, lifestyle and personality are just some of the things that I consider with clients when advising them on their perfect colour. Getting to know each client and their needs plays a massive part in the creative process.
What inspires you?
I feel that being inspired through education and various collections in the hair and fashion world has helped me to achieve a lot in the past few years. I became a Loreal colour specialist (in which I received a distinction) and I would say that this is where my passion for colour was truly born. Since then, my knowledge only continued to grow. I have recently been training in London with Davines and their revolutionary colour collections. Allilon is a fantastic training academy which has allowed me to learn a lot about creative colour.
I recently finished my HNC in hairdressing, a very intense course that involved a lot of studying and research. It took a lot of work, but I’ve finally completed it and received an A in the process.
What tips would you share for winter hair colours?
Blondes might want to go a bit warmer in winter, which will allow the hair to be in stronger condition for the following spring and summer. Brunettes might want to go for vibrant shiny tones, giving more depth and healthier hair condition.
