Your hair shoots are incredibly varied in terms of style and themes. Is this something you consciously try to push? I’m such a commercial hairdresser in the salon – I’m always very cautious and careful to make my clients happy. But when it comes down to my photoshoots I love exploring deep, dark themes, experimenting with new textures… I guess it’s the beast in me that comes out to play! My team and I try to push it to the extreme.

Do you have a signature approach to hair? I love hair that’s easy to wear and has structure, freedom and brings out the personality of the individual. None of my clients walk out with a big blow wave because I always want them to feel that they can achieve it themselves fuss free.

Which element of your work do you enjoy the most? I really love the trust. My biggest aim is for my clients to walk out of the salon looking even more beautiful than when they walked in. It’s not about carving out shapes to satisfy my creative needs, but about giving them a look that they can’t get enough of for the next 6 to 8 weeks.

What has been your most memorable career moment so far? When I was 15 years old, Trevor Sorbie was in Melbourne for a shoot. I was the coffee boy running around organising stuff and plugging in extension cords. At that point I was too naive to really appreciate who I was surrounded by. 20 years on, Trevor Sorbie presented and handed me my first Australian Hairdresser of the Year award. Obviously by that stage I truly knew what a legend he was and what an honour it was to have one of the greatest hairdressers of our lifetime present me an award – I was floored.

What has been the most valuable lesson you have learnt along the way? I guess understanding and learning about suitability, and without a doubt learning proper cutting techniques. I think the most important thing is to have an open mind and accept that there might be better ways of doing something than what you already know.