Up close with: NZ Hairdresser of the Year finalist Danny Pato

The Hair Expo held every year in Sydney is always a huge deal for those in the industry, and a win there can mean great things for a stylist or salon in terms of brand awareness and kudos from their peers.
One of the awards presented at the glittering yearly event is New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year, for which the competition is seriously fierce. For a little country we have a truckload of talented stylists, and the finalists are definitely amongst the best of the best. Last week the 2011 final four were announced, being: Sara Allsop (Dharma, Mount Eden), Mana Dave (Blaze, Newmarket), Danny Pato (d&m Hair Design, Ponsonby) and Jock Robson from Dharma in Mount Eden.
The collection that immediately caught my eagle eye was Danny’s, which is awash with the uber glam aesthetic that I always associate with his work (see my favourite look, above). Shot in collaboration with celebrated photographer Craig Owen with styling by Barry Betham and makeup by Aimie Fiebig, the collection is titled “Avant Goddess” and is as strong as the title suggests. When I asked Danny for his inspirations he cited “iconic women (who were/are a goddess of their time), astrology and Greek mythology” as key pointers, as well as - of course! – “glam!”. Essential to each look was the use of Schwarzkopf’s OSiS+ Session Fix hairspray, which is famed for its ultra long lasting hold, strong control power and ability to dry super fast, and non-sticky. The results speak for themselves!
Danny has won multiple accolades over the years for both himself and his salon team, and has collected gongs from major name competitions held by Schwarzkopf, L’Oreal, Wella and Sebastian. Here’s to a hearty dose of good luck for this one, the winner of which will be announced at a red carpet gala dinner in Sydney’s Darling Harbour on June 13.