Students show artistic flair
Sixty hairdressing and makeup artistry students have been applying their skills as they work on the 40 models involved in the World of WearableArt Awards Show,
WelTec student Casper-Rose Marama said the work was motivating and inspiring.
‘‘Everything’s different, it’s not repetitive work,’’ the Lower Hutt student said.
‘‘It’s creative and quite artistic, which is what I really like about it. When I was given the opportunity to be part of the show, it really spiced things up.’’
Another Lower Hutt student, Talisha Te Hiini, who will be starting work at Rodney Wayne when she finishes her hairdressing certificate at WelTec, agreed.
‘‘It’s a fun experience being able to see my work on stage and the environment is incredibly fast-paced because of the costume changes,’’ she said.
‘‘Sometimes the models wear nine different garments. I might braid hair one way and then have to do a parting on the same model shortly after.’’
WelTec hairdressing tutors Lesley Whitecliffe-Smith and Michelle McAuley prepared the students in the lead-up to opening night and are now mentoring them as they work backstage - something they will be doing until the season finishes on October 9.
‘‘Students are doing lots of pigtails, partings, barrel curl settings, braidings as well as styling on some of the male models,’’ Whitecliffe-Smith said.
The students have had sessions withWOWchief hair designer Cherie McIntyre where she demonstrates and talks them through what they need to do. WOWhas given WelTec students the opportunity to experience another element of hairdressing outside of salon work, for 11 years.
Having been involved inWOW for more than 20 years McIntyre still gets a buzz from seeing students working on the models.
‘‘Because I’ve been doing this for a long time you get a good sense of what you need to show them and teach them,’’ she said.
She enjoyed seeing them grow.