Following HOB Academy’s Canadian debut at the 36th annual Contessa Awards, the team hosted a look-and-learn event on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Held at Wella Studio Toronto, the event gathered hairstylists and industry pros, and provided attendees the opportunity to learn more about the HOB team’s signature haircutting and styling techniques and tips.
The event opened with an energetic mix-and-mingle session, which gave attendees the opportunity to network and connect over their shared passion for creative hair artistry. While HOB Academy’s award-winning creative director Akin Konizi was unable to attend, he shared a heartfelt video message that set an inspiring tone for the day.
Jake Unger and Nestor Sanchez of HOB Academy’s creative team led the session and shared their expertise in haircutting and styling, while aiming to inspire stylists with their philosophy of treating every client as a model and delivering runway-worthy transformations.
According to them, a successful fashion-forward hair transformation is grounded in three core principles: Suitability—tailoring the style to harmonize with the model’s unique features and personality for a cohesive look; Execution—mastering fundamental techniques that serve as the foundation for creative exploration and precision; and Fashion and Trends—ensuring the final result reflects cutting-edge design elements, and aligns with contemporary styling to maintain relevance.
Unger also shared his advice for thinking outside the box when cutting hair while still maintaining structure and foundation. “Generally, we don’t work away from fundamental shapes and sectioning. What we do is try to combine them sometimes in different ways, so that we can get something a little bit more different.”
Sanchez shared the importance of finishing touches to a haircut while using texturizing shears on dry hair. “You know when you give someone a haircut and it sometimes looks better after two or three weeks when it’s a little more lived-in? This is what texturizing shears are for. I don’t want the haircut to look really boxy or really fresh like she’s just come out of a barbershop. This tool helps create a more lived-in look on your client.”
The final looks embodied a perfect blend of high-fashion edge and everyday wearability. Unger’s cherry-red, modern shag and mullet struck the perfect balance between avant-garde sophistication and practical design, while Sanchez’s bold black-and-yellow colour-block pixie showcased fearless creativity and impeccable technical execution.
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