Last month, Sebastian Professional’s design team artistic director John-Paul Colombo hosted a hairstyling “boot camp” in Toronto.
Held at Parlour Salon in Toronto’s Queen and Ossington neighbourhood, the event showcased the brand’s Twisted collection of hair products designed for curly hair. Attendees were given the opportunity to style mannequin heads while being mentored by Colombo.
“As stylists, we tend to keep things to ourselves,” he says. “But I think that in order for you to grow as a stylist, you have to share some of your experiences and tricks in order to help others.”
Colombo started working at the age 13 with his father, John, at Hairafter Salon & Spa in Toronto. “I started out answering phones and sweeping hair. My father has taught me the ropes and taken me around the world,” explains Colombo. “He’s my mentor and my rock. His salon has been around since 1961. Working with my father enabled me to see his passion, which I developed as well.”
Colombo was a winner at Sebastian Professional’s What’s Next Awards in 2016. He says working with the brand has helped him to work among people who are always thinking outside the box.
“The What’s Next Awards [win] was a huge milestone for me. Entering the competition and winning was something I had always dreamed of,” he says. “I’ve competed a lot over the years in various competitions and it always challenges me to push my creativity to a new level. Competing, to me, doesn’t necessarily mean winning the award. It’s about competing with yourself.”
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