Meet the 2021/22 Hotshots team – Leanne Kay

Originally from Scotland Leanne has been in Australia for 8 years moving here when she was a young 18-yearold having worked as a Saturday girl from when she was 12 working her way up through the ranks.

“My mum’s a hairdresser, says Leanne, “and I have always looked up to her. Growing up she always dressed really cool and would have the most amazing hair; that’s where my love of hairdressing began, watching her work and run her salon.”

Fast forward to today and you will find Leanne at Stevie English Hair, Sydney, working as a senior stylist, educator and social media manager.

“I have a passion for photography and content creating which is why I took on the social media manager role, having worked here for just over six years. The crew at Stevie English are like a family and I love coming to work with them every day.”

Leanne has a love for educating the team of apprentices and watching them grow both personally and professionally gives her a sense of extreme pride. Over the last year not only has Leanne been named as a member of the coveted HOT SHOTS Team but also finaled for 2021 AHIA Salon Team Member of the Year and between lockdowns runs a full column of clients.

In our series of Meet the 2021 Hot Shots, this month, it’s time for the wonderfully creative LEANNE KAY…

Leanne, what made you want to become a hairdresser?

Growing up watching my mum definitely inspired me to become a hairdresser. I actually don’t remember a specific point in time when I decided as I knew from such a young age. I remember flicking through the hair mags and being mesmerised by all the different cuts and colours and playing for hours on my barbie styling head chopping away with plastic scissors.

What kind of hair work is your fav and why?

Creative colour is definitely my biggest passion within hairdressing although I do enjoy all aspects. I get excited when I see a huge colour transformation in my column.

How do you manage work life balance?

I definitely live by the quote “choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life” so work life balance for me is always good.

Who inspires you in the creative field of hairdressing and why?

Currently I have been extremely inspired by Lyndal Salmon; not only is her work mesmerising and extremely cool she also has given so much back to the hairdressing community through the pandemic/lockdowns by letting us all tune into her living room lockdown sessions and keeping the industry inspired through some tough times.

If you could spend a day with anyone from a business or lifestyle mentorship perspective who would it be and why?

I would love to spend a day with Angelo Seminara as his work is so incredible and inspiring. He is a creative genius and I would find it interesting to see how he creates from a concept through to a final collection/image. He would have so much knowledge to share and the best stories I’m sure!

How important are competitions and awards to you?

I’m grateful to have entered competitions and especially to have won a spot on Hot Shots but the most important thing for me is coming into work and loving my job and surrounding myself with a team who laugh all day long. Being able to enter competitions and attend awards nights is an added bonus to a career I am so passionate about.

Can you tell us a little about what you are most looking forward to being a member of the Hot Shots team?

Over lockdown as a team we had some zoom chats and even collaborated on some education for each other’s teams, so for me I am so excited to meet the team again in person and work creatively together. I’m extremely excited to get in to the Hot Shots House and begin our mentoring program, meet all of the incredible mentors and learn as much as I can from the whole experience.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

I would love to have my own salon with a strong apprenticeship program as I have a huge passion for educating. I would love to still be learning and becoming the best version of myself that I can be. As my dad always says, ‘every day is a school day!’.

FUN SNAPSHOT:

Worst fashion moment: Accidentally wearing see through pants to work and having to run to vinnies for an outfit change.

Worst Hair day: Would have be the micro fringe my mum used to cut me as a kid, as I clearly couldn’t sit still long enough to have a fringe.

Fav Destination: Anywhere with a beach.

Fav Drink: Margarita

If you weren’t a hairdresser you would be a….

I think I would have probably became a photographer or makeup artist. As a teenager I used to make my friends be my models and I would do their hair and makeup to create photoshoots which looking back were extremely cringey but good memories to look back