Final Instalment: Meet the 2021
ELIZA ANDREWS Eliza describes herself as being a Creative for over 25 years, but has officially been in the hair industry for 5 and a half. “I grew up writing stories and making art, which led me to discover the world of makeup,” she says. “I was so intrigued by the idea of using people as a medium with which to create that after finishing high school, I attended makeup college for two years. That’s what led me to hair.” It felt like the logical next step for her, since she didn’t want to get a job at a makeup counter and paid work in film and tv felt nearly impossible to find. Having been doing hair since 2016, one cold now safely say that Eliza has found her community and place in the world. “I have two national awards under my belt, and go into work every day with the intention to do hair and chat nonsense with my clients.”
What made you want to be a hairdresser?
Funnily enough, I never wanted to be a hairdresser. It was never something I felt drawn to, nor was it something I considered myself naturally adept at. After finishing school and spending 2 years at makeup college, it came time for me to get a job, and hair seemed like a logical choice. I was by no means excited to do an apprenticeship but saw it as something to pay the bills while I figured out how to “make it” as a makeup artist. I got a job at a local salon and worked there for a few months before I was fired. That was when I got my job with Royals and started to be trained and mentored by people who were passionate and skilled. They took me under their wing, showed me how to succeed, and accepted me for exactly who I was at the time. Working alongside those people is what made me want to be a hairdresser.
What kind of hair work is your favourite and why?
I love any kind of big change, but I LOVE a big bleach-up. I love transforming someone completely with their hair. I love being able to give someone the hair of their dreams, that they didn’t think was even achievable. Obviously, there is the fun challenge of a huge colour
process, pushing your skills and knowledge to new places every time, but I also love the personal aspect of a big colour appointment. To me, there is nothing more fun than finding 4+ hours of conversation with someone you barely know.
How do you manage life and work balance?
We work in an industry that demands a lot from us, both physically and emotionally, so to keep myself balanced I like to live very simply and derive joy from average things, like making a coffee and watching the sunrise, or spending quality time with friends, just talking and enjoying each other’s company. I also have learned the value of having a hobby that is completely outside of what I do for work, and so I have been learning to speak Italian for almost a year now. There is an Italian phrase that aligns perfectly with how I keep myself grounded – il dolce far niente…. The sweetness of doing nothing.
Who inspires you in the creative field of hairdressing and why?
I’m constantly being inspired by people all across the industry for different reasons. I continue to look up to those who taught me my basic hair fundamentals, having had the privilege of watching them grow over the last 5 or so years. Creatively, I’d say I have been the most inspired by my boss / mentor / platonic life partner Travis Bandiera. He was the person who first showed me the world outside of salon hair and pushed me to do things I wasn’t convinced I could even do. Assisting him and learning from him has been one of the biggest factors behind making me the hardworking, curious, and skilled hairdresser I have become.
