Meet the 2021 Hot Shots - 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.

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

Although we’ve met many times now, I have always wanted to spend a day with Dario Cotroneo and have the chance to just talk. He is one of the most profound and interesting people I have ever met, and his views on life, hair, business, and mindfulness are ones that I find incredibly thought-provoking and fascinating. I’d love to live inside his brain for a day, but that’s probably pushing it, so I’ll happily settle for a coffee instead.

How important are competitions and awards to you?

In all honesty, competitions used to mean too much to me. I felt like I needed them as a way of proving something, both to myself and those around me. I became afraid to compete again, because I couldn’t bare the thought of not winning. Only recently have my thoughts on this changed to a healthier approach. Obviously winning is fantastic, but now I can’t wait to try and compete again to push myself artistically and technically, not just to try and win a title or a trophy. I value my wins, and I am proud of them, but I am more than just a few trophies on the front desk, no matter how many competitions I do or don’t enter.

Royals Hair Team

Can you tell us a little about what has been a stand out in terms of being a member of the Hot Shots team?

Having already formed some incredible connections and done some amazing work, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this year’s Hot Shots Team. Having spent time already in the House and completed our photo shoot with Andrew O’Toole, both amazing experiences, I already know that we are going to work together again and support each other for years to come. I can’t wait to support and be supported by this team of incredible stylists and humans.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

If you had asked me this 10 years ago, I would have said that I wanted to be in Hollywood working as a makeup artist on blockbuster films, or something equally extravagant and exciting. These days, I like to imagine my future self, living a little more simply. A nice house and a loving partner, maybe a kid or two. I’d love to be able to take a step back from the salon floor and work in education, either for a brand or for myself. I don’t think I’ll ever stop wanting to look after my clients, but a few days in salon and a few days teaching, with time for my family and friends in between sounds pretty fabulous to me.

FUN SNAPSHOT

Worst fashion moment: The entirety of my high-school life.

Worst Hair day: Probably the day the entire top layer of my hair snapped after yet another month of on-scalp bleach with no treatment, and daily heat styling with no heat protectant. I had purple hair at the time and became a real-life Troll Doll.

Fav Destination: Yamba, NSW. It’s the town I grew up visiting on holidays and is now where my family live. It’s a slice of paradise, and it’s become home.

Fav Drink: Canadian Club and dry, but if you want me to be really specific: Canadian Club and dry from a tap in a pub, with lime and ice. Nothing beats it.

If you weren’t a hairdresser, you would be a... The obvious answer would be makeup artist, but that seems like a copout. For a long time, when I was in school, I wanted to be an English/History teacher, so probably that.