Meet the 2023 Hotshots Team -MIKELAH JADE

Mikelah Jade Riley has been hairdressing for 16 years, she started her apprenticeship working for a well-known salon In Perth called Head Studio and was fortunate to have amazing mentoring.

She started in competitions for local IHS and taking home 1st ,2nds & 3rds. She also was a finalist for emerging stylist L’Oréal colour trophy for WA and finalist for L’Oréal emerging Stylist street style competition for WA. Finishing her apprenticeship at 18, Mikelah wanted a change, so she decided to slow down and work on herself.

She rented a chair for a year at another salon, and soon after, fell pregnant with her first son. Mikelah then worked at a salon called Styling Sessions, which she managed for 6 years. She made amazing memories and friends in those years. She got married, built a house did all the things you want to do, but felt there was more for her....and that’s when she opened up her own salon.

Mikelah has had her own salon for 6 years, Mikelah Jayde Studio, and has found the passion and drive for competitions again. She feels 2023 has really been the ‘cherry on top’ making it to the HOTSHOTS Team, which has been a big goal, and also recently welcomed another son into her little family.

“I take on every opportunity for growth that I can find,” says Mikelah, “boosting my own creative and business practice. Importantly though, it’s not just about me, I just have to inspire and develop my team, including my 5 apprentices. Everyone who enters the salon knows that it’s a creative space through our hairstyling, branding, music, interior and a great, big spirit of fun. It’s a pumping, thriving salon.”

Mikelah’s field of excellence is colour as a colour educator for Joico she does all of her own colour training of the team.

“I love colouring.” She says. “It’s entertaining to me. I love getting to the colour a client wants and if it doesn’t, I always come up with a solution. I love the process and figuring out what’s best. I love the science behind colours, counteracting colours, and pigments, and always trying something new. I’m told that I see hair differently from the way others see it.

I see movement, the way it will lay when it’s dry or when it’s wet. I see the dark and light spaces. I visualise colour, then dissect it from start to finish, creating the plan in my head. I’ll put in all my effort to perfect the smallest details, giving the client what they want or even better.”

As a salon owner, Mikelah is a great allrounder in terms of inspiring and training her nine staff.

“I love teaching fabulous technical hairdressing AND commercial looks to boost skills. What’s equally important though is that I aim to make a difference to my team’s career paths and my clients’ lives. I believe in building up confidence and inspiring others.

“I’m there for my team when they make mistakes. It’s my job to help give them their confidence back and help them to learn to do the same for others. I have a ‘no salt in the wound’ management policy.

Hair Biz Editor Louise May finds out a little more about Mikelah Jade...

What made you want to be a hairdresser?

Well, I wanted to be a hairdresser, or a beautician, and my mum made me do work experience in my own time to see what one I wanted. So, I decided to try out hairdressing and never looked back.

What kind of hair work is your favourite and why?

I absolutely love colour. I feel colour makes everything better and an amazing way to express yourself. You can create anything.

How to you manage life and work balance?

It’s taken me a very long time to “manage” it and I still think I’m working it out. But I try not to spread myself thin anymore just evenly.

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

My number one has always been my mentor Marie Cain as she helped me through the hardest times of my apprenticeship and saw so much in me than I did myself. Watching her achieve everything she has, is truly inspiring and makes me think I can do that too.

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

Well, I have the biggest crush on Sophia Hilton from Not Another Salon. She is so fun creative HONEST and just real I think she created an amazing space and atmosphere in her salon I would love to know everything.

How important are competitions and awards to you?

Very! Personally, they help you grow each time you apply yourself to them. Whether you win or not you continue to better yourself. Plus, they are fun, and I love the challenge.

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

Oh, where do I start? I’m excited to be around and meet some amazing people in this industry it’s an opportunity I feel I would never be able to get here in Perth on my own.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

10 years older and hopefully reaching whatever goal I set for myself. I like to take it as it comes.

Fun Snapshot

Worst fashion moment: Skirts over jeans Y2K era

Fave Destination: Croatia

Fave Drink: Red wine, Gin & Coffee

If you weren’t a hairdresser, you would be a... Possibly a beautician!

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