Creativity Unleashed

Ally Nischler has been in the industry for over 30 years, working in well-known salon ‘Nischler’, in Hobart, with her brother Matt, for 21 years. Just 3 years ago she took the opportunity to open her own boutique salon, Ally Nischler Hair, and while she has always been interested in the artistry of hairdressing, since going out on her own, her creativity has been unleashed!

We caught up with Ally to have a chat about her transition from large salon to sole operator and also talk about her recent work using milk_shake colour.

ALLY NISCHLER

Coming from a very large salon with the opportunity to bounce ideas off others, do you feel that by working solo you are restricted in this aspect in any way?

I always enjoyed the collaborative nature of working in a very creative environment and being able to bounce ideas off of other talented artists. However, since flying solo I have been able to embrace the challenge of trusting my own creative intuition. This opportunity has given me the freedom to explore any and all ideas, in order to realise a vision.

Over this past year you have put together two amazing hair collections. Can you tell us about them and how they differ?

Before I even started considering the first collection this year, I knew that I wanted to give women from other cultural backgrounds relatable images they could identify with. Using geometric shapes and a fusion of colours, I wanted to celebrate the diversity that surrounds us. For the next collection, I really wanted to incorporate playful, retro vogue shapes and textures, with a quirky, futuristic spin, all tied together with deliberate colour placement. Being a very in demand hairdresser with a gorgeous inner city boutique salon, how do you find the time outside of the regular ‘grind’ to take on these amazing projects? I feel very lucky in that I love what I do, and these projects energise me, not only in a professional way, but personally and emotionally. My family is extremely supportive, especially when preparing for a new collection, and this energy fuels me, both in the salon, and at home.

We noticed that milk_shake USA chose one of your collection pictures this year to include in their national education calendar. That level of recognition must have been exciting for you?

It was really exciting to receive recognition for my work, and also the validation that I can trust my instincts, of being able to visualise a look in my head, and then replicate it faithfully. Of course, this has been helped by using the milk_shake colour range, which has certainly helped in delivering the high fashion results I have envisaged.

Have you entered your collections into any types of awards and if so, have you been a finalist or winner?

Prior to opening Ally Nischler Hair, I regularly participated in national competitions, both photographic and live, and was lucky enough to win a number of awards over the journey. Currently however, I am enjoying the freedom of being able to explore looks without rules or having to reflect current trends, both for myself, and for anyone that is interested in what I do. Who knows what the future may hold though… Watch this space!

For everyone that follows your socials and is fascinated to see more of your amazing work, can you share if you have any other exciting projects planned in the near future?

One of the reasons that I love working in the hair industry, is that I am able to satisfy so many creative needs. Seeing my clients walk out of the salon happy is extremely rewarding, however I also love the thrill of bringing my imagination to life in these collections. So, you haven’t seen the last of me. In fact, I am currently working on a new idea that is really pushing the boundaries of hair art, and I cannot wait to share it with everyone.