ALLISON LAZARE

ALLISON LAZARE - SALON OWNER AT ESTEEM HAIR BEAUTY SPA

WHAT MAKES ESTEEM HAIR BEAUTY SPA SUCH A UNIQUE SALON? We are a unisex hairdressing, beauty and now spa facility that provides our clients with the ultimate one-stop shop for all of their hair, body and beauty needs in Penrith. We have created a luxurious and contemporary salon space, which was designed for comfort, convenience and relaxation with 20 stations, private basin area, Make-up Bar and Beauty Room all filled with natural light. It is truly a beauty oasis just outside of Sydney.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A HAIRSTYLIST? Growing up I always had such a love of all things artistic and creative so I knew I would end up doing something where I was able to create and use my hands. I started noticing hair in magazine editorials and realised that it appealed to me as an art form I could create every single day and I was quickly hooked. Plus, I am an incredibly social person so being able to work with clients meant it really was the best of both worlds!

PICK YOUR POISON? There is nothing like relaxing on a Saturday night after a busy week in the salon with a great Vodka or Tequila or perhaps even both. I like to keep it simple and stick to the classic mixers.

YOUR FAVOURITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT? I’m obsessed with all things design so I am always watching anything created by @threebirdsrenovations. I think it comes back to the idea of us as hairdressers and being able to transform our clients. It’s so satisfying to see incredible before and afters. I also can’t wait to complete my own renovation project so it’s always educational to watch these amazing women at work.

IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD BE ON THE MENU? Definitely Madonna! I am a die-hard fan so it would be a dream come true. Just imagine the stories she would tell. For the menu it would be my favourite - the freshest seafood with an Asian influence. There are too many options to choose from so how about a banquet with Salt and Pepper Prawns, a Miso Barramundi and a great Singapore Chilli Crab.

YOUR SALON STYLE? I’m definitely an upstyle girl and I love the creative process of visualising and creating special occasion hair. I work with a lot of brides and it is such an amazing chance to collaborate on something that they will remember forever so I take a lot of pride in that area of my work. I also love a full colour transformation and when you get a trusting client who tells you to just go for it. In this stage of my career I have complete confidence in my skill so I love stretching myself with as much variety of colour work as possible.

A QUOTE TO LIVE BY? You are the artist of your own life – don’t hand the paintbrush to anyone else. Particularly apt for our industry I feel!

DREAM CAR? It would have to be a matte black Merc GT. Perfection.

WHAT HAIR PRODUCT/TOOL ARE YOU LOVING? I love products that are really easy for clients to use at home after being educated on how to get the most out of them and that I use myself too! My current favourite is the L’Oréal Professionnel Beach Waves, which is the perfect way to lock in those tousled curls. It’s just enough to add hold and texture without the heaviness.

YOUR FAVOURITE CUT AND/OR COLOUR TO CREATE IN THE SALON? I’m a fan of the classics, and I will always love creating a full head of foils as it gives such a natural transformation and is so versatile. It’s a great entry point for those dabbling with colour and it allows me to experiment with technique and placement to achieve a bespoke result. My clients also can’t get enough of textured lobs and I think they are great as they are so universally flattering for different ages and face shapes.