Chinney Yeap from Salute Hair Skin Spa achieved consecutive success at the 2024 Australian Hair Fashion Awards last week, earning the title of New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year for the second year in a row. Here, she shares her highlights and the journey to winning this prestigious award.

Congratulations on being named New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year for the second consecutive year! Tell us about your night…What were some of the highlights from this year’s Australian Hair Fashion Awards (AHFAs)?

The night was phenomenal! This years’ experience of the AHFAs was definitely a career highlight for me and one for the memory banks! My business partner and best friend, Michael Beel, won the Editorial Stylist of the Year award on the same evening, and we were both just so overjoyed! The highlight was having our team members with us, along with Michael’s husband, who has been on this journey with us from day one. It made our wins so much more meaningful and special this time. Another massive highlight was the two of us being asked to present on the Manestage that same weekend with the Moroccanoil global ambassador, Richi Grilsillo, who took out the Australian Hairdresser of the Year title, and the amazingly talented Antonio Colero, Moroccanoil’s global creative director.

What was the inspiration behind your award-winning collection ‘Empowering Elegance’?

The inspiration for my AHFA collection was drawn from the book “Memoirs of a Geisha”, and growing up, I used to watch Asian Kung Fu movies where the heroine was always a beautiful woman flying through the air with stunning hair. I then paired this with the Tretchikoff blue lady paintings, which captured the feel I wanted to create for my entire collection. I really wanted each piece to reflect the rich tapestry of cultures, empowering all women to embrace their unique backgrounds and chase their dreams.

What does the process of curating a collection entail?

It requires a lot of time to come up with your idea and ensure that each look tells a complete story, fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle. I usually create a folder for makeup, wardrobe, and lighting concepts, then another for the hair looks I “kind of” want to achieve. I say “kind of” as on the day it depends, I may pivot if it doesn’t work out with my model so I always have back up looks on hand. Then comes the fun, albeit stressful, part of making and colouring all the hair pieces and setting them up. This process can take weeks or months of planning. I’m a bit naughty and tend to panic weeks before the event, throwing everything I’ve thought of together at the last minute. I do not recommend this process whatsoever, haha!

What specific techniques/materials did you utilise to bring your vision to life?

I used loads of wefts from Amazing Hair Australia, as well as synthetic fibres from a shop in Petone to achieve my super long, extravagant looks. I also love Pete’s Emporium for arts and craft supplies. The hot glue gun is my friend—I burnt my hands gluing all night! Again, don’t leave things to the last minute!

What learnings did you take into this year’s awards after securing the big win last year? Did you find the submission process easier or more challenging the second time around?

This year, I felt the pressure more. After having already won, you don’t really expect to win it again! I learnt a lot in terms of my process. I found it easier this time as I had done it once before, allowing me to be a bit more clever with my planning. All in all, it’s still hard work, but it is so worth it in the end.

Did winning this esteemed title last year open up any new opportunities for you?

I am very fortunate to be in partnership with Haircare Australia and Moroccanoil, who have been incredibly supportive on my journey and have provided me with numerous opportunities so far and have some promising projects lined up for next year as well, which I’m super excited about.

What keeps you inspired and driven in your work?

I push myself to work hard so that I can set a good example for my two little boys, encouraging them to grow up as go-getters in life who work hard and chase their dreams. My team, along with many others in the industry, inspire me to keep going and doing more so that we can motivate the next generation to keep our craft and industry vibrant! This is what I would love to contribute to—creating that buzz in our industry. I was lucky to have incredible mentors when I started out, and I hope that I have inspired people to step out of their comfort zones, too.

What advice would you give to young talent aspiring to follow in your footsteps and enter into the awards?

Don’t be afraid! I have entered so many competitions and attended these awards for years; I’ve experienced numerous failures along the way. However, I’ve learned from each experience by listening to my mentors and gaining strength with each photoshoot I produced over the years. You have to put yourself out there to learn, which can be the hardest part—being judged by your peers. But I believe that the magic happens when you step out of your comfort zone.

What can we look forward to from you in the future? Another award, potentially? 😉

Haha, wouldn’t that be nice! I am already dreaming up what I will shoot next! But I do hope I have encouraged more Kiwis to come through and enter next year, as it would be amazing to see even more beautiful work emerging, just as we have seen over the last few years. The talent in New Zealand is getting stronger and stronger, which is incredibly exciting!