Unique Hamilton (left), Natasha (Tash) Bird and Mya Wallace, of Mphosis Hair Studio, at the New Zealand Hairdressing Creative Awards.
Unique Hamilton (left), Natasha (Tash) Bird and Mya Wallace, of Mphosis Hair Studio, at the New Zealand Hairdressing Creative Awards.
Hastings Mphosis Hair Studio owner-executive director Natasha (Tash) Bird says she was thrilled to place third in one of her categories at the New Zealand Hairdressing Creative Awards.
Bird, along with two other Mphosis stylists, Mya Wallace and Unique Hamilton, who was also a finalist, attended the event at the new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre in November.
The night was full of meeting, greeting, eating and a few drinks of bubbly and more than 250 hairdressers and barbers were in attendance, and Bird said the trio enjoyed soaking up all of it.
“There were a whole bunch of hairdressers in full glam, really dressed up, with a few in ball gowns, and then you also have the barbers who were dressed in jeans and T-shirts, so it’s quite a contrast,” Bird said.
“There was a big three-course meal during the awards evening as well, so it was all pretty spectacular.”
Natasha (Tash) Bird places third in the NZHA Editorial Collection category at the New Zealand Hairdressing Creative Awards.
Out of 400 entries nationwide, Bird said it already felt amazing to be recognised among some of the industry greats in the finals, and was surprised to place third in the NZHA Editorial Collection.
Enamoured with everything going on and catching up with others around her, the Hastings hairdresser almost completely missed that she had placed third in her category.
“It was one of those moments where the collections were also were really, really good and it was the last of the creative awards for the night, so I had looked away for a moment and was having a conversation with the girls and then almost missed the announcement.”
Once Bird had realised it was hair editorial collection in third place, she was thrilled.
“For me it was as exciting as winning because the work that was there [in the category] was so good, I think I was probably more excited than some of the people that won.”
Bird added, “It was such a strong category, so it was amazing. We were celebrating as they announced the person who was actually winning the category.”
Those entering the NZHA Editorial Collection category had to submit a collection of three images that should tell a story using hair styling.
Each image in the collection had to look magazine cover-worthy while having an element that pieces the images together and shows they work together.
Bird explained she enters most years, but it had been a “little while” since she had been a finalist; however, everything came together really well.
“It is a team thing I suppose, in a way, without the right photographer and the right makeup, artist, and also having a great team where we all know, support and cheer each other on.
“I think that that definitely makes a difference,” Bird said.
The Hastings hairdresser is a big advocate of “just putting yourself out there” and believes you’ve lost nothing at all by giving it a go and you gain experience.
“It’s great when you get somewhere, but actually putting yourself out there is pretty spectacular as well,” she said.
Maddisyn Jeffares became the editor of the Hawke’s Bay community papers Hastings Leader and Napier Courier in 2023 after writing at the Hastings Leader for almost a year. She has been a reporter with NZME for almost three years and has a strong focus on what’s going on in communities, good and bad, big and small. Email news tips to her at: maddisyn.jeffares@nzme.co.nz
