Lord of the locks

Iain Smith's Ponsonby salon may be called ME but it certainly wasn't all about him when he was named Schwarzkopf's Hairdresser of the Year on Saturday.

"We were a tight team. It was very much a team effort."

The collection of three images for the biennial photographic awards was a collaboration between Smith, his partner Andy Grant, fashion photographer Tony Drayton and makeup artist Meagan Wright.

Smith, who calls the competition a playground for hairdressers to go "a little bit over the top" referenced books and magazines for the mood.

"W magazine had this beautiful image of Gemma Ward - very soft and romantic - and it became our starting point."

He and Grant then sourced the clothes for the shoot which consisted of "opulent Helen Talbot gowns layered up with a bit of Trelise" for the women, and a women's choker and gear from Marvel for the male model.

It was the textures of the fabrics that then inspired the hair.

"There is a richness in colour and depth that reflects light; transparency that evokes movement. We had to follow the texture through with the hair. The brunette was changed from a sleek dark bob into an almost frizzy afro and for the blonde there was a clash between smooth and almost sleek with this crazy texture underneath.

"The guy needed volume to balance out the girls' hair. I don't want to use the word 'rockabilly' or 'quiff' but you can see it in there."

He spent hours looping the women's hair round French pins [industrial-strength invisible pins], then wrapping it in foil and flat ironing, before pulling out the pins and shaking the hair.

The teamwork paid off. From more than 500 entries received, the judges - which included Tyler Johnston, hairdresser to David and Victoria Beckham, Cate Blanchett and Helena Christensen - liked their modern, directional look.

Smith wins $12,000 of media coverage.

Other winners: Southern Hairdresser of the Year: Chris Terry, Bliss, Christchurch; Salon of the Year: Stephen Marr, Sky Jackson, Karl Sullivan, Stephen Marr salon, Auckland; Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year: Carl Manderson, Salute Hair & Day Spa, Wellington; Newcomer of the Year: Rochelle Collins, Servilles, Newmarket; Judges Recognition Award: Jason Muir, Haight Ashbury, Wellington: M.A.C Makeup Artistry Award: Meagan Wright for Iain Smith, Auckland; Fashion Quarterly Editorial Excellence Award: Guy Roberts, Vada Hair, Auckland