A Dunedin hairdresser is pitting her style against the best in the world, Amy Parsons-King writes.
For hairstylists, the Wella Trend Vision Awards are the Olympics.
Each year stylists from around the globe compete in two categories, Colour Vision and Young Talent, and for 2015 the stylist representing New Zealand in the Colour Vision category at the supreme awards in Berlin this month is Kylie Hayes, of Dunedin's Moha Hairdressing.
Ms Hayes recalls a fascination with hairdressing from a young age, when her parents would take her to the salon. She was in awe of how a person's hair was transformed through the use of cut and colour.
At 16, Ms Hayes started a part-time job with hairstylist Julie Lucas, of Java Hair, who recognised her potential and encouraged her to pursue a career as a hairstylist.
''I can remember Julie saying it would be a waste of talent if I didn't become a hairdresser. She told me I had to be one.''
Ms Hayes heeded the advice and on completing high school, started a two-year apprenticeship.
''I was expected to go to university and study something like law, but I'm a creative so was thinking about art school, but was worried about how I'd make a living. I figured hair will always grow so I'd always be employed and my job would never be obsolete,'' Ms Hayes explains.
After four years at Java, Ms Hayes decided to venture into self-employment and went into partnership with a friend, opening their own salon. After several years in business together that partnership ended and Ms Hayes, along with her partner (now husband), Nelson Morrison, opened Moha, an amalgamation of their surnames.
The talented Ms Hayes is not entirely sure how many awards she has won, although she believes it is well in excess of 100 regionally, nationally and internationally. She plans on collecting many more too, as competitions are a highlight of her career.
''I was introduced to hair competitions early on through Julie Lucas, because she often competed herself and encouraged me to do the same.
''I love the creativity involved in competing. It's an art form and the fact I'm hugely competitive also drives me to push myself.''
Among Ms Hayes' achievements are winning the international colour award for Davines Flamboyage, Oceanic Hairdressing Masters Awards and the New Zealand Association of Registered Hairdressers Inc Supreme Award in 2012.
She is also delighted to be at a point in her career when she can mentor budding stylists, such as her current apprentice Liana King, who has been achieving ''fantastic results'' in competitions for emerging talent in recent months.
In September, Ms Hayes entered the Colour Vision category of the Wella Trend Vision Awards, submitting an image displaying a unique cut and colour. As one of 10 finalists, she was flown to Auckland to showcase her look, live, in front of a panel of five judges. Ultimately, Ms Hayes' look proved to be the best overall, with its perfect symmetry and precision.
''I'm always drawn to nature and its simplistic beauty and like to challenge myself, so tried to re-create the horizontal lines and colours seen in the horizon. I used pearl, violet, grey and peach, which were all painted on free-hand, rather than using foils.
''I think the judges chose me as the overall winner because of my entire look, including the colour, cut, make-up and outfit, which were quite progressive and extremely precise.
''It's also important to maintain the hair's integrity in competitions and I managed to take the model's hair from a level 4 [dark brown] to a platinum blonde without jeopardising its health,'' Ms Hayes explains.
Ms Hayes travelled to Berlin last week to compete against hairstylists from 50 nations for the Colour Vision title.
