As the old saying goes, “you’ve got to be in it to win it”…and it’s exactly the mantra that inspired MIG apprentice Maddison Power from Ella&Jade salon to enter the Hair Expo 2018 Awards. When Maddison was announced as a finalist in this fiercely contested awards category, she couldn’t have been happier, and it opened some amazing opportunities for the young stylist to begin carving her path out in the hair industry.
Team MIG are like proud parents when our apprentices achieve success, so we caught up with Maddison to find out about her Hair Expo Awards journey and how training at Matters in Gray has supported her along the way.
When did you know you wanted to pursue hairdressing?
From a young age I always loved playing with hair and learning new ways to style my hair for school, but it wasn’t until I was almost finished school that I really figured out hairdressing was a genuine pathway I wanted to pursue. My career in hairdressing so far has already been full of so many amazing experiences; I cannot wait to see what the future holds!
Tell us about your salon and how you came about training at Matters in Gray.
My hair salon Ella&Jade is nestled in the quiet suburban streets of Calamvale, south east of Brisbane. Ella&Jade apprentices have been attending and training at Matters in Gray now for more than 10 years, so I was able to follow in the footsteps of the amazing hairdressers I now work with, who were lucky enough to train at MIG during their own apprenticeships.
What have you enjoyed about your MIG education journey?
I enjoyed that going to college and learning was so simplistic. There was no stress and all the trainers are willing to help and guide you in any way they can. I love that MIG works so closely with Ella&Jade, and the training can really be tailored to suit the individual rather than a one-size-fits-all mentality. As well as this, everyone at the College is there for the reason of learning, so the environment is always positive and vibrant. There’s the element of bonding and encouragement from the other students too that make it a lot of fun.
Congratulations on reaching the finals of the Hair Expo 2018 Awards for ‘Apprentice of the Year’! Can you tell us about your experience?
I don’t think I was really ready to hear my name get called out for the finals of Hair Expo Apprentice of the Year. When they said ‘Maddison Power’, my stomach dropped and I felt such a big sense of accomplishment! I really loved working with the other apprentice finalists for the Australian Hairdressing Council’s Youthworx show on the Main Stage at Hair Expo. Being able to present a look from my collection with other upcoming stylists in front of many industry professionals was so surreal.
What did you learn whilst training at MIG that you use most in your salon?
One of the things that I took from Matters In Gray that I always use in the salon is the acknowledgement that you never stop learning. There are always so many ways you are able to achieve something, so as long as you surround yourself with people that push you and support you, your learning will always continue to grow. This is really important in my journey to try and be the best hairdresser I can possibly be.