Industry

“I don’t want to become a formula.”

For Chinney Yeap, Award winning || Wellington || Lowerhutt || Best colourist staying creatively relevant means refusing to stand still.

A two-time NZ Hairdresser of the Year and now NZ Hair Colourist of the Year, Chinney talks about the creative process behind her work, why colour is only one part of telling a story, and the importance of continuing to make work that surprises even yourself.

She also talks about the people behind the trophy — the creative team she trusts, her 20-year partnership with Michael Beel, and the apprentices she is helping develop.

Because perhaps the real measure of a career isn’t just what you win yourself.

It’s what you build around you.

IN FIRST PLACE — our interview series exploring the people, process and passion behind the work.

Read the full interview with Chinney Yeap — NZ Hair Colourist of the Year.

What does it take to stay creatively relevant when you’ve already been at the top?

For Michael Beel CELEBRITY & EDITORIAL HAIR SPECIALIST , it seems the answer is simple:

Keep pushing. Keep learning. Keep asking what’s next?

A multiple NZ Hairdresser of the Year winner, Michael has built a career around creativity, competition and collaboration.

In this interview, he talks about his # # -inspired collection, why he still feels like he’s mastering his craft, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who know more than you, and why his greatest motivation is still the desire to create something he hasn’t done before.

And perhaps most importantly, he talks about building a career that lasts — not by creating versions of yourself, but by helping the people around you become the best versions of themselves.

Read the full interview with Michael Beel — NZ Hairdresser of the Year Runner-Up.

Watch this space …
Industry Creative Team is back for 2027
Details to follow … keep an eye on our socials

What does it really take to become NZ Hairdresser of the Year?

For Kelly Manu, Kelly Manu - International Award Winning Hairstylist the answer isn’t simply talent.

It’s resilience. Stickability. Years of learning, creating, questioning and showing up. And a team of people willing to bring their own talent, perspective and belief to the process.

In our latest interview, Kelly talks about finally achieving a goal she’d carried for years, the thinking behind her award-winning collection, the importance of collaboration and the reality of what happens behind the finished image.

Because when one person’s name is on the trophy, there is always a much bigger story behind it.

Read the full interview with Kelly Manu — NZ Hairdresser of the Year - link in bio/ on the Industry Website

We are finalists in the EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR ORGANISATION

We love what we do and being able to educate, elevate and collaborate with the hair community is what Industry Collective is all about.

Thanks to MochaHair / AHIA for the platform and congratulations to the all the finalists in the business categories.