Cut above the rest
Between being named two-time Australian Hairdresser of the Year at the 2011 Australian Hair Fashion Awards last month and a finalist in the upcoming 2011 Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards, Joey Scandizzo is clearly a man who can handle a pair of scissors.
The creative director of Rokk Ebony’s South Yarra salon became one of only three hairdressers in the country to receive the best hairdresser award more than once in its 18-year history.
A high school dropout, Scandizzo tried his hands at carpentry before his parents talked him into hairdressing — clearly it was a path he’s glad to have taken.
“One day I’ll be in the salon, the next working on a collection, the next I’m off to London or New York to work on Fashion Week — it’s unreal,” he said.
“I think a lot of people have this stigma about hairdressing but it really is one of the most amazing and rewarding careers out there.”
Last month’s win also gave Scandizzo the chance to announce a combined contribution between himself and Sydney friend and colleague Reya Valonz to the Hairdressers of Australia Crisis Support charity. He and Valonz’s team volunteered to give all salon takings to the charity on Australia Day, which raised $25,000.
Scandizzo has worked extensively behind the scenes at fashion weeks in Sydney and Melbourne, and internationally with brands including Calvin Klein, Sass & Bide, Wayne Cooper, Tigerlily and La Perla.
Most recently he was at New York Fashion Week doing the hair for both Tory Birch and Gottex, as well as Trimapee’s latest collection back here in Australia.
“They’re local Melbourne boys too so it was great to be involved and it was a really grungy and underground show, which looked awesome,” he said.
Fans of US reality competition series Shear Genius might recognise Scandizzo from his 2009 appearance in the show.
“It was great to see what happens behind the scenes on a reality TV show and the concept was brilliant.
“I think there should be more shows like this in Australia — you’ve got loads of reality cooking shows out there and, like cooking, hairdressing’s a part of our everyday life. It’s time to get people excited about the hair world,” he said.
