Could you share a little about your background and current work?
I’ve been working in hairdressing for nearly three decades across salons, editorial, education and creative direction with experience in over 45 countries. My career has taken me through London, Paris, Berlin and South Africa, working across fashion weeks, campaigns and international education.
Over time, my work has expanded beyond technique into helping hairdressers refine their creative perspective so their work feels intentional, relevant and distinctly their own.
Alongside education, I collaborate with brands, supporting them in shaping their aesthetic and translating it into a visual language that resonates with both the professional and end consumer.
I’m also the founder of The Creative Retreat, a space designed for hairdressers to step out of routine, reconnect with their creativity and develop ideas that translate into meaningful work.
What made you choose Vogue College of Fashion for your studies?
I was initially intrigued by a social media post promoting the course. Having watched Anna Wintour’s MasterClass, it felt like a way to deepen my perspective within the fashion world I was already working in.
At the time, I was already working as a creative director but without any formal training. I wanted to refine that instinct, strengthen how I articulate ideas and better understand the strategic side of the work.
Having recently moved from South Africa, I also felt a sense of distance from the fashion community I had been a part of, and I saw this course as an opportunity to reconnect and find a new creative network.
At the same time, I was about to step into a role as a global ambassador for a hair brand, and I wanted to strengthen how I communicate with marketing and social media teams. I was looking for a way to bridge creative work with strategic thinking and Vogue College of Fashion felt like the right place to do that.
After completing your first online course, what inspired you to continue with another?
My first course was Vogue Creative Direction and I found it incredibly inspiring. The content, along with the guidance of the course leader, had a real impact on how I think and work.
I wanted to continue that rhythm of showing up, creating consistently and actively feeding my creativity. Moving into the Vogue Social Media Strategy & Marketing course felt like an easy decision. I was hooked.
The course leader’s approach was both thoughtful and supportive, which made it easier to stay engaged and keep pushing the work further.
It was particularly valuable to combine my learnings from each course. The skills and insights I gained allowed me to approach content with a stronger sense of concept, and I began applying that thinking more consciously to my own work.
If you had to pick one word to describe the online learning experience, what would it be and why?
Expansive.
The experience didn’t just expand my knowledge—it shifted my perspective. It opened up new ways of thinking about creativity, communication and how the two interact.
It also felt like a privilege to step back into being a student again. Having spent so much of my career as an educator, it was valuable to experience different styles of leadership and mentoring from the other side.
The live sessions were a particularly important part of that. Having direct access to the course leaders, being able to ask questions and have your work reviewed in real time added a level of depth that’s often missing from online learning.
It gave me space to think beyond the immediate pace of the industry, which is something many creatives rarely allow themselves to do.
What specific lessons from your courses have influenced your approach as a hairdressing educator and art director?
One of the most valuable shifts was learning how to give form to ideas.
A lot of creative work can be instinctive, but the courses helped me shape that instinct into something more intentional and communicable.
It also deepened my understanding of audience—not just what is visually appealing but what creates connection. That has influenced how I direct shoots, collaborate with brands and guide others in developing work that holds meaning.
Can you share an example of an assignment that you particularly enjoyed?
I genuinely enjoyed all of the assignments because they required consistent engagement and creation each week.
Developing full creative briefs was particularly rewarding as it pushed my creative direction skills and encouraged me to think more holistically about concept and execution.
By combining my learnings from both courses, my content became more considered and curated rather than reactive. That consistency contributed to growing my audience.
What were the most valuable skills you gained during your courses?
The ability to shape ideas with clarity and intention. To move from instinct into something structured, whether that’s for a brand, audience or educational setting.
I also developed a stronger understanding of how to align creative work with strategy while still maintaining a distinct point of view.
How have the courses contributed to your professional growth?
They’ve allowed me to step more confidently into spaces beyond traditional hairdressing.
While I had been working on developing brands and shaping their identity, I hadn’t fully applied that same level of thinking to myself. The courses gave me the tools to approach my own work with the same intention.
I now approach projects with a stronger balance between creative direction and strategic thinking, which has been invaluable when working with brands and positioning my own work.
My final portfolio has also had a very tangible impact. I’ve used it in creative pitches which led to securing a position at an underground hair show and has informed the direction of upcoming campaigns.
The courses have also given me clearer language to communicate what I do, which has had a direct impact on how I’m perceived and the opportunities that come my way.
