Giant Leap for Indian Hairdressing
India raises the bar in the global arena with Play Salon’s Biak Lun winning the First Runners Up position at L’Oréal Style & Colour Trophy’19 in Paris. — By Isha Gakhar
A new benchmark in competitive hairdressing, a win worth the wait of 20 years — Indian talent has once again been proven on the global stage with a part of the coveted L’Oréal Style & Colour Trophy making its way to our shores. The Indian Salon and Hairdressing industry is celebrating — all thanks to Play Salon’s all-star performer Biak Lun who made history in the city of lights amidst the best of hairdressing talent from across the globe. Being declared 1st runner up at the 2019 L’Oréal Professionnel Style & Colour Trophy is no easy feat.
Big Win for Biak
Judged by the most credible lineup of global hair professionals, the international competition marks a new chapter in the Indian salon and hairdressing space. The bar has been raised for future heroes who are preparing to bring more laurels to the country. Biak showcased her talent and skills at a gala show that was attended by over 1600 hair and salon professionals from over 63 countries — competing with the world has now become more inspiring than ever before.
Way to the Win
With over 20 years of industry experience, Biak is known for her impeccable knowledge and colouring skills. Speaking about her big win, she said, “I’m really excited for this win! It’s a dream come true — as I always wanted to be a hairdresser since my childhood. The colour trophy is a huge platform to showcase your skills and creativity along with meeting creative minds from all over the world.”
Describing her winning look as ‘French Chic’, Biak says, “The look was based on cut and style, and the inspiration came from the French people.” She considers education as the core of her success and says, “Education is POWER and when we have the education we become powerful. This is the key to my win! I further believe that there’s a huge potential in the hair industry, provided it’s focused and organized. We are not less than anyone.”
Adding to this, Neeru Radhakrishnan, Founder & Creative Director, Play Salons, Bengaluru says, “For me, the best thing of winning an award is when people are cheering for you. But winning this award was different because people were not cheering for Biak or for Play Salon, but for India. It made me feel so proud and blessed for this achievement. I am so happy and humbled that L’Oréal Professionnel India decided to take our look to this prestigious platform to showcase our skill and talent. We have proved the world that we are the best. Creating history once again. Looking forward to many more awards like this.”
As a mentor, Neeru herself has been an inspiration for the whole industry. Her dedication and passion to train talented professionals is well-known and appreciated. She was also the first L’Oréal Colour Trophy Winner from the country and passes on the legacy to her staff as well. With more mentors and educators like Neeru, there is no stopping the rise of Indian hairdressing and styling talent on the international stage.
Another key player who has been instrumental in this much-anticipated victory is L’Oréal Professionnel itself. The global brand has made strategic investments in the country’s salon and hairdressing industry to encourage rising talents and training them to take their skills to the next level. With impactful engagements between the brand and promising professionals, there’s only one way to go – forward. Forward to bigger achievements and higher benchmarks.
Read more: Hair With A Bang!