MARIA KOVACS
I have been a hairdresser for 26 years and have been lucky enough to work with highly creative people who have shared their knowledge enabling me to develop and reach my own potential. This has given me a passion for education and true pleasure in helping other hairdressers progress their work.
My love of fashion, inspired me to refine my hairdressing skills and develop the confidence and creativity to work on editorial shoots and backstage at fashion shows. This has become an important part of my current role and has developed beyond pure hairdressing to encompass trend-spotting and trend development.
CAREER
2006 – Present:
TIGI EUROPEAN SESSION DIRECTOR
TIGI Catwalk led to a strong link with fashion and fashion weeks. Fashion and hair has a strong link and I have always maintained ‘hair is like the fabric a designer uses’. I started my personal fashion journey on the global fashion week circuit, working with artists such as Paul Hanlon, Anthony Turner and James Pecis, as well as leading shows on the behalf of TIGI. I also began a strong working relationship with Christopher Kane and his sister Tammy and was a lead hairdresser at Lakme Fashion Week in India.
As TIGI European Session Director, my role has led to my leading teams backstage at London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks.
For the past 7 years, (and 14 fashion seasons), I have selected, mentored, and developed hairdressers for the TIGI Session Team. The team are trained prior to each season’s fashion weeks and work with me backstage. This platform gives opportunity, and enables me to “give back” to the profession, as well as raising the profiles of the hairdressers and their salons.
Twice yearly I create the TIGI Session Course. This is taught in London and Milan and the information I create for the course is shared globally via TIGI Education. The course aims to inform, inspire and refine skills, taking key catwalk trends and translating them for salon viable styles. The course shows how classic hairdressing can be fashion-led and includes a photo shoot experience, art directed by myself, and a 360 view of hair and fashion.
Following each fashion week I have created books for salons, with step by step content created during the actual fashion shows as well as a round-up of trends from the international fashion circuit.
As brand ambassador for both TIGI Catwalk and S Factor, I have worked closely with TIGI’s PR agency, doing desk-side visits and press events, as well as creating education content and seasonal looks for internal digital education programmes and brand campaigns.
During this period, as part of the TIGI International Creative Team, I have participated in TIGI shows across the globe, often leading a fashion element of the show.
TIGI CREATIVE DIRECTOR
As part of the TIGI International Creative Team, led by Anthony Mascolo, I work on all cutting and styling courses at the TIGI Academy as well as participating in seminars in the UK and abroad and working on TIGI education collections.
Part of TIGI’s offering to salon partners is to arrange photo shoots. My role in these is to meet salon teams prior to the shoot to go through the concept and help with the model casting process. On the shoot day I help art direct the shoot and offer advice and support to the hairdressers.
In 2009, following the Unilever acquisition of TIGI, as well as my role of TIGI Creative Director, I began working on brand and product development for other Unilever haircare brands, providing expert hairdresser insights.
TIGI ACADEMY DIRECTOR
I was invited by Anthony & Pat Mascolo to relocate to London to work under the TIGI umbrella as a founding member of the TIGI International Creative Team. As Academy Director, I taught at the new Flagship TIGI Academy in South London, participating at international shows throughout Europe and the US. A core part of my role involved working on TIGI campaigns, education collections, and editorial and creative collaborations with designers such as Vivienne Westwood, and regular “Alta Moda” shoots.
One of the exciting areas in which I have specialised is as a mentor for TIGI Inspirational Youth. The TIGI Inspirational Youth Team are recruited from TIGI partner salons and are taking on a ‘bootcamp’ journey to refine their skills, progress every area of their work from presenting to fashion knowledge, cut and colour expertise and ultimately a photo shoot and hair show. This highly rewarding platform has enriched my work and been a strong part of my ‘purpose’, sharing the knowledge and experiences I have gained through my career.
1999 - 2006:
TONI&GUY AUSTRALIA CREATIVE DIRECTOR
As Creative Director for Toni & Guy Australia, I became part of the TONI&GUY International Creative Team. As well as working in the salon, I led Toni & Guy Australia education, and regularly travelled to London to work with Anthony Mascolo and the London team at their Academy, including the exciting Future Classics project; the training bible for all Toni & Guy employees globally. I began working closely with Anthony and Pat Mascolo, joining them and the team at international shows, where I specialised in editorial styling and avante-garde.
During my time as Creative Director Australia, I presented and educated throughout Australia, as well as travelling across Asia Pacific and Europe.
I additionally managed and led the Toni & Guy Session Team Australia, participating in Sydney Mercedes Fashion Week and Melbourne Fashion Week and regularly participated in editorial session work.
1995-1999:
TONI&GUY STYLIST
I worked as a first assistant at the first Toni & Guy Australia flagship salon and Academy, working my way up to become Salon Art Director. This allowed me to conduct ‘vardering training’ and classic haircuts.
1993 -1995:
HAIRDRESSING ASSISTANT
I began my hairdressing career at the John Azzi salon in Sydney, Australia
CELEBRITIES
Bryan Adams
Cara Delevingne
Pamela Anderson
Gareth Gates
Guy Sebastian
Christian Louboutin