Everyone who participated on the day contributed not only their time but also towards the atmosphere and the energy in the salon. Congratulations and well done to all who participated, donated and sponsored: Tony and Maurice Torcasio, Marie Uva, Teresa Di Simone, Antony David, Giovanni Tedesco, Moet Tiry, Rob Ferlaino, Ray Fretwell, Brooke Nestor, Flare Huang, Penny Christodoulou, Kristen Henneken, Zatiye Turkmen, Trent Lopuszanski, Kelvin Wong, Sarah Gibbs, Carla Papa, Pink Gurpreet from South Melbourne; Joe Torcasio and Ben Reali from Toorak; Daniella Barca, Anthony Nasr and Nikki Beard from Mentone; Tammy Tsakiris from Glen Waverley.

Special thank you to Emma Costabile who a few weeks ago posted a Facebook status stating that if she could raise $500 she would shave off her hair. The response was unbelievable and over $1,000 was raised which also contributed to our total. An amazing effort and achievement for Emma! Well done!

One person in particular deserves a special mention – Emily Costabile, Technical Director from South Melbourne. Emily wanted to change her look and chop off her locks but instead of just booking an appointment in the salon, she thought to get Rokk Ebony involved in the World’s Greatest Shave and make her cut count towards the greater good. In one month, Emily proposed her idea to the Directors, motivated staff to volunteer on the day and with the help of in salon marketing, 16,000 sms’s sent to clients, 4,000 emails, Facebook links, the World’s Greatest Shave website and through word of mouth, the total for online donations was already over $4,000 on Sunday morning. This in itself was a great accomplishment! The initial response from clients when they were first informed of Rokk Ebony’s involvement to support this charity was overwhelming but Emily and all involved were blown away on the day not only because all chairs in the salon were filled by 11am and the support of local businesses who sponsored us with food for clients and staff but also because of the energy in the salon and the way all staff and clients included came together and made the day so special and definitely one to remember. From an idea to selflessly do something good, Emily exceeded her initial expectations and the result was beyond amazing. On Sunday, the salon raised over $6,500 from services alone. Emily’s selflessness, passion and her dedication throughout the past month proves that from a good idea and the will to make it happen – anything is possible! She is definitely an inspiration to all and one to be admired for her courageousness.

Tony, Maurice, Joe and Adrian Torcasio also displayed their braveness on Sunday and to much surprise and entertainment, they all shaved their hair off and made a very generous donation thus inspiring more staff to join in! Moet Tiry, Rob Ferlaino, Ray Fretwell, Trent Lopuszanski and our salon photographer Joel – well done, congratulations and thank you for actively contributing towards such a great cause. Even Nicole Torcasio was seen with a pair of clippers in her hand!!

There is one more person who made a huge impact on the day and touched the hearts of everyone who witnessed her act of bravery. Shania Madrid aged 10 and her family also joined us in the salon. For all who gathered around to watch and support Shania’s decision to shave off her beautiful hair, it truly was an emotional yet inspiring moment for everyone. Thank you Shania for joining us on Sunday and making the day so special.

Thank you also to local businesses, Zappa’s, Fratelli, Forever Fresh Fruit, Dom’s Quality Meats South Melbourne Market, Baker’s Delight and Wood & Chimney for sponsoring the day and providing a beautiful spread for clients and staff. It was a great day and everyone’s individual contributions counted towards making the day such a success.

Photos taken on Sunday have been uploaded to the Rokk Ebony Facebook page so please follow the link to like and comment www.facebook.com/rokkebony

If you like to mingle between races, the Young Members’ Blue Diamond Bar is the place to be for racegoers aged 18-40 years. Here you can witness a million dollar race from the best seat in the house with spectacular views of the home straight. This exclusive event is located in the Hiskens Grandstand from 11am-6pm and provides the opportunity to party in style while enjoying a fantastic day of Group One racing.

Featuring Melbourne’s most prominent DJ’s including Andy Murphy, private facilities, complimentary afternoon canapés, fabulous door prizes including a Hayman Island accommodation package, Punters Club and complimentary limited transport to the exclusive Young Members’ Blue Diamond Bar After Party at Albert Park Hotel, this is an event not to be missed. For further information and to book online, please CLICK HERE

Don’t miss out on your chance to shine and win some amazing prizes in the 2011 Blue Diamond Fashion Stakes on the Noni B Fashion Stage! Hosted by Channel Nine’s Brodie Harper and Grant Hackett, one lucky winner and runner-up with share in the $10,000 prize pool, including a luxury holiday for two with accommodation provided by Luxury Life Travel, Rokk Ebony vouchers, gifts from Roses Only, and many more plus each entrant will also receive a goody bag at the registration desk full of exciting gifts just for entering. For 2011, the lucrative Blue Diamond Fashion Stakes competition has introduced a Fashion Duo’s category in addition to the 13-17 years and 18 years and over contest along with Noni B Fashion Shows during the day. For more information and to register online, please CLICK HERE

The pair will fly to Paris to compete against over 80 teams from 50 other countries on Friday 6^th November – working together in the re-creation of their winning Techno Poetry inspired style with hope of bringing home gold for Australia.

Wella’s annual Trend Vision competition asks hairdressers from around the world to personalise one of their ‘visions,’ and 2010 put forth an inspiring mix to choose from.

Nomad Couture invited technicians to catch the travel bug with a worldly inspired palette popping with neon tones whilst Techno Poetry called the modern-day Alice forward to experiment with soft blondes and shimmering pastels in a theme bringing fantasy into reality. Nature’s Goddess asked colourists to orchestrate the cohesion of soft salmon and hot corals with aquamarine and luscious beige brown which was the perfect contrast to Midnight Stage; a category intriguing technicians to explore the shifting persona of colour through the dramatic placement of indigo, cobalt and jet black.

Marie and Joey indulged the Techno Poetry theme with Rokk Ebony-bred finesse and their own creative charisma in a result that embraced soft femininity with a blonde canvas, cool pastel colours and impressive tapering technique.  

Rokk Ebony Mentone’s Daniella Barca stepped into the spotlight shortly after to accept the Wella Trend Vision Young Talent bronze award for 2010. Daniella and her assistant, Kalia Mollica combined a structured silhouette with earthy-notes of softness in a dramatic display of Nomad Couture.

Two more testaments to the inimitable culture of Rokk Ebony.

Marie Uva and Joey Scandizzo's winning image

From High-Fashion Colour, to Senior Cutting and Catwalk, Rokk Ebony stylists and technicians continue to execute blue ribbon skill in every imaginable element of hair design – a collective salute to the strong education, professionalism and support at the heart of Rokk Ebony.

Congratulations to Rokk Ebony’s following champions – the future hands of Australian hairdressing:

Rokk Ebony Glen Waverley
Anna Menzies, 1st Junior Ladies Cutting, 1st Senior Men’s Catwalk, 2nd Junior Men’s Cutting, Junior Champion Award

Rokk Ebony Mentone
Nikki G, 2nd Junior Men’s Cutting, Daniella Barca, 2nd Ladies Open Catwalk and Nicole Beard, 3rd Junior Free Expression

Rokk Ebony Sth Melbourne
Moet Tiry, 1st Open High Fashion Team Collection, 2nd Open Ladies Haircut, Penny C, 1st Place Junior Catwalk and Anna Hartland, 3rd Place Senior Catwalk

 Rokk Ebony Sth Yarra
John Scandizzo, 1st Senior Men’s Cutting, Helena Demetrios, 1st Ladies High Fashion, Natalia Humphrey, 1st Junior Free Expression and Caitlin Wilson, 2nd Junior Free Expression

Rokk Ebony Toorak
Adam Isles, 1st Open Ladies, 2nd Ladies High Fashion

Rokk Ebony Rowville
Laura Competore, 1st Senior Ladies Cutting, Parie Laurant, 3rd Ladies High Fashion Colour and Rachael Brighton, 3rd Junior Catwalk

Well Trend Vision invites hairdressers to apply their creative talent to one of four themes: an internationally formulated series of ‘visions’ that annually collect and collaborate the finest hairdressers in the world, subsequently aligning them in the likes of Paris and Berlin to interpret their elected Wella Trend Vision in pursuit of the gold medal.

Affirmed attendees at the Wella Trend Vision finals to be held on September 6^th at the Byron Kennedy Hall at Sydney’s Fox Studios are: Marie Uva and her forever obliging assistant; Joey Scandizzo, Danielle Barca and Sanja Scher.

Marie wowed judges with soft blondes and shimmering pastels in representation of the Techno Poetry theme whilst Danielle Barca had it in the bag thanks to a worldly colour palette popping with neon notes as required by trend vision: Nomad Couture. The dramatic colour placement of indigo, cobalt and jet black orchestrated by Sanja Scher caught the attention of judges – a clear stand out within the Midnight Stage theme.

The national winner of Wella Trend Vision 2010 will be flown to Paris to re-create their look on one of the globes most esteemed competition platforms.

The largest of its kind in Australia, the HBIA Australian Hairdressing Championships welcome a surge of creativity from all walks of hairdressing wisdom – making available fair playing ground for everyone from students and apprentices to the highly qualified and experienced professionals to compete and confirm national industry status. And it emerged that Rokk Ebony is leading the way in directional hair design with the best of them.

 Congratulations to the following Rokk Ebony team members:

Aaron Chan -1^st place in Men’s Black and White Photographic

Lauren De Lorenzo – 2^nd place in Ladies Fashion Blow-wave  

Scott Condon – 3^rd place Session Styling Award

Sanja Scher – 2^nd place Senior Ladies Cutting and 3^rd place Red Carpet (Open)

Nikki Giannarkis – 3^rd place Rock Pop

 These accolades have joined the forever growing Rokk Ebony trophy cabinet in salute to the unyielding support, education and creative direction provided by the company.

For eighteen years, the Fellowship F.A.M.E Team has provided a platform dedicated to educating and growing the industry’s most promising hands of youth to an international standard, welcoming young stylists from the country’s best salons to step up, hone their craft and network with the who’s who of global hairdressing.

Daniella was first required to submit a detailed outline of career achievements and a photographic collection showcasing strong technical ability and the capacity to engage an audience – ultimately underscoring potential to represent Australian hairdressing at home and abroad. Nominated as a finalist, Daniella was then interviewed by a panel of industry heavy-weights before executing a live, two-minute hair show at Hair Expo’s 2010 main stage.

Once occupied by the likes of Joey Scandizzo, a seat on Australia’s F.A.M.E  Team has typically marked the beginning of an illustrious industry career – brushed with global fashion weeks, editorial styling and the most sought after prize of all: Australian Hairdresser of the Year.

Congratulations Daniella!