milk_shake Afterlife Show and Creative Vision Live Winner Announced

milk_shake held Afterlife, its biggest ever UK show, on Sunday April 24th 2016 at The Grand in Clapham, with the event playing host to the final of the brand’s inaugural Creative Vision Live competition.

Afterlife saw vibrant shows from milk_shake’s artistic team, including BHA Southern Hairdresser of the Year finalist Dave Baker, Welsh Women’s hairdresser of the Year Shelley Pengilly, legendary celeb stylist Neville Ramsay and Education Manager Becky Wardrop.

The eight Creative Vision Live finalists were chosen after submitting a photographic image and took to the stage to recreate their look and explain the inspiration behind it. The eight finalists were: Charlie Symes, Mermaids and Dolls; Svitlana Mutsa, Svitlana Hair; Jess Kelly, The Strand Hair and Beauty; Rebekah Etoe, Base Kingsbridge; Stacey Gadke, Salonista Ltd; Gemma Evers-Buckland, Rock in Rollers; Maresce Roussart, Heir of London; Georgie Fensom, Bows Hair and Beauty.

Winner Gemma Evers-Buckland, of Rock in Rollers in Stalybridge, Manchester triumphed with her look, and can now look forward to her prize: two tickets for a fabulous all-expenses paid trip to the z.one concept international event in Spain on the 24th – 26th September 2016. Gemma said,

My inspiration came from the croissant style that Sam McKnight sent down the runway at Chanel's couture show in Paris on the likes of Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Edie Campbell. Because I do a lot of 1940's styles, I wanted to put my own twist on it, which is that it’s pointed at the back instead of round. I wanted something more burlesque. I’ve never entered a competition before but I’m aiming to one day be an educator for milk_shake, so my motivation was to get on stage and have a go! I’ve been working with the products for 12 months and the colour for six months and they’re the best. I’ve been a hairdresser for 13 years and nothing else works like milk_shake.

I used blue black on my model because I wanted to show how something simple could look really effective. I knew everyone would use the bright rainbow Direct Colour but I wanted to show that the permanent range is amazing as well; the shine in my model’s hair was beautiful. To style, I used Volume Solution Shampoo and Conditioner, then added Volume Styling Mousse, Glistening Spray, Volumising Dust, Eco hairspray and Open Air hairspray - I find eco can be manipulated and gives great shine (it’s great for braiding), and I finish with Open Air for a firmer hold.

I loved being on stage! It was a completely new experience and Becky made me feel really welcome, it was organised so well so we knew where to go and what to do. I was on stage with my idol Shelley Pengilly, and the show the art team put on was out of this world. I genuinely didn’t think I’d win but I just enjoyed it, and because it’s what I want to do, ultimately I felt so comfortable on stage. I didn’t have time to be nervous! But when they announced my name as the winner I was suddenly petrified, I couldn’t believe it! It hasn’t really sunk in. I’m already looking at other competitions that I can enter and I think this has changed the course of my career - it’s boosted my confidence and I now know I definitely want to be a creative stage artist and educator. I really want to thank my photographer Andrew Vincent and my model Amy Ashton who are both from Stalybridge as well.

All images: Al Roberts Photography