KIM ANNESLEY
Can you tell us a little more about you and your styling background?
I had always loved doing hair, ever since I can remember, for friends and family and I worked in a local hairdressing salon as a summer job when I was 13 or 14… however, that particular experience put me off turning my hand to pursuing a career in hairdressing, but yet it hadn’t quite killed my love for styling hair… My real journey began many years later, a couple of years ago in fact, when I knew I wasn’t going to continue my career in banking after having my second child. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do when it was time for him to start school and the house would be empty after school drop off. I tried to be a full time mum to my two little ones for a while but I kept feeling like I needed to do something creative but I could never quite figure out what that would or could be. During a visit to my own hairdresser, we were having this exact conversation and he suggested up styling – but I responded with, “I have had YEARS of studying in university and doing banking exams, it feels like my whole life has been spent studying and I can’t face the thought of going to college in the evenings to study for a hair qualification with students half my age! And, I don’t want to cut or colour hair either!” It was then that he explained that bridal styling is completely self taught and this opened up a whole new world to me! Online learning then became an obsession! I bought a mannequin, decided to give it a go, and here I am today!
What bridal trends are you loving right now?
I’m loving bows, especially bows in a ponytail or bows in a wavy half up half down! I adore the relaxed bride vibe, where she looks so effortless with polished waves and a statement accessory in a simpler hairstyle.
What new trends can we look forward to?
We may see more of a trend towards micro weddings – people may feel it’s more acceptable to ditch the traditional look and feel of a wedding and ditch the large numbers as we continue to see more movement towards couples ”doing them” on their wedding day. When it comes to hair and the more traditional bridal updos, I think we will start to see less of them and see more relaxed “I just turned up like this” styling!
How do you stay inspired?
Pinterest and Instagram are amazing sources of inspiration. However, there can be days, even weeks, where I feel like I have lost all sense of creativity, especially as Pinterest and Instagram can sometimes feel very overwhelming; sometimes there can be TOO MUCH inspiration. But that’s ok too, we aren’t meant to be creative 100% of the time, so you have to make peace with this and once you do, Pinterest and instagram are such fun places to see new ideas and learn new techniques.
What advice would you give to a bridal hairstylist just getting started?
Practice, practice, practice. Lots of watching and learning. Learn from your mistakes and more practice! You need to have plenty of energy and passion to be able to push yourself and your business. Having a passion for creating beautiful hairstyles should come from your heart, and if you have this, the rest will come in time. Personally, for bridal styling, I feel you need to focus on your strengths and embrace your natural style. Yes, do work on your weaknesses when it comes to techniques, but don’t force it when it comes to your style. If you have a natural flair for a certain look or style, concentrate on that and channel it. Be unique. Also, don’t ever be afraid to stop and say “this isn’t working” if you’re half way through a style – that is why it’s so important to know a variety of techniques to achieve the same end result. Take it down, start again, breathe, and take your time.
Best advice to a bride regarding her hairstyle?
Be the best version of yourself – if you always wear your hair up, even if it is scraped back into a top knot because of work all day, and you like having your hair off your face, wear your hair up in a beautiful updo on your special day. You, and other people, will be used to seeing you with your hair up and you will feel more like yourself. Likewise, if you like to wear your hair down, and it is your comfort blanket, wear it down. Always choose a style that you will be comfortable with and one that won’t make you look back in years and wish you had looked more like yourself rather than the picture you thought you wanted to create.
What is the one product/tool you can not live without?
Tool – I can not live without my flat iron / straighteners – I can curl, create texture and smooth with them.
Product – probably just a good old medium hold hairspray, OSIS from Schwartzkopf is my go to. You can use it for decent hold, creating texture, defining edges and polishing a style.
Best advice you have ever been given in the hair industry?
If the style isn’t working out for you, take it down, and start again. Don’t keep going and hope for the best – it will never work out!
What do you love to do outside of work?
I LOVE cooking and experimenting with new recipes. We live beside a beach, and a lot of my time is spent walking beside the sea with my little ones!
Guilty pleasures?
I love taking something apart and putting it back together again – mainly my cupboards as I love to constantly reorganise things…much to the annoyance of everyone else in the house!