KATE REID

Kate Reid is the DESIGN DIRECTOR COLOR.ME by Kevin Murphy

“It always was and I got involved in the industry at 14 as a model for a salons hair shoot and by my 15^th birthday I was fully committed!”, colorist, educator and influencer Kate Reid says about hairdressing and how she got into the industry.

Kate began her training in Adelaide and continued working in salons for six years before becoming a Color Technician for Wella, Education Manager for Sebastian. She then moved to Australia and New Zealand and excelled as a Creative Director for P&G Professional hair division.

Her work has lead her to become an award-winning hairdresser as well as finalist at the Australian Hair Fashion Awards for her ‘Excellence in Education’, and was recognised with countless awards. She was a Creative Director at Wella & Sebastian Professional in Australia & New Zealand and a lead advisor for Trend Vision, mentoring the team for international competitions. Kate is also editorial regular in premium fashion titles .

She is the Design and Education Director at Kevin Murphy, and a regular trend commentator in fashion and beauty in the media and fashion influencer via her platform Hair Fashion Styler.

As a Design Director for Kevin Murphy’s COLOR.ME, her role is “a mesh of product development, go to market salon, industry material, education, media, shoots, shows and new curriculum plus improving the old.”

“Its pretty quick paced and the biggest challenge I’m learning is to always think global as we are now in 40 countries,” she adds, “How it translates is very important.”

“Innovation always is on the brain and culture and how to keep the culture as we grow, which is most tricky!”

For over 22 years, Kate has worked with professional hair care leaders, and has directed hair for major fashion shows. In 2014, she travelled to North America and Europe to work on the development and preparation of COLOR.ME North America’s launch. Adding to her list of achievements, she presented at shows and workshops to over over 2500+ audiences.

Two years later, Kate was announced as COLOR.ME by Kevin Murphy’s global Design Director of Color.

When it came to knowing that working for Kevin Murphy was the perfect fir her, she shares that she knew the brand growing and she loved Kevin’s work as well as “the core principles between fashion, environment and performance I believed in and aligned perfectly with mine the rest is luck.”

She worked alongside Kevin Murphy in directing color on editorial shoots in addiotn to the five COLOR.ME campaigns shoot in Prague.

In 2019, the Kevin Murphy hair colour and products are moving into Ocean Waste Plastic. The square bottle wash and rinses will be coming straight out the ocean, which is is a “breakthrough for a hair company”.

” The color line is PPD free, ammonia free and is a small line which means they amount of dollars sitting on your shelf is low. The range has what you need and all colors are very fashion forward. The line is also super easy to use.”

What’s the biggest mistake people make when choosing hair color?

They are focused on what the client is telling the technique rather than the look! Plus technically need to stay true and refer back to the old trusty color wheel and underlying pigment chart, it’s the solution for everything.

How has hair coloring changed through the years?

I cant even begin, well I started 22 years ago and we had caps in the salon, foil then now balayage. Trends move and you need to move with them, product innovation has blown my mind and we can now achieve results that were never possible. Who though pink hair would ever be the new normal!

How can we improve communication between hairdressers and their clients?

4 Basic questions you need to focus on: Think clearly and slowly..

1. What is the initial depth and reflect?

2. What is the target colour?

3. What is the underlying pigment?

4. Which SHADE, CREAM.ACTIVATOR and application is needed for the required target?

What trends /colors and techniques are we looking at in the next season?

ROSE, JADE and STONE are all my new shades: Rose to wear for all skin types, Peppermint / Jade is the new go to shade for the experimental pastels and STONE is the best shade for zone toning and deepening new growths for eliminating any orange yellow and moving into the perfect slate look

With over 19k followers for your account @HairFashionStyler, how do you manage between managing, educating, and being an influencer and being one of the driving forces behind COLOR.ME by Kevin Murphy?

I am always doing something, time is precious and my days are mapped out in detail, activity and time including my gym sessions. Boring but essential to make things happen and not lose track of time.

Where do you find inspiration to keep your hairdressing fresh and innovative?

We just evolve with the world, it moves so fast and social media has really eliminated seasons and now your reach is so much greater there is faster change than ever. Its exciting and l’m loving to try and experiment sometimes good and sometimes great. For me its about constant exploration

What signature technique are you known for?

I have created some great blondes, a lot of pastels but if I had to describe my style it would be fast fashion that is sophisticated that leaves the hair in great condition

Who has influenced you most in your career? In life?

I have had a lot of great mentors, I have a one of my dear friends who lives in London incredible cutter Chris Burton I call the Dali lama he’s been amazing personally and professionally. At Kevin Murphy, Kevin aesthetically plus helped me collaborate better creatively and Sue Remes has really helped me professionally to think sharp, smart and also communicate better.

When judging for competitions and Hairdressing Awards, what is that you look for in a finished look?

Nothing overpowers the other parts of the image, it’s all complimentary and a collection tells a story and all fits.

When judging for competitions and Hairdressing Awards, what is that you look for in a finished look?

Nothing overpowers the other parts of the image, it’s all complimentary and a collection tells a story and all fits.

Your videos are very educational with an incredible resource for individuals of all abilities. What does teaching and advising the next generation of hairstylist mean to you?   

Aw thank you: Better color work, happier hairdressers and more satisfied consumers, which in term means we all make more money and live better creative lives. Building the youth, industry and also giving colorists confidence is everything.

Kate Reid Youtube Link: 
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBttfdVd9-cCCL192bXKkJAh 

Credits; Images: Kate Reid Interview: Romy