Club matrix conference joins the world tour in turkey

Some 1,500 hairdressers, including a contingent from the UK and Republic of Ireland, took over the Starlight Convention Centre in Antalya, Turkey as the Matrix World Tour came to town. For the first time, the Club Matrix Conference - a regular event for Matrix salons and wholesalers in the UK and Ireland - was timed to coincide with the World Tour, offering delegates the chance to mingle with a truly international group of hairdressers.

All those attending were treated to three days of inspiration and education, including cutting, styling and colour master classes, and culminating with a lavish hair show, courtesy of global ambassadors Gary Hooker and Michael Young, of Hooker & Young. 

The welcome show set the benchmark for what was to come, with Hooker & Young and US 

stylist Ammon Carver bringing six decades of Hollywood to life, from the 1920s to the 1970s, with cameo appearances from some of the screen's biggest stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Bridgette Bardot and Charlie's Angels. The show was a fabulous platform for the hair artists to show their skills from classic 20s bobs to the big glamorous hair of the 70s, in a spectrum of stunning shades.

Day two saw a greater focus on education, with Ammon Carver kicking off proceedings with a men's trend master class, followed by Gary Hooker on cuts and Michael Young on colour. All three presentations centred on the theme of convergence - combining two ideas and making them work together. 

Matrix ambassador Ammon Carver and Martin Willems finished the day off with a special make-over segment, showing how models had been transformed using colour, with live cutting on stage completing their new looks.

Early evening saw a stunning catwalk show courtesy of fashion designers Stelios Koudounaris and Christos Costarellos with hair looks created by the Matrix Dream team, consisting of stylists from Eastern bloc countries. 

Day three saw more inspiring seminars, including a blonde master class featuring Matrix be.Blonde, courtesy of Shannon King, director of global education, and Matrix ambassador, Tiana Dockswell; plus a styling master class in finishing, including tips on how to give the perfect blowdry, from Ammon Carver. One of his tips was to always start drying the front of the client's hair, so that they can see progress quickly and not get impatient.

The highlight of the conference was left till last, with Hooker & Young presenting Opera, a lavish hair show to an operatic soundtrack featuring a catwalk parade of beautiful avant-garde creations plus live demonstrations of how to create powerful futuristic looks.

Every evening finished with a party in hotel venue The Cave and the final night was a high octane celebration of three days of creative brilliance.