Meet the toni & guy & l’oréal professionnel breakthrough team 2016

12 of Toni & Guy’s rising stars are at the beginning of their year long mentoring programme as part of the 2016 Toni & Guy Breakthrough Team. We caught up with six of them ahead of their exciting journey. Who: Serena Hussain, Senior Stylist & In Salon Educator Toni & Guy Wolverhampton 'My love for hairdressing started at a really young age back in the late 90's when myself and my sisters used to have fun playing around trying to recreate famous popstars hair styles using all sorts of creative ways from razoring, cutting, colouring and even ironing hair! I always liked to play around discovering different ways to dress, cut and style hair whether it looked good or bad just having the freedom to be creative made me happy. I love making people feel valued, special and inspired which is why I joined this industry and why I love my job so much. It's about making the ultimate experience for my clients ensuring they leave the salon more confident than when they came in.'  Who: Christopher Gatt, Session Hair Stylist and Style Director Toni & Guy, Kensington. Chris is one of those stylists who is seriously living the dream. As part of the session team, Chris is regular in the entertainment and fashion industry. Having worked on numerous projects and as well as international shows and London fashion week we can 't wait to see what more he brings to the table following his year of amazing mentoring. Who: Montserrat Martí, Technician, Toni & Guy St. Honoré, Paris. 'I started my career in Barcelona and have over 12 years industry experience. I have worked as both a hairstylist and make-up artist and have lived in London, Italy, Ibiza and France. I feelreally lucky to work in a profession and company that I love and am feel really excited for this year, full of new and incredible experiences.' Who: Giap Le, Stylist, Toni & Guy Islington. 'I fell in love with hairdressing for the first time when I was 10 years old. I saw my grandmother blow-dry her hair and the curl of her hair made me curious. I asked my grandma: ‘How do you do that?’ She gave me a big chopstick with the hairdryer and jokingly said: ‘Here - you can do my hair’ I tried to make the curl with them and surprisingly I did it! My grandma and family were so surprised, and I was so happy. From then on I was always playing with her hair and my mom’s hair. Being a hairstylist was always inside me, burning away, the desire to show what I am capable of, this feeling seems to be never ending. From a very early age I have been interested in fashion and have worked as a session stylist from the age of 16 as well as experience on fashion magazines and shows' Who: Celine Laramy, Stylist Toni & Guy, Paris 'After having been a dancer for 17 years, I opened a new chapter of my book and became a hairdresser when I was 21. I joined the Toni & Guy in March 2013 and this was one of my longtime goals. Today, after 3 years at Toni & Guy Paris, I think my decision to integrate into the company via the Breakthrough Team is one of the best I've ever taken for my career.' Who: Fotis Sfetas, Style Director, Toni & Guy Brent Cross 'It was 7 years ago when I first saw the Toni & Guy Artistic Team on stage in Athens, and this was when I knew I wanted to be part of the team. Working with Toni & Guy has been an exciting journey from vardering stylists to becoming a project winner. I have since been promoted to Style Director and staff trainer in the salon.  I have had amazing opportunities assisting Art Directors in photoshoots for the British Hairdressing Awards plus working on shows like MainStage, getting my work published in the annual Toni & Guy Lookbook and now the biggest honour, being part of the Breakthrough Team 2016.'