Rush after dark

Rush held its first After Dark session at the inspirational Rush Academy recently. Providing its salon teams with the opportunity to meet and mingle with members of the award-winning Rush Artistic Team, Education Team, Academy Team and Operations Team. Academy Director, Adam Bryant got the evening off to a great start when he welcomed the eager Rush salon stylists and managers to the Academy and explained the format of the evening. The idea behind the evening was to showcase a mix of salon friendly work along with creative styling looks that are at-home on the catwalks of any Fashion Week show. Attendees were free to walk around the creative space and get up close to see how looks were created and ask lots of questions to each of the presenters. Editorial Director Tina Farey hosted the crowd, encouraging them to move around each of the demonstrations and ask as many questions as possible, with International Artistic Director, Andy Heasman, and Art Team member, Michael Racket, showing two salon friendly looks on shorter hair showing a variety of techniques and creating some of this year’s most popular looks including the Wolf Cut. The team involved in After Dark showcased some of the content from several of the new courses Rush are holding at the Academy for their salon teams to attend. Art Team member Seung Ki Baek presented beautiful effortless waves using straightening irons; this technique is just one of the many which forms part of ‘Heat & Movement’, the new Hot Tools Course. Educators Kirsty Judge and Tina Mehmi showed innovative and interesting ways to colour hair using varying tones in the salon to ensure your client stands out from the crowd. Meanwhile, Afro Specialist Delroy Davy showed attendees how he works with textured and curly hair and Rush Fame Team member, Jessica Hau, presented two looks that pushed the boundaries of creative styling. A backdrop was set up in the Academy where team members were able to practice their Instagram photography skills; helped by Adam and the Marketing Team they saw the difference that good lighting and correct poses makes to a great Instagram-able photograph. Everyone came away with lots of information, skills and knowledge, looking forward to the next Rush After Dark session. “It was a fantastic evening,” says Academy Director Adam Bryant. “This was our first group gathering in over two years and we were all so happy to get together, chat, ask questions and earn more about the new activities and courses at the Academy. It is possible to do many things online but there is nothing like personal interaction. The feedback from everyone who has attended has been fantastic and we can’t wait to host the next one.”