What happened at rush after dark 2023

The first Rush After Dark session of 2023 took place recently at the inspiring Rush Academy, where Rush salons had the opportunity to meet the Rush Art, Session, Colour and Education teams. They presented looks that ranged from salon friendly cuts and colours to Avant Garde and editorial work. The evening got off to an exciting start when Co-Founder Stell Andrew spoke about their new partnership with The Kao Corporation and welcomed General Manager for Kao Salon Division UK & Ireland, Julie Winchester, to take the floor. She echoed Stell’s sentiments highlighting the exciting year ahead for the partnership between the two brands, saying: “All of us at Kao Salon are so proud to have RUSH back onboard. Our long-standing, firm friendship, and support for one another marks the start of one of the most successful and talked about partnerships in the industry. "We’re so proud to have joined Stell, Andy and the Rush team at the Rush Academy for their inspirational After Dark event, presented by the group’s award-winning Art Team. Bringing together team members from across the salons for a night of creativity and inspiration, it was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our new partnership and we’re really excited for a big year ahead.” Mitch Lucas of Goldwell also added how strong the bond between the two companies has always been, while Co-Founder Andy Phouli wrapped up this section by saying what an incredible start to the year the salons have had, predicting that 2023 will be Rush's best year ever. Rush International Art Director, Andy Heasman, was brought on stage and a short video introduced the latest member of the Rush team to be inducted as a member of the Rush Art Team; a very surprised Sophie Chandler, who had worked with Rush since she was a Saturday girl aged 15 and has since led her own team at London Fashion Week, was brought on stage to cheers and applause. The informal and immersive evening started with Kirsty Judge and Tina Memhi, both members of the Rush Colour Team, demonstrating salon friendly techniques that elevated haircuts through the use of clever colour placement. Following this, Head of Assistant Education and Art Team member Michael Rackett cut the most stunning brunette box bob (which Kirsty had previously coloured), showcasing the strength of a haircut. Sophie Chandler created a stunning editorial look, adding in black braids and chopsticks to complete the style. Plus, new Workshop Team member Nicole Appadu demonstrated an intricate Avant Garde look using different sized plaits to create a long-haired style reflective of the work the team have created previously at Fashion Week. The evening finished with Editorial Director Tina Farey taking centre stage. Her model paid homage to the late Vivienne Westwood, with a nod to John Galliano. “Vivienne Westwood was an incredible influence on me. She was a Punk, loved the classics and was a disrupter who fought for the causes she believed in,” said Tina. “She has left a tremendous legacy and along with one of her close friends, John Galliano, has been instrumental in shaping the fashion industry. I want to celebrate them both with this look.” Tina certainly didn’t disappoint - the look epitomised both designers, from the victory rolls used to create the shape of the backcombed, almost quiff-like top area, to the newspaper accessories that echoed the stunning Galliano prints from the early 90s. There was even a powdered effect from coloured hairspray, which reflected couture looks of the 90s in a contemporary way. Rush After Dark 2023 was concluded by Rush Academy Director Adam Bryant, who said: “What an incredible night. It was fantastic to see so many Rush team members here to network and learn from their colleagues. The work the team showcased was on-point and I’m sure the attendees have lots to take back to their salons. The range of work was so diverse, and it shows our younger team what can be achieved by attending the courses we offer at the Academy. I can’t wait for the next one.” Images @thecontentcreators for Kao Salon