Berwick hairdresser Simone Mingaars with Brook after coming second in the HBIA Australian Hairdressing Championships.Sarah Schwager
A YOUNG Berwick hairdresser is storming her way through the industry after settling in the area two years ago.
Last month Simone Mingaars won second place in a children’s national hairdressing competition held once a year.
Her mermaid look for sevenyearold Cranbourne student Brook won her second place in the Hair and Beauty Industry Association (HBIA) Australian Hairdressing Championships.
The competition at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre gave hairdressers the task of creating a character look for children aged from five to 10.
“This brings our salon to over 35 awards, eight of them in the last three months,” Simone said.
The 27yearold, who has worked in the hairdressing business for 12 years, moved to Berwick two years ago from Gippsland to set up her business, which opened in August last year.
She said the business, SB Hair Health Beauty in Berwick, owned by her and her fiance, Brad Clarke, had been very successful.
“It definitely helps when people see we’ve got awards. It makes them more confident,” she said.
Simone has won a total of 28 awards, including third in world men’s cutting and first in Australian men’s cutting at the 2000 Hair Olympics.
She said her staff, Danielle, Brodie and Kelly, had not competed before working at SB Hair but were now winning awards.
“It keeps you enthusiastic and creative. You’ve got to keep up to date with the style and techniques and see what everyone else is up to,” Simone said.
“Winning is a bonus.”
