The Kao Salon Division flagship Sydney Academy is now in its final stages with doors set to open this October. Located at Reid House in the heart of the CBD, Associate Director of Channel Strategy Marketing and Education for Australia and New Zealand, Rita Marcon says the sky is the limit for the state of the art education destination.
“Our salon is located in the heart of Sydney’s technology hub, fashion houses and caffeine heaven. This academy is about housing all of our creative events and classes throughout the year,” Rita said.
The 320 square metre space is the perfect marriage of modern and heritage to match the feel of Australian culture. The building dates back to 1906 and Kao decided to restore rather than renovate some of the original features. Kao repaired the hardwood support columns back to their former glory.
“One of the things that excited me when I first walked into this location was the to-die-for windows,” she adds.
The academy features 3.5-metre ceilings and large arch timber windows flooding the space with light, which any good colourist knows is essential to perfecting colour. Rita was involved with several of the Kao Salon Divisions education spaces around the globe and picked up a few handy tips throughout previous renovations.
“I made sure everything was stain proof, well as much as possible,” she said.
Each room is named after iconic Sydney landmarks. The Bondi Room is dedicated to Looks and Learn sessions, and the Opera Room is for technical hands-on colour and styling sessions. The Botany Room is a professional boardroom for theory learning, and The Darling Room is for styling and design. Another feature of the academy is a dedicated photographic studio in the Bondi Room for Kao Salon brands, salons, and fashion partners.
“You can do everything under one roof, from hair and makeup up to studio photography. The Bondi room has a private basin and the same excellent natural light seen throughout the entire space. It’s a great solution for celebrity sessions too. It’s completely private,” Rita said.
All of the hair stations are moveable and can be tucked away, turning the academy into an ideal event space equipped with a functional kitchen for catering. Another unique feature is the hanging brass dividers that will surround the basins for privacy.
“I sometimes feel very vulnerable when sitting at the basin, so we have included these gorgeous brass curtain dividers for added privacy and the ultimate experience. It’s also great for revealing looks and keeping that element of surprise,” Rita said.
The soon to be opened Kao Salon Academy is a hub for education, bespoke events and innovative classes.
“I’m so proud of what we have created. We look forward to welcoming our salon partners and stylists there to be inspired, learn and network.”
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