Annie & Calma do Europe

Working with Textured Hair in Theatre

Ok, the word 'Do', is an exaggeration, but Calma and I did spend a lovely few days in Europe this summer educating some really lovely theatre hair and makeup professionals who wanted to learn more about working with textured hair.

Since I started the BLCKSTR Workshops I have met some really nice people. In this class our hair and makeup professionals were eager learners by day, and charming hosts by night, making sure that Calma and I were fed and watered.

The teams' HOD was our main host and took us out to dinner every night and introduced us to the local cuisine. She urged us also to sight see around the town and so whenever we could Calma and I fitted in an hour of sight seeing. About 5 minutes away from the theatre was a posh high street of high end shops - but with nothing in our pockets except buttons for Euros Calma and I had to be content for the moment to window shop. .

Back to our class of Working with Textured Hair in Theatre. They were a mixture of long and short term workers at the theatre, young and mature, hair, makeup and wig artists. It was great experience, and aside from an initial shyness at the start of our sessions, this crew showed us an enthusiasm for learning. They were intent on improving their skills and hair knowledge and eagerly absorbed everything we shared - waiting for the moment until they were able to get their hands on hair and practice. Even the models couldn't wait.

Every artist wants to be able to do their job with confidence and this crew was no different. But they took their time - they were careful, cautious and they listened. The crew wanted to continue doing their job at a professional standard no matter who sat in front of them; this is why our course exists.

The things we share in our workshop help individuals to understand key things they need to know. We aim to help people feel more confident about decisions they need to make. Learning about textured hair is not a simple workshop it is continual learning. But as a start when artists have come into contact with textured hair they want to go beyond their personal knowledge and assumptions, get out of their comfort zones and make progress and practice.

Will you learn all about textured hair in 3 days? Of course not. But you will be more confident.

The people make the class and their enthusiasm to understand and practice and their willingness try and achieve.

I know you are not supposed to have favourites but honestly, Calma and I count this teaching experience of running our textured hair workshop in Europe as one of our favourites. We had the best hosts, and the best time in our few days abroad - see you all again soon.