29-year-old Chris Byrne went to Cootamundra Public School and Cootamundra High School in his schooling days and just last week took out the 2020 Australian Hair Fashion Awards Newcomer of the Year.
With a capacity of 300 VIPs and industry guests, the Big Top at Luna Park Sydney played host to the 28th Australian Hair Fashion Awards, the nation’s largest and most successful independent awards of its kind.
Chris’ entry for the award began last year when he became a member of the FAME team which is an industry team built of stylists up to the age of 35.
Being put under a creative team, Chris was mentored for 12 months and travelled to the US, UK and Germany where he studied and was mentored by the best hairdressers in the world.
In October 2019, Chris returned to Australia and shot a collection of six images for an entry into the Australian Hair Fashion Awards, which were sent to the UK to be judged.
Part of the FAME team, he directed and assisted on editorials and campaigns for L’Oreal Professionnel, EVO, MECCA X Urban Decay across titles including Stellar Magazine and The Journal.
Chris was named Finalist for Hair Expo Men’s Hairdresser of the Year 2019. Chris is rather new in competing for awards which is a testament that he has taken out the major AHFA Newcomer of the Year.
His hairdressing journey began at 19 when he left Cootamundra for Canberra and started an apprenticeship with his cousin who is a Harden local.
Upon completion of a four-year apprenticeship, Chris made the bold move to Sloans of Lane Cove in Sydney and has been there for nearly six years.
Chris said the move to Sydney had always been on his agenda, it was just about when the opportunity would arise.
“I was always fascinated with bigger places and ever since visiting Sydney as a kid, I was inspired by the fast pace and the different kinds of people,” Chris said.
“But it was a slow process when I first moved because it is daunting moving from a small town into a big city.”
Being creative and artistic has always been in Chris’ nature since he was young.
Previously in his schooling days, Chris attended and danced at the Chris Edwards School of Dance and then taught at the Christine Wishart Dance Studio in Young and Harden.
Today, half the team at Sloans of Lane Cove comes from the Riverina region from towns including Wagga and Junee. Chris said country people have lots to offer the big cities.
“There’s something about country people that makes it a little bit different, more personable and it feels like I am working with a family away from home,” he said.
“If you put your mind to it and work hard, then anything can happen for anyone. That’s what drive me the most, to put this inspiration I have onto the next generation.”
When asked by The Times how Chris felt after winning the award, he joked and said he celebrated by carrying on working the next day.
There is no slowing down for Chris’ team as they prepare for the next awards with shoots commencing in early 2021.
Chris has previously worked with the likes of The Veronicas, Mardi Gras, Rachel Finch and Julie Bishop.
Chris’ mother Donna Byrne and brother Aaron Byrne continue to live in Cootamundra. Both Donna and Aaron are involved in the Coota community.
Christopher Tan