THE A TEAM

Meet former L’Oréal Professionnel Paris ID Artists and hear their journeys, from nervous auditionees to established platform artists

The ID Artist Programme is a two-year experience that offers unique opportunities for up-and-coming hairdressers. We talk to three alumni about everything from the audition process, to what they did on the course, and crucially where they are now. Get ready to feel inspired...

NANCY STRIPE

MISSION STATEMENT: Owner Nancy Stripe Colour Studio and L’Oréal Educator

Handle: @nancystripecolour

I was on the ID Artist Programme around 2010. I’d seen ID Artist in magazines and L’Oréal Professionnel Paris actually put me forward for it after I completed my Colour Specialist course. The ID Artist team was all-new back then.

For my audition, I created an all-over scalp bleach that was inspired by Mad Men actress January Jones. She had this gorgeous peach hue at the time, and I put a pop of pastel blue behind the ear. The audition process felt like The X Factor back then! I was nervous, but I got to a place where I thought ‘whatever happens, I’m happy and this is my best.’ But thankfully it was good enough. Everyone that goes on the programme has a hunger to progress. It’s ideal for people who want to expand outside of the salon.

It was an amazing two years. We went to Madrid, to assist on the Brooks & Brooks show and in the final year we went to work with Tim Hartley in Barcelona. But my biggest take-away was the training with Simon Shaw on public speaking and presenting. I’m educating hundreds of people a year now, and I still follow the advice he gave us then. I also loved creating the moodboards – it feels like a long time ago that we used to cart physical moodboards around, cut pictures out and use Pritt Stick, doesn’t it?!

Being in the Colour team (there are two teams in ID Artists – Cutting & Session Styling and Artistic Colour) opened my eyes on how to educate for L’Oréal. It really showed me the etiquette of working for a brand and how to behave in a professional environment. I always think that small things lead to big things – it’s a butter fly effect. There’s nothing like the connections you make, someone might be your Project Leader one year but they’re the head of a department in a decade.

I was invited to be Guest Artist around 2020. There’s a lot of loyalty when working with a brand like L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, it can turn into a long-term relationship. Recent highlights for me include the ID20 event in October 2023, which was amazing. I was a mentor to six of the team. Last year I was part of the Innovation event in Paris where I got to test new products in the labs and next week I am teaching internationally for the first time in Switzerland after the roll out of my courses across the UK and Ireland. This is due to the experiences, connections and trust forged with the team over the years since ID. My advice is to snap up every opportunity and try to always be the best version of you.

MARLON HAWKINS

JOB ROLE: Artistic Director at Brooks & Brooks

Handle: @marlonjhawkins

I can’t believe I was on the ID Artist team almost eight years ago! It was a brilliant experience to connect with other hairdressers at the same level as me. It was all about developing confidence and there’s a family feel to the programme.

One of the defining moments for me on the ID Artist Programme was doing session styling with Luke Pluckrose. I just remember thinking he was incredible. ID Artist definitely opens up doors to explore all areas.

It's your creative time away from your column and you get to make it your own. It’s great for a salon’s reputation to have an ID Artist in it, so I think it’s a win-win for the individual hairdresser and the salon they’re from.

I’m now the Art Director at Brooks & Brooks and a mentor for the ID Artist team. I love being able to give back and mentor the next generation. I still feel like I’m on the same wavelength as the more recent ID Artists which is great.

Since the ID Artist Programme I’ve travelled the world for show work and education. I remember once meeting the Japanese ID Artists on a tour with Sally and Jamie Brooks! More recently I did the L’Oréal Colour Trophy Dublin Grand Final Show and I was brought back as an ID20 Icon for last year's 20th anniversary. I can’t shake the ID Artist title off, and I’m here for it!

HARRIET STOKES

JOB ROLE: Global Artist for L’Oréal Professionnel Paris

Handle: @harriet_stokes

I did the ID Artist Programme eight years ago and I loved the variety of ages and experiences in my group, it’s a misconception that ID Artist is only for ‘young’ hairdressers. The friends that I made and the relationships I built, changed my career path.

I actually auditioned to be on the styling team, but in the audition I was asked ‘what do you think of colour?’ In the end I was put on the Artistic Colour team, and that experience changed everything. It was a pivotal moment.

Doing ID Artist is a two-way street for both the salon and the stylist – they can bring so much back to the team, but you need a supportive salon behind you. I’d just moved to London when I did the Programme but L’Oréal Professionnel Paris believed in me and that led on to me joining them as a UK Artist. After that I got a job in Paris, and that led to becoming a Global Artist.

You never forget the connections made on the ID Artist Programme. Funnily enough, a former Education Manager from my ID Artist years moved to the US, years later he remembered me and requested that I went out to teach in LA. Being on the ID Artist Team continues to create opportunities.

I've just completed the French Balayage TourFoil it or Paint it, with Jack Howard and we had ID Artists in the audience, which felt like a real full-circle moment.