If Virtue® had a home away from home, it would be at our partner salons. In each Salon Spotlight, we love sharing with you the spaces of creativity across the country that echo our belief that everyone deserves to have truly healthy hair. If we could bottle the feeling we get when leaving our favorite salons, we would. These spaces are our respites, and their stylists are our cheerleaders.

Vincent Nobile, Color Director and Co-Owner at Headcase Hair in Paddington Australia, fell in love with the art early in his career when he was traveling the world and assisting a number of talented colorists. Here he discusses how that early education helped shape his work today, his philosophy on hair health, and what’s next for Headcase Hair.

Q: Can you tell us more about your background and your journey? What made you decide to become a colorist?
I decided to become a colorist because I worked and assisted with some amazing colorists, both Australian and British, in the early stages of my career. It was also a great era of coloring, as we were doing big color transformations. Color was impactful. I loved the way you could really change a person’s look with color, so this inspired me to become a colorist.

Q: What insights do you have for the pro community regarding re-openings/navigating the new normal?
We are a little more fortunate in Australia, as we don’t have as many cases, but in our business, we have implemented a lot of systems that allow us to take as many precautions as possible. We are also operating at a sustainable and consistent level; we are allowing more time for each appointment and not overbooking, which allows us to take all the additional precautions and hygiene practices.

Q: What’s your favorite memory from your journey? When did it feel like you caught your “big break?”
I got offered a spot on an education team early in my career, and later on I became the Color Ambassador for that company. Education took me all around the world, from London to New York, working on really big shows and seminars globally. I got inspired by some of the world's leading talent and that experience early on really kept me ahead of my game.

Q: Is there anyone in the industry or beyond that you really admire, or someone who inspired you in your career?
Annie Humphreys was a standout during my early career. She was so inspirational and I got to assist her at some hair shows. There were lots of other people that I assisted and worked with at the time; I was like a sponge during the early stage of my career, living and breathing hairdressing and taking it all in!

Q: How do you define a “success” after a client leaves your salon?
Simple: How does that person feel when they leave the salon? If they feel amazing, empowered, more confident, more positive, then that’s success.

Q: What’s your favorite way to unwind after work?
I have a very active mind, so I usually read to shift my focus away from my day. On a Saturday night after a big week, I resort to the easier option: a good, old fashioned drink.

Q: If you could spend the day with someone who you consider a “style icon” who would it be? What would you do?
I would spend the day with an influential fashion designer like Alessandro Michele. I would love to know his creative process in coming up with a collection and what inspires him.

Q: How do you like to stay up to date on the latest trends, techniques, and styles?
Fashion plays a big role, and we’re very fortunate in our salon because my business partner travels the globe working on the biggest hair shows each season––Prada, Gucci, Missoni just to name a few, so he is always keeping on trend with styles. Color techniques aren’t difficult for me, as I have worked through so many different eras creating so many different looks, so if I visualize or see a look, I can usually come up with a technique to create it.

Q: What’s a trend that you hope comes back? Never goes out of style?
To me they all played a part in history. So even though I don’t want to recreate some of the looks exactly as they were, you can always take inspiration from something.

Q: What do you value most about being a Virtue® affiliate?
We share a similar philosophy about hair health. Healthy hair is essential for your hair and color to look good, so repairing and looking after the condition of the hair is key.