Backstage, amidst the glitz and glamor of Brisbane Fashion Week Australia 2022 (BFWA), Ben Wright will be a far cry from the dusty red streets of his rural Queensland hometown.
It was there, in the corner of a quaint little Mount Isa news agency, that she first opened the pages of a Vogue magazine and fell instantly in love.
“I think I was the only 14-year-old in Mount Isa who bought Vogue,” he laughed.
Ben Wright always wanted to be a hairdresser. He is now the hairdressing director for Brisbane Fashion Week 2022. (Supplied: @benwright_rixonhair)
“I loved seeing the amazing hairstyles on those pages and dreamed of one day creating looks like that and being a part of that industry.”
Since then, the 24-year-old has found success, working at an award-winning salon in Brisbane and behind the scenes at fashion shows and photo shoots across the country, including Melbourne Fashion Week and Fashion Week. from Australia.
As he prepares for his new role as the BFWA’s hairdressing director, Mr. Wright recalls the moment he realized this was the world for him.
“It was my grandmother who got me into hairdressing,” she said.
“I was always with her on school breaks and she was always one of those nannies dressed to the nines. I was with her when she was in the salon getting a perm, cut, color or even just a blow dryer.
“I could never take my eyes off what the barber was doing, I was enthralled.”
‘Passion was contagious’
From a very early age, he brazenly began to educate his mother about the clothes she bought him.
“As a child I always loved fashion and I always cared about what I wore and all that.
“I’m pretty sure mom stopped buying me clothes for Christmas when I was nine or 10 because I just refused to wear what she bought me.”
As soon as he could, Mr. Wright walked into his favorite salon, Capricorn Hair Studio in Mount Isa, and demanded a job.
At age 14, Mr. Wright began working at a local salon.(Supplied: @benwright_rixonhair)
Owner Michelle Donald still remembers that day.
“He said, ‘I want to be a hairdresser, that’s all I want to be and this is where I want to work, I’m happy to work for free if you’ll take me on,'” she said.
“I told him, ‘You don’t have to work for free,’ and that was it.
“He started work that Saturday. He was perfect and we hit it off right away. His enthusiasm and passion were infectious.”
From the living room to behind the scenes
Whether he’s on set or in the store, Mr. Wright’s greatest motivation comes from the people he works with.
Some of Mr. Wright’s work. (Supplied: @benwright_rixonhair)
“When you’re in the salon, you get that sense of gratification from the small act of making someone feel and look beautiful, changing how people feel about themselves,” she said.
“Seeing people so happy when they leave the room, that feeling stays with you.
“Backstage and on set, you get that sense of adrenaline and excitement. It’s fast-paced, you’re working with so many different creatives in such a lively atmosphere.
“That’s a feeling I’ve loved since I started dancing competitively at Mount Isa and it’s stayed with me to this day and it’s a big part of why I love what I do.”
As his career rockets into the next phase, the 24-year-old encouraged others to join the industry.
Mr. Wright says he was “captivated” as a child watching the hairdresser do his grandmother’s hair.(Supplied: @benwright_rixonhair)
“If you’re feeling a little lost or intrigued about what the industry could be like, if you’re passionate about hair, have a natural creative flair, love high-energy people and environments, and what’s happening in the world right now moment, this is an industry for you,” he said.
“Go into a local salon and ask questions, get your hands dirty, even if you only do one day of work experience, give it a try. It’s not only the best job, it’s the best world to be a part of.”
Michelle Donald (left), owner of Capricorn Hair Studio.(Supplied: Capricorn Hair Studio)
For his first employer, his achievements are not surprising.
“Reading and hearing about Ben’s success never surprises me,” said Mrs. Donald.
“He was destined for greatness and it makes me so proud to know that as a bush kid with a big dream, he didn’t let anything stop him.”
Mr. Wright’s hair creations will be featured on the BFWA runway this September/October.
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