When Nicole Abela was caught cutting hair at the age of four, little did she know her cousin would become her first client in a list of many. Having worked in the industry as a professional hairdresser for 14 years, Nicole began her illustrious career at Hair Machine Norwood, where she worked for six years. She then went on to open her own Hair Machine salon in the elegant Eastern suburbs of Adelaide, which she ran for five years.
Two years ago Nicole made the big decision to move to Sydney to concentrate on her real passion of working as a freelance session Hair Stylist and Make Up Artist. Upon first moving to Sydney, Nicole was employed by the most recognised editorial salon, Valonz.
Nicole has highlighted her career with many awards, taking the prize at the South Australian Hairdresser of the Year awards, and earning credits as a national finalist for the L’Oreal Colour Trophy twice as an apprentice and then as a senior. She is also a member of the Australian F.A.M.E team and was an educator on the world stage in London. Nicole has worked on some of the most celebrated events in Australia including the Melbourne Fashion Festival and the ARIA music awards. She was hip hop star Missy Elliot’s personal hair stylist, and worked alongside her and her crew at the Australian Good Vibes Tour.
Nicole has worked on numerous fashion parades and photo shoots, creating inspiring images for all aspects of fashion, music and editorial work. She is an educator for L’Oreal and Affinage and now the styling educator for Australia and Asia for Moroccan Oil. Her talent for hair styling has been combined with qualifications in makeup artistry to produce innovative imagery and creative styling as a complete look.
CLIENTS
Guy and Jules Sebastian, Ajay Rochester, Jennifer Hawkins, X Factor contestants including the winner Dami im and 2014 winner Marlisa, UK celebrity Katie Price, Samantha Jayde, Renae Ayris, Isabella Cornish, Australian actress Stephanie Jacobsen, American blogger Bethany Mota, Samantha Harris, Simone Holznagel, Yael Stone from America’s most popular TV show "Orange is the new black" and American girl group Fifth Harmony.