Bex, first things first, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up on a farm in Wanaka, Central Otago, and became a solo mother at 22, which unexpectedly led me into hairdressing. I moved to Wellington and bought the salon I was working in, Willis York. It was there that I truly found my groove, 17yrs I owned it and the salon became a hub for creative ideas and a space to nurture emerging talent.

 

At the start of this year, I decided to leave it all behind for a new chapter in Pakiri, driven by love and the desire for a fresh start. Approaching 50, I feel like I’m where I need to be. Now, I freelance as a hairstylist, make ceramics, tend a massive veggie garden, and enjoy life with my cats! I also work as an artistic ambassador for L’Oréal Professional, which allows me to travel the world. Next up: Vietnam, where I’ll be judging a hair show and leading an educational session.

 

Your creativty seems endless. Where do you find the inspiration to keep your cup so full?

Inspiration is limitless if you’re open to it. You have to stay curious and never stop learning. In the city, inspiration came to me daily, especially through working alongside young artists and connecting with incredible clients. Now, I’m far removed from that life, nature has become my muse.

 

Sometimes, being away from the noise can actually make you bolder and more creative—there’s no audience to judge, and I love that. You just make. Curiosity … as well as blissipline - I nurture it everyday.  

We heard you once made a life-sized origami horse. Can you share the story behind how that came to be?

At Willis York, we had a stage area that turned into a showcase space for different Wellington artists. One night, I had this vivid dream of creating a massive white paper horse. I woke up, headed to the salon, and decided to make it a reality. Using photographic backdrop paper and an iron to perfect the creases, I crafted a giant origami horse. It was random but so cool.  

This year, you swapped Wellington's city-life for Northlands sunny shores. How has the lifestyle change influenced you, both creativley and personally?

I won’t lie—at first, I thought, what have I done? I’d closed the salon, said a quick goodbye to so many friends and a community I was deeply rooted in, and moved to Pakiri, with the nearest town a 30-minute drive down a winding road. My partner was the only person I knew, and the transition to country life was a challenge for my mental health. But my heart has always belonged in the country, and after a period of quietly grieving my old life and feeling grateful for it, I’ve come out the other side, excited for the beautiful future I can see here. I love the space to think and the time to cook—although you really have to be organized, since I can’t just run to the store! In a way, that makes you more creative.

What inspired your transition from hairdressing to pottery?

When you think about it, hairdressers spend their days sculpting hair and mastering color, so it’s only natural we’re drawn to ceramics or other forms of art. During the COVID lockdown, I found myself alone with a pottery wheel and a couple of bags of clay, (my ghost moment hahaha -the film) so I’m mostly self-taught from that experience! Working with clay slows me down. 

We all know our comfort zones a little too well sometimes. What advice would you give to someone looking to explore a different career path?

That’s a tough question, especially now when it’s hard to trust what you read or see online—the world feels so chaotic! I’m about to turn 50, and it’s daunting to step away from a vocation I’ve mastered (I just placed third in a L’Oréal global competition and was named ANZ Hairdresser of the Year) to pursue ceramics and freelance in a place where I have no network. Make sure you have a solid support system—someone who’s your rock, whether it’s a friend or partner—a cheerleader or mentor by your side is invaluable. If you keep thinking about what you want to change every day, that’s a sign to go for it. Once you take the plunge, don’t look back… the world is your oyster! Be brave.

We can't help but notice you're hands on. What is one lesson from working with your hands you think everyone should learn?

Take a moment to consider whose hands crafted the things around you—who made your clothes, the cup you’re drinking from, or the painting on your wall? Working with my hands every day has made me appreciate the beauty in everyday things.  

Style is another creative expression. Tell us about yours and how you express yourself through your wardrobe.

Oh, I absolutely love fashion and style! I’ve been passionate about it since I was young. Hairdressing is the perfect job—you get to wear what you want, chat all day, and make people look their best! My style in the city changed daily! Fashion is fun and I believe important, it’s good manners to dress your best for something. I’ve always lived by the motto, “Who are you giving your money to?” so I try to support New Zealand designers and companies whenever possible. These days, I have to be practical, especially when working with clay or gardening, but I always make a point to dress up in something cool for dinner! 

Through your eyes, how do you see the concept of 'beauty' evolving from the salon to the garden to the pottery studio?

Beauty is a way of life for me. How you treat people and what surrounds you has a huge influence. I’m all about color and harmony, and the garden is the most incredible place to witness how everything grows naturally, each part doing its own thing, yet it all looks magical together. I bring that same sense of beauty and flow into my ceramics.

You've created our exclusive Christmas decoration. What tips and tricks would you give to those that make it?

Make sure you take your time to make the creases really crisp, then the rest is easy.  

 

 

Quick fire questions:

 

You strike us as the kind of person that has a signature Christmas wrapping. What does your wrapping look like?

I tear out beautiful magazine pages and pop them together in a collage and use that.
I love ribbons so collect them throughout the year to use for the bows. 

 

What does the festive season look like to you?

Food! A beautiful feast makes everything special.
As the years go by I have learnt not to get stressed about who does what and goes where…let it flow. 

 

If we had just a day in Northland, where would you take us?

Hit the Matakana markets first and check out all the amazing local produce on offer.
Then I would head over to Leigh sawmill for a drink and over to Pakiri for a beach walk and swim
— or Tāwharanui peninsula that’s magical too!  

 

What's growing in your garden?

We have just transitioned to summer planting so we have all kinds of lettuce,
potatoes, carrots, peas, beans, corn, cucumber, zucchini, radishes, herbs.
The orchard fruit trees are coming along and I am slowly building a flower garden.  

 

A quote you live by…

There is a few but the latest is…Bruce Lee: Words Are Energy and Cast Spells, That's Why It's Called Spelling.
You never know what anyone is struggling with or thinking underneath it all, so be the lighthouse.