MARIA KARAGANOVA: "THE SIMPLICITY OF A HAIRSTYLE MAKES IT MODERN!"

Professional secrets of the artist and current trends

Maria Karaganova is an artist - coiffeur, a member of Haute Coiffure Française Bulgaria - part of Haute Coiffure Francaise, a top fashion hairdressing organization. She completed her education at the Hairdressing College in Sofia, after which she began her professional career.
For a long time Maria Karaganova has been working in the salon of Veneta Ignatova - the current president of Haute Coiffure Française Bulgaria, where she builds up as an artist. In 2012 he also created his own hairdressing studio - "EM", in which he works as a hairdresser even now.

Maria Karaganova has successfully completed many courses at the Academy of L'Oreal and is a salon expert for the years 2018 and 2019. She regularly participates in co-op performances, has won many competitions and has numerous professional certificates - "Key to Color", "3D Makeup", training at "Alexandre de Paris Academie", "Advanced cut and color" by Saks Academies, "Artistic workshop cut and chignon ”with Leticia Genau, Master level at L'Oreal Academy and many more.

About her, the President of the Academy of Fashion Prof. Lubomir Stoykov says: “The style of Maria Karaganova is a successful combination of tradition, experiment, improvisational abilities and a subtle sense of the adequate form of the hairstyle. She works as a true artist in hairdressing, is uncompromising with the quality of products and materials, and puts a lot of imagination and passion into her beauty business."

You have been a professional coiffeur for many years. When and how did you go about your creative journey?
It literally started from my mom's salon. From a young age I went to help her there - I was sweeping, washing my hair, fixing, curling. I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do. For this reason, I graduated from a specialized school for hairdressers, which was then the only one in Bulgaria - the Hairdressing College. Immediately after that I found a job in a salon in the centre of Sofia. But if I have to indicate that when the essential part of my career began, it was after I met Veni Ignatova. She is my teacher, my mentor. What I am now is thanks to her. During my work with Veni, I formed myself as a creator and as a coiffeur. I started from the lowest position - washing hair and sweeping the floor, although I already had experience. But in our profession, in order to succeed, this is the way - you have to start from the bottom in order to get to the top. The road is difficult and it takes a lot of work.

You are a third generation hairdresser. Is your family the reason for choosing this profession?
Yes. My grandfather was a hairdresser, my mother and my uncles also. I love this profession very much, obviously it is in my blood. I don't think you can perform this craft if you don't love it, because then you can't see how much beauty there is in it. The hair itself must be seen as matter, as fabric, as velvet, as something very, very fine. Like other arts, the design of hairstyles should always come from within.

Is your daughter interested in hairstyle design and does she want to become like you?
I am a descendant hairdresser, but my daughter Hella’s grandmother, was a painter. Hella has inherited her talents. She draws very well, has a keen sense of colour, and she started drawing well from a very young age. I think she will be more involved with fine arts. She is on the verge between choosing fashion and interior design.

What or who has had the biggest influence on your career?
My mother, of course. She says it is very important to have a profession, to have a craft. I got a lot of my motivation from her. My mother has participated in many competitions and in some of the most difficult disciplines - short hair, for example. A good hairdresser can actually be identified and shine in those types of competitions.

Do you do anything else in the creative world?
I am a member of Haute Coiffure Francaise for Bulgaria. This is a very interesting organization, because it brings together the best hairdressers in the world. The president of this organization is Veneta Ignatova, of whom I mentioned, and the artistic director is Vasil Atanasov. By the way, the Academy of L'Oreal Paris honoured them with one of the most prestigious awards this year. They were recognized as one of the best brand ambassadors in the world.

Tell us more about this organization.
Haute Coiffure Francaise Bulgaria is part of Haute Coiffure Francaise - haute couture hairdressing organization established in Paris in April 1945. Its mission is to promote the artistic creativity of hairdressers, to find future talents, and to guarantee member salons commercial success. The sponsor and partner of the organization for Bulgaria is L'Oreal, in whose Academy I also participate and am a salon expert for the years 2018 and 2019.
Thanks to HCF and L'Oreal, the community of Bulgarian hairdressers is reaching out to colleagues from around the world. They invite the best in the world, organize an annual art show, and allow us to stay informed about the latest global trends during Paris Fashion Week. L'Oreal also conducts the best training programmes. I started at the Academy at the lowest level. I am currently a master, but I have more to upgrade. Thanks to L'Oreal, I got in touch with Laetitia Guenaou, Christophe Gayet, Bertram.

What is 3D Makeup?
The point is to scan the client from the door - the shapes of the head, respectively where to position the coca, which are the right lines. Generally determine which the right hairstyle is. She may show a picture and ask for it to look that way, but it may not have be right face shape and look for her. Accordingly, it is the specialist who should advise her. The course is very useful and there is an upper level in which you determine any hair colour according to the colour of the eyes and skin. Hairdressing is a serious profession, and to get to the level of a master, this is the way to go.

Why should people choose your studio and what makes it different from others?
Everything is very professional. However, I think that the experience and all those certificates and trainings for which I have invested time and energy are not irrelevant. The clients appreciates this and, sitting in the chair, know that they are in safe hands.

What is representative for your work style and what are the golden rules of your profession?
I define my style as more classic. I love the elegant and feminine look. This also applies to my hair styles. The rules in my profession are to be constant, to strive to develop, to be accurate in your customer relationships - they must be able to rely on you. But the golden rule that must be followed in order to succeed is to love what you do. And I love my profession, my salon, my clients, I love everything related to hairdressing.

The interview was taken by Ivana Stoyanova

Photos:
1. The artist-coiffeur Maria Karaganova.
2. Certificate of Maria Karaganova from the Academy of Alexander de Paris.
3. Certificate of Maria Karaganova from a workshop with Laetitia Guenaou.
4. Certificate of Maria Karaganova for hairdresser-creator of Academy "L'Oreal" Bulgaria.
5. - 8. Proposals and different styles of hairdressing salon "EM" and Maria Karaganova.
Photo: 1. - 8. Personal archive
9. Veneta Ignatova participates in a hairdressing show at the Art Forum 2018
10. Vasil Atanasov participates in a hairdressing show at the Art Forum 2018.
Photo. 9 - 10 L'Oreal Academy
11. Maria Karaganova together with Laetitia Guenaou.
12. Maria Karaganova with Bertram Kainzner.
Photo: 11. - 12. Personal archive
13. Christophe Gayet attends Sofia Fashion Show 2018.
Photo: Leo Kirilov
14. Certificate of Maria Karaganova for successfully passing the course for 3D makeup.
15. Maria Karaganova comments on the trends for summer 2019 live on TV Europe.
16. - 17. Maria Karaganova demonstrates a braid from the trends for summer 2019.
Photo: 14. - 17. Personal archive
18. Maria Karaganova takes part in a hairdressing show.
Photo by Alexander Petlichkov

Read: 3454 times                                                  © Fashion Lifestyle Magazine, issue 102, September 2019

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