Paula Hibbard

With her vibrant personality and passion for sharing knowledge, Paula Hibbard is one of hairdressing’s most in-demand boutique educators in the art of long hair styling. Her aim is to encourage, inspire and expand the skillset of hairdressers, make-up artists and salon groups with customised training programmes in all facets of long hair, bridal, and special event styling.

Influenced by her hairdresser mother, Paula began her career in the hair industry as a young teenager on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with renowned hairdressing group Jon Le Court. After commencing her apprenticeship with the company upon completing school, she spent the next decade moving through the ranks from stylist to salon manager, and eventually became area manager for the group in New South Wales.

Over time, Paula explored other roles in the hairdressing world, including sales and management, but it was becoming a colour technician for product giant Goldwell and heading up the brand’s NSW technical team that really ignited her passion for education. “I loved the growth I saw in people as they learnt and were inspired,” she says.

While working at Goldwell Paula caught the eye of a leading Australian and International long hair artist and salon owner who enlisted Paula to manage their colour department and oversee staff training in their Beecroft salon.

It was a relationship that spanned 15 years, and further fuelled Paula’s passion for the glamorous world of long hair styling. For more than a decade Paula travelled the globe as head teacher for the renowned long hair artist, assisting in delivering classes and bootcamps to hairdressers and salons the world over, as well as spearheading her own series of unique workshops.

In 2009 Paula began conducting a select number of long hair training classes as Fabulous Hair Up and Education, in addition to her work with a renowned long hair artist .

In 2014, due to overwhelming industry demand Paula launched her own full-time training company Paula Hibbard Education to great success, and now spends her days travelling around Australia and internationally, delivering bespoke long hair training programmes for salons and individuals.

Paula’s technical expertise and creative flair has graced the pages and covers of many magazines both in Australia and overseas, including Modern Hair & Beauty, Oyster, InStyle, and Modern Wedding. Her skills have also been showcased in numerous film, fashion, and television  productions, such as Project Runway, The Voice Kids, Mercedes Benz Australian Fashion Week and The Gods of Egypt.

Paula lives in Sydney with her husband and two sons. Aside from long hair styling, her other great passions in life are coffee, eating out, being a soccer mum, bubbles, and travelling through Europe.