A Look Inside the RAW Awards with Fabio Sementilli
Fabio Sementilli
Nerd Facts: Creative Director for P&G Salon Professional. Three Time NAHA Winner. Film and TV Stylist. Mentor for Team ICAN for RAW. Team Mentor for North American Dream Team at ITVA NY 2011. 3 time Canadian Olympic Hair Styling Team Member. 2 time gold medalist of the World Supreme Championships. 2008 P&G Master of the Arts Award.
Leadership Philosophy: I believe in order to be an effective leader you must begin by leading from the front. At every opportunity I want to work side by side with my team because eye to eye is not good enough, your team must truly know you understand their trials and tribulations and are ready to help.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Fabio Sementilli to discuss the RAW competition being held on June 2, 2012.
( Ok, if we are being completely honest… it was a phone conversation in a car during lunch in a parking lot, but feel free to imagine 3 fabulous jet setters flying into LA and us having this conversation with Fabio over a $70 salad at a swanky restaurant. Don’t worry, it is how we envision it, as well!!)
With the motto for 2012 being “Enter or Mentor”, P&G Salon Professional dove head first into the RAW Awards contest.
WHAT IS RAW?
BTC’s brand new hair competition! Seven teams of young stylists will compete to win $10,000 and the cover of the next issue of behindthechair On Papermagazine. Backed by a manufacturer and mentored by the biggest names in the industry, these teams are tasked with the challenge of creating an ENTIRE hair show—cutting, coloring, lighting, choreography, fashion styling, makeup and everything else you can imagine—from scratch, and present their work to a LIVE audience! Once their show is complete, they’ll face a live critique from our panel of judges: Ken Paves, Ellen Rakieten, Garren…and YOU! That's right, YOUR TEXT VOTES mean you’re also on the judging panel!
Why was the RAW Format so appealing to you?
I loved the idea of this contest being a vehicle to introduce new talent to the industry in such a safe environment. A place where stylists would be less judgmental.
What was the criteria for choosing this dream team of stylists?
The rules for RAW state that each team member must be under the age of 30, but P&G Professional wanted to take it a step farther. By limiting the contestants age to 25 years old they have truly built a team of young visionaries.
Must have graduating cosmetology school no more than 3 years ago. “That particular group of stylists… 2-3 years out of school tend to get lost in the shuffle.” – Fabio Sementilli
Finalist or Winner in a PG competition within the last 2 years- ABS P&G Salon Professional Student Competition or Trendvision **Nerd Note** Hair Nerd Carrie was a finalist in the 2011 ABS competition
The thing The Hair Nerds really admire about the competitions P&G sponsors is they are truly about the hair.
While they begin as photo competitions, backstage they are in the simplest form solely technical. Judges walk the prep areas to check haircuts and ensure that everything is on the up and up. Stylists have to recreate the look they submitted in person.
Deep down in my heart I am a purist. I have to stay true to what I believe. Our competitions are based in the purity of the craft.. Live vs. A Photo Competition.. We strive to build a live “in your face” presentation. I believe in the old school team competitions like Hair World.
**Hair Nerd Note** The Hair Nerds was conceptualized at TrendVison
Is this why you selected Diego as the team mentor?
Absolutely. Diego doesn’t believe in shortcuts or fancy photo finishing techniques. He is committed to the core of our craft.
Diego Raviglione
With more than 23 years of experience as a highly creative, artistic hair designer and educator for Redken, Joico, and Graham Webb International, Diego Raviglione exudes an untouchable enthusiasm for the art of hairdressing and inspires the same in all his students. His work has been published in Elle, ElleGirl, Oprah Magazine, InStyle, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Allure, and Shape. His work has also been included in several key industry trade resources such as American Salon, launchpad, BehindTheChair, and Modern Salon. Raviglione’s ingenuity has been featured on runways during Los Angeles Fashion Week and on stage at Lollapalooza, where he served as head stylist to featured acts, including Jane’s Addiction. Diego has recently embarked on a unique educational endeavor as the first Artistic Director for three beauty schools in California: Je Boutique, Bay Vista and Poway Academy. His key goal is to invoke an intensified passion and drive in students by developing an advanced haircutting and styling curriculum that will empower students with the skills and behaviors to achieve success in their careers.
You have countless awards that include both NAHA and Contessa. Why compete?
I am where I am today because I put myself out there in competitions. It was where the industry was headed and I firmly believe in order to say you are the best you need to prove it.
Meet the Team
With a combined awards between them, this group of six is already accomplished in the world of competitive hairdressing. Be sure and like them on the RAW Team P&G facebook and watch live as they compete for the grand prize.
We will be introducing you to this dream team more in-depth in the following days. The Hair Nerds will be on site covering every moment of the show. Follow #RAWawards on twitter if you aren’t able to grab a flight and join us. We can’t wait to see this Stylist Showdown!!