Kelvin Nguyen GHD Style Squad experience at Mane Land 2026

Kelvin was part of the GHD Style Squad, taking his talents to the stage at one of the biggest hairdressing events of the year, Mane Land in Sydney.

Meet Kelvin

Kelvin is currently undertaking an apprenticeship at Buoy Salon in Wellington. He is a 2024 HITO Apprentice of the Year winner and has a real passion for hair and a drive for making a positive impact on people. His most recent appointment as 1 of only 5 ghd style squad members for Australia & New Zealand proves why he is a rising star in the industry.

Tell us about your experience at ManeLand?
As part of the AHFA (Australian Hair Fashion Awards) weekend in Sydney, I had the incredible opportunity to join ghd at ManeLand 2026. I was privileged to represent ghd at their brand installation, where I spent the whole day educating and connecting with both hairdressers and consumers about ghd’s latest innovations.

ManeLand had a high-energy, creative atmosphere unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The event brought together leading brands for one day for brand activations, live demos, and educational talks from some of the most respected hairdressers in Australia and New Zealand. Being in Sydney with 15 other colleagues from Buoy Salon was a very special moment for me and I am very grateful to have an amazing boss, Sam, who has always supported me and the team here at Buoy.

My personal highlight was definitely taking the ghd stage for a live styling session, presenting in front of thousands of hair lovers and professionals was an unforgettable moment!

How did you get this amazing opportunity?
I am currently a member of the ghd Style Squad ANZ team. There are five of us in total, and I am incredibly proud to be the only Kiwi in the group, representing New Zealand alongside four talented Australian emerging stylists.

The ghd Style Squad is an emerging talent development programme designed to sharpen our hairdressing skills while building our confidence in social networking and content creation. I am so grateful to ghd for providing this trip and these experiences. Throughout the year, ghd brings the style squad to Sydney for major events like new product launches, brand activations, and the Hairdressing Awards. I’m already looking forward to heading back to Sydney in June for the Hair Festival and catching up with my fellow squad members.

How does attending events like this help you in your apprenticeship and career?
Being in the same room with so many industry icons has truly further strengthened my passion for my craft. Witnessing world-class editorial and runway hairstyles up close was so inspiring.

Being on ghd stage in front of a large audience has built my confidence immensely. It gave me a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come in my four-year hairdressing journey and how much I’ve grown within this supportive community. These experiences, alongside being awarded Hairdressing Apprentice of the Year – Central Region 2025, definitely remind me why I chose this path and push me to keep elevating my work.

"Trust the process and lead with passion"

What advice do you have for new apprentices?
I can’t recommend the ghd Style Squad programme enough. I highly encourage all New Zealand apprentices to apply when applications are likely to open in mid-2027. Keep a close eye on the @ghdproanz Instagram page for updates.

In the meantime, focus on your social media presence. It does require some dedication outside of work hours to create content, but it is worth it. Your page is your personal brand; if you take the time to ensure your work is polished and professional, people will notice.

Lastly, trust the process and lead with passion. If you do your best and stay dedicated, the rewards will follow. I truly hope to see more Kiwis applying for the next ghd style squad.

I can’t wait to see your growth and the amazing things you will achieve!

Best of luck,

Kelvin Nguyen – Buoy Salon & Spa

@kelvin.hairstyling
@buoysalonandspa