Pablo Kuemin and Andrew O’Toole Team Up for the First Time

The Collection Masterclass Melbourne is a two-day hairdressing intensive from Hair Mastery, taught by Pablo Kuemin and Andrew O’Toole on November 15 and 16, 2026. It’s the first time the two have taught together, pairing a two-time Swiss Hairdresser of the Year with one of Australia’s most in-demand hair photographers for a class built entirely around craft.

Held behind closed doors, the class gives hairdressers a seat inside the full process of building a hair collection meant for publication and award entry, from concept development on day one to a live collection photoshoot on day two. Attendees don’t just watch. On day two, they work as crew on the shoot, seeing every creative and technical decision made in real time.

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Meet the Educators: Pablo Kuemin and Andrew O’Toole

Pablo Kuemin is the founder of Hair Mastery, a two-time Swiss Hairdresser of the Year and the youngest ever inductee into the Hall of Fame. He has worked alongside Guido Palau, Sam McKnight and Eugene Souleiman, with work published in American Vogue, Italian Vogue, i-D and W Magazine, and featured in a Getty Museum exhibition.

Andrew O’Toole is a Melbourne-based photographer and creative director with more than 20 years behind the camera. He has collaborated with names like Annie Leibovitz and shot over 150 award-winning hair collections, with a client list that includes Harrods, Toni & Guy, L’Oréal, Schwarzkopf, Hermès and Mulberry.

This is the first time the two have taught together, combining Kuemin’s award-winning creative direction with O’Toole’s technical eye behind the camera.

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Day One: Concept and Moodboarding

The class opens with the part of a hair collection most artists never see taught properly: how to build a concept from scratch. Day one covers moodboarding, storytelling and the creative decisions that separate a strong collection from a forgettable one, all led by Kuemin.

Day Two: The Live Collection Shoot

Day two moves into production. Attendees work as crew on a live collection shoot, watching Kuemin and O’Toole make creative and technical calls in real time, from lighting and composition to styling adjustments on set. It’s a working shoot, not just a demonstration. The goal is for attendees to leave understanding exactly what it takes to produce an image worth publishing or entering into competition.

Why Hairdressers Are Talking About This Class

O’Toole’s reputation as one of the industry’s most sought-after hair photographers is a large part of the draw. “He creates hair imagery with depth, emotion and storytelling. Andrew’s ability to interpret briefs and translate ideas into visually powerful work is rare,” says Richi Grisillo, AHFA Australian Hairdresser of the Year.

Frank Apostolopoulos, five-time Australian Hairdresser of the Year, echoes the sentiment. “His ability to take a concept and create an entire world that feels fresh and new is unmatched.”

Who Should Attend The Collection Masterclass?

The class is built for hairdressers working toward award-worthy, publishable collections, whether that means competition entries, portfolio work or editorial submissions. It suits artists who already understand hair design fundamentals and want to see how a professional creative and photography team turns a concept into a finished, publishable image.

Dates, Location and Registration

The Collection Masterclass runs November 15 and 16, 2026, in Melbourne.

Full ticketing, venue and registration details are available directly through Hair Mastery.

REGISTRATION