Entries by greatlen

The Professional Edge: Your 2026 Education Blueprint – Great Lengths Australia

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that staying at the top of our game means more education, more innovation, and more ways to connect. And don’t worry, we absolutely understood the assignment.

2026 is set to be our biggest year yet, delivering more opportunities for hairdressers to learn, grow, and get inspired, whether that’s online, in person, or on location. From business-building education to advanced stylist training and international experiences, this is a year designed to elevate every level of your Great Lengths journey.

Have your diaries ready… here’s what’s coming.

90 Days to Profit

In-Person Business Training

Designed to help you jumpstart your Great Lengths business, 90 Days to Profit is a proven program focused on delivering measurable results. This personalised, one-on-one in-person session gives you the tools, structure, and clarity to drive profitability within just three months.

How to book: Reach out to your Business Development Manager
Duration: 1 hour
Investment: Complimentary 

Business & Marketing Diploma with Hayley Mears

Business & Marketing Diploma Hayley Mears

A first-of-its-kind digital learning journey designed exclusively for salon owners and managers.

Led by Hayley Mears, Creative Director of Six Underground Media , this short program will transform the way you market, manage and grow your salon brand.

  • The Program – Six short Modules of 30min • One Diploma
  • Flexible online delivery • Downloadable tools • Certified results
  • Master content, campaign, and digital strategy planning
  • Use AI to save time and supercharge creativity
  • Build confidence in storytelling and brand positioning
  • Turn engagement into measurable profit
  • Graduate with an official Salon Business & Marketing Diploma 2026

How to book: Register for the 6-session series, HERE
Format: Online
Investment: Special Launch Price – $499 (valued at $599) 

New Zealand Retreat in October

3-Day Business & Inspiration Retreat | Queenstown

Join hairdressers from across the Asia-Pacific for a three-day immersive retreat in Queenstown, New Zealand, from October 10–13, 2026, hosted at the luxurious 5-star Rees Hotel.

Blending elevated dining experiences with illuminating business seminars, this retreat is designed to recharge your creativity, sharpen your business mindset, and build meaningful industry connections.

How to book: Reserved your journey HERE
Investment: $1,195 (Includes: meals, education & activities only)

On Demand Education

Introducing The Great Lengths On-Demand Series, a new way to learn, refresh, and stay inspired at your own pace.

Watch bite-sized lessons or full masterclasses from your salon, at home, or on the go crafted by our expert educators and ambassadors.

What’s Inside:

  • Quick refreshers for Tapes, Keratin Bonds & Wefts
  • Seasonal trends, styling & product innovation
  • Business growth & consultation tips
  • Exclusive ambassador sessions

Great Lengths On Demand Education Thumbnail

Great Lengths On Demand Series with Rachel Vitullo

How It Works:

  • Hosted on the Great Lengths Education Portal
  • Stream from any device | Automated email alerts for each new release
  • Your digital education library – always accessible, always evolving.

How to book: Subscribe to our Newsletter education

Format: Online
Investment: Free

Hair Expo 2026

In-Person Education Seminar

Great Lengths is back on the Hair Expo main stage for an exclusive 1-hour live showcase. Join our ambassadors for a high-energy demonstration covering Tapes, Keratin Bonds, and more, a must-see session for stylists looking to elevate their extension skills.

Great Lengths Education at Hair Expo 2026

Details:

  • Location: Parkside 2
  • Date & Time: Sunday, 28 June · 12 PM – 1 PM
  • Format: Education Session
  • Price: $65 per ticket

How to book: Tickets are available directly through the Hair Expo website.

Ready to Get Certified?

Take the next step in your Great Lengths journey and secure your place in an upcoming certification.
Explore certification dates HERE.

2026 Is Your Year: Secure Your Great Lengths Certification Today

Great Lengths is thrilled to announce the 2026 Certification Dates – designed to inspire, educate, and elevate every stylist ready to master the art of premium hair extensions. Whether you’re perfecting your keratin technique or expanding your Essenza tape expertise, our certifications deliver the knowledge, confidence, and tools to transform your client’s hair and your career.

What’s New in 2026

  1. New Sydney Training Location
    We’re excited to announce our new Sydney certification venue: Toni & Guy at Sydney City, located on Ground Level , The Grace Hotel. This light-filled, professional space is designed to elevate your learning experience, providing the perfect environment for hands-on training and premium education. 

Toni & Guy Sydney City Level 1 training salon entry

Toni & Guy Sydney City Level 1 training salon

2. Gift Bags for Attendees
Every stylist who attends certification will receive a curated gift bag, packed with premium products and tools. It’s our way of saying thank you and making your education experience feel extra special.

3. New Educators Join the Team
We’re welcoming fresh talent to our educator team in 2026:

  • Kerina Marlow, Renee’s talented, for Perth Certifications, bringing her passion and precision to the classroom.
  • Zenobia Malik: Founder of Gaia Studio in Melbourne,  bringing her seamless techniques and in-depth industry knowledge.

These educators are ready to guide you through every detail, ensuring you leave confident, inspired, and fully equipped.

Kerina Marlow New Great Lengths Educator for Certifications

Zen Giai New Great Lengths Educator for certifications

2026 Certification Classes

Here’s our first Great Lengths Certification Keratin Bond coming up below:

Sydney

  • 1 & 2 February with Sara Jackson
  • 15 & 16 February with Steven Ca 

 Melbourne:

  • 1 & 2 February with Steven 

Perth:

  • 15 & 16 February with Karina Marlow & Renee Yaste

Brisbane

  • 22 & 23 February with Makayla Kelly
Full schedule and registration links available [here].

Premium Education, Premium Results

Every Great Lengths certification is more than a class—it’s a full-scale professional experience. You’ll:

  • Master application and removal techniques with precision.
  • Learn advanced colour blending, placement, and styling.
  • Receive personalised guidance from our expert educators.
  • Take home practical tools and resources to continue your journey in the salon.

Our goal is simple: to empower stylists with the confidence and skills to create flawless, natural-looking extensions that protect and enhance the client’s hair.

Secure Your Spot in 2026

Spaces are limited and fill fast. Elevate your skills, join our global network of certified stylists, and experience the luxury and quality of Great Lengths firsthand.

The Colour Forecast is In: Dominating Hair Trends for 2026

The salon is buzzing—2026 is demanding richer, smarter, and more luminous hair colour. Clients are chasing high-impact results with low-maintenance upkeep, and they expect dimension and shine that competes with the glossy finish of a magazine cover.

The catch? Achieving these complex, multi-tonal looks often requires heavy bleach, repeated appointments, and inevitable damage to natural hair.

This is where Great Lengths extensions transform the game. Our ethically sourced, pre-coloured luxury hair offers a radical, damage-free solution, delivering the exact tones and blends dominating the hair trends forecast below.

1. Low-Maintenance Colour is Key

2026 establishes the year of working smarter, not harder. Clients are craving looks that last months, not weeks, blending seamlessly with their natural base.

The Trend: Picture Blended Bronde and Caramel Melt Balayage. These looks feature sophisticated shadow roots and soft transitions that allow for graceful grow-out. The goal remains depth that feels natural and effortless.

The GL Solution: Skip the bleach! By strategically applying extensions in shades like Caramel, Honey, and our rich Naturals range, your stylist builds a natural-looking colour melt. The pre-coloured GL strands create the entire dimension without exposing your client’s natural hair to lightener.

2. The Rise of the Expensive Brunette

This hair trend demands dimension, high-shine, and a richness that reflects light. It’s multi-tonal, never monotone.

The Trend: Specific shades like Sparkling Mocha and Extra Glossy Espresso are dominating the market. These looks achieve their ‘expensive’ status through subtle lowlights and high-shine gloss, adding depth where the hair moves. This signature look, often known as the ‘Expensive Brunette’, requires precision.

The GL Solution: Great Lengths provides the perfect lowlights and highlights in shades like 02 (Dark Chocolate) or 04 (Medium Brown) that weave through the natural hair. This infuses incredible dimension and volume, instantly delivering that polished, light-reflecting finish—all without changing the base colour of the client’s hair.

3. Sophisticated Blonde Blends

Forget stark platinum. The modern blonde embraces warmth, dimension, and blending. It must look believable, sun-kissed, and flourish with health.

The Trend: Look for creamy, buttery mixes like Crème Brûlée Blonde and Buttercream Blonde. These shades melt golden and beige tones together, avoiding harsh lines while maximising luminosity.

The GL Solution: Achieving these blends is historically complex and damaging. Great Lengths solves this by offering the precise blonde gradients—from icy ash to buttery gold. Your stylist custom-blends different GL shades to create Ribbon Lights or soft balayage instantly, preserving the integrity of your client’s natural locks while delivering that multi-dimensional colour perfection.

Your Damage-Free Colour Power: Great Lengths

Why commit to hours of chemical labour and risk compromising your hair’s health?

Great Lengths extensions empower your stylist to execute the most dominant 2026 hair trends with zero chemical risk to your natural hair.

Ready to seize the best looks of 2026 without the damage? Find a certified Great Lengths salon today and transform your hair!

Aussie Icons Conquer Rome: Thomsen & Panizza’s GL Journey

Great Lengths welcomed its global ambassadors to the heart of Rome, igniting a masterclass in luxury. Australia’s top artists, Pete Thomsen and Naomi Panizza, drove the energy, globalising Australian excellence.

Mastering the Masterclass Naomi participated enthusiastically in the hands-on masterclass, translating premium extensions into stunning transformations. She highlighted the awesome, collective colour vision that emerged, appreciating the global collaboration among the industry’s elite.

Pete showcased his mastery and gained fresh global perspectives from the intense sessions. He absorbed new techniques and vowed to integrate the inspiration gathered into his favourite client services back home, elevating Australian standards.

Witnessing World-Class Ethics The journey began at the factory in Nepi, where our ambassadors witnessed the meticulous, handcrafted labour firsthand. This experience validated the ethical standard, B Corp certification, and fully traceable quality that Great Lengths Australia delivers.

Armed with this profound appreciation for true luxury and ethical excellence, our ambassadors are driving forward! Get ready, Australia—Great Lengths is powered by global integrity and poised to dominate hair artistry throughout 2026!

Naomi Panizza Joins as the New Great Lengths Ambassador

After three decades of dedication, Naomi Panizza takes on an exciting new role as Great Lengths Ambassador.

Based in South Perth, Western Australia, Naomi Panizza has been creating seamless transformations with Great Lengths for over 30 years. Her reputation as one of Australia’s most trusted extension experts has been built on precision, creativity, and a deep understanding of what makes hair look and feel naturally beautiful.

Her appointment celebrates a long-standing partnership grounded in artistry, education, and a shared belief that great hair starts with great care.

A Career Built on Excellence

Throughout her 30-year career, Naomi Panizza has shaped the standard for premium hair extension services in Australia. From award-winning stylist, she has inspired countless professionals to master the craft of Great Lengths.

Her commitment to the brand goes far beyond technique. Naomi leads with passion—delivering transformations that empower her clients and showcasing how quality extensions can truly elevate confidence.

"With over 30 years using GreatLengths, I’ve seen countless extension brands—but nothing compares. The effortless application and luxurious, natural hair quality let me create stunning, flawless styles my clients adore every single time.
Great Lengths truly transforms both my craft and my clients’ confidence."
- Naomi Panizza

A Holistic Vision: From Scalp to Strand

For Naomi Panizza, true beauty begins where healthy hair grows—at the scalp. Pairing Great Lengths artistry with La Biosthétique’s advanced scalp care, she focuses on long-term hair wellness, not just instant results.

In her South Perth salon, Naomi takes a thoughtful, results-driven approach—strengthening the scalp, protecting the hair, and perfecting every detail along the way. Her philosophy is simple: great extensions deserve a healthy foundation.

 

As Great Lengths Ambassador, Naomi continues to lead with purpose—proving that when care and craftsmanship come together, the results speak for themselves.

Meet Kirby Lago: Award-Winning Hairstylist & Great Lengths Collective Artist

Meet Kirby Lago: Award-Winning Hairstylist & Great Lengths Collective Artist

The Collective: Meet Kirby Lago

For Kirby Lago, great hair is quiet confidence — and she’s mastered the art of making it look effortless.

The multi-award-winning stylist, educator, and Pelo by Lago founder is known for soft blends, sunlit blondes, and lived-in colour that grows out beautifully.

With celebrity clients like Miranda Kerr and features in Vogue and Elle, Kirby’s Sydney salon is a destination for luxe, low-maintenance hair.

Now, as the newest member of The Collective with Great Lengths Australia, we sat down with Kirby to talk hair journeys, extension myths, and her signature approach to effortless colour. 

Kirby Lago Instagram
Kirby Lago best hairdresser sydney keratin extensions

Her Story: Built on Obsession

“I started hairdressing when I was 14 and opened my first salon at 19 — I just knew this was it for me,” she says.

Kirby Lago didn’t stumble into hair — she sprinted in headfirst. That passion still drives her two decades on. But what keeps her inspired? The transformation — not just of hair, but of how her clients feel.

“I’ve had people cry happy tears in the chair after extensions or a colour correction because they feel like themselves again. That never gets old.”

Her Craft: Confidence in Every Strand

Kirby’s signature style is all about natural movement and dimension — blends that grow out seamlessly and styling that feels effortless.

“I’m inspired by tone, texture and the way light hits the hair. It’s never about doing the most — it’s about creating something that feels just right.”

And when it comes to extensions? Kirby’s on a mission to set the record straight.

“The idea that extensions damage your hair needs to go. When applied properly, maintained well, and removed professionally, they can actually help protect and support healthy growth.”



Keratin bonds

Why She Chooses Great Lengths

If she had to describe Great Lengths in three words? Seamless. Reliable. Luxury.

“What sets Great Lengths apart is how customisable they are — whether it’s keratin bonds or Essenza tapes. The quality is unmatched, the blends are flawless, and they support the natural hair. I can always find the perfect match thanks to their incredible colour range.”

One memorable moment? A client recovering from stress-related hair loss left transformed — not just physically, but emotionally. “We used keratin bonds to gradually build back fullness, with thoughtful placement and softness. She looked in the mirror and said, ‘I finally feel like myself again.’ That’s the power of good extensions.”



A Few Things You Didn’t Know About Kirby Lago

Red carpet muse? “Oof,  hard to pick just one, but let’s go with Margot Robbie. I’d keep it effortless and elevated: soft bronde, clean highlights through the ends, and extensions placed just for fullness, not length.

For styling, I would do a  barely-there wave with a brushed-out finish, polished but not ‘done.’”

Desert island must-have? “A heat protectant. I don’t care if there’s no power – we’re protecting this hairline from UV and salt.”

Best advice received? “‘Don’t just focus on the hair — focus on the person in the chair.”

That shifted everything for me. Technique is important, but the real magic happens when you actually listen, connect, and create something that feels true to them!’”

Kirby Lago’s story is one of passion, precision and authenticity — and her advice is as grounded as her work is elevated:

“If you stay committed and back yourself — it shows in everything you do.”



Kirby lago in her salon