From Miss World to Bermuda for Strands' award-winning stylist
By René Hill
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Vernon Gerstner: Strands' award-winning hair stylist and make-up artist.
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Photo: Mark Tatem
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A love for all things hair and make-up led Strands' newest stylist into an award-winning career.
Having an interview with Vernon Gerstner was like taking a look into the world's Who's Who. He had stories about a host of A-List stars from Grace Jones to Naomi Campbell.
He talked about being a make up artist during fashion weeks in New York, London and Paris, as well as time spent as a senior stylist during the annual Miss World Pageant from 2000 to 2003.
Vernon Gerstner, also known as Vernon G, made his career decision after graduating with a degree in psychology.
His father had asked what he wanted to do with regards to a Master's degree, but when Mr. Gerstner told his father that he wanted to become a hairdresser instead it was met with a silent stare, and his mother's silence lasted for quite a bit longer, although she loves his choice now.
The South African then embarked on an apprenticeship in a salon in Cape Town. Before it was over he was winning awards, both locally and internationally.
This led him to higher ground as both a hair stylist and make-up artist. He took on the world from New York to Paris, from Dubai to Germany and then from Italy to South Korea.
In fact, there aren't too many places that Mr. Gerstner hasn't been.
He then took master classes at Vidal Sassoon in London.
"It just came naturally and I won one competition after the other," he said.
He has owned salons in both South Africa and in Berkshire, in the UK, where he took care of a host of high society types.
He is also a specialist in Goldwell's Elumen Hair Color products, which is an advanced line that he administers at the salon.
Before he knew it, he had moved full time into fashion and was doing shoots. At that time he would be flown from South Africa to Germany or wherever he was needed. But when the South African economy crumbled in 1991, the fashion industry collapsed overnight and Mr. Gerstner had to decide whether to stay or move north to Europe. He chose the latter, as he was with an agency with offices in London, Paris and New York.
When asked about his time working on Grace Jones, he asked: "Have you ever heard the song 'Slave to the Rhythm' and 'Pull up to the Bumper', well she's all that and more. She's a diva!
"If she wanted her eyes red, then she wanted them red, even if you had to use lipstick."
Miss World competitions saw him start out as someone handing pins and hairspray to more senior designers to becoming the senior stylist.
"It was a lot of work and more work than I thought," he said. "From the third night, they record the event and the hair and make-up has to be reproduced exactly down to the last curl for the final night."
So far, with his gregarious personality, he is making a splash on the Bermuda scene and his motto is simply: "You've got to laugh every day."
