Ross When we get to Oz for the Australian version of Salon International there’ll be lots of going out then!

Do you work well as a team? Olive The boys look after the girls so we’re lucky really. Ross carries our suitcases and we’re always getting Ben to do our hair. Ben Any excuse to do the girls’ hair. It’s nice working as a group though; we balance well. Ross There’s no point having four people with the exact same skills; we’re all unique so as one we’re so much stronger. My strong point is cutting and stage presentation. Kim Ross comes across the most confident and everyone thinks Ben’s shy, but we’ve all got our own areas where we’re confident. You can’t put four people together who are too similar or there might be a personality clash. I don’t know what I’m best at yet; I like doing everything, maybe I’ll work it out over time though!

So are you getting more recognised now? Ben I haven’t noticed that people know me but maybe I’m oblivious. Kim Everyone knows about you when you do this. When you go out to shows people say, ‘oh, you’re in the F.A.M.E. Team’. I go to loads of hair events and I always find it’s weird when I see my icon and they say hello. I think, ‘oh my god, you know who I am’. They are so busy I just never expect them to remember who I am. I saw Angelo Seminara at the L’Oréal Professionnel Exposure Tour in Barcelona, then when we saw him in May he recognised me; it’s sweet.

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Olive Last year this is where we wanted to be, and now we’re here and we’re inspiring people, so we have to be more aware of what we’re doing. Ross You still see some of the others who were trying out, and even though they were disappointed to not get in they want to know what we’re up to and they’re excited for us.

What is it that you like about hair? Ben My mum was a hairdresser so I’ve grown up with that knowledge. Then I did art and design at college but I didn’t know what to do with it. I knew the basics of hairdressing so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s just a different form of art for me. And there are so many opportunities within hairdressing; you can take it to whatever level you want. Kim I love the transformation that you can give someone. When I first started assisting on photo shoots, watching the model walk in looking like nothing and seeing what my team members would turn her into – it’s incredible, whether the model is a mum or a professional. Olive You get to make people look and feel fantastic everyday.

Your first photo shoot was with Andrew O’Toole in February, directed by Errol Douglas – how was that? Ben As a group it was quite scary doing our first shoot; we didn’t even know each other that well. But part of the challenge is being put together with three other people and doing it – that’s what it’s all about. Kim Although it was really scary I trusted Errol so much that I knew nothing would go

wrong; he always made sure it worked and we got it together. Olive I was calm because Errol was there. If we had a vision, he let us do it, but he was there helping us along.

Your busy schedules must be quite stressful. Has it ever got to boiling point? Olive We haven’t had an argument yet; I think it’s because we respect each other. Kim We’re quite honest; the worst thing is when people beat around the bush. If we want to talk about our ideas, everyone talks and it gets out in the open. Then it’s done and decided, and that saves an argument. Ross After the Oz flight you never know though – 24 hours on a plane together… mind you that’s what iPhones are for!

Your families must be proud… Ross

My family is so proud; my aunt’s been a home hairdresser for over 25 years, so she loves to hear what I’m doing and see me being successful. I was a builder with my dad before but I wasn’t very good at that – I couldn’t even hang a door. Olive My family rarely get to see me anymore. When I give them a magazine I’m in they take it everywhere to show everyone and say, ‘look at her’ – even assistants at my salon are working on a project about hairdressers who inspire them and they picked me! Ross Are they right in the head? Kim I have never seen someone so into hairdressing as my dad. He comes to all my shows and he knows everything