Celebrating Clare at the 2026 Aveda Artist Retreat

Last weekend, our Head Colourist Clare headed to beautiful Byron Bay for the 2026 Aveda Artist Retreat — three days bringing together the Aveda salon community for creativity, connection, education and inspiration.

And this year was particularly special for us at Mien, with Clare invited to take to the stage and contribute to the retreat as an Aveda educator.

For those who know Clare, it feels like a very fitting recognition of something she has been doing throughout her career: learning, sharing and inspiring others.

Always learning, always sharing

One of the things we love most about Clare is that, despite her many years of experience, she has never stopped wanting to learn.

She is genuinely interested in what's happening in our industry — new techniques, new ideas, developments in colour and the changing ways we can look after our clients and their hair. She stays connected and curious, because for Clare, education has never been about collecting knowledge for herself. It's about being able to bring that knowledge back to the salon and use it.

And she shares it constantly.

Clare never misses an opportunity to teach the younger members of our team. It might be during formal training, while mixing a colour, working alongside someone at the basin or simply noticing a moment during a busy salon day where she can pass something on.

There is no sense of holding onto knowledge. If Clare knows something that could help someone else become a better hairdresser, she'll share it.

That generosity is a huge part of the learning culture we value so much at Mien.

An educator at heart

Clare's role as an Aveda educator has given her the opportunity to take that passion beyond Mien, sharing her experience and colour knowledge with other hairdressers within the wider Aveda network.

Being invited to contribute on stage at this year's Artist Retreat was a wonderful acknowledgement of that.

The retreat brought together artists, salon owners and educators from across the Aveda community for three days of learning, creativity and exchanging ideas — exactly the kind of environment Clare thrives in.

She returned to Mien with new inspiration and ideas, and, knowing Clare, they'll be making their way into conversations and training moments with the team before long.

It's always about her clients

For all her technical knowledge and experience, what really sits at the heart of Clare's work is her clients.

She genuinely cares about getting it right for the person sitting in her chair — not simply following a trend or doing what's fashionable, but listening, understanding their hair and lifestyle, and working out what is going to suit them best.

Her commitment to continuing education is very much part of that. Staying current means being able to give her clients thoughtful, informed advice and continually evolve the work she does for them.

And then, of course, there's Clare herself.

Warm, welcoming and completely without pretence, she has a wonderful way of making people feel at ease. And anyone who has spent much time at Mien will know that big Clare laugh — the one you can hear from the other side of the salon.

Proud to have her at Mien

We're incredibly proud to see Clare recognised within the wider Aveda community, but we're perhaps even more proud of what she brings back through our doors every day.

Her knowledge, curiosity and commitment to her craft are important. But so are her generosity, her willingness to teach, her care for her clients and the energy she brings to our team.

Congratulations Clare on your contribution to the 2026 Aveda Artist Retreat.

We loved seeing you up there — and we're very lucky to have you here. 🌿