About Mieka
Tracey Hughes
Tracey Hughes initially had visions of becoming a barrister after her school studies finished but then a change of heart took her down the creative career path of hairdressing. She began her hairdressing career in 1986 at Christopher Boyton in the UK and became a qualified hairdresser in 1989. After travelling to Australia as a backpacker in 1991, Tracey migrated to Australia permanently that same year.
In 1997, she established Mieka Hairdressing in Collingwood, which has since become one of the most highly recognised salons in Australia and internationally having won over 200 awards.
Tracey possesses energy and passion towards her work that is both blatant and infectious. She is a strongly self motivated individual who is an avid believer that education empowers hairdressers. She has won both Hairdresser of the Year and Colourist of the Year twice and has led her team to win Salon of the Year an amazing 7 times, which is a record breaking feat.
Her impressive hairdressing skills and knowledge, combined with her energy and enthusiasm, make Tracey a highly sought after educator. This is evidenced by her winning Australian Educator of the Year twice and the fact that she has presented educational shows across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, India, South Africa, Mexico, USA and UK.
Tracey is proudly Artistic Director for Redken Australia and represents Redken worldwide at education events, products launches, press conferences and fashion weeks.
A true industry ambassador, Tracey is constantly promoting the hairdressing industry as a vibrant and rewarding career option and works diligently to help address the skills shortage. Tracey is also an experienced and well respected industry judge for numerous hairdressing awards and competitions.
Tracey has the astute ability to forecast trends making her a fashion adviser to numerous trade magazines and websites, along with consumer fashion magazines and radio stations. Tracey regularly writes articles and conducts interviews on the upcoming hair fashion trends. Her work is now published in over 50 publications across 30 countries worldwide.
Tracey is a Hair Director for leading fashion designers such as Collette Dinnigan and Satch Clothing and as such is in constant demand for her editorial styling at Sydney and Melbourne Fashion Week. She is personally responsible for many new make-overs for celebrities such Ricki-Lee Coulter.
Tracey’s personal goals are to increase public awareness and the perception of the hairdressing industry via media exposure; to encourage young individuals to enter into an apprenticeship and therefore address the industry skills shortage; to continually provide an international education program of the highest standard and in turn support the education of the next generation of Australian hairdressers.