Alima Baz : Laureate of the contest Meilleur Ouvrier de France, let you seduce by that vibrant woman

Alima Baz , specialist in makeover and image consulting, was elected Meilleur Ouvrier de France category Hairdressing.  This dynamic woman from Lorraine, always smiling, answers our questions with passion.  

Sara Svati

Livecoiffure : Could you tell us about your most beautiful memory and your worse one during the preparation of the contest MOF ?

Alima Baz : I missed the precedent session and I thought that time I will register on time, I did everything for that, I even harassed the secretary [laughter].
I hesitated a long time before doing it, I didn’t feel confident but I needed change and I wanted to prove to myself I could do it. I had never participated to a contest before this one but I thought that if I could go until the end it would be an opportunity for me to be recognized by my peers. One of my worse memory was during one of my first trainings.  I didn’t know a technical term and I was pointed in front of everybody, I thought at that moment that there was a big gap despite my years of experience.
I wasn’t feeling comfortable.  It is quite difficult to adapt yourself to another method.  During 20 years I have been styling in a way with a certain kind of material and at that moment I was told to change completely, it is not easy at all ! After that, you get used to that and everything is all right but it is not easy straightaway.  Several times, I wanted to give up !
But for me the real failure was not loosing but giving up ! One of my best memories was when I was told I was selected for the final.  I wasn’t expecting that, I had no faith anymore.  On 25 march 2013, I had hope again and I was confident again, I was very moved ! Furthermore, I really liked the ambience among the candidates.  
I never took that as a contest with my other colleagues, it wasn’t really a competition.  We would go to the restaurant the night, we were united, all in the same “boat” and we supported each other to make our dream come true ! We were always laughing, I have very good memories !

Livecoiffure : Regarding the trial about the architecture of the future, you chose the Centre Pompidou-Metz. Why did you choose that structure and how did you proceed during the creation of the hairstyles ?

Alima Baz : At the beginning, I was on a completely different thing but it was impossible to create at the technical level. I had 9 months to prepare the final and it was quite difficult for me. A friend then suggested me to choose an architecture important for me. During the courses, we were anonymous, the jury couldn’t know I was from Lorraines so I chose the  Centre Pompidou in Metz to represent my region because I was impressed by that structure.
I wanted to create on the front of the head, a mixture between the structure of the roof of the centre Pompidou-Metz and a manta ray because I am a lover of scuba diving. I created a model and the final structure was made by a computer graphics designer and printed in 3D. The different materials used like the white hessian, the wicker chair cover or the maize starch framework result in a very original ensemble.  I used glass rod and a crepe paper to stabilize everything.  
The blue hexagons were created with a stencil, the makeup reminds about the framework.   

Livecoiffure : How did you feel when you were told about your victory and during the ceremony at the Sorbonne ?

Livecoiffure : Apart from the contest Meilleur Ouvrier de France, you run Alyso Coiffure Relooking, could you explain to us the concept ?  

Alima Baz : I had a training in makeover and in Image consulting and also in makeup ! The appearance is very important ! Indeed, it is the first thing one can see ! You keep in mind the face, the head, this is the non verbal communication.  One will judge someone by their behavior and their general appearance !  

Two essential bases : The colorimetry with many colors - colored fabrics - which enable to adapt your look according to the seasons.  I determin if you are a woman, winter, autumn, spring or summer. That way, the hairstyle, the makeup, the jewels, the accessories and the top will be adapted according to your complexion, the colors that you like and your personality ! The second choice is the morphological consultation : Adapting a shape on another shape ! I study the structure of your face, I determine its opened and closed side then the choice of the haircut according to the defined criteria.  
Then, for those who want it, I do a full body makeover from head to toe ! Regarding the style consultation, I study the colorimetry, I determine your clothing style then I do a morphological analysis of the silhouette highlighting your attractive features and hiding your defects then we choose together the outfit according to the event if you need something relaxed, chic...

Livecoiffure : What are your projects for this year and which message do you want to transmit ?

Alima Baz : I would like to update my website, the hairdressing part is not highlighted but it is a part of the makeover ! Renovating also the salon to improve its image and the management of my team. I feel again full of energy ! I want to contribute  to the image of the French know-how and to transmit what I learnt to other persons like a Mom would do with her baby MOF !
Launch yourself in the contest ! It is a great experience, you will be framed and focus again. But be careful for those who don’t like complication, I do love it, this is spice, and that level it was a very strong hot chili sauce ! [laughter]