Elisha Forgione is establishing herself as one of urban Australia's most exciting emerging colourists, combining technical precision with an audacious creative vision that has already set her apart in Adelaide's competitive hairdressing landscape.
Winner of the 2025 CURATE Urban Australia Colour & Style Award, she represents a new generation of stylists who approach hair as a medium for bold self-expression and transformation.
Completing her apprenticeship and becoming fully qualified while working at Bliss the Art of Hair, Elisha developed a distinctive reputation for her fearless approach to vivid colour work and her ability to translate imaginative concepts into stunning reality. Her journey into hairdressing began through family influence, when her hairdressing Aunt first introduced Elisha to the craft, gifting to her, her first tool kit and igniting a passion that would become her calling.
Now, Elisha has embarked on a new adventure, opening her own Adelaide salon, Agape Hair Lounge, which has become her key focus and creative outlet. Here, she will continue to be driven by the transformative power of colour and style, and witnessing clients’ reactions to seeing themselves in a new light, fuelling her dedication to continuous improvement.
She has invested significantly in her education, attending workshops and training sessions with industry luminaries including Clive Allwright, Barney Gleeson, and Lisa Robertson, while also completing comprehensive brand education with Muk and DeLorenzo. This commitment to learning has accelerated her development and broadened her technical repertoire.
Here we explore this vibrant talent’s creative journey and aspirations for the future.
What has winning the CURATE Urban Australia Colour & Style Award meant to you?
It still feels absolutely surreal – but is proof that it is so worth giving something new a go. Winning this award validated all the late nights practicing techniques and the risks I’ve taken with colour. It’s shown me that my approach, which some might consider unconventional or bold, actually resonates within the industry. This recognition has given me so much confidence to keep pushing boundaries and experimenting with colour and texture in ways that surprise even me. A perfect example is preparing for our team shoot with Justin, where I created a basket-weave inspired piece. This is one of my proudest creations and something that is now pushing me to be much more daring with my vision.
How has your faith shaped your approach to hairdressing?
My faith is incredibly important to me, and it’s something I’m proud to let guide the way I grow as a hairdresser. I truly believe God has led me into this space and surrounded me with so many incredible people and opportunities. I’m so grateful for where I find myself today and the path that’s brought me here.
What inspires your bold approach to colour?
I’ve always been drawn to intensity and contrast, whether that’s in nature, fashion, or art.
Vivids allow me to create something truly transformative and unexpected and there’s something so satisfying about mixing custom shades and watching a client’s vision come to life in vibrant, dimensional colours.
I find inspiration everywhere: sunset colour palettes, street fashion, even random colour combinations I see throughout my day.
My imagination runs wild with possibilities, and hair gives me the perfect medium to experiment.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
I want to explore every corner of this industry- editorial work, working with brands, bridal styling, maybe even platform work one day. Opening my new salon will be a huge focus for me and I’m so excited to be building long term relationships with my clients. The thought of becoming part of all the special moments in their lives and growing with them over the years is so exciting to me.
@elisha_blisstheartofhair
