Hair Expo in Sydney is the biggest hairdressing event in the southern hemisphere. It culminates in a huge awards gala where the most prestigious honours are awarded and Hairdresser of the Year is named.
To enter hairdressers submit a photographic collection of six images (with at least four different models) and they submit a questionnaire which explains their collection and their career. The images are judged anonymously and I don’t envy the judges as I don’t know how I could choose.
Now I don’t believe that a salon has to win an award to be a great salon, but I admire the passion and creativity of those who enter these awards. They push the follicle boundaries to inspire, set trends and truly express the creative career that is hairdressing.
Here are some highlights from the winners’ collections and if I were you I would head over to Hair Expo on Flickr to see all the collections. (Warning: You may lose some time staring at the gorgeousness and need to book a haircut immediately after.) The full list of winners is below.
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| Hairdresser of the Year – Jayne W ild, Wild Life Hair |
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| New Creative Force – Lisa Muscat, éSALON |
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| Session Stylist of the Year – Sarah Laidlaw, DLM Management |
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| Colour Technician of the Year – Matt Clements, The Assembly Hair |
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| Apprentice of the Year – Kim Jones, Wild Life Hair |
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| New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year – Sara Allsop, Dharma |
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| Salon Team of the Year – Wild Life Hair, Milson’s Point |
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| People’s Choice – Joey Scandizzo, Rokk Ebony |
Australian Hairdresser of the Year
Jayne Wild, Wild Life Hair, Milson’s Point, NSW
New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year
Sara Allsop, Dharma, Auckland, NZ
Colour Technician of the Year
Matt Clements, The Assembly Hair, Alexandra Headland, QLD
New Creative Force
Lisa Muscat, éSALON, Wahroonga, NSW
Apprentice of the Year
Kim Jones, Wild Life Hair, Milson’s Point, NSW
Salon Team of the Year
Wild Life Hair, Milson’s Point, NSW
Session Stylist of the Year
Sarah Laidlaw, DLM Management, East Sydney, NSW
Educator of the Year
Sharon Blain, Sharon Blain Education, Pennant Hills, NSW
Education Organisation of the Year
Servilles Academy, Auckland, NZ
People’s Choice
Joey Scandizzo, Rokk Ebony, South Yarra, VIC
Salon Design
Wild Life Hair, Milson’s Point, NSW
Excellence in Marketing
Zúmay, Mornington, VIC
Business Performance of the Year
Shortcuts Software
Best Photographic Collection
Lisa Muscat, é SALON, Wahroonga, NSW
Hall of Fame Inductee
Faye Murray, Your Coach
What’s your favourite image from the 2011 collections? Do you judge a salon by its awards?
That purple updo is kinda fun! I think it's the contrast between "rigid updo" and "fun color" that make it work.
Also loving that last one, it's really fun.
I don't judge by the winning of awards, more the entering of them. A salon that fosters creativity to the point that they will devote many, many hours to an awards process is one that is dynamic. That shows me that they are stretching themselves creatively – and will be in the best position to advise me on a new direction.
I love the last look! Truly unusual… i wonder how much? 🙂