Big Hair Friday – Hair Expo Finalists Announced

This week the finalists for the 2012 Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo were announced at a cocktail event in Sydney. There was a record number of entries this year and I was blown away by the standard of the collections.

I didn’t envy the judges in deciding the nominees, and they spent days examining the written entries and photographic collections. Waiting for the announcement you could feel the tension in the air. The judges obviously had trouble choosing too, as there are 10 nominees for Australian Hairdresser of the Year. There’s a full list of the nominees below and the winners will be announced during the Hair Expo Gala event in June.

The hair for these awards may seem crazy and unwearable, but the amount of creativity and passion in the room was inspiring. There is a staggering amount of work in entering a collection for this prestigious award and I admire any salon that encourages their staff to enter. It’s inspiring to see so much talent, and browsing the collections made me want to get a haircut.

Hair by Philip Barwick, Muse Hairdressing, Surry Hills NSW – Nominated for Australian Hairdresser of the Year

Hair by Sharon Blain, Art of Hair, Sydney NSW – Nominated for Australian Hairdresser of the Year and Educator of the Year

Hair by Ryan Mitchell, Valonz, Paddington NSW – Nominated for New Creative Force

2012 Hair Expo Finalists

Australian Hairdresser of the Year

Frank Apostolopoulos (Biba, Fitzroy, VIC)
Emiliano Vitale (é Salon, Wahroongah, NSW)
Craig Smith (Fruition, Brisbane, QLD)
Damien Rinaldo (Hair Machine, Norwood, SA)
Caterina DiBiase (Heading Out Hair & Beauty, Fitzroy, VIC)
Joey Scandizzo (Joey Scandizzo Salon, South Yarra, VIC)
Tracey Hughes (Mieka Hairdressing, Collingwood, VIC)
Phillip Barwick (Muse Hairdressing, Surry Hills, NSW)
Robert Bava (Parlour Hair, Adelaide, SA)
Sharon Blain (The Art of Hair, Beecroft, NSW)

New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year

Mana Dave (Blaze, Auckland, NZ)
Sara Allsop (Dharma, Auckland, NZ)
Jock Robson (Dharma, Auckland, NZ)
Adrian Barclay (Venom, Ivercargill, NZ)

Colour Technician of the Year

Matt Clements (The Assembly Hair, Alexandra Headland, QLD)
Belinda Keeley (Chumba Concept Salon, Warragul, VIC)
Kate Rawnsley (Fruition Hair, Brisbane, QLD)
Marie Uva (Rokk Ebony, South Yarra, VIC)

New Creative Force

Jules Tognini (Aka Togninis, Fortitude Valley, QLD)
Alexandra Kontos (Nischler, Hobart, TAS
Ryan Mitchell (Valonz, Sydney, NSW)
Lisa Muscat (é Salon, Wahroonga, NSW)

Apprentice/Student of the Year

Mason Fahim (é Salon, Wahroonga, NSW)
Kristy Furniss (Fruition Hair, Brisbane, QLD)
Igor Rosales-Jackson (Rixon Hair, Brisbane, QLD)
Genevieve Collerton (Wild Life Hair SoGo, Surry Hills, NSW)

Salon Team of the Year

é Salon (Wahroonga, NSW)
Mieka Hairdressing (Collingwood, VIC)
Suki Hairdressing (Paddington, NSW)
Togninis (Fortitude Valley, QLD)

Session Stylist of the Year

Sarah Laidlaw (DLM Management, East Sydney, NSW)
Richard Kavanagh (DLM Management, East Sydney, NSW)
Lores Giglio (Brad Ngata Hair Direction, Surry Hills, NSW)
Darren Borthwick (The Artist Group, Woollahra, NSW)

Educator of the Year

Lyndal Salmon (Biba Academy, Fitzroy, VIC)
Sharon Blain (Sharon Blain Education, Beecroft, NSW)
Jules Tognini (Togninis / AKA Togninis, Fortitude Valley, QLD)
Tracey Hughes (Tracey Hughes Education, Collingwood, VIC)

Education Organisation of the Year

Biba Academy (Fitzroy, VIC)
Cut Above Academy (Auckland, NZ)
Pivot Point Academy (Melbourne, VIC)
Servilles Academy (Auckland, NZ)

Salon Design

Charlie Salon (Southbank, VIC)
Head Studio (Perth, WA)
TONI&GUY (Subiaco, WA)
Tribe Lifestyle (Sydney, NSW)

Excellence in Marketing

Servilles (Auckland, NZ)
Suki Hairdressing (Paddington, NSW)
Togninis (Fortitude Valley, QLD)
TONI&GUY (Paddington, NSW)

Business Performance of the Year

Head Studio (Perth, WA)
Muk Haircare (Keilor Park, VIC)
Servilles (Auckland, NZ)
Show Pony Hair Extensions (Ashmore City, QLD)

Photographic Collection of the Year

Frank Apostolopoulos Biba (Fitzroy, VIC)
Joey Scandizzo (Joey Scandizzo Salon, South Yarra, VIC)
Robert Bava (Parlour Hair, Adelaide, SA)
Matt Clements (The Assembly Hair, Alexandra Headland, QLD)

Here’s an Instagram snap by Kimmi of The Plastic Diaries of me and Jamie of Miss Chew checking out the entries. I think my hair is big enough for Big Hair Friday too!

Until the winners are announced at the Hair Expo Gala event in June, I will be sharing highlights from the collections on Hair Romance and interviewing the nominees to find out the secrets to being a top hairdresser and learning their best hair advice.

Happy Friday! Is it just me or was this a very looooong week? Have a great weekend x