2021 AHIA CREATIVE WINNERS

THE NATION’S HAIR INDUSTRY, TOGETHER AGAIN, FOR FIRST EVER CREATIVE PLATFORM OF THE ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN HAIR INDUSTRY AWARDS 2021

Monday the 14th June saw Australia’s leading creatives take some time to celebrate the best of the best, joining together for the first time in two years at The Star, Sydney for this longawaited gala awards evening. With the ongoing impact of COVID-19 the industry has been faced with unprecedented economic and logistical challenges, but 2021 brings renewed positivity and solidarity as salons begin to rebuild and reconnect.

Launched in 2012 by esteemed trade visionaries Mocha Publishing, the Australian Hair Industry Awards (AHIA’s) are celebrating their 10th year as the trusted national award platform which provide a benchmark of excellence across both specialist and individual Educational and Business categories and this event marks the inaugural year that the Creative categories have been given their own awards program.

MC’d by Creative Director, Host and Media Personality Adam Williams, the evening saw 700 of the most talented hairdressers and their salon teams watching on as 17 awards were announced. The gala festivities opened with ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’- an incredible choreographed circus extravaganza featuring Ring Master Adam with his cast of 20 dancers, aerialists and models, alongside a hair show directed by the creative and artistic teams of Revlon Professional and ghd with extensions provided by Amazing Hair.

In a fitting nod to the legacy of the now cancelled Hair Expo, former multi-accoladed winners were also given the chance to present some of the awards for what is now the definitive June long weekend industry event.

Owner/Publisher Linda Woodhead could not have been happier to see everyone in the same room again; “The Creative AHIA’s are our exciting new awards platform which highlight the quality of the industry’s editorial and trend focused skills and have allowed our entrants to show their clients and communities just how talented they are. The calibre of this year’s collections exceeded our high expectations and all of our finalists and winners should be incredibly proud of their work.”

The AHIA yet again partnered with some of the biggest names and brands in the industry to bring this evening together and the team have never been more thankful for the support of brand partners Revlon Professional, ghd, Excellent Edges and Amazing Hair. There was also the addition on the night of a live show with American Crew, with the Finalists and Winner of 2021 #allstarchallenge being named.

The awards also marked a record with 100 esteemed international and local judges enlisted to hone in on the impressive entries with business, media and industry expert including Sam McKnight UK, Guy Tang USA, Sally Brooks UK, Angelo Seminara UK, Errol Douglas UK, Jenny Strebe USA, Julie BellingerGibb UK, Faye Murray, Charles Marcus, Kym Krey, Cameron Pine, Brad Ngata, Jayne Wild, Tracey Hughes and Sharon Blain as well as representatives from local publications including HAIRBIZ, Instyle, Woman’s Day, New Idea, Beautyheaven, Hair Romance, mamamia and Jones and international publications including Hairdressers Journal International, Estetica, Independent Beauty Professional Magazine, Intercoiffure SA, Salon Magazine and Coiffure.

“The creativity and passion I’ve seen in this year’s inaugural AHIA Creative entries has been outstanding. What a defining year it has been. The ingenuity and resourcefulness of the entries is a testament to how strong, globally, we are as an industry.” Sam McKnight

Collection by Australian Hairdresser of the Year - Dee Parker Attwood

Collection by Australian Hairdresser of the Year - Dee Parker Attwood

Collection by Australian Hairdresser of the Year - Dee Parker Attwood

Collection by Australian Hairdresser of the Year - Dee Parker Attwood

Collection by Australian Hairdresser of the Year - Dee Parker Attwood

Collection by Australian Hairdresser of the Year - Dee Parker Attwood

Collection by Australian Hairdresser of the Year - Dee Parker Attwood. Photographer: Andrew O’Toole. Makeup: Kylie O’Toole. Styling: Karly Brown. Colour: Dee Parker Attwood/ Katie Ryman

2021 AHIA CREATIVE WINNERS

AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR Dee Parker Attwood, Wieselmann Salon

NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design

INTERNATIONAL HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR Sally Brooks, Brooks & Brooks

COLOUR EXPERT OF THE YEAR Stevie Corthine, Stevie English Hair

NSW/ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR Paula Hibbard, Paula Hibbard

QLD HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR Amy Gaudie, Urban Chic

SA/TAS HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR Mario Fioravanti, SJ Establishment

VIC HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR Cristina Tatasciore, Flipped Hair

WA/NT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR Jude McEwen, Toni and Guy Perth Central

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR Paige Cameron, Cobelle Creative

INDEPENDENT STYLIST OF THE YEAR Charlene Fernandez, Charlene Fernandez Hair

MASTER CUTTER OF THE YEAR Elle Schoemaker, Cobelle Creative

NEW CREATIVE TALENT OF THE YEAR James Morris, Biba Gertrude St

AVANT GARDE HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR & PEOPLES CHOICE COLLECTION Paul James Graham, Paul & Paul Salon

MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR Anthony Staltari, Barbery Australia

BEST COLLAB OF THE YEAR Stephanie & Coco

CREATIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR SJ Establishment