ONSTAGE: FOR THE WIN

FOR THE WIN

THE SOPHOMORE AUSTRALIAN HAIR INDUSTRY AWARDS (CREATIVE) FOLLOWED UP THE INAUGURAL EVENT IN A BOLD COMPILATION OF TRIBUTES, HAIR FASHION SHOWS, AWARD WINNERS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO RECONNECT, WRITES SHANNON GUSS.

On Monday June 13 the Australian and New Zealand hair industry congregated at the International Convention Centre, Sydney, to celebrate the Australian Hair Industry Awards (Creative) 2022 gala and our hair community at large. The evening included inspiring hair fashion shows, the announcement of important industry winners, a tribute to the recently departed and dearly beloved Dennis Langford, and the requisite afterparty, all as a long awaited catch up and testament to the ever-evolving and incredibly talented salon industry.

Image by Dee Parker Attwood

The AHIAs are in their tenth year, built from the acclaimed Business awards and now celebrating the sophomore outing of the Creative venture as well. These awards followed Hair Festival, which took place over Sunday and Monday at Carriageworks in Sydney, to reclaim the Queen’s Birthday long weekend for the hair industry, together restoring this significant legacy and opportunity for the hair community.

The evening showcased two bold hair fashion performances, both with creative direction by event host and TV personality Adam Williams. Facilitated by the awards’ major sponsors, the first show was created by the Revlon Professional Artistic Crew and Education Team, as directed by National Education Manager Renee Meredith, and the ghd Education Team, as directed by AUS/NZ Education Manager Jordan Thomas.

The second show was delivered by O&M and Global Creative Director Janelle Chaplin, all with hair extensions supplied by Amazing Hair. The first show was a creative take on air travel, from flight attendants to bellhops, while the second show was a haunting and ethereal display of hair fashion. Both shows included entertaining dancing with highly stylised choreography and a runway component to truly draw the audience into the spectacle. The shows also incorporated custom show tracks to suit their very different concepts.

Image by Danny Pato

These shows and the awards were set against the backdrop of a 32 metre LED screen, adding to the display and putting the winners truly in the spotlight, with winners all back in the room live, away from the Zoom cameras of yesteryear. Winners took to the stage in awe of their accolades, with Australian Hairdresser of the Year and New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year, Dee Parker Attwood and Danny Pato respectively, only adding to their already illustrious mantles and legacies. Stevie English and members of his salon, Bernadette Beswick and the teams from Jack Horton Hair and Tsiknaris Hair all walked away as multi-award winners on the night.

The evening fittingly paid tribute to an industry legend lost this year, honouring TONI&GUY Australia CEO Dennis Langford and his substantial contribution to our national hair industry. The Hall of Fame Award was exclusively renamed as the Dennis Langford Hall of Fame Award, which was awarded by his wife Sara and sons Jackson and Thomas to hair education icon Dario Cotroneo of DCI Education. Dario spoke of his own friendship with and mentorship by Dennis in his acceptance speech, ushering in the legacy of Dennis’ Hall of Fame Award and continuing his inimitable impact.

Image by Danny Pato

The awards were judged by an international panel that included Angelo Seminara, Errol Douglas, Sally and Jamie Brooks, Sam McKnight, Charlotte Grant- West of HJI, Sergi Bancells of Esthetica, Cameron Pine of INSTYLE, Louise May of HAIR BIZ and Christina Butcher of Hair Romance. The emerging talents inducted into the HOTSHOTS team on the night were judged by Dee Parker Attwood, Jayne Wild, Benni Tognini, Stevie English, Sharon Blain and Brad Ngata.

“After launching the Creative AHIAs last year, we were thrilled at the overwhelming industry response and the huge amount of entries,” shared Mocha Owner/Publisher, Linda Woodhead. “These very special awards continue to 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 quality of the Australian hair industry is clearly evident here and every finalist and winner should be incredibly proud of their work.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Ella Stewart – Stevie English Hair

AVANT GARDE HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Chung-Yang Su- Su-Atelier

BEST COLLAB OF THE YEAR

Stevie and Bernie (Stevie English and Bernadette Beswick)

COLOUR EXPERT OF THE YEAR

Stevie English – Stevie English Hair

CREATIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR

Jack Horton Hair

INDEPENDENT STYLIST OF THE YEAR

Carolyn Gahan – Carolyn Jayun for ‘Joico’

INTERNATIONAL HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Errol Douglas – Errol Douglas, UK

MASTER CUTTER OF THE YEAR

Shae Tsiknaris – Tsiknaris Hair

MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR

France Khamees – By France

DENNIS LANGFORD HALL OF FAME

Dario Cotroneo

NEW CREATIVE TALENT OF THE YEAR

Elle Coco – Jack Horton Hair

NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Danny Pato – D&M Hair Design

NSW/ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Nathan Yazbek – Salon Yazbek

QLD HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Bill Tsiknaris – Tsiknaris Hair

SA/TAS HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Lisa Robertson – Pipsqueek in Saigon

VIC HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Bernadette Beswick – Beswick Education Services

WA/NT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Stephanie Bellairs – Cabello by Stephanie Bellairs

PEOPLE’S CHOICE PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION OF THE YEAR

Paul James Graham - Paul & Paul Salon

AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

Dee Parker Attwood – Wieselmann Salon

HOTSHOTS TEAM:

Elle Coco - Jack Horton Hair

Hayley Warner – Oscar Oscar SalonsCarindale

Louise Graham – Hey Hair SalonTia Wright-Pihama – TONI&GUY Perth