The finalists have been named in the third ever Australian Modern Barber Awards (AMBAs), honouring the best creative and business talent in the ever-growing men’s hair space. The awards platform was launched by Mocha Group in 2021 to fittingly pay tribute to this space. The winners will be named at a gala event in Melbourne on Sunday November 5 at the Plaza Ballroom.

The awards build on the Australian Hair Industry Awards and Australian Beauty Industry Awards portfolio, and consist of 17 categories headline by the AMBA Australian Modern Barber of the Year, AMBA Australian Modern Barber Business of the Year and the AMBA International Modern Barber of the Year. Other categories focus on men’s products, barbershop design, editorial facets, teamwork and more.

Ampersand Barber Co., Kings Domain Barber Shop in South Yarra, KJ Barbers, New York Barbers and The BarberBar at Broadbeach were nominated for Barber Business of the Year. Dylan Marks, of Boy Barbershop/Barber Academy, Harrison Philpott of Harrison & Co. Barbers, Matt Clarke of Esq. Male Grooming, Ryan Poole also of Esq. Male Grooming, Simon Doyle of Area Studio and Suzi O’Brien, The Studio X were nominated in the title of Australian Modern Barber of the Year. The Hall of Fame and Special Recognition Awards will be announced at the gala event.

The independent judging panel included media, PR and business specialists, international barbering icons and experts in the barbering industry. The awards are sponsored by Heiniger, American Barber, Babyliss Pro, American Crew, Andis, Depot, JRL, Shortcuts, Excellent Edges, Timely, Comfortel and Wahl.

Congratulations to the finalists!

Best Men’s Styling Product of the Year
Sponsored by Barbershop Magazine
Cloud Matte Styling Formula by Motion Lab
Putty Pomade by Captain Fawcett
Scheme Cream by Hanz De Fuko
Styling Cream by Justice
Smash It
Whip by American Crew

Best Men’s Collection – Junior
Sponsored by Depot
Bec Steindl, Barber By Design
Corina Catanzaro, HMB Barbers Townsville
Gianni Sollazzo, Esq. Male Grooming
Ian Yuen, Jimmy Rods
Jacob Bonanni, Jimmy Rods
Jarrod Prosper, The Barber Academy
Karl Fono, HMB Barbers Townsville
Reid Jaroudi, Boy Barbershop
Samuel Reid, Have Heart Barbershop
Steve Robinson, HMB Barbers Townsville

Best Men’s Collection – Freestyle
Sponsored by Andis
Benny Hogan, HMB Barbers Townsville
Clint Wallace, Barbers By Design
Costa Zacharia, Unoit Barber
Mary-Jane Sonio, HMB Barbers Townsville
Matt Clarke, Esq. Male Grooming
Nicole Fallshaw, St Martins Barber Shop
Robin Tredrea, Barber Boys & Co. – Newton
Tom Wynn, Attaboy Hair

Best Business Director/Owner of the Year
Sponsored by JRL
Aaron Chan, Kings Domain Barber Shop
Bill Galanis, The BarberBar
Cameron and Bayli Mcfadyen, The Blacksmith Barbers
Don De Sanctis, Barber Boys
Gareth Philpott, The Barber Academy
Jacob Martin, Tate & Lyle
Joshua Vas, KJ Barbers
Robby Lippett, Attaboy

Best Customer Care
Sponsored by Shortcuts
Kings Domain Barber Shop – Richmond
New York Barbers
Platform1 Barbershop
Tate & Lyle
The BarberBar – Broadbeach
The Studio X
Unoit Barber

Best Men’s Collection – Classic
Sponsored by BaBylissPRO, Dateline Imports
Aaron Chan, Kings Domain Barber Shop
Abbie Cramp, HMB Barbers
Chris Thoedoulou, The BarberBar
Crisna Pheng, Haveachat Barbershop
Jake Hart, Have Heart Barbershop
Jared Sengstock, HMB Barbers
Robby Lippett, Attaboy
Ryan Poole, Esq. Male Grooming
Sean Hayes, Mayday Barber Studio
Thomas Spee, Reed Studio

Best Men’s Educator of the Year Organisation
Sponsored by Excellent Edges
Barbery the Craft of a Barber Academy
Kings Domain Academy
The Barber Academy
The Blacksmith Barber Academy

Best Barbershop Design
Sponsored by Comfortel
Kings Domain Barber Shop – Rialto
The BarberBar – Broadbeach

Best Team Collection
Sponsored by American Crew
Attaboy
Boy Barbershop
Esq. Male Grooming
Havachat Barbershop
Have Heart Barbershop
Kings Domain Barber Shop – Prahran
Reed Studio
Tate & Lyle
The Barber Academy
Zak Grooming For Men

International Modern Barber of the Year
Sponsored by Sponsored by Timely
Florian Zizkovsky, Austria
George Smith, UK
Rino Riccio, UK

BTS Crew
Sponsored by mocha group
Clint Wallace For Best Collection Freestyle
Dylan Marks For Australian Modern Barber of the Year
Kings Domain Barber Shop For Best Collection Classic
Matt Clarke For Best Collection Freestyle
Matt Clarke For Australian Modern Barber of the Year
Ryan Poole For Australian Modern Barber of the Year
Ryan Poole For Best Collection Classic
Suzi O’Brien For Australian Modern Barber of the Year
Tate & Lyle For Best Team Collection
The Barber Academy For Best Team Collection

Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by WAHL Professional
To be announced on the night

Hall of Fame
Sponsored by mocha group
To be announced on the night

Australian Modern Barber Business of the Year
Sponsored by American Barber, M&U Imports
Ampersand Barber Co.
Kings Domain Barber Shop – South Yarra
KJ Barbers
New York Barbers
The BarberBar – Broadbeach

Australian Modern Barber of the Year
Sponsored by Heiniger
Dylan Marks, Boy Barbershop/Barber Academy
Harrison Philpott, Harrison & Co. Barbers
Matt Clarke, Esq. Male Grooming
Ryan Poole, Esq. Male Grooming
Simon Doyle, Area Studio
Suzi O’Brien, The Studio X

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