The 9th annual Australian Hair Industry Awards took place virtually over the weekend, connecting the national industry through screens and shared values on October 11, celebrating the best in business in the Australian hair community and rallying around leaders and pioneers in the hair business space.
Hosted by Mocha Publishing, the platform provides a wealth of awards categories across salon excellence, teams, individual talent and more. This year it was celebrated remotely, with industry members connecting and cheering each other on from across the country. The awards were hosted by actor Samuel Johnson, founder of the Love Your Sister cancer charity, with an air of camaraderie and celebration to all of the proceedings.
“We put so much work into these awards so making the call to make the event virtual was heartbreaking, not just for myself and the team, but for all of the amazing and generous people in our industry who look to the AHIAs as the ultimate reward for their hard work throughout the year,” said Linda Woodhead, owner of Mocha Publishing. “It was crucial to Mocha that we still provide a platform for the industry as it has never been more needed. I was so incredibly proud of our industry as people made the most of these unprecedented conditions to make this year’s awards the most memorable yet!”
Partners to the event include major brand names such as Amazing Hair, Kitomba, Oribe, The Zing Project, KMS, L’Oréal Professionnel, Sustainable Salons, PulpRiot, Redken, Matrix, Wella Professionals, Muk Haircare, Revlon Professional, EVY Professional, Goldwell, ghd, Hair Beauty Co-op, Shortcuts, DNA Organics, Dateline Imports, Academies Australasia, Schwarzkopf Professional and Excellent Edges. An expert judging panel was comprised of 30 business and hair industry experts, including Ruth Hunsley, Laura Husband, Julie Bellinger-Gibb, Kim Krey, Faye Murray, Jenny Burns, Ruth Browne, Charles Marcus, Amy Starr and Rose Garnett.
“It is a privilege to judge the AHIAs, which recognise the effort and success that is achieved by salons and individuals in key business areas. The growth of these awards is nothing short of extraordinary, these awards cover it all,” Faye said.
As well as naming the category winners, the event announced the Hot Shots team for 2020, judged by Desmond Murray, Errol Douglas, Andrew Barton, Michael Young and Jean-Baptiste Mazella from the UK, alongside Christopher Dove and John Simpson from the US and 20 local judges including Sharon Blain, Benni Tognini, Brad Ngata, Jayne Wild and Dee Parker Attwood. This opportunity will now propel these talented young hairdressers into the next phase of their careers.
“The Hot Shots competition is essential for all hairdressers under 30 wanting to promote themselves to the forefront of the industry. The opportunities given to the winners are priceless with incredible experiences that will stay with them for a lifetime,” Dee said.
Congratulations to Australian Hair Salon of the Year Circles of Subiaco and to all the winners, listed below.
CARE, TREAT AND STYLE AWARDS
Sponsored by Hair Beauty Co-op
BEST IN CARE
Schwarzkopf Professional
BC Hyaluronic Moisture Kick Shampoo + Conditioner
BEST IN TREAT
Kemon
Kemon ACTYVA Nuova Fibra Cream
BEST IN STYLE
PURE Haircare
PURE Styling Cream
Junior/Apprentice of the Year
SPONSORED BY EXCELLENT EDGES
Kellie Handricks – Elysium Hair Brisbane
Senior Stylist of the Year
SPONSORED BY MATRIX
Elle Schoemaker – Cobelle Creative
Salon Manager of the Year
SPONSORED BY WELLA PROFESSIONALS
Jessica Kane – Tigerlamb King Street
Director/Owner of the Year
SPONSORED BY GOLDWELL
Ali Holmes, Wild Life SoGo
Salon Design
SPONSORED BY KMS
Telleish Hair Studio
Best Educator of the Year – Individual
SPONSORED BY EVY PROFESSIONAL
Dario Cotroneo
Best Educator of the Year – Organisation
SPONSORED BY SUSTAINABLE SALONS
The Secret Fox Education
Best Customer Care Award
SPONSORED BY SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL
Elysium Hair Brisbane
Best Salon Training Award
SPONSORED BY PULP RIOT
Tigerlamb
Best Marketing Award
SPONSORED BY SHORTCUTS
Salon Kiin
Best Business Performance of the Year (non-salon)
SPONSORED BY ACADEMIES AUSTRALASIA
Ecoheads
Salon Team of the Year
SPONSORED BY L’OREAL PROFESSIONAL
Cobelle Creative
Best Salon Newcomer of the Year
SPONSORED BY REVLON
SJ Establishment
Best Eco Salon
SPONSORED BY DNA ORGANICS
Little Birdie Hair Co
State Salon of the Year NSW/ACT
SPONSORED BY KITOMBA
Royals Hair
State Salon of the Year QLD
SPONSORED BY WELLA PROFESSIONALS
Epic Hair Designs
State Salon of the Year VIC/TAS
SPONSORED BY MUK HAIRCARE
Rubi Hair Richmond
State Salon of the Year SA
SPONSORED BY REDKEN
Orbe
State Salon of the Year WA/NT
SPONSORED BY MATRIX
Circles Of Subiaco
National Wholesaler of the Year
SPONSORED BY
DATELINE IMPORTS
Hair Beauty Co Op
Special Recognition of the Year
SPONSORED BY
THE ZING PROJECT
Sandy Chong, CEO – AHC
AUSTRALIAN SALON OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by
HAIRBIZ MAGAZINE
Circles Of Subiaco
2020 HOT SHOTS TEAM
Sponsored by
ghd, Goldwell, Excellent Edges and Amazing Hair
Amberley Gittings – Rubi Hair Richmond
Alannah Read – Ella&Jade
Ashleigh Weller – Born Barbers Collective
Elie Kashi – Royals Hair
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