Leading hairdressers named as Hair Expo Australia announces the finalists of the 2018 Hair Expo Awards

Tuesday 1 May 2018, Sydney: Hair Expo Australia has announced the 2018 finalists for the Hair Expo Awards, Australia and New Zealand’s highest honours in hairdressing. Entrants to the awards came together with prominent industry professionals and media for a cocktail function at Pier 2/3 in Sydney’s Dawes Point to hear 112 finalists announced across 18 categories.

“The calibre of work that we’ve seen in the awards this year is exceptional and really highlights how relevant and important the Hair Expo Awards are to the industry”, said Cory Watson, Event Director for Hair Expo Australia. “We are so thrilled to celebrate our finalists tonight and wish them the very best of luck for the awards gala”.

In 2018, there were notable increases in entries across categories like WA-NT Hairdresser of the Year (54.5 per cent), SA-Tas Hairdresser of the Year (40 per cent), and New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year (37.5 per cent). The finalists of the awards’ highest honour, the Australian Hairdresser of the Year, are:

·         Frank Apostolopoulos, BIBA Gertrude Street

·         Joey Scandizzo, Joey Scandizzo Salon

·         Uros Mikic, Kinky Curly Straight

·         Kobi Bokshish, Intershape Hairstylists

·         Dee Parker Attwood, Wieselmann Salon

·         Jason Fassbender, Parlour Hair Unley

A full list of finalists across all categories can be seen from page 2

Entries across 14 creative categories and four business categories were judged by a truly global panel of 10 international and 10 local judges, representing a selection of the world’s best hair professionals. Three additional business judges from outside of the hair industry were also brought on board to lend their expertise in assessing business category submissions in the preliminary judging round.

The judging panel in 2018 includes:

International judges   ·         Tabatha Coffey ·         Angelo Seminara ·         Edward Darley ·         Mark Hayes ·         Peter Gray ·         Sally Brooks ·         Jamie Brooks ·         Nick Irwin ·         Laura Castelli ·         Mark Leeson

Local Judges   ·         Sharon Blain ·         Benni Tognini ·         Faye Murray ·         Frank Apostolopoulos ·         Sara Allsop ·         Jayne Wild ·         Sandy Chong ·         Joey Scandizzo ·         Sarah Laidlaw ·         Caterina Di Biase

Additional business judges   ·         Dr Anh Nguyen, renowned Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon. 2017 Telstra Western Australian Entrepreneur Award, Telstra Business Women’s Awards ·         Thomas Plunkett, Customer Experience Lounge Host Manager, Qantas            ·         Enza Ferraro, National Head Trainer, ANZ Bank

Also new to the judging process this year, Australian business coach Julie Piantadosi was appointed as Head Judge and Awards Ambassador and was on-hand to guide entrants through the awards entry process and assist the panel with the judging process.

“What an amazing experience it’s been working with our stellar judges from around the globe! I’m absolutely blown away by the incredible talent from the entrants this year. Big congratulations to all the finalists – I am super excited for the second round of judging! These awards really do celebrate and showcase the best of the best in our industry”, said Julie.

The prestigious awards, the longest-standing in Australia and now in their 33^rd year, elevate those in the hair industry by recognising and celebrating excellence in creative vision, advanced technical skill, and business acumen – the complete picture of what exceptional hairdressing is.

The winners of the 2018 Hair Expo Awards will be announced at a lavish gala ceremony on Monday 11 June at Hair Expo Australia’s 2018 edition in Melbourne. The gala night is considered the pinnacle event of Hair Expo’s three days of trend showcases, world-class education and hair show performances, which have led to it coined as “The Festival of Hair”.

For more details please visit www.hairexpoaustralia.com 

2018 HAIR EXPO AWARDS FINALISTS

CREATIVE CATEGORIES

AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Frank Apostolopoulos, BIBA Gertrude Street – Fitzroy, VIC

·         Joey Scandizzo, Joey Scandizzo Salon – South Yarra, VIC

·         Uros Mikic, Kinky Curly Straight – Adelaide, SA

·         Kobi Bokshish, Intershape Hairstylists – Bondi Junction, NSW

·         Dee Parker Attwood, Wieselmann Salon – South Yarra, VIC

·         Jason Fassbender, Parlour Hair Unley – Adelaide, SA

NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Sara Allsop, dharma – Auckland, New Zealand

·         Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design – Auckland, New Zealand

·         Kylie Hayes, Moha Hairdressing – Dunedin, New Zealand

·         Ann Marie Young, Jingles Hair Design – Hamilton, New Zealand

·         Michael Beel, Buoy Salon & Spa – Wellington, New Zealand

·         Natasha King, Fred's Hair – Invercargill, New Zealand

COLOUR TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Stevie Corthine, Stevie English Hair – Glebe, NSW

·         Sanja Scher, rokk ebony – Melbourne, VIC

·         Adrian Rotolo, Ibiza Hair – Albert Park, VIC

·         Kristie Kesic, Stelios Papas Toowong – Toowong, QLD

·         Angela Pastore, Colour Cosmetica Studio and Academy – Adelaide, SA

·         Travis Bandiera, Royals Hair – Sydney, NSW

MEN’S HAIRDRESSER / BARBER OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Hermiz Daniel, Joey Scandizzo Salon – South Yarra, VIC

·         Uros Mikic, Kinky Curly Straight – Adelaide, SA

·         Jules Tognini, Togninis – Fortitude Valley, QLD

·         Gregson Gastar, BG's Lounge – Adelaide, SA

·         Tori Gill, Kings Domain Barbershop – South Yarra, VIC

·         Josh Mihan, The Bearded Man – Prahran, VIC

·         Yuki Kano, TONI&GUY Australia – Sydney, NSW

·         Kawada Lambert, Tao of Hair – Perth, WA

·         Dmitri Papas, Papas + Pace - Advanced Hairdressing – Brisbane, QLD

·         Joe Ribera, Visare Hair Studio – Haberfield, NSW

NEW CREATIVE FORCE 2018

·         Cyrielle Viardot, BIBA St Kilda – St Kilda, VIC

·         Tristan Waite-Ballinger, BIBA Gertrude Street – Fitzroy, VIC

·         Ben Russell, BIBA Gertrude Street – Fitzroy, VIC

·         Hannah McLaren, D&M Hair Design – Auckland, New Zealand

·         Yuki Kano, TONI&GUY Australia – Sydney, NSW

·         Joe Habbaki, TONI&GUY Armadale – Armadale, VIC

·         Travis Bandiera, Royals Hair – Sydney, NSW

·         Kiri Roberts, Mane Salon – Wellington, New Zealand

·         Nikki Porter, Rubi Hair Malvern – Malvern, VIC

·         Morgan Richards, TONI&GUY North Sydney – North Sydney, NSW

APPRENTICE / STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Lani Caslake, Catal Hair Concepts – Mitcham, VIC

·         Nathan Smith, Parlour Adelaide – Adelaide, SA

·         Nicholas Tragos, Colour Cosmetica – Adelaide, SA

·         Julia Demarte, Joey Scandizzo Salon – South Yarra, VIC

·         Ingrid Wolff, Blow It's a Hair Thing – Adelaide, SA

·         Maddison Power, Ella&Jade – Calamvale, QLD

SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR 2018

·         TONI&GUY Artistic Team

·         UVA SALON – Prahran, VIC

·         Tsiknaris Hair – New Farm, QLD

·         French Revolver Studio – Auckland, New Zealand

·         D&M Hair Design – Auckland, New Zealand

·         Ella&Jade – Calamvale, QLD

·         Tao of Hair – Perth, WA

·         Blow It's a Hair Thing – Adelaide, SA

SESSION STYLIST OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Koh Sataporn Tanyawanichapong

·         Sarah Laidlaw

·         Richard Kavanagh

·         Philip Barwick

BEST SALON DESIGN 2018

·         Parlour Adelaide – Adelaide, SA

·         RAZORSMITHS – Collingwood, VIC

·         Cataldo's Salon – Canberra, ACT

·         Rixon Hair – Brisbane, QLD

·         George & Ivy – East Freemantle, WA

·         Circles on Fitzgerald – Perth, WA

·         DavidLee Hairdressing – Woodvale, WA

·         Ado Hair – Tauranga, New Zealand

·         Blondie Hair + Cosmetica – Geelong, VIC

·         Jakadjari Hair Australia – Hobart,  TAS

CREATIVE STATE CATEGORIES

 NSW-ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Nathan Cherrington, TONI&GUY Concord – NSW

·         Katy Reeve, TONI&GUY Paddington – NSW

·         James Calabria, Franco of Canberra – ACT

·         Adam Ciaccia, Axis Hairdressing – Braddon, ACT

·         Nicole Kae, Nicole Kae Freelance – Newtown, NSW

·         Zoe Wilde, Zoe Wilde Artistry – Albury, NSW

SA-TAS HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Johnny Georgiou, Colour Cosmetica – Adelaide, SA

·         Tony Mckenzie, Parlour Hair Unley – SA

·         Sam James, Orbe North Adelaide – SA

·         Tracy Doak, De Stijl – Hobart, TAS

VICTORIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Sanja Scher, rokk ebony – Melbourne

·         Chung-Yang Su, rokk ebony – Melbourne

·         Michael Piastrino, Ibiza Hair – Albert Park

·         Andrea De Deugd, Jacou Hair – Elsternwick

·         Joe Habbaki, TONI&GUY Armadale

·         Hermiz Daniel, Joey Scandizzo Salon – South Yarra

WA-NT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Judith McEwen, TONI&GUY Perth Central – WA               

·         Jo Banks, HairArt – Ellenbrook, WA         

·         Anita Sutton-Galloway, Djurra Lifestyle Salon and Spa – Freemantle, WA             

·         Pauline McCabe, Rock Paper Scissors Hair Studio – Freemantle, WA        

·         Charlie Crothers, The Nest Hair Boutique – Attadale, WA            

·         Terrina Brown, Zedz – Palmyra, WA       

·         Anmar Sahar, Element Aveda Lifestyle – Subiaco, WA    

·         Asuka Aoki, Tao of Hair – Perth, WA       

·         Hayley Keep, Earth Wind Fire Hair – Canning Vale, WA

QUEENSLAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Elle Schoemaker, Stelios Papas Toowong

·         Brodie Lee Stubbins, ROKSTAR – West End

·         William Webb, Ella&Jade – Calamvale    

BUSINESS CATEGORIES

EDUCATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2018

·         TONI&GUY Education Australia

·         BIBA Academy

·         Sharon Blain Education

·         DCI Education

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Caterina Di Biase

·         Katy Reeve

·         Dario Cotroneo

·         Jules Tognini

·         Kylie Dwyer

INDUSTRY BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR 2018

·         O&M

·         Excellent Edges

·         Mocha Publishing

SALON BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2018

·         Edwards and Co – Sydney, NSW

·         The Fox & The Hair – Wollongong, NSW

·         Salon Kiin – Penrith, NSW

·         Tyler Reid Hair – Canning Vale, WA

·         Royals Hair – Sydney, NSW

·         Circles of Subiaco – Perth, WA