15 minute read
MEET THE 2021 AHIA CREATIVE WINNERS
Next Article
AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Dee Parker Attwood, Wieselmann Salon
Dee is one of our most accomplished hairdressers globally, having taken out numerous awards and accolades against her peers around the world. As co-owner and Artistic Director of Wieselmann salon in Melbourne, her career spans over 20 years including being international ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional and 2019 Hair Expo Australian Hairdresser of the Year and Best International Avant-Garde Collection at the International Hairdressing Awards 2020. She is also one of the leading visionaries of the local industry having been named president of the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Association where she uses her passion and love for her craft to help to educate and share with the community. But, it’s her skill in the salon where she truly shines, creating some of the most incredible colours, cuts and styles Australia has ever seen.
NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design
Co-Founder and Creative Director of D&M Hair Design, Danny Pato grew up in Greece with five sisters, the very women who sparked his passion for hairdressing. That passion has taken him all over the world and seen him recognised as one of the most awarded hairdressers in the industry. Indeed, the D&M team are proud to have been consistently recognised as the top salon team in the country first opening more than 14 years ago. The combination of unique cultures, speciality skill sets and creative passions is what defines them, alongside their comprehensive in-house training program focused on international trends and techniques. Today, Danny works full-time on the salon floor, and juggles training his team, doing fashion editorials, writing industry commentary and adding to his trophies for Hair Expo New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, AIPP International Trophy 2020 and top-three finalist for International Hairdresser of the Year 2020.
INTERNATIONAL HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Sally Brooks, Brooks & Brooks
British Hairdresser of the Year 2018 and 2017 and London Hairdresser of the Year 3 times, Sally has a career spanning 25 years which has seen her working all over the world. Known for her inimitable skill at educating and inspiring other hairdressers to be the best version of themselves, she is looked to as a pillar of the industry. A true creative mind, she regularly creates fashion work, editorials and live shows but what she loves the most about her job are her clients. From assistant at The Trevor Sorbie salon to owner of the esteemed London salon Brooks & Brooks, she continues to make her mark.
Award Collected by Clive Allwright
COLOUR EXPERT OF THE YEAR Stevie Corthine, Stevie English Hair
Stevie needs little introduction to those who appreciate the power of a great cut, colour and style and has been manning his Glebe salon, Stevie English Hair, since 2007 alongside his talented team. Dedicated to driving green innovation, they are the first salon in the world to use evo hue.verse colour. This unique and proudly Australian product is ammonia-free and was used to create the stunning collection of images that led him to take out this award. Now the Global Colour Creative Director for evo, he inspires those both in the salon as well as the global community as an exciting and engaging national and international educator.
NSW/ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Paula Hibbard, Paula Hibbard
With her vibrant personality and passion for sharing knowledge, Paula began her career in the hair industry as a young teenager on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with renowned hairdressing group Jon Le Court. Since then she has come a long way, with her Paula’s technical expertise and creative flair gracing the pages and covers of magazines including Modern Hair & Beauty, Oyster, InStyle, and Modern Wedding. Her skills have also been showcased in numerous film, fashion, and TV productions, including Project Runway, The Voice Kids, Mercedes Benz Australian Fashion Week and The Gods of Egypt, plus she is also a guest artist for home-grown product brands DeLorenzo and iD Extensions. In 2014, due to overwhelming industry demand Paula launched her full-time training company Paula Hibbard Education and now spends her days travelling around Australia and internationally, delivering bespoke long hair training programs.
QLD HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Amy Gaudie, Urban Chic
Amy is the founder of Urban Chic and has more than 20 years of hairdressing experience under her belt which includes travelling around the globe for numerous fashion weeks and photos shoots working with amazing stylists and designers. A member of the Wella Professional Creative Artist Team, she is dedicated to educating both her team and the industry on the very best in technique and creating truly incredible cuts, colours and styles. Her true passion lies with the power of hairdressing in the way it can improve someone’s day and make them feel incredible, something which she and her team manage to do each and every day.
SA/TAS HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Mario Fioravanti, SJ Establishment
Mario believes in the importance of teaching and educating not only creative skills but in human connection, knowing the benefits this can have on mental health in a world where physical interaction is slowly diminishing. As an integral member of the SJ Establishment Team, he has also worked closely with The Adelaide Fringe and Roulette Productions in their hair and make-up department and prides himself on using his platform to open doors for the younger generation. With big dreams for the future he is passionate about passing on his knowledge to other stylists and creating the best client experience he can.
VIC HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Cristina Tatasciore, Flipped Hair
With over 15 years in the industry, Cristina’s knowledge and experience brings with it the ultimate in attention to detail and a unique personalised experience. A true leader and inspiration to all she is a master of everything from precision cuts through to beautiful colours and is known for flipping her client’s worlds upside down every appointment. Her passion for hair and fashion reflects in her consistent quality work and incredibly high demand plus has seen her previously named AHFA Victorian Hairdresser of the Year 2020. This latest accolade is just further testament to her impact on the Australian hair scene.
WA/NT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Jude McEwen, Toni and Guy Perth Central
From pursuing a career in hairdressing at the age of 15, Jude has come an incredibly long way. Having educated herself through the esteemed Toni&Guy Oxford Street Academy in London, and now with over 20 years experience she has worked her way up through the education structure of Toni&Guy International to come an award-winning trifecta of Salon Owner, Artistic Director and National Educator as well as Label.M Product Ambassador. As the leading number one salon in the TONI&GUY Australia franchise. TONI&GUY Perth Central is located down trendy Wolf Lane, situated close to the fashionable enclave of King Street in the very heart of Perth and is known for creating some of the best colour work in WA.
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Paige Cameron, Cobelle Creative
Fresh on the scene is up and comer Paige Cameron who has wowed with her youthful enthusiasm and commitment to her clients. Paige loves that a hair service can empower, lift the spirits and give clients a way to express themselves and stays up to date on the latest hair trends through social media, industry publications and by following fashion. She was awarded 3rd place in the Brisbane Hair & Beauty Expo Apprentice Futuristic Colour 2019 and was a finalist for AHIA Australian Apprentice of The Year 2020, already enjoying being able to create a story through her creative collections and showcase them within the industry. AS part of the award winning team at Cobelle Creative, she is certainly one to watch.
INDEPENDENT STYLIST OF THE YEAR
Charlene Fernandez, Charlene Fernandez Hair
Working out of her Armadale space, Charlene is the industry’s most dynamic independent stylist and her client waiting list is testament to the demand for her incredible work. Formerly Creative Director at Rokk Ebony she is now busy making her mark on the industry with her inimitable style. She is a regular backstage at fashion weeks all over the world assisting the best in the business and being entrusted to give Gigi Hadid’s hair a final once over, working on set at campaign and editorial shoots for leading titles as well as working with her brand partners to help to educate the next generation of hairdressing talent. A powerhouse of technique when it comes to all things cut, colour and style, she is certainly a name to watch.
MASTER CUTTER OF THE YEAR
Elle Schoemaker, Cobelle Creative
Elle Schoemaker, has already made a mark for herself in the industry but this exciting new win marks her as a technical master nationally. Always delivering exceptional service, she represents the Cobelle Creative brand in a positive light through local and industry events and charity work, performing in her role of Artistic Director and Educator with pride. As an educator she extends herself to a wider hairdressing community through ‘Flawless Education’, and consistently works towards growing this platform, sharing her enthusiasm whilst encouraging creative flair. With unwavering commitment, passion and the ability to think outside the box, Elle is a testament to the fact that it is possible to balance both salon and industry success in a diverse and fulfilling career.
NEW CREATIVE TALENT OF THE YEAR
James Morris, Biba Gertrude St
Since entering hairdressing, James has always aspired to simply create beautiful hair and is the culmination of years of training and development in his own technical skillset intertwined with creative vision. It has taken him on a journey to discover his sense of style and craft. Having worked with two highly respected hairdressing brands, Oscar Oscar and now BIBA, he believes himself to be locky to have been exposed to the very best business acumen, hair fashion aesthetics and a superior client experience. His collection is a bold, colourful and technical exhibition of hairdressing skills. Imaginative and striking, it crosses the thresholds of fashion and hair with confidence and flair, providing inspiration to other industry creatives and aspiration for consumers.
Award collected by Lee Cohen on behalf of James Morris
AVANT GARDE HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR AND PEOPLES CHOICE COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
Paul James Graham, Paul & Paul Salon
With a huge list of accolades to his name, Paul James has worked with a bevy of leading fashion designer’s including Alex Perry, worked backstage at Fashion Week and has had editorials featured in various magazines such as Oyster and Instyle over his career. He is renowned for his unique and creative aesthetic and ability to interpret the latest trends, which he brings to the Gold Coast community from his Southport salon Paul & Paul which he co-founded with Paul Philip Dumenil. With a combined wealth of experience, these two Queenslanders have forged a unique brand of hairdressing that delivers a professional and positive hairdressing experience to all their valued clients. Paul’s collection also took out the hotly contested People Choice award by having the highest number of votes through an online survey of over 4000 fans!
MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
Anthony Staltari, Barbery Australia
Anthony is renowned throughout both the Adelaide community as well as the hair industry at large for his innovative take on barbering techniques, transforming the common taper, fade, razor using the latest trends. From a makeshift salon in his parent’s garage at the age of 14 to the forefront of the Australian scene, he is Master Barber at the leading education organization Barbery, The Craft of a Barber Academy, specialising in traditional barbering with a modern twist. He is now dedicated to mentoring the next generation of up and coming barbering talent and inspiring them on how to create an exciting and fulfilling career in this rapidly growing discipline.
BEST COLLAB OF THE YEAR
Stephanie & Coco
Stephanie (AKA Stevie Corthine of Stevie English Hair) and Coco (AKA Kobi Bokshish of Intershape) have worked togther on different projects for over 4 years and believe that their partnership works because they have a mutual love, respect and desire for each other to do better work and push themselves creatively. Without and commercial or financial motivation, this is purely personal and showered with much love. They have collaborated around the world, first with Matrix then at Hair Expo shows for Kobi & Co and Aftermath Education. Both Kobi & Stevie have completely different skill sets so there is never any competition, just pure collaboration. The common purpose is to achieve the best result for both parties. There is no supernova star in their galaxy, they are more of a constellation!
CREATIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR
SJ Establishment
Owner and Director Sam James and her team have only been operating for a couple of years, but with her experience and extensive accolades it’s no surprise this salon team have already made their mark. Designed with the ultimate client journey in mind, whether the time-poor professional, busy mother or cool young fashionista SJ Establishment is a stunning salon and from moment you walk inside, you realise you are in for a special experience. Gone is the old-fashioned check-in desk, instead guests are welcomed into the space immediately to feel part of the fun and relaxed vibe. The salon is ever evolving thanks to the monthly featured artist works lining the walls and features the PIIQ digital mirror technology. The team are industry leaders when it comes to creating trend focused cuts, colours and styles.
