On Monday night, July 1, the industry congregated at Sydney’s The Star to announce and honour the winners of the 2024 Australian Hair Industry Awards (Creative). The gala event showcased the awards amidst three inspirational hair shows and a three-course meal, concluding the Hair Festival weekend with aplomb.

Major awards went to Andrew Cobeldick of Buoy Salon and Spa who won New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year 2024, Sam James of SJ Establishment who took home Australian Hairdresser of the Year 2023, and Mark Leeson from the UK, who was awarded International Hairdresser of the Year 2024. The Dennis Langford Hall of Fame Award recipient was Jamie Carroll.

The night’s big winners also included Bond Hair Religion, which won Salon Team of the Year, NSW/ACT Hairdresser of the Year for Jenni Tarrant, Master Colourist of the Year for Amber Bullock and BTS Dream Team of the Year, while Tsiknaris Hair won Apprentice of the Year for Hunter Kostrubiec, Master Cutter of the Year for Shae Tsiknaris and Domi Cherie joined the HOT SHOTS Team. TONI&GUY’S Breatkthrough team won Collective Team of the Year, while Jude McEwen from TONI&GUY Perth also won WA/NT Hairdresser of the Year. Stevie English Hair won Emerging Stylist of the Year and a HOT SHOTS spot for Ella Stewart, while Stevie and Danny Pato won the very first Medal of Honour, acknowledged for three consecutive awards. Danny also won Avant Garde hairdresser of the Year, after having to take a break from his many New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year wins, deciding he was bored and inspiring in the Avant Garde category instead.

The evening was hosted by Will Fennell and inspired in the realm of hair fashion on stage, thanks to show director Adam Williams. Kicking off the proceedings, the 2024 Creative Couture opening performance by 2023 AHIA Australian Hairdresser of the Year Justin Pace and 2023 AHIA New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year, Danny Pato, assisted by the 2023 Hot Shots, offered Avant Garde hair and dancing to ignite the energy of the room. Then, Oscar Oscar salons celebrated 35 years with a hair show thanks to Jacky Chan and Redken, including bold shapes, rainbow hues and sculptural hair looks to inspire in a fashion-forward show on stage. Lastly, international hair sensation Natalie Anne took braiding and hair length to the next level, with colour by Renya Xydis and a live vocal choir providing the soundtrack to the feminine, editorial show.

This year’s international judging panel consisted of Sally Brooks, Sam McKnight, Cos Sakkas, Hooker and Young, Candy Shaw and Vivienne MacKinder, as well as International Media including Charlotte Grant West from HJI, UK, Nicky Pope from Tribu.te Magazine, UK, and Veronica Boodhan from Salon Magazine, Canada. The 2024 HOT SHOTS team was judged by local leading hairdressers Justin Pace, Jayne Wild, Scott Sloan, Benni Tognini and Mary Alamine, who chose the emerging talents to join this heralded platform.

Celebrating 12 years of the AHIAs, and the third year of the Creative iteration beyond the Business Awards, the platform partners with brands such as Redken, Amazing Hair, Excellent Edges and Natalie Anne Haircare, as well as support from Jadore Hair Supplies, Gamma+, Danger Jones, Matrix, Hair Festival, Dateline Imports, Heiniger, O&M, Expo4Barbers, Schwarzkopf Joico and EVY Professional, as well as Rogue Beauty, who powered the after party.

“With the sheer number of entries this year, every winner should be so proud of their achievement. The quality collections and exciting creativity that our industry has put forward is truly world-class and testament to the strength and sustainability of the industry,” shared Mocha Group Owner and Founder Linda Woodhead.

Congratulations to the winners!

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Hunter Kostrubiec, Tsiknaris Hair

EMERGING STYLIST OF THE YEAR
Ella Stewart, Stevie English Hair

NEW CREATIVE TALENT OF THE YEAR
Paige Cameron, Cobelle Creative

MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Munn, Havachat Barbershop

AVANT GARDE HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design

COLLECTIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Breakthrough Team via TONI&GUY
(Laura Szakaly, Tia Wright-Pihama, Liam Johnson, Delphine Kanuma)

MASTER CUTTER OF THE YEAR
Shae Tsiknaris, Tsiknaris Hair

MASTER COLOURIST OF THE YEAR
Amber Bullock, Bond Hair Religion

AI COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
Johnny Georgiou

SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR
Bond Hair Religion

HOT SHOTS TEAM
Adam Harant, Wild Life SoGo
Domi Cherie, Tsiknaris Hair
Ella Stewart, Stevie English Hair
Victoria Shayler, Sir Fletcher

MEDAL OF HONOUR
Stevie English
Danny Pato

NSW/ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Jenni Tarrant, Bond Hair Religion

VIC HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Benjamin Martin, Salon XVI

QLD HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Krystle Tokunai, Tokunai Hair

WA/NT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Jude McEwen, TONI&GUY Perth

SA/TAS HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Lisa Robertson, Parlour Glenelg

NORTH ISLAND NZ HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Ella Thompson, Dharma

BTS DREAM TEAM OF THE YEAR
For Jenni Tarrant, Bond Hair Religion NSW/ACT Collection
COLOURIST – Amber Bullock
PHOTOGRAPHER – Andrew O’Toole
MAKE UP ARTIST – Kylie O’Toole
STYLIST – Catherine V

DENNIS LANGFORD HALL OF FAME AWARD
Jamie Carrol

INTERNATIONAL HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Mark Leeson, Mark Leeson

NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Andrew Cobeldick, Buoy Salon and Spa

AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
Sam James, SJ Establishment

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