More than 250 members of the Australian and New Zealand hair industries turned out for last night's announcement of finalists for the 2012 Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards.
Now in its 27th year, the awards honour the best creative and business talent across both countries. A 20-strong panel of independent industry experts spent two full days judging nearly 200 entries to select the finalists. We've listed all the accolades and the nominees below.
To see a gallery of images click here.
Australian Hairdresser of the Year finalists
Frank Apostolopoulos from Biba, Fitzroy, VIC
Emiliano Vitale from é Salon, Wahroongah, NSW
Craig Smith from Fruition, Brisbane, QLD
Damien Rinaldo from Hair Machine, Norwood, SA
Caterina DiBiase from Heading Out Hair & Beauty, Fitzroy, VIC
Joey Scandizzo from Joey Scandizzo Salon, South Yarra, VIC
Tracey Hughes from Mieka Hairdressing, Collingwood, VIC
Phillip Barwick from Muse Hairdressing, Surry Hills, NSW
Robert Bava from Parlour Hair, Adelaide, SA
Sharon Blain from The Art of Hair, Beecroft, NSW
New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year finalists
Mana Dave, Blaze, Auckland, NZ
Sara Allsop, Dharma, Auckland, NZ
Jock Robson, Dharma, Auckland, NZ
Adrian Barclay, Venom, Ivercargill, NZ
Colour Technician of the Year - finalists
Matt Clements, The Assembly Hair, Alexandra Headland, QLD
Belinda Keeley, Chumba Concept Salon, Warragul, VIC
Kate Rawnsley, Fruition Hair, Brisbane, QLD
Marie Uva, Rokk Ebony, South Yarra, VIC
Colour Technician of the Year – Judges’ recognition
Vincent Nobile, Headcase Hair, Paddington, NSW
Olivia Zynevych, Mieka Hairdressing, Collingwood, VIC
Justin Pace, Papas and Pace, Brisbane, QLD
Steve Corthine, Stevie English Hair, Glebe, NSW
Dina Mekler, TONI&GUY, Mosman, NSW
Jemima Wright, Wild Life Hair SoGo, Surry Hills, NSW
New Creative Force - finalists
Jules Tognini, Aka Togninis, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Alexandra Kontos, Nischler, Hobart, TAS
Ryan Mitchell, Valonz, Sydney, NSW
Lisa Muscat, é Salon, Wahroonga, NSW
New Creative Force – Judges' recognition
Marie Cain, Head Studio, Perth, WA
Frankie Endersbee, Joey Scandizzo Salon, South Yarra, VIC
Paloma Rose Garcia, Oscar Oscar Salons, Chadstone, VIC
Jason Fassbender, Parlour Hair, Unley, SA
Maria Unali, s.81 Hair, St Clair, NSW
Clayton Wheeler, Suki Hairdressing, Paddington, NSW
Apprentice/Student of the Year – Finalist
Mason Fahim, é Salon, Wahroonga, NSW
Kristy Furniss, Fruition Hair, Brisbane, QLD
Igor Rosales-Jackson, Rixon Hair, Brisbane, QLD
Genevieve Collerton, Wild Life Hair SoGo, Surry Hills, NSW
Apprentice/Student of the Year – Judges’ recognition
Beck Carroll, Jo Bellamy Hairdressers, Mosman, NSW
Sara Jayne Burke, LaBimbi Hair, New Acton, ACT
Demi-Leigh Gardiner, Papas and Pace, Brisbane, QLD
Hannah Escano, Suki Hairdressing, Paddington, NSW
Andreanna Manov, Symetry Cutters, Adelaide, SA
Lexxy Gundayao, West End Hair, Windsor, VIC
Salon Team of the Year finalists
é Salon, Wahroonga, NSW
Mieka Hairdressing, Collingwood, VIC
Suki Hairdressing, Paddington, NSW
Togninis, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Session Stylist of the Year finalists
Sarah Laidlaw, DLM Management, East Sydney, NSW
Richard Kavanagh, DLM Management, East Sydney, NSW
Lores Giglio, Brad Ngata Hair Direction, Surry Hills, NSW
Darren Borthwick, The Artist Group, Woollahra, NSW
Educator of the Year finalists
Lyndal Salmon, Biba Academy, Fitzroy, VIC
Sharon Blain, Sharon Blain Education, Beecroft, NSW
Jules Tognini, Togninis / AKA Togninis, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Tracey Hughes, Tracey Hughes Education, Collingwood, VIC
Education Organisation of the Year finalists
Biba Academy, Fitzroy, VIC
Cut Above Academy, Auckland, NZ
Pivot Point Academy, Melbourne, VIC
Servilles Academy, Auckland, NZ
Salon Design finalists
Charlie Salon, Southbank, VIC
Head Studio, Perth, WA
TONI&GUY, Subiaco, WA
Tribe Lifestyle, Sydney, NSW
Excellence in Marketing finalists
Servilles, Auckland, NZ
Suki Hairdressing, Paddington, NSW
Togninis, Fortitude Valley, QLD
TONI&GUY, Paddington, NSW
Business Performance of the Year finalists
Head Studio, Perth, WA
Muk Haircare, Keilor Park, VIC
Servilles, Auckland, NZ
Show Pony Hair Extensions, Ashmore City, QLD
Photographic Collection of the Year finalists
Frank Apostolopoulos, Biba, Fitzroy, VIC
Joey Scandizzo, Joey Scandizzo Salon, South Yarra, VIC
Robert Bava, Parlour Hair, Adelaide, SA
Matt Clements, The Assembly Hair, Alexandra Headland, QLD