Australia’s leading creatives celebrated at The Star, Sydney for the annual Australian Hair Industry Awards Creative 2024 gala evening.
After a record-breaking showing by Australia’s most inventive hair minds, Adelaide’s Sam James, of acclaimed salon SJ Establishment, was the recipient of the biggest award of the night – AHIA Australian Hairdresser of the Year 2023.
Held on the final night of HAIR FESTIVAL, the evening was again MC’d by resident Mocha Group host, Will Fennell, with three incredible shows conceptualised and choreographed by the always surprising Adam Williams with more hair, fashion and entertainment moments than ever before.
Launched in 2012 by respected industry pioneers Mocha Group, the AHIA’s is celebrating its 12th year as the trusted national award platform which provides a benchmark of excellence across both specialist and individual Educational and Business categories and the 4th year that the Creative categories have been given their own awards program.
Within the comprehensive awards division from Mocha Group, the AHIA Creative Awards program highlights the creation and execution of trends focused photographic collection work representative of the exciting talent across the hair and barber industries.
Entries this year were judged by international hair icons including Sally Brooks, Sam McKnight, Cos Sakkas, Hooker and Young, Candy Shaw and Vivienne MacKinder, not to mention influential figures from International Media including Charlotte Grant West from HJI, UK, Nicky Pope from Tribu.te Magazine, UK, and Veronica Boodhan from Salon Magazine, Canada.
"With the sheer number of entries this year, every winner should be so proud of their achievement," said Mocha Group owner and founder, Linda Woodhead.
"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. Congratulations to all of our deserving winners."
2024 AHIA CREATIVE 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
(Laura Szakaly, Toni&Guy South Yarrah. Tia Wright-Pihama, Toni&Guy Perth. Liam Johnson, Toni&Guy Mosman. Delphine Kanuma, Toni&Guy McMahons Pt.)
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
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 HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR: Ella Thompson, Dharma
MEDAL OF HONOUR
Stevie English: AHIA Master Colourist of the Year
Danny Pato: AHIA New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year
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
Image credit: Supplied
