AWARD FOR INNOVATION
Rewarding an original initiative that benefits hair professionals, salons and barber shop businesses and/or the industry at large
Sponsored by Kérastase
Peter Johnson for ITZI Turbans and Towels
The mission behind ITZI is to reduce the cost of using a towel in the salon to as little as 2p per usage. How? By bringing back the turban! Coupled with its towel system, ITZI offers a cost-effective solution for salons when it comes to their laundry, vital for many as costs across the board continue to rise. There’s also the added benefit of upping the guest experience too, and the turbans are on offer to retail too.
Category finalists: Maddi Cook for The Inner Circle; Errol Douglas MBE for Errol Douglas Club; Danielle Kennedy for Collectively Accountable; Nashwhite for The Heist House
BEST CLIENT EXPERIENCE
For a salon, workspace or barber shop delivering outstanding customer service
Sponsored by Matrix
Wildflower, Dublin
Step into Wildflower and it feels like coming home, set away from the noise of the every day. Clients can choose a minimal, silent or relaxed treatment and during the consultation, a meditation is prescribed alongside a ceremonial cacao or herbal tea. The team’s Mindful Monday Rituals are held on Instagram Live now following client demand, and each client goes through two consultations before being booked in. There’s an incredible 90 per cent rebooking rate, and a six-month waitlist for new guests. And breathe…
Category finalists: Gatsby & Miller, Amersham; Matthew Curtis Hair, Stratford-upon-Avon; Radio London, London; YOKE The Salon, Plymouth
BEST LOCAL SALON
For a salon or barber shop best serving its local community
Sponsored by Phorest Salon Software
BE Ironbridge, Telford
Brooke Evans’ salon is housed in a beautifully refurbished mechanics, and has not only survived two floods and the pandemic, it has thrived. Priding itself as an eco-ethical space, it only chooses suppliers that share the vision, with refreshments sourced locally and even wine made in Britain. When floods returned to Telford, BE Ironbridge provided a refuge for displaced residents, later becoming the focal point for local businesses to support one another and begin rebuilding.
Category finalists: Gatsby & Miller, Amersham; Nashwhite, Warwick; Wildflower, Dublin; YOKE The Salon, Plymouth
BEST NEW SALON
For a new or revamped salon, workspace or barber shop with a unique sense of style
Sponsored by Timely
Nashwhite, Warwick
The Heist House – a nod to its history as a ‘70s bank – is a design-led destination that offers more than a hair experience. Founders Lee and Rob reclaimed and salvaged much of the interiors to respect the building’s legacy, the planet and their budget. The mission is to bring real value and connection to the high street. There’s a studio space for photography and events, plenty of co-working space, a gorgeous café, and a wellbeing hub with yoga and treatments on offer.
Category finalists: Boone & Last, London; Koop Studio, London; SHAG!, London; The Rubicon London, London
BEST SALON TEAM
For a salon, workspace or barber shop delivering teamwork at its best
Sponsored by Alfaparf Milano Professional
Billi Currie, London
There’s an embarrassment of brand ambassador riches at this salon, with international team talent from Brazil, Poland, France, Romania, Japan, South Africa, Vietnam and Ireland. Six new team members joined during the various lockdowns, so online training sessions were delivered for assistants alongside team mentoring Zooms to ensure everyone was looked after. Annual teambuilding days and appraisals set out plans to ensure goals are achieved, and everyone is trained together once a month to encourage open and honest sharing.
Category finalists: Goldsworthy’s, Swindon; TINT, Leeds; Wildflower, Dublin; YOKE The Salon, Plymouth
BUSINESS THINKER
For the owner or director of a salon, workspace or barber shop demonstrating a remarkable approach to business
Sponsored by Treatwell
Mark Woolley, Electric
A previous double winner, Mark was a triple threat this year and scooped legendary status winning for the third time. Electric has multiple energy sources – salons, education, products, monthly creative Sessions, and artists working at London Fashion Week. The £1m Electric Space members club and co-working hub has hit profitability in its first year (and a Reading offshoot Current Works has just opened), while Falmer Court is home to its head office, a products lab, a farm for its ingredients, a studio and even a source of natural water for manufacturing. An electrifying winner!
Category finalists: Katy Grimshaw, Spectrum One, Rossendale; Joe Hemmings, Bloggs Salons, Bristol; Colin McAndrew, Medusa, Edinburgh and Musselburgh; Nuala Morey, Nuala Morey, Bristol
COLOUR EXPERT
For a hair colourist demonstrating exceptional technical skill and vision
Sponsored by Wella Professionals
Grace Dalgleish, London
‘Every paint is different’ is the foundation of Grace’s innovative colour work because, as she says, every individual is different. The bespoke approach has seen her develop a Colour to Camera workshop that she’s taken on the road, as well as an evolution of balayage ‘The Panel Paint’ – a single teachable technique that offers multiple results. This year has also seen her assist on a unique shoot for Hunger and collaborate on education with L’Oréal Professionnel Paris. Her points of difference are what helped her scoop this year’s award.
Category finalists: Jordanna Cobella, Cobella, London; Daniel Couch, Russell Eaton, Leeds; James Earnshaw, Manchester; Veronica Wysocka, Josh Wood, London
CREATIVE TALENT
For the creative director or senior stylist of a salon or barber shop demonstrating stand-out skill and commercial awareness
Sponsored by L’Oréal Professionnel Paris
Marlon Hawkins, Brooks & Brooks, London
The first ever artistic director of Brooks & Brooks, Marlon is a creative mind who loves nothing more than to create something beautiful. Finding inspiration in music or on the streets of his native London as he searches for the perfect model, he can create immersive stage experiences and breath-taking shoots. His show for the 65th L’Oréal Colour Trophy, Borderless, was nothing short of visionary, combining contemporary digital art with the feeling of a flowing, lucid dream.
Category finalists: Grace Dalgleish, Billi Currie, London; Daniele De Angelis, TONI&GUY Shoreditch, London; Richard Phillipart, The Boutique Atelier, Ellesmere Port; Cos Sakkas, TONI&GUY, London
EDUCATION EXPERT
For an individual or team delivering exceptional education for the hairdressing industry
Sponsored by Colourstart
Lee Stafford Education Foundation, London
Hairdressing legend Lee has spent the past few years trying to fix a persistent problem – college graduates are rarely salon-ready. It’s his ‘Omelette Analogy’: if hair was cookery then students are being taught hundreds of different ways to make a not very good omelette – and the answer is to have one Michelin Star way to do it. So he created The Big 10, a kitemark for hair that trainers from his non-profit foundation take to colleges nationwide. Lee’s truly cooked up something good enough to win.
Category finalists: Allilon Education, London; Humankind Hair, London Sophia Hilton and Not Another Academy, London; Westrow House Academy, Leeds
HAIR TREND
For the best on-trend image of the year
Sponsored by Redken
Rick Roberts, Rick Roberts, Beverley
Rick’s sharply angled, ultra-short style is this season’s hottest black hair trend and reminiscent of the fierce Eighties look worn by iconic singer Grace Jones. A hybrid haircut that’s a cross between a high top fade and a Mohawk, this geometric style has a sculptural feel to it that’s guaranteed to turn heads.
Category finalists: James Earnshaw, Manchester; James Parr, Nashwhite, Warwick; Caroline Sanderson, Ego Hair Design, Inverness; Tracey Devine-Smith, French & Ivi, Belper
INDEPENDENT STYLIST
For a freelance hair professional busy building ‘brand me’
Sponsored by Electric
Anna Cofone, London
Independent Stylist winner in 2020 and 2021, Anna has an impeccable pedigree in the freelance session world. She’s recently been working with none other than Claudia Schiffer and taken on the role of editorial ambassador for KAO, a position where she can further deepen her educational roots. Her latest passion project is HAIR&CARE, workshops designed to give practical skills to visually impaired people equipping them with the tools to boost their self-care through a variety of charities. As a three-time winner, Anna has reached legendary status this year.
Category finalists: Luke Benson, Hertfordshire; Laura Chadwick, Cambridgeshire; Lisa Farrall, London; Chris Foster, Hertfordshire
MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST
For a hair artist demonstrating stand-out work in men’s hair
Sponsored by Fresha
Jody Taylor, Essex
Being a lead stylist at Fashion Week is a little like being a musical conductor, says two-time Most Wanted men’s award winner Jody; directing the players, keeping up the tempo and, above all keeping everyone calm and focused. It’s this precision, style and focus that has guided Jody in the past year, leading him to create Leftside – an agency that builds a bridge from the barber shop to the fashion world, and he’s already bagged some powerful clients. Winning for a third time this year means he joins the ranks of the Most Wanted Legend alumni.
Category finalists: Pete Cranfield, Merseyside; Charlie Cullen, Kent; Chris Foster, Hertfordshire; George Smith, TONI&GUY, Salisbury
SUSTAINABILITY HERO
For a hairdressing business owner helping to change the way we live – for the better
Sponsored by Kao Salon Division
Keith Mellen and Anne Veck, Anne Veck Oxford, Oxford
Our first winners in this category when it launched last year, Anne and Keith haven’t rested on their green laurels, refreshing their free Salon Re:Source toolkit with new ideas and practical solutions. In their salon, CO2 emissions have been slashed by more than 50 per cent since 2013. Water use has been reduced by 65 per cent, salon stationery is being phased out and you’ll find no single-use cups or bottles. Team members are Eco Hair & Beauty certified, with all travelling to work by foot, bike or public transport.
Category finalists: Lisa Phillips, Ora Hair, Banstead; Stephen Buller and Anita Rice, Buller And Rice, London; Anil Salhan, BLACC + BLOND, Birmingham; Kaye Sotomi, Chop Chop London, London
TEXTURE EXPERT
For a hair artist demonstrating stand-out work in textured hair
Sponsored by Bumble and bumble
Lisa Farrall, WIG London, London
Lisa is on a mission to get stylists to embrace all hair types and be capable and confident with textured hair. There are no boundaries for the reigning Most Wanted Texture Expert, who is working hard at WIG to give hairdressers the skills to unapologetically, authentically be themselves. It’s a goal she’ll take to the airwaves when she stars as a judge on E4’s The Big Blow Out, and she won’t quit the hustle until the industry is texture neutral.
Category finalists: Anna Cofone, London; Errol Douglas MBE, Errol Douglas, London; Chris Foster, Hertfordshire; Tariq Howes, Avenue Male Grooming, Cardiff
SESSION STYLIST
By nomination only
For the most exciting hair professional working in fashion
Sponsored by BaByliss PRO
Bjorn Krischker
Not only is Bjorn’s work eye-catching, head-turning, and utterly breath-taking, it’s highly sought-after, too – editorials in magazines include Elle UK and US, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar UK, Vanity Fair and Vogue, and projects with brands from Nike to Chanel, are ensuring this fashion favourite gets booked on the daily. Bjorn’s worked with photographers including Alasdair McLellan, Ben Weller, Emma Tempest and Mert & Marcus and his A-list clientele lists the likes of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Will Poulter, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lorde and Usher. He’s also one of the most likeable guys you’ll meet.
Due to work commitments, Bjorn was unable to collect his award in person.
Category finalists: Cyndia Harvey; Luke Hersheson; Charlotte Mensah; Anthony Turner
HAIR ICON
By nomination only
For the most inspirational hair professionals of 2022
Category sponsor JOICO
Eugene Souleiman
Eugene doesn’t just create hairstyles; he creates the worlds in which they live. Now a Fashion Week stalwart, he’s come a long way from the Job Centre placement in hairdressing after quitting art school. Known for using diverse materials to create other-worldly finishes to capture a feeling, Eugene has collaborated with some of the most innovative fashion and creative names around including Alexander McQueen, Yohji Yamomoto, Steven Meisel and Tim Walker.
Due to a last-minute work request, Eugene was unable to collect his award in person.
Category finalists: Sally Brooks; Errol Douglas MBE; Robert Eaton; Gary Gill; Sophia Hilton; Zoë Irwin; Guido Palau; Adam Reed; Angelo Seminara
LEGENDS
Most Wanted Legends are hairdressers who have won the same Most Wanted category three times
Syd Hayes – Session Stylist winner 2017, 2018, 2021
Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace, Vogue, i-D, Self Service, Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, Kristen McMenamy, Juergen Teller, Willy Vanderperre, David Sims… Syd Hayes is in demand by the biggest names around the world, and ranks among fashion’s most exciting talents. A genuine joy to work with (we’ve had the pleasure) and in possession of a super-watt creative style, it’s no surprise to see him become a Session Stylist Legend!
Sophia Hilton – Business Thinker winner 2017, 2018, 2021
She’s challenged the traditional salon set-up, shared her skills with hairdressers around the globe, crafted courses accessible to all, skyrocketed on social media and helped others to do the same – Sophia Hilton is one epic entrepreneur, growing the Not Another brand to dizzying heights.