Talk about a game-changing year. 2020 brought the drama – and then some. With the light at the end of the tunnel finally visible, it was time to honour our 2020 winners.
There have been tears, and fears, but nothing could stop us from holding our Most Wanted and The It List 2020 Grand Final. We jumped through every hoop that Covid-19 could throw at us to bring our finalists the most EPIC experience possible!
We set about creating a mammoth filming extravaganza, broadcasting live from our planned venue, Printworks in London, as we sought to bring hairdressers up and down the UK together for a united moment to celebrate the resilience and talent of our industry. Whether they were attending in person (tested and seated separately!) or Zooming in from home with their deluxe snack pack and champagne, it was definitely a night to remember.
Most Wanted (and Creative HEAD Magazine!) turned 20 in 2020, and everything was suitably starry to commemorate this huge achievement. Host Russell Kane had his audience of stylists, colourists and industry influencers rolling in their seats with his razor-sharp wit, before the true stars of the show took to the stage to collect their prizes.
In a year that tested us beyond measure, we were thrilled to honour our talented industry – winners and nominees alike. Alas, there could only be one winner of each category, but we’ve never been more impressed by the trailblazing talents and teams seeking to change the game. We salute you!
Our 2020 winners are a representation of this unquenchable thirst for success and drive – including a brand new Legend (Zoë Irwin, queen of Creative Talent). We bow down to the salons and stylists who embody all that is Most Wanted .
From the small (Best New Boutique Salon winner Paint + Powder) to the super-salons (Best New Salon Mesart), our winners ran the full gamut. Colourful and innovative approaches to salon design made big wins – Stag in Edinburgh, Gatsby & Miller in Amersham and TINT in Leeds all flexed their creativity to bring home the crown.
Jody Taylor and Anna Cafone were crowned Men’s Hair Specialist and Independent Stylist respectively, and both spoke about their pride of repping their fellow freelancers and creatives. The Manta Hair Brush won Best innovation, eight years after founder Tim Binnington’s wife was cleared from the cancer which inspired the brush. Caroline Sanderson of Ego Hair Design emotionally accepted Business Thinker – proving that even in the highlands of Scotland, having a business-savvy mindset can make an enormous difference.
So nice he won it twice – Anthony Turner scooped up the coveted Session Stylist award shortly after his incredible Monster Queen hair show hijack, while 2018’s It Guy winner Paddy McDougall flexed his colour creativity to win Colour Expert. The hotly contested Hair Trend award went to Richard Phillippart, who urged his fellow hairdressers to embrace textured hair training, and a fierce fight to the top for our Hair Icon 2020 award saw the one and only Guido Palau reign supreme.
To our creative colourists and runway rebels, to local salon heroes, trendsetters and business innovators – well done to each and every one of you! Thank you for your drive, your passion and for helping to push our industry to new heights! It’s certainly been a year where people have appreciated your talents perhaps more than ever.
And thank you to our astonishingly generous sponsors, for your unwavering patience and support, and our talented judges who gave their time and years of experience to find our worthy winners.
Luckily you won’t have to wait long to get psyched up for MWIT 2021 – look out for an imminent announcement!
See all the Most Wanted 2020 winners >
Editor’s note: The Most Wanted and The It List Grand Final took place as a filmed, live broadcast in line with UK government and BFI TV and Film Covid-19 guidance. An extensive health & safety risk assessment was conducted by external experts and everyone on site was required to take a rapid covid-test prior to entry on set, whilst also adhering to PPE and social-distancing guidelines for the duration of the broadcast.
