Take a bow, this is your moment.
After a season of entries, edits, and serious craft, the 2026 Australian Hair Fashion Awards (AHFA) Finalists are officially here. Across Creative, State, Business and Product Categories, revealed LIVE Monday, 16th of February at 7PM AEST.
From fearless collections to standout salon performance and product innovation worth talking about, this list captures the talent shaping the industry in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.
And now… the names you came for.
SEE THE FULL FINALIST LIST BELOW:
Australian Hairdresser of the Year
Presented by ghd
- Pauline McCabe
- Lisa Muscat Vitale
- Benjamin Martin
- Lyndal Salmon
- Jason Fassbender
- Dee Parker Attwood
- Bill Tsiknaris
- Lauren McCowan
- Max Cooper
New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year
Presented by Wella Professionals
- Sara Allsop
- Shannon Dowd
- Wei Jiang
- Michael Beel
- Bronwyn Kronfeld
- Chinney Yeap
- Danny Pato
- Mathias Te Moananui
- Jaimee Smith
Global Hairdresser of the Year
Presented by Davroe
- Casey Coleman
- Carlos Valiente Escrivá
- Andrew Smith
- Enrica Russo
- Danilo Giangreco
- Rafael Bueno Ruiz
- Emma Simmons
- Gary Hooker & Michael Young
- Steven Smart
- Errol Douglas MBE
- Rick & Zoe Roberts
- Mark van Westerop
Apprentice of the Year
Presented by Aveda
- Jamie Kondilis
- Milla Harmer
- Paulo Ricardo de Souza Mota
- Lola Bell
- Violet Leaver
- Elouise Clarke
- Tori Yardley
- Jake Pafumi
Artistic Team of the Year
- Rock Paper Scissors Artistic Team
- FAME Team
- Valonz
- Moroccanoil Artist Team
- Oscar Oscar Carindale
- TONI&GUY Australia
- AH Salon
- Wella Professionals Next Gen Team
- Buoy Salon
- Hairhouse Creative Team
Creative Colourist of the Year
- Louise Graham
- Gabby Allsop
- Marilyn Guarino
- Stuart Bane
- Jack Morton
- Joe Cotroneo
- Angela Soong
- Rachel Vitullo
- Karina Grace Gollins
- Mathias Te Moananui
Commercial Colourist of the Year
Presented by O&M
- Rozlyn Thomas
- Bel Mills
- Kristie Kesic
- Grace Kelly
- Amanda Lunedei
- Jasmine Fernandez
- Rachel Vitullo
- Siarn Ward
- Jessica Quinlan
- Helene Nakat Badaoui
- Monique McMahon
Hair Shot of the Year
Presented by Seamless1
- Laura Edmunds
- Jude McEwen
- Kristie Kesic
- Kristie Kesic
- Benjamin Martin
- Jackson Fifield
- Dee Parker Attwood
- Dee Parker Attwood
- Jelena Vasic
- Joe Cotroneo
- Marilyn Guarino
- Dani Blakeley
- Lucas Laurent
- Jelena Vasic
- Carolyn Gahan
- Lyndal Salmon
- Holly Breen
- Lauren McCowan
- Zara Zust
- Gabby Allsop
Editorial & Runway Stylist of the Year
Presented by Schwarzkopf
- Sara Allsop
- Benjamin Martin
- Jackson Fifield
- William Webb
- Faye Redfern
- Michael Ivkovic
- Peter Beckett
- Richi Grisillo
- Sarah Laidlaw
- Madison Voloshin
Men’s Hairdresser of the Year
- Xin Guo
- Sara Allsop
- Pavlos Divitaris
- Harrison Sansom
- Michael Ivkovic
- Gregson Gastar
Newcomer of the Year
Presented by Dyson
- Georgia Maguire
- Jelena Vasic
- Alyssia Pearson
- Tia Thair
NSW/ACT Hairdresser of the Year
- Aimee Egan
- Cathy King
- Nicole Kae
- Harrison Sansom
QLD Hairdresser of the Year
- Shae Tsiknaris
- Bill Tsiknaris
- Domi Cherie
- Louise Graham
SA/TAS Hairdresser of the Year
- Lisa Robertson
- Trinity King
- Jade Langford
- Tiffany Decaux
- Victoria Shayler
- Maria Cotroneo
VIC Hairdresser of the Year
- James Morris
- Sheridan Rose Shaw
- Matt Tronson
- Faye Redfern
- Angela Soong
- Eunji Kim
WA/NT Hairdresser of the Year
- Renee Holmes
- Jaimme-lee Hallgath
- Shannon De Courcy
- Jessica Del Borrello
- Chanel Beck
- Karen Williams
Digital Influencer of the Year
- Sharlene Lee
- Posey Broomhall
- Hannah Stechman
- Ashleigh Bailey
- Bel Mills
- Bixie Colour
- Monique McMahon
- Sarah Emilia
- Kaine Vakai
- Faye Redfern
- Jeffrey Bauman
Educator of the Year
- Sara Allsop
- Lauren McIlrath
- Nicole Kae
- Jules Tognini
- Nathan Yip
- Lauren McCowan
- Jack Morton
- Katy Reeve
- Monique McMahon
- Dario Cotroneo
Salon of the Year
Presented by Alfaparf Milano Professional
- CiNCO Hair Boutique
- Mayko Hair
- Sloans
- é SALON Hair
- HER
- Alexander Jayne Hair
- Buoy Salon and Spa
- Togninis
- Luke Reynolds Hairdressing
- Salon Kiin
- Scissor & Stone
- Fruition Hair
PREMIUM PRODUCT CATEGORY PARTNER: HAIRHOUSE
Best New Hair Essential
- Foil Me ‘The Wide’ (Pre-Cut Foil) & ‘The Board’ in Midnight
- Hylo Next generation highlights
- Bompies Shower Cap
- Baciami Human Hair Closure
- ECOHEADS Wet Detangling Brush
- Glowwa
- The Attaché Line – The Bowl
- Eco Foils
- Q-Wrap, perforated balayage sheets by Monique McMahon
- Natalie Anne – Slick and Smooth Brush
Best New Colour Innovation
- O&M CLEAN.liquid Warm
- Hylo
- R+COLOR Hypermatic 10-min Liquid Demi-Permanent Hair Colour
- Alfaparf Evolution of The Color Shine Effect
- KEVIN.MURPHY+CODE
- Moroccanoil Rhapsody 10 MIN
- Lakmé Metal Remover Pro
- Lakmé Glaze Colour Line – including activator
- Goldwell LightDimensions SilkLift Clay
Best New Hair Care Product
- K18 HeatBounce
- Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo & Conditioner
- Shiseido Professional SUBLIMIC Wonder Shield
- Olaplex Bond Shaper Curl Rebuilding Treatment
- Olaplex No.5 Leave-In™ Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner
- Olaplex Weightless Nourishing Mask
- Olaplex Rich Hydrating Mask
- Canamo Soft Touch Conditioning Foam
- Alfaparf Semi di Lino Reconstruction
- KMS MoistRepair Intense Restore Treatment
- Davroe Scalp Remedy Spa
- EverEscents Organic Lemon & Cedarwood Scalp Scrub
Best New Hair Styling Product
- O&M C-Spray Dry Conditioner Spray
- NAK Hair Blowout Smooth Mist
- K18 AirWash™
- SMOOTH ME NOW Flyaway Hair Balm
- K18 AstroLift™
- SexyHair Big Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray
- Nouvelle Curl Me Up Curl Evolve Mousse
- Alfaparf Semi di Lino Style&Care Thermal Protector
- ghd Curls Gone Wild
- Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 24/7 Serum
- Davroe CURLiCUE Curl Gel
- Goddess BioTech Blowout
- Dyson Chitosan™ Multi-use Styling Spray
- Natalie Anne Slick and Smooth Balm
Best New Hair Tool
- KALEO XL Curling Tong
- Cloud Nine Contouring Wide Iron
- Halo X3 Titanium 3-Piece Hair Curler in Peony Blush
- ghd Chronos Max
- Airys Wave Babe
Best New Packaging and Design
- DUNGÜD HOLIDAY PACKS
- NAK Signature
View all 2026 AHFA Finalist Collections, here!
- KEVIN.MURPHY+CODE
- Care Bears – We Love Rainbows
- Revive Hair Serum
- Daily Naturals Clean Beauty
- Goddess BioTech Blowout
- Dyson Chitosan Pre-Styling Cream and Post Styling Serum range