AHFA: ANNOUNCING THE 2018 WINNERS

And the winners are…

On Sunday 15th April, the great and the good of the Australian hairdressing industry descended on Sydney’s iconic Luna Park to celebrate our country’s largest and most successful independent hairdressing awards program, the Australian Hair Fashion Awards.

The AHFA’s took place in front of a sell-out audience of over 900 hairstylists, media and celebrities all gathered together to celebrate the best of the best in Australian hair, fashion and beauty.

Hosted by the beautiful Lauren Phillips, the evening also featured a special performance by 90’s music legend Ultra Naté who then went on to rock the crowd with a DJ set at the exclusive after party.

Special guest and hairstylist to the stars Jen Atkin flew in from LA to help celebrate the crème de la crème of Australian hair. Jen counts models Gigi and Bella Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Kaia Gerber (that’s Cindy Crawford’s daughter to you and me!) and the whole Kardashian/Jenner clan as her clients. She also has an Instagram following of 2.3 MILLION fans, so to say she’s the hottest property in hairdressing right now is kind of an understatement!

Jen accompanied her great friend, Australian hair legend and brand guru Kevin Murphy who celebrated the launch of his incredible new line KEVIN MURPHY COLOR.ME by sponsoring the 2018 AHFA’s, where he created an incredible fashion and hair show which blew the audience away in its creativity and artistry!

AHFA’s have once again proved that they are the big guns when it comes to industry recognition. Creative Director of the Awards David Mannah says “Once again the international judging panel of the AHFA’s reflects the growth of our awards and the relevance of Australian Hairdressing on a world stage. When you have Eugene Souleiman and Sam McKnight, two gods of British Hairdressing in a room together to look at work from homegrown Australian talent, then you know you are doing something right!

Brand founder Kevin Murphy adds “Fashion has always played a huge role in the KEVIN.MURPHY brand so partnering with the AHFA’S to launch our revolutionary new product which is truly a celebration of hair and fashion seems like a perfect fit.

The 2018 photographic categories were judged in London by UK hairdressing royalty including Anthony Mascolo, Akin Konizi, Zoe Irwin, A-list colourist Nicola Clark, current British Hairdresser of the Year Sally Brooks catwalk favourite Eugene Souleiman and global hairdressing legend Sam McKnight.

2018 Business judges included: Christopher Crellin (CEO, American Influencer Awards), Daniel Abraham (Director, Platform Group), Paul Reynolds (Entrepreneur), Wendy El Khoury (Founder Wedded Wonderland, Creative Business Hub.)

2018 Product judges included Bonnie Gillies (Oz Beauty Expert), Carli Alman (Beauty Crew), Emily Algar (Byrdie Beauty), Erin Cook (Elle, Harper’s Bazaar), Kelly Baker (Body + Soul), Kelsey Ferencak (OK & NW Magazine), Kristy Johnson (Daily Mail), Michael Brown (Beauty Guru.)

All results were verified by an independent adjudicator.

 

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

 

AHFA Australian Hairdresser of the Year

DAMIEN RINALDO – BORIS THE CUTTERY

 

AHFA Creative Colourist of the Year

CHARMAYNE ROBINSON – PAPAS & PACE

 

AHFA Men’s Hairdresser of the Year

UROS MIKIC – KINKY CURLY STRAIGHT

 

AHFA Artistic Team of the Year

FRUITION ARTISTIC TEAM

 

AHFA Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year

SHAUN McGRATH – STEVIE ENGLISH HAIR

 

Australian Hairshot of the Year

MARIAM ENEGD – BIBA GERTRUDE ST

 

Digital Influencer of the Year

NATALIE ANNE

 

AHFA NSW/ACT Hairdresser of the Year

ADAM CIACCIA – AXIS HAIRDRESSING

 

AHFA Victorian Hairdresser of the Year

JACKY CHAN – OSCAR OSCAR SALONS

 

AHFA Queensland Hairdresser of the Year

AMANDA O’CONNOR – PAPAS & PACE

 

AHFA South Australian/Tasmanian Hairdresser of the Year

TIFFANY SMITH – SEQUEL BY PARLOUR HAIR

 

AHFA Western Australian/Northern Territory Hairdresser of the Year

LISA POLINI – HYPE HAIR STUDIO

 

AHFA Apprentice Hairdresser of the Year

GEORGIA FREEDMAN – ROKK EBONY TOORAK

 

AHFA Newcomer of the Year

JESSICA SUTHERLAND – ROKK EBONY TOORAK

 

AHFA Session Stylist of the Year

RICHARD KAVANAGH

 

AHFA Make-Up Artist of the Year

MIKELE SIMONE

 

AHFA Fashion Stylist of the Year

MELISSA NIXON

 

2018 AUSTRALIAN FAME TEAM

BEN RUSSELL – BIBA GERTRUDE ST

TIFFANY DECAUX – BORIS THE CUTTERY

SHANTELLE NEATE – FRUITION

ELIZABETH SHEDWICK – TONI&GUY PADDINGTON

 

AHFA Hair Fashion Video of the Year

UROS MIKIC – KINKY CURLY STRAIGHT

 

AHFA Icon of the Year

JEN ATKIN

 

AHFA Excellence in Education

KATE REID

 

AHFA Salon of the Year

JOEY SCANDIZZO

 

Best New Professional Haircare Product

JOICO – BLONDE LIFE RANGE

 

Best New Professional Styling Product

BALMAIN – VOLUME MOUSSE STRONG

 

Most Innovative Hair Tool

ECOHEADS – THE PING

 

Follow :#ahfa18 @aushairfashionawards