After calculating score cards and trawling countless releases, the AHFA Business and Product category finalists are ready for reveal.
The Australian Hair Fashion Awards Product and Business Categories are the yin to the yang of the Creative Categories. Like in any hairdressing business, one side cannot exist without the other and they are equally important to all of us in the hairdressing industry.
The entries for the 2018 product categories demonstrated the breadth of innovation and technology in the hairdressing world and gave our judges yet more bathroom cabinet envy!
Product judges included names from national newspapers social media glossy magazines with titles such as Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Daily Mail and Body + Soul, all giving up their time to test, trial and treat themselves with some of the gorgeous new product lines hitting salons last year.
With regard to the business categories, 2018, sees the launch of an industry first: DIGITAL INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR. At the AHFA’s we are totally committed to offering innovation and inspiration in everything we do, so we felt it more than right, to honour those people who have been paving the way in the world of social media and the digital sphere and making it truly their own.
The coterie of judges for this category comprised motivational speakers, business directors, entrepreneurs and chief creative officers and none other than the CEO of the American Influencer Awards. Impressive? You betcha!
The feedback from the business judges as ever has been resolutely positive tinged with a lot of envy – they simply can’t believe that we get to call this wonderful industry work!
Without further hesitation, here are the #AHFA18 Product and Business Finalists
PRODUCT CATEGORY FINALISTS
BEST NEW PROFESSIONAL HAIR CARE PRODUCT
Joico – Blonde Life Range
Kérastase – Aura Botanica Soin Fondamental + Bain Micellaire
L’Oréal Professionnel – Smartbond Conditioner
La Biosthetique – Protection Cheveux Complexe Range
Oribe – Gold Lust Pre Shampoo
Revlon – UNIQ One Dry Shampoo
BEST NEW PROFESSIONAL STYLING PRODUCT
American Crew – Firm Hold Styling Cream
Balmain – Volume Mousse Strong
Eleven Australia – Dry Powder Volume Paste
Marula Oil – Light – Rare Oil Dry Mist
Ol Bastards – Matte Clay
Schwarzkopf – Powder Cloud
MOST INNOVATIVE HAIR TOOL
Robin Bayonet – Excellent Edges
The Ping – Ecoheads
GlamPalm Clinic – GlamPalm Australia
EVY Pro Style – EVY Professional
Ghd Platinum Styler – ghd Hair
Peptame Iron – Seamless 1
Judges for 2018: Bonnie Gillies (Oz Beauty Expert), Carina Rossi Popsugar, Carli Alman (Beauty Crew), Christina Butcher (Hair Romance), 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), Renae Manos (Bondi Beauty), Rosemary Bracey (Beauty Heaven), Shonagh Walker (Freelance Beauty Editor)
BUSINESS CATEGORY FINALISTS
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Alex Fuchs
Caterina Di Biase
DCI Education
Jules Tognini
Kate Reid
Sharon Blain
DIGITAL INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Adam Ciaccia
Bixie Colour
ELEVEN Australia
Edwards & Co
Hayley Mears
Jodie Yakalis
Natalie Anne
The Fox and the Hair
SALON BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Bixie Colour
Circles of Subiaco
Joey Scandizzo Salon
Royals Hair
Salon Kiin
Sfumato Hair
Judges for 2018: Christopher Crellin (CEO, American Influencer Awards), Daniel Abraham (Director, Platform Group), Pat Mesiti (Motivational Speaker & Educator), Paul Nagy (Chief Creative Officer, Y&R Group Australia), Paul Reynolds (Entrepreneur), Wendy El Khoury* (Founder Wedded Wonderland, Creative Business Hub)
*Judge for Excellence in Education + Salon Business of the Year