Akin's konizi's hairdressing career in pictures
Over the past few years Akin Konizi and his team have become a force to be reckoned with. And while it seems that success has come relatively quickly, Akin has been working tirelessly for the past 25 years.
He started his apprenticeship in 1979 at Alan International in London, and loved nothing more than working with the old techniques. "I initally wanted to be a fashion designer but after working at my cousin's salon, I was hooked on hairdressing," he explains.
He set up Hair on Broadway with his best friends Paul Simbler and Clive Collins in 1983 - and the rest, as they say, is history. "We were disheartened with working in London so chose to open our business in the suburbs. We only recently returned to the capital with our academy in Camden Town and salon in Baker Street."
In 2001, Akin won HJ's Eastern Hairdresser of the Year and later went on to win 2005 London Hairdresser of the Year before being crowned with the ultimate accolade, 2008 British Hairdresser of the Year. His precision cutting and beautiful imagery have made him one of the most sought-after stylists of his generation.
Here are some of Akin's favourite images that have defined his career to date.
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- "I was about 18 years old here and had always worn my hair like this, in fact I've only recently changed it; it was my pride and joy. I was doing my apprenticeship with Alan International in London and was full of enthusiasm and optimism about the future. I loved my apprenticeship, working with John Rawson who was my mentor at the time. It was the most amazing three years."
- "I wasn't originally keen on this image but it has become one of the most popular looks I have created. It won the 2005 Fellowship Fashion Focus Image of the Year, which earned me the name 'Mr Bob'."
- "This is from the collection I created when I was nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year the first time in 2006. I wanted to create something that wasn't high fashion and use techniques that weren't common. I was well known for cutting, but I wanted to show the industry that I could also dress hair."
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- "Me, Clive Collins and Paul Simbler have been partners for about 22 years and although we are all different, we work brilliantly together. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for them - they are my best friends."
- "Here I am working on one of my models for my 2005 London Hairdresser of the Year shoot. I was doing a variation of a stack perm to set it and I was pleased to be able to do that technique after learning it 20 years ago. The collection went on to win the London Hairdresser of the Year title."
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- "This was my second attempt at London Hairdresser of the Year and I became a finalist. I felt that by this time I was starting to get it right in my photographic style. This was the strongest look in the collection and showed my precision work but with a hint of softness."
- "This is a reverse graduated style from my 2007 British collection. I chose it because it was a look which hadn't been done for a long time."
- "I love the model's body shape and the composition of the picture. I deliberately didn't hide the fact I had used a weft. I think we should show off different ways of creating styles."