Magical memories from 25 years of the british hairdressing awards

Published 28th Apr 2009 by sophieh
Magical memories from 25 years of the british hairdressing awards

Over the past 25 years, HJs British Hairdressing Awards have grown and flourished to become the night of the year on the hairdressing calendar.

For those lucky (and talented) enough to scoop one of the prestigious awards it can be the springboard to a highly successful and extremely profitable career.

Being a British Hairdressing Awards winner can open doors not only for the winner, but also for their salon and it will without doubt lead to a night not to be forgotten.

We ask winners past and present to re-live their memories from the last quarter-of-a-century of the British Hairdressing Awards.

BHA-2009-image-main.jpg

Akin-2008.jpgAkin Konizi

British Hairdresser of the Year 2008, London Hairdresser of the Year 2005 and Eastern Hairdresser of the Year 2001

"My best memory at the British Hairdressing Awards has to be last year's awards in November 2008, where we picked up not just one, but the top three awards of the night in succession, unprecedented in the British Hairdressing Awards history, so I am told. It was incredible to see Christel Lundqvist win the British Colour Technician of the Year in her very first year of entering. Already celebrating, we couldn't contain our delight when we were announced the Artistic Team of the Year and if that wasn't enough I was in complete disbelief when I was named as the 2008 British Hairdresser of the Year. A night that I truly will never forget and one that will be very hard to top." 

Errol-Douglas-2007.jpgErrol Douglas

Three times winner of Afro Hairdresser of the Year (2007, 1995 and 1993) and nominated twelve times for British Hairdresser of the Year

"My best British Hairdressing Awards moment would have to be a toss up between winning my first award and being nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year - doing shows on stage with the likes of legends Anthony Mascolo and Trevor Sorbie was incredible."

Steven Goldsworthy

Three times winner of Wales & South West (1995,1997 and 2000
)

"Winning the award for Wales & South West three years - resulted in three amazing evenings indeed - however this was topped when one of our home-grown talents - Julian Clarke won the trophy the following year - it was an amazing feeling."

 

des-murray2002.jpgDesmond Murray

Three times winner of Afro Hairdresser of the Year (1998, 2001 and 2002)


"For me winning the Afro Hairdresser of the Year award for the third time - was a relief as I felt it really cleared the way for me to be taken seriously as a contender for London, Avant Garde and Men's categories - to win an award for my Caucasian hairdressing skills would be the best - and that is yet to come!"

bev-c-2002.jpgBeverly C 

British Hairdresser of the Year 2001 & 2002 and London Hairdresser of the Year 1988 and 1987

"It goes without saying that the moment it's announced you've won British Hairdresser of the Year - I'm so lucky that it's happened twice - is amazing. Hugging, kissing, screaming, crying, relief, joy .... It's indescribable. BUT - even better for me, was the moment I looked out to the audience at the Grosvenor House and saw EVERYONE - all 1,800 of them - standing up and cheering. To feel that swell of support from my peers meant such a lot. A golden memory!"

jamie-stevens09.jpgJamie Stevens 

Men's Hairdresser of the Year 2008


"Hearing my name called at the awards this year was amazing; it's the first time I've entered, so it was incredible after attending it for so many years to actually be in the final and win! Standing up in front of my peers to collect it was unforgettable. When I won they played Kings Of Leon's Sex on Fire, which was one of my favourite tunes - now I've put it on as my ring tone and I get to re-live it every time the phone rings!"

Anthony Mascolo

British Hairdresser of the Year 1988, 1990 and 1995, Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year 1986 and 1987, London Hairdresser of the Year 1985 (with Trevor Sorbie) and 1990

"I won British Hairdresser of the Year three times and each time it felt amazing. The whole evening is so nerve-wracking when you're up for an award. You can't eat and you can't enjoy the event because you so desperately want to know if you've won. There's that whole moment before the name is announced when you feel excited and fearful at the same time and then when you hear your name it's absolutely fantastic. Those were wonderful times."

Darren-Ambrose07.jpgDarren Ambrose

Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year 2001 and 2007, Eastern Hairdresser of the Year 1995 and Newcomer of the Year 1992.

"The first year I entered the famous British Hairdressing Awards I was up for newcomer, I was totally blown away when it was announced that I had won. The feeling of euphoria that I was left with, has only made me want more and more!"

Phil Smith

Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year 1993, 1998 and 1999, and nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year six times
.

"The first time I was nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year is an evening I won't forget. To be recognised along with the best of British is a feeling that I can't describe and to be up there, next to your peers is something special I will treasure."

Antoinette-beenders-2004.jpgAntoinette Beenders 

British Hairdresser of the Year 2004, London Hairdresser of the Year 1996 and 1997 and Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year 1995


"My best British Hairdressing Awards moment has happened for the past nine years during summer when you get the phone call from Jayne saying you have been nominated, every time I get the call it makes my year, just the fact that you have the honour of being in the line up with the top six hairdressers of that year is almost as good as winning the award itself. I am very fortunate to have been nominated amongst the old and the new and had the honour of having my name on the best hairdressing award in the world"  

jason-india-miller-2002.jpgJason Miller

Newcomer of the Year 1987 and Scottish Hairdresser of the Year with wife India 1997, 1999 and 2002.

"Since the late 80s India and I have entered these collections into the British Hairdressing Awards and between us have had the added bonus of winning 'Scottish Hairdresser of the Year' four times and individually being awarded 'Newcomer of the Year'. The icing on the cake, however, and my most memorable moment was being received into British hairdressing's 'Hall of Fame' in 2002."

Andrew-Barton-2006.jpgAndrew Barton 

British Hairdresser of the Year 2006


"I guess my most memorable moment was when I was announced as British Hairdresser of the Year. When I got up on stage and saw the standing ovation the audience gave me when I was given the title. I remember being lifted up high by colleagues and friends as I was carried to the ballroom, the hangover the next morning was dreadful but the high lasted all year! I realised very quickly what a huge responsibility the title carries with it and tried my best to represent British hairdressing as best as possible!"

Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck

Newcomer of the Year 1991 and London Hairdresser of the Year 1999
.

"Sharing success is always infinitely more rewarding then winning an award yourself and to have experienced the thrill of being part of an artistic team that won Art Team of the Year a record 11 times is just amazing. Winning Newcomer at just 19 was an incredible start to my career and to go on to win London Hairdresser of the Year gave me such an incredible sense of achievement."

mark-hill-1999.jpgMark Hill 

British Hairdresser of the Year 2000 and 2003, Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year 1998 and 1999 and North West Hairdresser of the Year 1993, 1994 and 1997
.

'Winning British Hairdresser of the Year for the first time was without a doubt one of the greatest moments of my life.  From that day onwards the path of my career changed forever.  Being British Hairdresser of the Year opened so many doors for me from TV to launching my product range world wide."

Guy Kremer 

Southern Hairdresser of the Year 1988, 1989 & 1990 and Men's Hairdresser of the Year 1993

"I have many happy memories of the awards but winning Southern Stylist of the Year for the first time was brilliant, I then won a further two times and this hat trick earned me my place in the Hall of Fame. I then entered the first men's award and won that, it was so inspiring and motivational for me and team."

Hooker-Young2006jpg.jpgGary Hooker & Michael Young

North Eastern Hairdressers of the Year 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2006, Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year 2006, British Hairdresser of the Year Nominees 2008


"Without a doubt, our best moment was in 2008. We had been striving to be nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year and in November last year in the Great Room, when they announced our name the feeling was indescribable. Every minute of our career has been worth it just to hear our names announced as British Hairdresser of the Year Nominees. When our models appeared on stage, we felt we had arrived, and we don't plan on leaving anytime soon."

Mark-Leeson-2007.jpgMark Leeson

Eastern Hairdresser of the Year 2004, 2005 and 2006 Schwarzkopf Professional Colour Technician of the Year 2007

"I love the British Hairdressing Awards, but if I had to pick one, my favourite memory would have to be from 2007 - the year I won Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year and was inducted into Hall of Fame! It was such a huge achievement for myself and for the team. The British Hairdressing Awards inspire everyone and that was a milestone in my career that I'll never forget."

Lisa-Shepherd-British-05.jpgLisa Shepherd 

British Hairdresser of the Year 2005, Midlands Hairdresser of the Year 1998, 1999 & 2003 and Schwarzkopf Professional Colour Technician of the Year 2003, 2004 and 2005.

"I think my best memory has to be when I won British Hairdresser of the Year, as at that point I'd already won Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician, and thought my night was over - stress wise. My models for the presentation were completed and I just wanted to kick back and watch the show...I felt every bit of emotion and stress because being eight months pregnant I hadn't had a drink at all! Then to hear Jayne call my name! I honestly will never forget that -  I can tell you word for word what she said. Then I remember going up on stage and right at the front of all the professional photographers was my dad! With his happy snapper cheapo camera...bless him! It was the first BHA awards my Mum and Dad had ever been too and they weren't quite the same for a long while after."

Kathryn-Longmuir.jpgKathryn Longmuir

Afro Hairdresser of the Year 1997, 1999 and 2004

"Winning Afro Hairdresser of the Year in 2004 is a very special memory for me. The night was so memorable with everyone giving a standing ovation to our friend George Paterson, who sadly died that year. Our spirits were then lifted when my business partner Philip won Scottish Hairdresser of the Year for the second time and I won Afro Hairdresser of the Year for the third time - altogether an emotional but fantastic evening."

Karen-charles-dodd-2002.jpgCharles and Karen Dodds

North West Hairdresser of the Year, 2002, 2003 and 2004


"There have been so many special nights for Cutting Room Creative at the British Hairdressing Awards, however when I was asked to give this quote the night that immediately sprang to my mind, and to my partner Karen's, was shortly after the tragic death of George Paterson. George was nominated for Scottish Hairdresser of the Year and had completed his collection before he died, but Jayne announced that his team had decided to withdraw from the competition. Spontaneously the entire audience rose to give George and his team a standing ovation. This proved to everybody in the room what a fantastic industry hairdressing is!"

 

Tina-Farey-07.jpgTina Farey

Southern Hairdresser of the Year 2001, 2004 and 2006


"Every year at the British Hairdressing Awards is a great year for me; although winning Southern Hairdresser of the Year three times was an absolute honour as was becoming a member of the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame. I think my best memory was when they announced Rush as winners of Artistic Team of the Year in 2004 - the team were just so ecstatic, it was a great moment for myself and for Rush."

sophieh

sophieh

Published 28th Apr 2009

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