Sunday 24th September saw the hair industry unite for the gala awards ceremony of the Australian Hair Industry Awards 2023 - Business. The much-anticipated event was held at the The Star, Gold Coast with Australia’s leading hairdressers, salons, specialist businesses, educators and professional products taking home each of the 30 awards.
Created by Mocha Group, the AHIA’s were launched due to national demand for a platform to ighlight business achievement and recognise excellence, providing an exciting snapshot of the impressive quality of the industry. The powerful impact of the awards continues to grow year on year with 2023 setting a new record of over 300 entries and 200 finalists across the extensive categories.
Each submission was judged by an independent panel of 32 judges consisting of media, PR and business specialists. Proud sponsors included Timely, Redken, Kitomba, Sustainable Salons, Excellent Edges, Matrix, Schwarzkopf Professional, Goldwell, L’Oreal Professionnel, Revlon Professional, HairBiz, Shortcuts, DNA, KMS, EVY Professional, Comfortel, Wella Professionals, Hi Lift Professional, Haircare Group, Parlux by Dateline Imports, Alfaparf Milano Professional and DeLorenzo.
A highlight of the evening was the opening extravaganza choreographed by the incredible creative talent Adam Williams. This incredible spectacle saw international guest headliners with death defying performances which danced dangerously close to spiralling out of control.
Mocha Group Owner and Founder Linda Woodhead is proud to acknowledge this year’s deserving winners; “There is no better litmus test of the Australian hair industry than the AHIA’s. The fact that we continue to break records with submission numbers is testament to the emphasis which the hair community places on not just meeting quality benchmarks but exceeding them.
Hairdressing is a crucial part of the service industry and these businesses play an integral role within all of our communities, bringing us together, supporting the next-generation of talent and making us feel amazing. For that they deserve to be championed by all of us!”
The Big Winner of the night was Sharlene Lee, Circles for Hair, taking out Best Business Director/Owner of the Year, WA/NT Salon of the year and the ultimate accolade of Australian Salon of the Year.
Amongst the other excited winners, The 2023 Special Recognition award went to Jenny Burns and the Vidal Sassoon Humanitarian Award to Helen Owens, Tigerlamb. On behalf of Helen, as an added surprise, Comfortel donated $10,000 to one of her chosen charities RIZEUP Australia with a giant cheque being presented to founder Nicolle Edwards.
2023 AHIA BUSINESS WINNERS |
AHIA CARE, TREAT, STYLE & ELECTRICAL PRODUCT AWARDS Sponsored by HAIRBIZ BEST IN CARE Qiqi Makes You Feel Like You Just Left The Salon Shampoo & Qiqi Goodbye Dry Hello Gorgeous Conditioner by Dateline Imports
BEST IN TREAT BC Clean Frizz Away Treatment by Henkel Beauty Care Professional
BEST IN STYLE Joico Youthlock Blowout Crème by Sabre Haircare
BEST ELECTRICAL TOOL EVY PROFESSIONAL E-CURL PRO
Salon Team Member of the Year
Sponsored by Excellent Edges Leanne Kay, Stevie English Hair
Salon Manager/Co-Ordinator of the Year Sponsored by Wella Professionals Brooke Blinco, RocaVerde
Salon Manager/Co-Ordinator of the Year Sponsored by Wella Professionals Brooke Blinco, RocaVerde
Business Director/Owner of the Year Sponsored by Kitomba Sharlene Lee, Circles of Hair
Salon Team of the Year Sponsored by Goldwell Toni&Guy Cronulla
Sole Operator of the Year Sponsored by Matrix Katy Reeve
Best Eco Salon Sponsored by DNA Organics George & Ivy
Best Business Newcomer of the Year Sponsored by KMS Salon Her
Best Salon Design Sponsored by Comfortel Ms Monaco Hair Society
Best Marketing Sponsored by Shortcuts Elysium Hair Brisbane
Best Customer Care Sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional Ms Monaco Hair Society
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Best Salon Group of the Year Sponsored by M&U Imports Toni&Guy Australia
Best In-Salon Training Sponsored by Haircare Group Co and Pace Salons
Educator of the Year – Individual Sponsored by Redken Sharon Blain
Educator of the Year – Organisation Sponsored by EVY PROFESSIONAL Taylorweir
Educator of the Year - Product or Equipment Company Sponsored by Sustainable Salons L’Oréal Professionnel
NATIONAL WHOLESALER OF THE YEAR Sponsored By Parlux by Dateline Imports Salon Direct Hair and Beauty Supplies
State Salon Business of the Year NSW/ACT Sponsored By Alfaparf Milano Professional Sloans
State Salon Business of the Year QLD Sponsored By Wella Professionals Rokstar
State Salon Business of the Year SA/TAS Sponsored By Timely SJ Establishment
State Salon Business of the Year VIC Sponsored By RevlonProfessional Mama West
State Salon Business of the Year WA/NT Sponsored By DeLorenzo Circles of Hair
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD Sponsored By L'Oréal Professionnel Jenny Burns
VIDAL SASSOON HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR Sponsored By Mocha Group Helen Owens
AUSTRALIAN SALON BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored By Mocha Group Circles of Hair
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