Ahia 2021: all creative category winners revealed

The Australian Hair Industry Awards (AHIA) officially announced the winners for its Creative categories on Monday 14 June 2021. The awards event, held at The Star in Sydney, was hosted by media personality Adam Williams and saw 700 of the industry’s biggest names watching on. Launched in 2012 by Mocha Publishing, 2021 marks the first year Creative categories were given their own awards program alongside Business and Educational. Owner and publisher Linda Woodhead explained: “The Creative AHIA’s are our exciting new awards platform which highlight the quality of the industry’s editorial and trend focused skills and have allowed our entrants to show their clients and communities just how talented they are.” The night’s proceedings began with ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’- a choreographed circus performance featuring ring master Adam and 20 dancers, aerialists and models. Also featured was a hair show directed by the creative and artistic teams from Revlon Professional and ghd, with extensions provided by Amazing Hair. Read below the full list of winners here:

Australian Hairdresser of the Year

Deanna Parker Attwood, Wieselmann Salon  

New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year

Danny Pato, D&M Hair Design  

Colour Expert of the Year

Stevie Corthine, Stevie English Hair  

NSW/ACT Hairdresser of the Year

Paula Hibbard, Paula Hibbard  

QLD Hairdresser of the Year

Amy Gaudie, Urban Chic  

SA/TAS Hairdresser of the Year

Mario Fioravanti, SJ Establishment  

VIC Hairdresser of the Year

Cristina Tatasciore, Flipped Hair  

WA/NT Hairdresser of the Year

Jude McEwen, Toni and Guy Perth Central  

Apprentice of the Year

Paige Cameron, Cobelle Creative  

Independent Stylist of the Year

Charlene Fernandez, Charlene Fernandez Hair  

Master Cutter of the Year

Elle Schoemaker, Cobelle Creative  

New Creative Talent of the Year

James Morris, Biba Gertrude St  

Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year

Paul James Graham, Paul & Paul Salon  

Men’s Hair Specialist of the Year

Anthony Staltari, Barbery Australia  

Best Collab of the Year

Stephanie & Coco  

Creative Team of the Year (Salon or Salon group)

SJ Establishment  

Hot Shots Team

Eliza Andrews, Royals Hair Evie Golding, Rokstar Salon Leanne Kay, Stevie English Hair Scott James Sheehy, Toni&Guy Newtown  

International Hairdresser of the Year

Sally Brooks, Brooks & Brooks   For the event, the AHIA partnered with brands such as Revlon Professional, ghd, Excellent Edges and Amazing Hair, as well as the featured announcement of this year’s finalists and winners of American Crew’s #allstarchallenge. The awards also worked with 100 esteemed international and local judges including Sam McKnight, Guy Tang, Sally Brooks, Angelo Seminara, Errol Douglas, Jenny Strebe, Julie Bellinger-Gibb, Faye Murray, Charles Marcus, Kym Krey, Cameron Pine, Brad Ngata, Jayne Wild, Tracey Hughes and Sharon Blain. On top of this, the event worked closely with representatives from local publications (HAIRBIZ, Instyle, Woman’s Day, New Idea, Beautyheaven, Hair Romance) and international publication such as Hairdressers Journal International, as well as Estetica, Independent Beauty Professional Magazine and Intercoiffure SA. Image courtesy of Creative Australian Hairdressing Industry Awards 2021.