British hairdressing awards 2013: winners announced!

Akin Konizi has been named as British Hairdresser of the Year for 2013; the ultimate accolade at HJ‘s British Hairdressing Awards. The director of HOB salons took the top prize for a fourth time at the end of the British Hairdressing Awards 2013, which was hosted by HJ's publishing director Jayne Lewis Orr and David Walliams at London's Grosvenor House. Winners were also announced in nine regional categories and six specialist categories, including Schwarzkopf Professional Colour Technician of the Year, which was awarded to Sharon Peake and Adam Byrant of Ethos Hairdressing in Manchester. As well as celebrating 2013 winners, Ken Picton, Kay McIntyre and Kevin Kahan were each inducted into the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame, for achieving three wins each in the same category. The British Hairdressing Awards 2013 evening also saw an exclusive performance by girl group Stooshe, who had the 1,700-strong crowd on their feet during a storming set. Before the eagerly-anticipated final award of the evening was announced, guests were treated to a model presentation by each of the eight nominees for British Hairdresser of the Year. Reminding the audience just why the nominees are the most-respected in the industry, the show saw each nominee present two models demonstrating their interpretation of Catwalk Couture. [hji-gallery-legacy] Then it was time for the highest accolade in British hairdressing to be awarded, with Schwarzkopf Professionals’ Michael Bergmann joining Jayne on stage to announce Akin Konizi as the winner of HJ’s British Hairdresser of the Year. See all of the red carpet pictures from the night by clicking though to the gallery. And the winners were.. Regional Categories Northern Ireland Hairdresser of the Year: Sharon Dow, Kevin Kahan, Bangor Midlands Hairdresser of the Year: James Whyte, Soul Hair, Chester, Cheshire North Western Hairdresser of the Year: Adam Bryant, Ethos Hairdressing, Manchester Southern Hairdresser of the Year: Seung-Ki Baek, Rush Hair, Epsom, Surrey Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year: Rachelle Simmonds and Dafydd Rhys Thomas, Ken Picton Salon, Cardiff Scottish Hairdresser of the Year: Brian Gallagher, Gallagher Horner Hair, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year: Michelle Rooney, Hooker & Young, Wynyard, Billingham Eastern Hairdresser of the Year: Angelo Vallillo, Zullo & Holland, Nottingham London Hairdresser of the Year: Sean Dawson, HOB Salons, Camden Specialist Categories Newcomer of the Year: Sophia Hilton, Brooks & Brooks, Holborn, London Men’s Hairdresser of the Year: Kevin Luchmun, Toni & Guy Covent Garden, London Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year: Tomomi Naito, Eton Crop, London Afro Hairdresser of the Year: Charlotte Mensah, Hair Lounge, London Artistic Team of the Year: Mark Leeson Hair, Body & Mind Artistic Team Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year: Sharon Peake and Adam Bryant, Ethos Hairdressing, Manchester HJ’s British Hairdresser of the Year Akin Konizi