Sunday 29th March saw the biggest event in the Irish hairdressing calendar with the Schwarzkopf Professional Irish Hairdressing Business Awards. The crème de la crème of the industry descended on the RDS in Dublin to celebrate an incredible year in Irish hairdressing.
The 350 strong crowd was treated to a fabulous ‘Essential Looks’ show from Schwarzkopf Professional, where ambassadors Andy Smith, Charlie Taylor and Kevin Kahan presented the three key spring/summer trends, before celebrity presenter, Lorraine Keane kicked off proceedings.
Sean Taaffe, winner of three awards including National Salon of the Year 2014/2015, said of the event,
Wow! What a day! We have 50 staff across our salons so this isn’t just for us as the owners, this is for them. They truly make our salon group what it is, and without such an amazing team we wouldn’t be standing up here today.
Michael Berggren, General Manager of Schwarzkopf Professional UK and Ireland, said of the event,
Running a successful salon business takes determination, vision and strength – not to mention strong leadership skills to keep your team at the top as well. Schwarzkopf Professional is proud to host the Irish Hairdressing Business awards and celebrate these visionaries in the industry!
Judged by some of the top names in the hairdressing industry, including Errol Douglas MBE, Russell Barker from Mahogany Hairdressing and Amanda Nottage from Creative Head magazine, for the first time in its 12 year history, the awards also celebrated the runner up for each category.
Big congratulations to the winners and runners up of the prestigious awards:
Customer Care Award
Winner: Sean Taaffe Hair and Beauty Group
Runner Up: Caroline Hair Creation
Marketing Salon of the Year
Winner: DaveyDaveyMens
Runner Up: Lloyds Hair Waterford
Reception/Front of House Award
Winner: Aoife Horgan, Stunners Hair Salon
Runner Up: Lynsey Frahill, Rustiq Salon, Kilkenny
Salon Design Award
Winner: Preen
Runner Up: Kevin Kahan
Schwarzkopf Retail Salon of the Year
Winner: Ritzys Hairdressing
Runner Up: Sharon Malcolm Hairdressing
Training Award
Winner: Ikon Hair Design
Runner Up: TONI&GUY, Clarendon Street
Website of the Year
Winner: Sugar Cubed
Runner Up: Oscars and Co Barbershop
Trainee of the Year – Connacht
Winner: Emma Loughney, Allure Hairdressing, Ballina
Runner Up: Cian Moore, Kelly’s Hair & Beauty
Trainee of the Year – Dublin
Winner: Alan Adderly, DaveyDavey
Runner Up: David Reynolds, Zeba
Trainee of the Year – Leinster
Winner: Sinead Hourihane, Lynda Maher Hair Studio
Runner Up: Chloe Brennan, Lynda Maher Hair Studio
Trainee of the Year – Munster
Winner: Andrew O’Sullivan, Creation Hair & Beauty Studio
Runner Up: Barry McDonagh, Altamoda Hair
Trainee of the Year – Ulster
Winner: Amy Rutledge, Kevin Kahan
Runner Up: Natalie Chettleburgh, Paul Meekin Partners Hair & Beauty
National Trainee of the Year 2014/2015
Winner: Sinead Hourihane, Lynda Maher Hair Studio
Runner Up: Amy Rutledge, Kevin Kahan
Salon of the Year – Connacht
Winner: Allure Hair and Beauty, Castlebar
Runner Up: Kelly’s Hair and Beauty Salon
Salon of the Year – Dublin
Winner: Brown Sugar Hair and Beauty
Runner Up: Foundation
Salon of the Year – Leinster
Winner: Ritzys Hairdressing
Runner Up: Rustiq – Carlow
Salon of the Year – Munster
Winner: Sean Taaffe Hair & Beauty Group Killarney
Runner Up: Ikon Hair Design
Salon of the Year – Ulster
Winner: Natural Hair Company
Runner Up: Patrick Gildea Hairdressing
National Salon of the Year 2014/2015
Winner: Sean Taaffe Hair & Beauty Group Killarney
Runner Up: Ritzys Hairdressing