Earlier this month, the pinnacle celebration of Hair Expo Australia, the coveted Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards crowned winners across 20 categories, including 14 creative categories. Hair Expo Australia takes place annually over the Queen’s Birthday weekend and brings together thousands of hair industry professionals for three days of trend showcases, world-class education and Australia’s largest hair show performances, leading it to be known as ‘The Festival of Hair.’
AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR: Jason Fassbender – Parlour Hair Unley, Malvern SA
“Winning the Australian Hairdresser of the Year award feels totally unbelievable, I didn't even think I would be a finalist, let alone win it,” said Jason. “Hopefully it will open up a lot of opportunities for me and I'm really looking forward to promoting the industry and helping to highlight the work that we do.”
Hair: Jason Fassbender; Photographer: Andrew O'Toole; Makeup: Kylie O'Toole; Stylists: Jason Fassbender and Karen Bava
COLOUR TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR: Adrian Rotolo – Ibiza Hair, Albert Park VIC
“I encourage my fellow colourist peers to enter awards like Hair Expo as a way to present innovative and provocative combinations of colours that inspire us all. Australia is among the world leaders in the hair colour world, and I am proud to carry a title that represents us!”
MEN’S HAIRDRESSER / BARBER OF THE YEAR
Uros Mikic – Kinky Curly Straight, Stepney SA
"Techniques focused on enhancing naturally curly and textured hair, bringing out the waves and curls to really showcase texture and playfulness in the collection. I used products that enhance natural texture of the hair, beach hair textured products to give waves and curls hold and shape."
Hair & Colour: Uros Mikic; Photographer: Andrew O'Toole; Makeup: Kylie O'Toole; Styling: Vas Aravantis
SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR: é Salon, Wahroonga NSW
“For this collection, WRITHE, we were inspired by black and red art, in particular the abstract artworks of artist Russell Mills. Mills paints predominantly black and red portraits with the faces in focus yet the bodies are blurred with brushstrokes of red smudged throughout the works.”Photographer: Milos Mlynarik; Stylist: Chris Lorimer; Makeup: Cherienne Waddell