The waiting is over for hairdressers throughout the UK as Hairdressers Journal International has announced the finalists for the nine regional and six specialist categories in the British Hairdressing Awards 2009.

The British Hairdressing Awards are celebrating their 25th Anniversary in 2009. Launched in 1984 by Hairdressers Journal International and sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, the awards have celebrated and rewarded the best of British hairdressing creativity, and have become the ‘Oscars’ of the hairdressing world.

To enter the competition, hairdressers working in salons throughout the United Kingdom have to submit four images, which fulfil the criteria set. Depending on the hairdresser’s location, they can enter their regional category – Eastern, London, Midlands, North Eastern, North Western, Northern Ireland, Scottish, Southern or Wales & South West. If their talents lie within a particular discipline, they are also able to enter one of the six specialist categories – Afro Hairdresser of the Year, Artistic Team of the Year, Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year, Men’s Hairdresser of the Year, Newcomer of the Year or Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year.

The first round judging takes place to establish the six finalists in the regional and specialist categories. Members of the British Hairdressing Awards Hall of Fame, along with previous British Hairdressing Awards winners are invited to judge the work submitted. Judges cannot confer during the judging process, and each mark all entries independently. The points are handed to a team of auditors, who then process the results to find the six finalists in each category.

In addition to the 15 regional and specialist categories, the most hotly contested award is for the British Hairdresser of the Year title. Entry to this award is by nomination only, and in 2009 there are eight nominees for the title – Andrew Barton, Errol Douglas, Mark Hayes, Akin Konizi, Angelo Seminara, Lisa Shepherd, , Phil Smith and Gary Hooker & Michael Young,

Each year the standard of entries in all categories becomes more creative and inspirational,” comments Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Hairdressers Journal International, Jayne Lewis-Orr. “British hairdressing is perceived throughout the world as being the best, and the British Hairdressing Awards recognise and reward creativity and excellence in all hairdressing skills.”

To go forward to the second round, the six finalists in each category have to produce a second set of four images, which will then be judged as a complete set of eight. The same guidelines are adhered to as before, with the winner being announced at the biggest event in the hairdressing industry’s calendar, a glittering awards dinner presented by a leading media personality – the British Hairdressing Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, a JW Marriot Hotel, London on Monday 23rd November 2009.

2009 British Hairdressing Awards Finalists

Regional Finalists

Eastern Hairdresser of the Year

Anne McGuigan Anne McGuigan Hair & Beauty Leighton Buzzard

Neil Smith Barrie Stephen Hair Anstey

Simon Cawthorne Cawthorne & Wright Oakham

Terri Kaye Mark Leeson Hair Body & Mind Mansfield

Paul Falltrick Paul Falltrick Hairdressing Romford

Paolo Fattorusso Rush Watford

London Hairdresser of the Year

Desmond Murray Atherton Cox London

Jamie Stevens Errol Douglas Salon London

Darren Bain hob salons London

Sean Dawson hob salons London

Cos Sakkas Toni & Guy Regent Street London

Richard Mannah Toni & Guy Sloane Square London

Midlands Hairdresser of the Year

Andrea Beers Andrea Beers Kidderminster

Sean Tetlow and James Tetlow The Colour Room Stockport

Joanna Ludlow Diva Worcester

Anya Dellicompagni Francesco Group Academy Stafford

Charlotte Cole and Elanie Osborne Lawrence Anthony Stratford-upon-Avon

James Whyte Soul Hair Chester

North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year

Alan Simpson and Karen Storr Contemporary Guisborough

Paul Ferguson Hooker & Young Newcastle

Marcus King Hooker & Young Newcastle

Susan Hall Reds Hair & Beauty Sunderland

Jen Deighton Toni & Guy Sunderland Sunderland

Jill Watkins-Wright Watkins-Wright Hairdressing & Beauty Thirsk

Northern Ireland Hairdresser of the Year

John Morrison JL Morrison Belfast

Keith Kane Keith Kane International Belfast

Kevin Kahan Kevin Kahan Bangor

Michael Quinn Michael Quinn Hairdressing Belfast

Lee Stinton Paul Stafford Hairdressing Belfast

Simon Houston Simon Houston Hairdressing Galgorm

North Western Hairdresser of the Year

James Bacon Andrew Collinge Hairdressing Manchester

Gary Taylor Edward & Co Brighouse

Melanie Tudor En Route Hair & Beauty Wakefield

Sharon Peake Ethos Manchester

Elizabeth Brierley Hair @ Jibe Carlisle

Phil Gallagher Voodou Liverpool

Scottish Hairdresser of the Year

Janer Stewart Angels Aberdeen

Nelson Brown Browns Dumfries

Brian Gallagher Gallagher/Horner Hair Glasgow

Philip Bell Ishoka Aberdeen

Gary Lees Lees & Thompson Hairdressing Motherwell

Colin McAndrew and Kim Wyser Medusa Edinburgh

Southern Hairdresser of the Year

Leo Bancroft Leo Bancroft Weybridge

Gary Gill Monroe Hairdressing Leatherhead

Seung Ki Baek Rush Epsom

Rebecca Counsell Rush Sutton

Sam Burnett Rush Walton-on-Thames

Ross Dilanda Scully Scully Hairdressing Godalming

Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year

Stuart Nicholson Burlesque Newport

Craig Chapman Craig Chapman Cornwall

Ken Picton Ken Picton Cardiff Bay

Gemma Wilmot Melanie Giles Hairdressing Bath

Sonia Byrne Redchat/Aveda Bristol

Tommy van der Veken Tommy’s Ruthin

Specialist Categories

Afro Hairdresser of the Year

Abena Richardson Asquared Catford

Eve Owusu and Gemma Humes Errol Douglas Salon London

Michelle Thompson Francesco Group Advanced Academy Stafford

Kim Johnson Hype Coiffure Battersea

Junior Green Junior Green Hair and Beauty London

Sandra Webb Sandra Webb Hair & Beauty London

Artistic Team of the Year

Atherton Cox Artistic Team London

F.A.M.E Team 2009 Bloxham

hob salons London

Lisa Shepherd Salons Birmingham

Sanrizz Artistic Team London

Toni & Guy Artistic Team London

Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year

Anne Veck Anne Veck Hair Oxford

Darren Ambrose D&J Ambrose Middlesex

Tina Farey Rush Croydon

Efi Davies Toni & Guy Covent Garden London

Indira Schauwecker Toni & Guy Covent Garden London

Skyler McDonald seanhanna London

Men’s Hairdresser of the Year

Desmond Murray Atherton Cox London

Jamie Stevens Errol Douglas Salon London

Karine Jackson Karine Jackson London

Claire Groves Kontakt London

Jody Taylor Toni & Guy Covent Garden London

Mark Smith Smith’s Bromley

Newcomer of the Year

Siobhan McGuire Angels Aberdeen

Benjamin Moth Brooks and Brooks London

Mark Francome Painter Kontakt London

Shaun Hall Mark Leeson Hair Body & Mind Mansfield

Costa Phouli Rush Croydon

Matthew Lewis Stopps Rush Walton-upon- Thames

Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year

Anne Veck Anne Veck Hair Oxford

Robbie Robertson Forresters Reading

Christel Lundqvist hob salons London

Gary Hooker & Michael Young Hooker & Young Newcastle

Mark Leeson Mark Leeson Hair Body & Mind Mansfield

Chris Williams Rush Croydon