The 2009 Hair Expo once again brought all the big names in the hairdressing business to Sydney for the annual Queen’s Birthday weekend event. An independent analysis of visitors showed an increase in the attendance of salon owners in this year’s crowd and high advance ticket sales meant a number of seminars sold out well before the doors opened on June 6^th.

Julia Erben, Hair Expo Event Director, said “It seems the great exhibitor and artist line-up really drew in the crowd this year – both Mahogany and TONI&GUY brought their international creative teams to educate exclusively at Hair Expo. We had a record number of exhibitors, seeing the return of heavyweights Schwarzkopf Professional, Goldwell, Matrix and Aveda bringing their experience to the floor, as well as newcomers like Pureology by L’Oreal Professional Products Division showcasing exciting new developments.”

Compared with last year, a considerably higher percentage of salon owners and managers attended Hair Expo in 2009, enabling more direct and major purchasing decisions at, or as a result of the show. One such exhibitor who saw business booming was Dario Cotroneo, who chose Hair Expo as the perfect platform to launch his new product, MyCurl.

Dario said: “As it’s the biggest event in the industry, Hair Expo seemed like the perfect place to launch MyCurl and we had a really great response to the product over the weekend.”

In total, 2009 saw 9,592 visitors through the doors, with an increase in numbers from NSW and ACT. The number of international visitors was in line with previous years, once again highlighting the importance of the event on the international hairdressing calendar.

Culminating with the Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards ceremony on Monday June 8^th, this year saw Caterina DiBiase from Heading Out Hair & Beauty in Melbourne take the award for Australian Hairdresser of the Year as well as Best Photographic Collection.

Winners announced in all 13 categories for the 25^th annual Hairdressing Awards included:

NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR: Adrian Barclay, Venom, Invercargill, NZ

COLOUR TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR: Jacen Ward, TONI&GUY, Paddington, NSW

SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR: Gary Latham, Wild Life Hair, Milsons Point, NSW

NEW CREATIVE FORCE: Jason Fassbender, Parlour Hair, Malvern, SA

SESSION HAIR STYLIST OF THE YEAR: Benn Jae, Agent 99 Management, Richmond, VIC

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR: Alexandra Kontos, Nischler, Hobart, TAS

BEST NEW SALON DESIGN: Cranium Hair, Manly, NSW

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR: Dennis Langford, TONI&GUY, Paddington, NSW

EXCELLENCE IN SALON MARKETING: TONI&GUY, Paddington, NSW

EXCELLENCE IN HAIRDRESSING EDUCATION – REGISTERED ORGANISATION: BIBA Academy, Fitzroy, VIC

EXCELLENCE IN HAIRDRESSING EDUCATION – INDIVIDUAL: Sharon Blain, The Art of Hair, Pennant Hills, NSW

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: Anthony and Susa Wynne-Hoelscher, Culture Magazine, Toowong, QLD