It’s back! The longest running hairdressing awards in the Southern Hemisphere are here again, and the competition is set to be more intense than ever before with all categories open to New Zealand entrants for the first time (except Australian Hairdresser of the Year).

Australian entrants will see strong competition from across the Tasman. Always attracting the most creative and innovative hairdressing talent in the industry, the inclusion of New Zealanders in all categories puts even more pressure on Australian entrants to produce their most outstanding work possible Previously only NZ Hairdresser of the Year has been available to New Zealanders.

The judging process is set to change next year too, with independent industry experts from New Zealand also joining their Australian counterparts among the 20-strong judging panel for 2010.

To help entrants with their admissions, Events Co-ordinator Libby Brooks-Molloy is prepared to answer any queries about the awards and a ‘top tips’ section has been added to the Hair Expo website. With a wealth of information on entering, the site includes clear guidelines for each category and best practice from previous winners.

Check out all of last year’s finalists in our Hair Collections Galleries.

As well as interviews from Hair Expo on our Hairdressing Podcasts and Hairstylist Video pages.

In its 25^th year, Hair Expo Australia Awards are the longest running set of hairdressing awards in the Southern Hemisphere. Schwarzkopf Professional became the exclusive sponsor in 2009.

Submissions can be entered until 5pm on 9 March 2010. After the first round of judging, the finalists in the Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Australian Hairdressing Awards will be announced at a cocktail reception on 23 March 2010. Winners across all categories will be announced at a gala dinner held during Hair Expo Australia, at the Sydney Convention Centre on Monday 14 June. The awards show is unquestionably our hairdressing industry’s night of nights and is the culmination of three days of excitement over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend starting Saturday 12 June.

Hair Expo Australia: Exhibition, Education, Events

Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend, 12-14 June 2010

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.

For more information about

the Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards please contact:

Libby Brooks-Molloy, Events Coordinator, Hair Expo Australia

(02) 9422 2859 / libby.brooks-molloy@reedexhibitions.com.au

If you are interested in exhibiting at Hair Expo, please contact:

Wayne McEwen, Account Manager, Hair Expo Australia

(02) 9422 8982 / wayne.mcewen@reedexhibitions.com.au

For all media enquiries please contact:

Maxted Thomas Public Relations

Matt Horsburgh, (02) 9358 5689 / matt@maxtedthomas.com.au

Caitlin Irving, 0412 270124 / caitlin@maxtedthomas.com.au

HAIR EXPO Australian Hairdressing Awards Categories:

• Australian Hairdresser of the Year
• New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year
• New Creative Force
• Session Hairstylist of the Year
• Colour Technician of the Year
• Entrepreneur of the Year
• Apprentice / Student of the Year
• Best New Salon Design
• Salon Team of the Year
• Excellence in Salon Marketing
• Educator of the Year
• Education Organisation of the Year
• Photographic Collection of the Year