AHIA CREATIVE 2026 FINALIST COLLECTIONS
With a balance of trends, hair fashion forcasts and inspirationally focused photographic collections, the AHIA Creative Awards were created to celebrate the exciting talent here in Australia, New Zealand and internationally across the hair industry.
The 2026 Finalists are indicative of the exceptional quality and talent that exists and these photographic collections represent pure innovation brought to life. Featuring collaborations with some of the most renowned make-up artists, stylists and photographers, these are images which will inspire, motivate and surprise
Major Categories
AUSTRALIAN HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
Hairdresser: Bernadette Beswick- Salon: Beswick Education Services
Hairdresser: Bernadette Beswick
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Bill Tsiknaris
- Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Dee Parker Attwood
- Salon: Wieselmann Salon
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Paul James Graham
- Salon: Paul & Paul Salon
WINNER
- Hairdresser: PaulPauline McCabe
- Salon: Rock Paper Scissors Hair Studio
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Scott Sloan
- Salon: Sloans
NEW ZEALAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Ann Marie Young
- Salon: Jingles Hair Design
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Danny Pato MNZM
- Salon: D&M Hair Design
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jock Robson
- Salon: Dharma
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Kylie Hayes
- Salon: Moha Hairdressing
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Mana Dave
- Salon: Blaze Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Michael Beel
- Salon: Salute Hair Skin Spa
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Sara Allsop
- Salon: Dharma
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Sarah McGuigan
- Salon: Savvy Hair
INTERNATIONAL HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Andrew Smith
- Salon: Andrew Smith Salons
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Anne Veck
- Salon: Anne Veck Limited
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Casey Coleman
- Salon: Chair Salons
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Chrystofer Benson
- Salon: Chrystofer Benson Collective
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Danilo Giangreco
- Salon: Danilo Giangreco London
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Darrel Starkey
- Salon: Taylor’s Hair Studio
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Elle Foreman
- Salon: Tribe Salons
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Emma Simmons
- Salon: Salon 54
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Errol Douglas MBE
- Salon: Errol Douglas
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Gary Hooker & Michael Young
- Salon: Hooker & Young
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Nicholas James Tucker
- Salon: Nicholas James Tucker
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Rick Roberts
- Salon: Rick Roberts
Local and State Categories
NZ NORTH/SOUTH ISLAND HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Anthony Bayer
- Salon: Anthony Bayer Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Cameron Aitken-Boyle
- Salon: Salon on Rutland
NSW/ACT HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Aimee Egan
- Salon: Aimee Egan Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Carolyn Gahan
- Salon: Quarry Avenue
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jenni Tarrant
- Salon: Bond Hair Religion
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Kateryna Gribinyuchenko
- Salon: Joico Team
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Kerrie Di Mattia
- Salon: DiMattia & Co
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Pat Ryan
- Salon: Wild Life SoGo
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Zoe van Stom
- Salon: Stevie English Hair
QLD HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Dimitri Tsiknaris
- Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Domi Cherie
- Salon: Togninis
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Gabrielle Evaga
- Salon: Tokunai Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Holly Breen
- Salon: Californian Blonde
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Joshua Congreve
- Salon: Togninis Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Krystle Tokunai
- Salon: Tokunai Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Ryan King
- Salon: Loco London
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Shae Tsiknaris
- Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
WA/SA HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Delvene Kocman
- Salon: Delvene Hair Co
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Emily Glasspool
- Salon: Emily Lauren Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Emma Ware
- Salon: Ivy Hair & Beauty
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Lisa Robertson
- Salon: CoLab West
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Mikelah-Jayde Riley
- Salon: Mikelah-Jayde Studio
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Nicole Lamers
- Salon: Nicole Lamers Creative
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Renee Holmes
- Salon: Muse Studio Collective
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Victoria Shayler
- Salon: Sir Fletcher
VIC/TAS HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Danielle Blakeley
- Salon: Yoshiko Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Demelza Button
- Salon: Sfumato Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Tom Jarvis
- Salon: Mamawest
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Trinity King
- Salon: Trinity King Hair and Makeup
Individual Categories
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Cam Day
- Salon: Co and Pace Salons
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Kyra Seton
- Salon: Soul Hair Studio
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Madison Groves
- Salon: The Safari Room
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Nicole Koprivec
- Salon: The Mane Space
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Tori Yardley
- Salon: Toni & Guy Newtown
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Victor Caramigo
- Salon: Skin Mind Beauty Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Violet Leaver
- Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
EMERGING STYLIST OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Erin Newton
- Salon: The Mane Space
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Gemma Koster
- Salon: The Safari Room
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Isabella Portaro
- Salon: SJ Establishment
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jade Matthews
- Salon: The Safari Room
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jazmine Pinna
- Salon: Stevie English Hair
NEW CREATIVE TALENT OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Amelia Winen
- Salon: SJ Establishment
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Diana Thai
- Salon: Hair by The Collective
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Holly Evans
- Salon: Respekt Your Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jackson Fifield
- Salon: Togninis
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Paige Cameron
- Salon: Cobelle Creative
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Riccardo Iembo
- Salon: Toni & Guy Perth
AVANT GARDE HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Aimee Egan
- Salon: Aimee Egan Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Bill Tsiknaris
- Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Johnny Hynes
- Salon: Goldie
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Joshua Congreve
- Salon: Togninis Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Kateryna Gribinyuchenko
- Salon: Joico Team
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Katy Walker
- Salon: Katy & Co Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Lauren Mcilrath
- Salon: Mane Colab
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Paige Cameron
- Salon: Cobelle Creative
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Samijo Cranney
- Salon: Edge Hairdressing
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Scott James Sheehy
- Salon: Toni&Guy Newtown
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Stephanie Hind
- Salon: Cabello by Stephanie Bellairs
AI COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Creative: Carolyn Gahan
WINNER
- Creative: Domi Cherie
WINNER
- Creative: Geoffrey Herberg
WINNER
- Creative: Hayley Mears
WINNER
- Creative: Johnny Georgiou
WINNER
- Creative: Paige Cameron
WINNER
- Creative: Samantha Jupp
WINNER
- Creative: Samijo Cranney
WINNER
- Creative: Saverio Marfia
WINNER
- Creative: Tyron Nohr
MEN’S HAIR SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Ben Wells
- Salon: Togninis
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jackson Fifield
- Salon: Togninis
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Justin Hampson
- Salon: The Safari Room
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Xin Guo
- Salon: Xin Twenty One
MASTER CUTTER OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Danielle Blakeley
- Salon: Yoshiko Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Dimitri Tsiknaris
- Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Justin Hampson
- Salon: The Safari Room
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Ryan King
- Salon: Loco London
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Ya Ting Chung
- Salon: Yuka Hair & Spa
MASTER COLOURIST OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Billee Davies
- Salon: Loco London
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Carolyn Gahan
- Salon: Quarry Avenue Salon
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Chris Tsiknaris
- Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Danielle Blakeley
- Salon: Yoshiko Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Demelza Button
- Salon: Sfumato Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Domi Cherie
- Salon: Togninis
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Holly Breen
- Salon: Californian Blonde
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Kerrie Di Mattia
- Salon: Dimattia & Co
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Kristie Kesic
- Salon: Cobelle Creative
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Lisa Robertson
- Salon: CoLab West
WINNER
- Hairdresser: MIkelah-Jayde Riley
- Salon: Mikelah-Jayde Studio
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Nicole Lamers
- Salon: Nicole Lamers Creative
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Shae Tsiknaris
- Salon: Tsiknaris Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Zoe van Stom
- Salon: Stevie English Hair
EDITORIAL HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Anthony Nader
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Benjamin Martin
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Joshua Scott
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Michael Beel
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Nicole Lamers
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Pauline McCabe
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Sara Allsop
EDITORIAL MAKE UP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Make Up Artist: Brooke Clarke
Make Up Artist: Brooke Clarke
WINNER
- Make Up Artist: Krista Jade White
WINNER
- Make Up Artist: Shiree Collier
HAIR MASTERPIECE OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
Aimee Egan
Aimee Egan hair
Benjamin Martin
Salon XVI
Bernadette Beswick
Beswick Education Services
Bill Tsiknaris
Tsiknaris Hair
Carolyn Gahan
Quarry Avenue
Dani Blakeley
Yoshiko Hair
Danny Pato MNZM
D&M Hair Design
Emily Glasspool
Emily Lauren Hair
Joshua Congreve
Togninis Hair
Lauren McCowan
Lauren McCowan
Lisa Robertson
CoLab West
Lyndal Salmon
Biba Academy
Mariia Kolchina
Maria Kolchina Hair Styling
Marilyn Guarino
Biba Academy
Nicole Kae
Nicole Kae Creative
Paula Hibbard
Paula Hibbard
Pauline McCabe
Rock Paper Scissors Hair Studio
Paul James Graham
Paul & Paul Salon
Stephanie Hind
Cabello by Stephanie Bellairs
Zara Chellingsworth
Tsiknaris Hair
MAKE OVER ARTIST OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
Amanda Lunedei
Almayne Hair Studio
Carolyn Gahan
Quarry Avenue Salon
Domi Cherie
Togninis
Gemma Koster
The Safari Room
Jade Pendergrast
Xin Twenty One
Combined Categories
COLLECTIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: A & E Creative
- Artists: Aimee Egan and Emma Merrifield
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Domi Cherie & Victoria Shailer
- Artists: Domi Cherie, Togninis & Victoria Shailer, Sir Fletcher
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Industry Collective
- Artists: Sara Allsop, Jock Robson & Mana Dave
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Kristie and Dee
- Artists: Kristie Kesic, Cobelle Creative & Dee Parker-Attwood, Wieslemann Salon
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Nicole Lamers and Paula Hibbard
- Artists: Nicole Lamers, Nicole Lamers Creative & Paula Hibbard
WINNER
- Hairdresser: The Dream Team
- Artists: Paul James Graham, Paul & Paul Salon & Aimee Egan, Aimee Egan Hair
SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Team: Parental Advisory Hair
WINNER
- Team: Salute Hair Skin Spa
WINNER
- Team: Stevie English Hair
WINNER
- Team: Wild Rose Hair
WINNER
- Team: Yuka Hair & Spa
BRAND CONTENT OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
CPR Hair
DunGüd
Togninis
Yoshiko Hair
BTS DREAM TEAM OF THE YEAR
PRESENTED BY
WINNER
- Photographer: Andrew O’Toole
- Makeup Artist: Jess Bonnick
- Stylist: Lea Phillips
Photographer: Andrew O’Toole
Stylist: Lea PhillipsFor Nicole Lamers and Paula Hibbard, Collective Team of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Andrew O’Toole
- Makeup Artist: Jess Bonnick
- Stylist: Lea Phillips
For Nicole Lamers, WA/SA Hairdresser of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Andrew O’Toole
- Makeup Artist: Kylie O’Toole
- Stylist: Catherine V
For Bernadette Beswick, Australian Hairdresser of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Andrew O’Toole
- Makeup Artist: Kylie O’Toole
- Stylist: Catherine V
For Jenni Tarrant, NSW/ACT Hairdresser of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Andrew O’Toole
- Makeup Artist: Kylie O’Tool
- Stylist: Catherine V
For Kristie Kesic, Master Colourist of the Year of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Andrew O’Toole
- Makeup Artist: Hendra Widjaja
- Stylist: Teagan Sewell
For Pauline McCabe, Australian Hairdresser of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Annis and Barton
- Makeup Artist: Shev Kelly
- Stylist: Renee Lamb
For Dani Blakeley, Master Colourist of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Annis and Barton
- Makeup Artist: Shev Kelly
- Stylist: Renee Lamb
For Dani Blakeley, VIC/TAS Hairdresser of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Bill Tsiknaris
- Makeup Artist: Brooke Clarke
- Stylist: Violet Leaver
For Bill Tsiknaris, Australian Hairdresser of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Johnny Georgiou
- Makeup Artist: Krista Jade
- Stylist: Lisa Robertson
For Lisa Robertson, WA/SA Hairdresser of the year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: Meiji Nguyen
- Makeup Artist: Ady Grader
- Stylist: Charlotte Gallagher
For Nicole Lamers, Master Colourist of the Year Collection
WINNER
- Photographer: James Caswell
- Makeup Artist: Brooke Clarke
- Stylist: Ysha Giorno
For Joshua Congreve, Avant Garde Hairdresser of the Year Collection
Hot Shots
2026 HOT SHOTS Finalists
SPONSORED BY
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Amelia Winen
- Salon: SJ Establishment
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Benjamin Semple
- Salon: Circles of hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Diana Thai
- Salon: Hair By The Collective
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Emily Glasspool
- Salon: Emily Lauren Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Gabrielle Evaga
- Salon: Tokunai Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Gemma Koster
- Salon: The Safari Room
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Holly Evans
- Salon: Respekt Your Hair
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jackson Fifield
- Salon: Togninis
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jade Langford
- Salon: Jade Hairs @ fluffee
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Jade Veitch
- Salon: Etcher Salon
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Pat Ryan
- Salon: Wild Life SoGo
WINNER
- Hairdresser: Riccardo Iembo
- Salon: Toni & Guy Perth
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR THE 2026 AHIA CREATIVE GALA NIGHT
HURRY THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT!
- 7pm - Midnight
- 29TH JUNE
- Grand Ballroom ICC, Darling Harbour, Sydney
The 2026 Gala Awards Event ticket includes, 3 course a la carte dinner, 5 hour drinks package of beer, wine and soft drinks, entertainment and more.