NINETY-EIGHT British hairdressers from all corners of the United Kingdom, including Craig Chapman from Craig Chapman Hair Design in Launceston, woke up on Thursday, July 27 to the happy news of their finalist status in HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards.

This is no small feat with the 2017 awards attracting hundreds of entries, which take the form of photographic collections.

The 75 first-round judges drawn from industry experts, hairdressing icons from across the globe as well as session stylists to the stars and creative leaders, viewed the UK’s biggest photographic award exhibition display.

Now in its fourth decade, the awards hosted by Hairdressers Journal International and supported since its inception by sole sponsor Schwarzkopf Professional, continue to go from strength-to-strength in its quest to celebrate the most diverse and creative of talents in hairdressing.

Hairdressing is big business in Britain, with more than 40,000 salon businesses contributing more than £7-billion to the national economy and employing some 500,000 people nationwide. These awards seek to celebrate the very best of those hairdressers, awarding them for their artistic flair and technical skill.

The British Hairdressing Awards have launched the careers of a host of household names: from TIGI founder Anthony Mascolo to TONI&GUY creative director Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck, as well as TV favourites Lisa Shepherd and Andrew Barton.

The Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year category seeks to recognise the most inspiring stylists in the region, catapulting the finalists into the upper echelons of the nation’s very best hairdressing talent. A win can well and truly put a stylist on the map, securing their place not just as a creative visionary, but also as a local authority.

Hairdressers Journal International’s executive director, Jayne Lewis Orr, said: “The awards remain true to the original objective — to promote the professionalism and leading vision of British hairdressing, and importantly to celebrate its contribution to the wider world. I am so proud that we can see the impact that the awards have had on not only our own industry, but also upon partnership industries of model agencies, photographers, clothes stylists and make-up artists and its success is shared by many. This year more than ever, we encouraged entrants to produce work that’s aspirational and wearable, to really unify the bonds between creative hairdressing and the fact that this industry contributes £7-billion to the national economy and employs 500,000 nationwide. Now that’s something amazing to celebrate!”

The winners of this and 15 other categories including the prized British Hairdresser of the Year title are all to be announced at The British Hairdressing Awards, which takes place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, a J W Marriott Hotel, in

London on Monday, November 27.

l THE Good Salon Guide, the only independent guide to quality standards in hairdressing in the UK and Ireland, has announced that Craig Chapman Salon, Launceston, was recently awarded an Extensions Artist, Colour Expert and 5 Star rating.

The Good Salon Guide is the easiest and most reliable means of checking out the best salons in any area. Recognised salons are visited and objectively assessed by top industry professionals, giving potential clients confidence in their choice. Salons are regularly reassessed to ensure standards are maintained so membership is as good as a personal recommendation.

Gareth Penn, managing director of the Good Salon Guide, said: “I am delighted that Craig Chapman Salon has succeeded in reaching the standards required to become a member of the Good Salon Guide. Being in the Guide means a salon is among the best in the country which undoubtedly attracts new business and makes existing clients feel good. For salon owners, membership brings a whole host of free services including business advice, the chance to feature in our magazines and on-line media as well as great offers.”

Craig Chapman added: “Being a member of the Good Salon Guide shows we are a fantastic salon in every way. It’s great not only for our clients, but for our team to know the salon has reached such high standards. It makes us all very excited about the future of our salon.”