With salons across the north competing for the Oscars of the hairdressing world, it's a huge achievement just to be shortlisted to the final six, writes Katrina Doran
EVERY August there is great excitement in the hairdressing world throughout the north to see who has been shortlisted for the Northern Ireland Hairdresser of the Year Category at the British Hairdressing Awards. This year a talented hairstylist from Dunloy has achieved a lifelong dream of being shortlisted in one of the specialist categories - Avant Garde.
Joanne O'Neill, pictured right, runs her own salon in Dunloy - Joanne O'Neill hairdressing - and is the first northerner to be selected as a finalist in this category. The top specialist hairdressers from across the UK enter a collection of photographic work for these categories so Northern Ireland hopefuls are not just competing with their peers from home but with top session stylists from London. Past Avant Garde winners include Anthony Mascolo of Toni & Guy, Robert Lobetta, Mark Hill, Umberto Giannini and Trevor Sorbie. "The Avant Garde category is one I have followed for 25 years so I can't believe I've made the final," Joanne said. "I have spent about a year and a half preparing the theme, mood boards and hairpieces." "The collection takes inspiration from punk and ethnic elements used by designers on the catwalk. The sculpted shapes have been influenced by Chanel, YSL, Jean Paul Gaultier and Alexander McQueen, mixing grungy and rebel textures." "The British Hairdressing Awards is an amazing event and to be part of it is such a highlight in my career. I'm looking forward to submitting the second half of my collection and then the evening itself in November, which is always a night to remember." Joanne is clearly on a winning streak this year, having already scooped the title of Alternative Hair Visionary Award Ireland 2013 and the Irish Photographic Avant Garde Award 2013. The images shown here are examples of Joanne's previous Avant Garde work as the shortlisted images for this year's awards are embargoed until after the second round of judging to ensure they are kept top secret before winners are announced.
The Oscars of the hairdressing world are based on an initial photographic entry of four images. The successful finalists in each regional and specialist category then submit more images from the collection which is judged as a whole to reveal the winner in each category. The finalists in Northern Ireland regional category are Keith Kane of Keith Kane Hair International, Carryduff, and Andrew Mulvenna, both of whom are hoping for a third win to take them in the Hairdressing Hall of Fame; Sinead Kelly from Precious Hair Design, Downpatrick; Christopher Stewart from Hair Traffic, Belfast; Simon Houston of Simon Houston Hairdressing, Galgorm; and Sharon Dow at Kevin Kahan in Bangor. The final will take place on Monday November 25 in London.