2026 ANZ Hair Industry Awards – Business Finalists Announced

The finalists are in! More than 300 entries were received for the 2026 ANZ Hair Industry Awards – Business, with the industry’s leading salons, businesses, educators and professionals now vying for top honours. The finalists were officially announced on Monday 7 September, marking the beginning of the countdown to one of the biggest nights on the Australian and New Zealand hair industry calendar.

Now in their 13th year, the awards have become a benchmark for business excellence across the professional hair industry, recognising the people and businesses demonstrating outstanding leadership, creativity, innovation and business performance.

Each year, the awards shine a light on the incredible talent, dedication and diversity across the professional hair industry, and 2026 is no exception. Submissions were assessed by an independent panel of more than 30 national and international judges, including industry, media and PR professionals, alongside specialists in business, finance, marketing, education, design and leadership.

This year also marks an exciting development for the awards, with Australian Salon of the Year and New Zealand Salon of the Year introduced as dedicated entry categories for the first time, rather than being determined from state category winners.

The result is an impressive line-up of finalists representing the breadth and diversity of the hair industry across Australia and New Zealand. From outstanding salon businesses and educators to innovative products and exceptional individuals, these finalists are now in the running to take home one of the industry’s most coveted honours.

The Major Awards

Australian Salon of the Year

• Mamawest
• Privé Hair Organics
• Tigerlamb King Street

New Zealand Salon of the Year

• Hair Art & Beauty
• Salute Hair Skin Spa
• The Following Hair Co.

Business Director/Owner of the Year

• Agatha Villano, Epic Hair
• Helen Owens, Tigerlamb
• Ida & Joe Cimmino, Orbe
• Jade Crosland, Privé Hair Organics
• Justin Pace, Co and Pace Salons
• Kirby Lago, Pelo by Lago
• Kristian Tognini, Togninis
• Loz Main, The Rumours Are True
• Maria Unali, Salon Kiin
• Paul & Catriona Howard, George & Ivy
• Samantha Harrison, Samantha Harrison Hair Extensions & Education
• Samantha Jones, Ms Monaco Hair Society
• Sandi Larkin, The Following Hair Co.
• Sarah Kamel, Misk Hair

Best Business Performance of the Year

• Conceptual Brands
• Curate Awards
• Freedom Mastery
• Hair Candy Australia
• Iconic Coaching
• PinkChic Hair Care
• Salon Direct Hair & Beauty Supplies
• Superior Hair Extensions
• Waste Free Systems

Best Business Coach

• Cait Muir, Iconic Coaching
• Chrissy Alger, Freedom Mastery
• Kym Krey, The Salon Mentor
• Larissa Macleman, Salon Owners Collective
• Sonia Tomas, The Salon Dr

National Wholesaler of the Year

• Eco Salon Supplies, QLD
• Hair Mart, WA
• Salon Cosmetics, VIC
• Salon Direct Hair and Beauty, QLD

People & Leadership

Salon Team Member of the Year

• Alyssia Pearson, Toni&Guy Broadbeach
• Armani Phillips, Orbe
• Clerissa Parsons, Tokunai Hair
• Dylan Hooper, Salon Kiin
• Emily Ashurst, The Following Hair Co.
• Jessica Wood, Orbe
• Jordan Irven, Privé Hair Organics
• Josh Congreve, Togninis
• Katie Owen, The Following Hair Co.
• Kayte Wright, Ms Monaco Hair Society

Salon Manager/Co-Ordinator of the Year

• Amanda Skews, Harpo Hair
• Ashley Webb, Jak Hair Collective
• Brierley Pedro, Salon Kiin
• Cherie Cowan, Sloans
• Evie Golding, Rokstar Salon
• Gemma Koster, The Safari Room
• Ingrid Gray, The Rumours Are True
• Jenna Lazzeri, Orbe
• Kayla Driver, The Following Hair Co
• Kim Hazelton, Hey Hair
• Michelle Hale, Apollo Hair
• Nyree Maclellan, Ms Monaco Hair Society
• Tom Jarvis, Mamawest
• Trudy Solway, Pura Holistic Studio

Sales or Business Development Representative of the Year

• Ben Wright, Excellent Edges
• Bijanca Rogers, Hairjamm – Davines, Pure & Juuce brands
• Chris Barber, Sustainable Salons
• Danielle Maloney, CPR Hair
• Ella Fanciulli, CPR Hair
• Jodie Jensson, CPR Hair
• Ronen Frankel, Revlon Professional
• Stephanie Sasse, CPR Hair
• Teneille Mancarella, Excellent Edges

Sole Operator of the Year

• Abbey Shepherd
• Amanda Oxley
• Elly Paynter
• Emily Van Der Merwe
• Emma Johnson
• Janelle Grech
• Jess Sutherland
• Jools Purchase
• Katy Reeve
• Leissa Buckton
• Mark Laird
• Nicole Kae
• San Sun
• Sarah Qodrat

Salon Excellence

Salon Team of the Year

• Access Hair
• Clarke and Co Hair
• Co and Pace Salons
• Elluca
• Epic Hair
• Letitia Booth Hair
• Ms Monaco Hair Society
• Pura Holistic Studio
• Sixteen Hair and Beauty
• Soul Hair Studio
• The Following Hair Co.
• The Safari Room
• Togninis
• Toni&Guy, Broadbeach

Best Customer Care

• Ardor Organics
• apaR Hair Studio
• DFK Hair Studio
• Elluca
• Eye Am Hair
• Liberated Hair
• Mayko Hair
• Ms Monaco Hair Society
• Orbe
• Perci Salon
• Privé Hair Organics
• Pura Holistic Studio
• Rokstar Salon
• The Hare Boutique

Best Marketing

• Harpo Hair Salons
• Intuition The Art of Hair
• Letitia Booth Hair
• Liberated Hair
• Ms Monaco Hair Society
• The Rumours are True

Best In Salon Training

• Clarke and Co Hair
• Di Iorio
• Intuition The Art Of Hair
• Jak Hair Collective
• Mamawest
• Mayko Hair
• M Hair and Co
• Ms Monaco Hair Society
• Orbe
• Perci Salon
• Salon Kiin
• The Safari Room
• Togninis Academy
• Urban Room Hair

Best Eco Salon

• Ardor Organics
• Elluca
• Eye Am Hair
• George & Ivy
• Privé Hair Organics
• Pura Holistic Studio

Best Salon Design

• Blow It’s a Hair Thing
• George & Ivy, Central Fremantle
• Koko Blaq Hair Salon
• Kontra Collective
• Luxe Concept Salon
• Orbe
• Salon Spaghetti
• Si. Organics
• Sixteen Hair & Beauty
• Soul Hair Studio
• Studio MD
• The Avenue Edit
• Togninis
• Toni&Guy, Armadale

Salon Business Newcomer of the Year

• Almayne Hair Studio
• HONE&CO

State & Regional Salon Business Awards

QLD Salon Business of the Year

• Blondee Burleigh
• Co and Pace Salons
• Gaye’s Hair Fashions and Barbers
• Hair By The Collective
• Hidden Cove Hair Studio
• Intuition The Art Of Hair
• Jak Hair Collective
• Luke Reynolds Hairdressing
• M Hair and Co
• Ms Monaco Hair Society
• Perci Salon
• The Safari Room
• TLB Hair
• Togninis

NSW/ACT Salon Business of the Year

• Access Hair
• Cranium Hair
• DFK Hair Studio
• Di Iorio
• Elluca
• Hairy Adelaide
• Jak Hair Collective
• Liberated Hair
• Pelo by Lago
• Pura Holistic Studio
• Salon Kiin
• Willomina

VIC Salon Business of the Year

• Alexander Jayne Hair
• Hair By Ciccone
• Harpo Hair
• Hidden Minx
• Mayko Hair
• Misk Hair
• Renew Hair
• Saranya Lee
• Telleish Hair Studio
• The Rumours Are True

SA/TAS Salon Business of the Year

• Amitra & Co.
• Blow It’s a Hair Thing
• Eye Am Hair
• Fon Salon
• Longko Salon
• Sir Fletcher

WA/NT Salon Business of the Year

• George & Ivy
• Hairloom Collective
• Scissor & Stone

Education & Industry Development

Educator of the Year – Individual

• Bernadette Beswick, Beswick Education Services
• Jules Tognini, LOTT
• Katy Reeve, Katy Reeve Hair, Education & Creative
• Lauren McCowan, The Manuscript
• Nathan Yip, Pretty Vacant Education
• Nicole Lamers, Nicole Lamers Creative
• Peter Beckett, Peter Beckett Hair

Educator of the Year – Organisation

• Industry Collective
• MIG Training
• Stefan Hair

Educator of the Year – Product or Equipment Company

• CPR Hair
• Goldwell Education
• Hair Candy Australia

Product & Tools

‘CARE’ Hair Product of the Year

• All Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner, KMS
• Atonement Colour Protect Shampoo & Conditioner, evo hair
• Curl Enhancing Shampoo and 2 in 1 Mask, Kin Cosmetics
• Curly Curl Shampoo and Conditioner, Genyve Haircare
• Minti Scalp Peppermint Shampoo and Conditioner, DNA Organics
• No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner, milk_shake
• Pro Ageing Shampoo and Mask, Lakmé
• PS Shampoo and Conditioner, O&M
• Repair My Bonds Shampoo & Conditioner, RPR Hair Care
• Semi di Lino Curls Enhancing Low Shampoo & Enhancing Mask, Alfaparf Milano Professional
• Signature Curl Shampoo & Conditioner, NAK Hair
• Sublimic Adenovital Shampoo & Hair Treatment, Shiseido Professional

‘TREAT’ Hair Product of the Year

• All Smooth Intense Nourishing Treatment, KMS
• COR.restore Leave In Treatment, O&M
• Hydrating Essence, Kerasilk
• K.Revive Peptide Leave-In Power Mask, NAK Hair
• Miracle Hair Treatment Oil Elixir, Eleven Hair
• Night.Shift, Kevin.Murphy
• No.3 PLUS Ultimate Repair Treatment, Olaplex
• Qplexx No.3 Masq, DNA Organics
• Re/Start Bond Repair Pre-Wash + Leave-In Hair Treatment, Revlon
• TripleBright Oxidation Defense Purple Shampoo Treatment, K18
• Ultimate Oil, Fabriq
• Semi di Lino Curls Multi-Benefit Oil, Alfaparf Milano Professional

‘STYLE’ Hair Product of the Year

• AirWash Dry Shampoo, K18
• Curl Cream No 244, REF Stockholm
• Curl Curl Gel, O&M
• Hair Crème, ZIB
• Heatbounce Conditioning Heat Protectant, K18
• Semi di Lino Curls Defining Cream, Alfaparf Milano Professional
• Session Label The Jelly, Schwarzkopf Professional
• Shake It Dry Shampoo, Shake It
• Slick & Smooth Balm, Natalie Anne Haircare
• SO Magic Styling Treatment, RPR Hair Care
• Sprayshine Shimmer, DNA Organics
• Texture & Volume Powder, Moroccanoil

‘ELECTRICAL’ Tool of the Year

• Contouring Wide Iron, Cloud Nine
• Pro Steam Styler, Kaleo Professional Styling Tools
• Speed Hair Dryer, ghd hair
• Travel Hair Dryer, Dyson Supersonic™
• XCeed Dryer, Gamma+

And the Winners Will Be…

The 2026 finalists will come together at The Star, Brisbane on Sunday 18 October, where the winners will be revealed at the gala awards evening.

The AHC wishes every finalist congratulations on this fantastic achievement, especially all of the AHC Members. Being recognised among hundreds of entries is something to celebrate, and we look forward to seeing the industry come together to celebrate the people and businesses helping shape the future of Australian and New Zealand hairdressing.

Good luck to all the finalists – we’ll see you in Brisbane! 🥂

2026 ANZ Hair Industry Awards – Business
📅 Sunday 18 October 2026
📍 The Star, Brisbane
⏰ 7pm–11pm AEST

Tickets are available now:
Purchase tickets via Humanitix